Aroma offering ceremony to help hungry spirits and beings in the intermediate state (bardo) to make connections with Amida Buddha and receive faith in Him

                                                                

             

            

Buddhist monk helping a hungry ghost

fragment from my book 

Worshipping Amida Buddha - liturgies and ceremonies 

of Amidaji temple 

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       of ceremonies for nonhuman beings

 

            I.  Arguments for this ceremony
Because this ceremony has the single goal of helping all beings, especially the hungry ghosts and intermediate beings, to make a connection with Amida Buddha, listen to the Dharma about Him and entrust to Him, it is not in contradiction with the Jodo Shinshu teaching. 
Although we offer them something to eat in the form of aroma, this is only a skillful means to make them more receptive.  It is like you see a hungry person on the street and offer him food, shelter and a Buddhist book. When he is satisfied and safe under your roof he might be more open, due to your kind gesture, to read a few lines from the book. It’s the same with these non-human beings who are in a very difficult karmic situation and who actually feed (according to the sacred texts) on aroma. By satisfying them with the offering they might become open to Amida’s message of salvation.

Contemplating the suffering of hungry ghosts (pretas)

the preta realm from the
Wheel of Life

updated and revised on 24th August 2020

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The realms of the pretas are to be found in two places: one is bellow Jambudvipa (our realm of human beings[1]), which is their main place of existence and is ruled by King Yama, and the other is between the realm of humans and the realms of the gods. Master Vasubandhu explains:

“The king of the pretas is called Yama; his residence, which is the principal dwelling of the pretas, is located under Jambudvipa. The pretas that are found elsewhere are the surplus of the pretas. The pretas differ much one from another; certain of them possess supernatural powers and enjoy a glory similar to that of the gods”.[2] 

Beside those with supernatural powers and a better situation or the various differences between them, there are some general characteristics which often appear in the description of pretas. They are ugly, naked or dressed in rags or covered by their own hair which sometimes is just hair or hair in the form of needles, swords or spears[3]. Preta spirits have a foul smell, are weakened by hunger, dried by thirst, with visible ribs and veins, always unhappy and living on the offerings done by others.