Pchum Ben thread: Any photos or events or comments welcome.

Reuters | Sep 25, 2018 02:01AM ET
Cambodia's Festival of the Dead: rice offerings and Buddhist chants
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodians threw rice on the ground on Tuesday to mark the 'Festival of the Dead' or Pchum Ben and feed the spirits of the dead.

Cambodians visit pagodas across the country during the 15-day festival that takes place annually to offer prayers and food to the spirits of their deceased relatives, who they believe only emerge to eat the food during this period.

At Tuol Tumpoung pagoda in the capital Phnom Penh, hundreds of people crowded the temple complex to offer food and money to Buddhist monks to the backdrop of chanting.

"During the first day of Pchum Ben, our dead relatives came to find us for food," Mang Noy, 74, told Reuters at Tuol Tumpoung pagoda.

For many, it is a time to remember the victims of the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime.

At least 1.8 million Cambodians - about a quarter of the population - were killed by the Khmer Rouge. Most of the victims died of starvation, torture, exhaustion or disease in labor camps or were bludgeoned to death during mass executions.

Mang Noy said her family's food offerings were for more than 20 relatives killed by the regime.
https://m.investing.com/news/world-news ... ?ampMode=1

For those interested and able to receive:

"Pchum Ben in Cambodia", actually a unique tradition, especially in it's dimension.

Pchum Ben, "meeting to/for (doing) piṇḍa" (piṇḍa is Pali-language, meaning "alms-crumbs" (usually rice crumbs), alms-food, left over, shared) is just the highlight-day.

"Gathering together to do alms (for our ancestors)"

The country-wide good costume started already at new-moon, two days ago. In this time the monks will stay in there monasteries and receive almsfood for the benefit of the donors ancestor.

This 14 days period till fullmoon is called "Kan Ben (piṇḍa)" ("Kan" holding, hold on, doing).

As far as known, this tradition (actually not usual for monks not to go out for alms) was introduced by a very devoted Khmer-King, who asked the Sangha (community of full ordained monks) to stay in this period at, having great compassion because of the hard raining season, and ordered the people to do alms donations direct in the monasteries.

As for the meaning and reason of this Ancestor-care see: What is Pchum Ben.

Since especially hungry ghosts/shadows are bond to their places, people usually visit as much as possible places so to possible get in their near, where ever they might dwell.

It's good to remind that falling into lower realms after a human life is actually usuall, seldom that one gains another human existence. And probably most fall into states of hungry ghosts.

Something all of you should think about, aside of cultural adoptions. Having cared, one receives care. And as place of living is a matter of Upanissaya, (previous) strong condition cause, even if born elsewhere this time, one should be clear that he/she dwells under longtime and near relatives, and seeing that, it's more that good to adopt this tradition, where ever you might have been grown up.

As for why it is usual, and also adviced by the Buddha, to give alms to the Sangha if wishing to benefit ones relatives: the longer the Buddhas Sangha will remain in this world, the greater the change ones Ancestors may meet it, possible hear tge good Dhamma (teaching), understand and adopt it, win the stream and no more falling into low realms.

At least it a matter of gratitude one owes toward one anchestors who sacrificed a lot what one might enjoy or benefit now althought they wouldn't had need to do.

May nobody misses to do what is proper and lose ones protection in this regard. Many are those hungry shadows nobody cares, many are those who are not capable to receive, themselves having missed to care and share.

Oh, maybe something to think about: Offerings for hungry ghosts in the internet realm (as humoristic as serious)



May all former relatives (actally a living being not having been father, mother, brother, sister, ... once is hard to find), may a being have a share of this tiny Dhamma-encouragemts, gift and soon take on the path leading to long term happiness by themselves, having found it with ease.

Well the moon looks pretty damn full to me tonight and after the first of 15 three a.m. wakeups from the wat, I for one small be happy to see the new moon come and peace reign again!

Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk

Pchum Ben Mishap
Thbong Kmom, Cambodia News: On September 26, 2018, at 03:30 pm, the third day of early Pchum Ben, a fire broke out at Sovanbothomvatey Pagoda in Kakmouch Thbong Kmom district, caused by burning candles.

The district police cooperated with firefighters from the Ministry of the Interior to put out the fire completely, using 3 fire trucks. The temple was slightly damaged.

Phnom Penh: A traditional ceremony for Pchum Ben was attended by Samdech Krohom Sar Kheng and Lok Chumteav, as well as civil servants of the Ministry of Interior at all levels, on 29 September 2018.

Sa tuk, Sa tuk, Sa tuk!

Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk

I left a plate of fruit out for the old lady ghost at my previous apartment, about 15 metres away. The young Chinese tenant must have wondered what it was doing on the deck.