HOW BUDDHISTS CAN OBSERVE ‘CHENG BENG’ MERITORIOUSLY
“Although ‘Cheng Beng’ ( or ‘Qing Ming’, 清明节 ) was not originally a Buddhist tradition, it has
nevertheless been observed by Chinese Buddhists for centuries.
“The Buddha taught that our duties towards parents and
relatives do not end with their death.
After their demise, we should continue to honour them by performing
wholesome, meritorious and noble deeds, and thereafter dedicate merits to them.
“According to Buddha’s teaching, it is not by burning
paper paraphernalia, incantations or conducting rituals that we can help our
ancestors. It is through our wholesome
acts and the dedication of merits that our departed relatives can truly
benefit.
“Performing meritorious deeds is helpful to the doer;
and when the merits are dedicated to departed relatives, it helps them as
well.”
– Excerpt from Dhamma talk by Bro. Tan, Nalanda
Buddhist Society
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