Do the Departed Still See You Clearly? Understanding Spirits Through the Buddha's Teachings

**Summary:** Venerable Thích Chân Quang shares insights on the connection between the living and departed spirits, the Buddhist perspective on death, and advice on living virtuously to avoid regret.

A Buddhist practitioner in Hanoi once told Venerable Thích Chân Quang that her family often experienced discord during the Lunar New Year. It was only after studying Buddhism that she understood her ancestral spirits were distressed and causing this influence because they were not properly honored. Since she began making offerings with sincerity, her family has lived in peace and harmony.

This may surprise you, but according to the teachings of Venerable Thích Chân Quang, the dead do not vanish. They remain present, seeing us clearly, while we are unable to meet them again. So how can we understand and live in harmony with both realms?

**When the World of Power Bows Before the Buddha**

Around the time of Vesak, the world witnessed remarkable things. Hillary Clinton, a candidate for the U.S. Presidency, publicly shared photos of a Vesak ceremony and sitting in meditation. President Obama also sent congratulatory messages to Buddhists worldwide from the White House. Both come from a Christian background yet expressed profound respect for the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).

When the top intellectuals and the most powerful people in the world embrace the teachings, we understand that... people with wisdom and knowledge have sifted and filtered, and they have found the most beautiful religion for humanity.

The Venerable emphasizes that this is an encouraging signal. We should take pride that our ancestors chose a correct path for us. Buddhism is not just a belief; it is the pinnacle of wisdom (prajna) and morality.

**The Film *The Old Guard* and a Reminder of Noble Doctrine**

He speaks of a Hollywood film that caused a stir: an immortal man who lived for fourteen thousand years, met the Buddha, and brought his teachings to the West. The Venerable asserts:

"If we speak of philosophy, morality, ethics, or spirituality, Buddhism is the foremost; there is no other religion that compares."

Though the story is fiction, it makes us realize the closeness between traditions. The world's intellectuals increasingly find truth at the door of Buddhism. We are truly fortunate to have been born in a land with the Buddha's presence.

**How You Live, How You Die: Karma Follows Us to Other Realms**

The Venerable teaches that when we die, we do not take money or fame, but we take our karma with us. A moment of pain at death can follow us for years. A deluded person remains deluded after death; a wise person remains wise.

The karma from the realm of the living is carried over into the realm of the dead.

Therefore, do not think that death is the end of suffering (dukkha). If we take our own lives, we will become a suffering spirit, experiencing even more pain than when we were alive. We must summon our full will to overcome adversity.

**The Spirits Around Us: Reverence and Compassion**

Many people call the deceased "ghosts" – this is not only disrespectful but also diminishes our blessings from merit. We do not know who they are or their status. The Venerable reminds us:

"From now on, we must not use the term 'ghost' for them."

We should address them with respect, such as "departed spirit" or "soul." Even the spirits of dogs and cats have feelings and know affection. We need to live kindly toward them, making offerings and reciting sutras to ease their journey.

**Action for Peace in Both Realms**

To maintain a mind/heart of peace, we should do the following:

* Sincerely make offerings to our ancestors during festivals and the full moon days. * Address the departed with respect, avoiding insulting terms. * Cultivate ourselves, keeping our mind/heart clear while alive so that when we die, we may pass in peace. * Never succumb to despair and suicide. Instead, kneel before the Buddha and ask for strength to persevere.

As the Venerable teaches, when we treat the departed correctly, our realm and theirs will be in harmony. And the journey of life and death becomes light.

Each of us is a practitioner on the path home. Let us live with compassion (karuna), understand the departed clearly, so that we may have no more fear. That is the most precious gift Buddhism offers.