Janussoni Sutta AN
10.177
One day Brahmin
Janussoni performed the memorial rites and services and offered gifts (foods)
to the departed ones.
He asked
Buddha :
"Can the gifts
actually be of benefit to the departed ones, and can they actually partake the
gifts ?"
Buddha replied :
"on a right occasion it can be of benefit, not on a wrong occasion."
For those who do not
observe precepts, who possess greed, ill-will and wrong view, they are reborn
either in hell, or as animals. They sustain themselves and subsist there on the
foods of the hell-beings and animals respectively. Thus, the gifts offered are
not of benefits to those beings.
As for those who
observe precepts, without greed, ill will and possess right view, they are
reborn as either human beings or devas. This too, is a wrong occasion when the
gifts are not of benefits to them as they sustan and subsist on the foods of
human, and devas respectively.
But for those who are
born as afflicted spirits (petas, or usually called hungry ghosts), they
sustain and subsist on foods of petas, or sustain themselves on foods what
their friends, relatives or family members in this world offer to them. This is
a right occasion when the gifts are of benefits to them.
Brahmin Janussoni
asked again : "then who partake of the gifts if that deceased relative or
family member has not been reborn in that place (realm) ?"
Buddha answered :
"other departed relatives or family members who have been reborn
there."
Brahmin Janussoni then
asked again :
"If NEITHER that
deceased relatives or family members NOR any others have been reborn in that
place ?"
Buddha answered :
"Over this long stretch of time (in samsara), it is impossible and
inconceivable for that place (Realm of petas or hungry ghosts) to be devoid of
one's departed relatives and family members."
Therefore, there is
reason to give gifts and perform the memorial rites for the dead Further, it is
meritorious for donor too.
The first half is
about the benefit of offering gifts to the daparted ancestors (who may be
reborn as petas). The rest of the Sutta is about the benefits of offering gifts
to ascetics and brahmins.
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