TLDR: Ghost Month needn’t be scary. The Buddha’s teachings offer a compassionate approach to understanding and overcoming our fears.

Have you ever felt that chill down your spine during the seventh lunar month? You’re not alone. In Singapore and Malaysia, we traditionally call this time Ghost Month – when the gates of the underworld supposedly swing open, and spirits roam freely among us. 

It’s a period steeped in Chinese tradition, filled with rituals and offerings, but it’s also a time when some of us are looking over our shoulders more than usual.

The stories we’ve grown up hearing about Ghost Month can really get under our skin. We find ourselves avoiding certain places or activities, tiptoeing around as if the slightest misstep might anger an unseen spirit. 

The Dhamma offers us a different perspective through teachings like the Janussoni Sutta.

Understanding Our Fears

Fear is a part of being human. When it comes to Ghost Month, our fears often stem from the belief that these wandering spirits might harm us if we somehow offend them. It’s a belief deeply rooted in our culture, and it’s not easy to shake off.

Contemporary movies like Shutter/ The Ring which feature aggressive ghosts that even sit on your shoulder do not help in allaying our fears.

However, the Dhamma suggests that our fears often come from our attachment to ourselves and our dislike of suffering. When we’re afraid of ghosts, it’s usually because we see them as a threat to our well-being. But what if we could look at it differently?

A New Perspective on Ghosts

The Janussoni Sutta gives us an interesting way to think about ghosts. According to this teaching, beings are reborn based on their kamma, or intentional actions. Those who’ve accumulated negative karma might be reborn as ghosts, but – and this is important – it’s not a permanent state. It’s just a result of past actions, and it can change.

This understanding can really shift how we see ghosts, especially during Ghost Month. Instead of seeing them as malevolent beings out to get us, we can start to see them as beings who are suffering and in need of help. It’s a bit like changing our perspective from “they’re out to harm me” to “they’re going through a tough time.”

When we change our perspective, against popular culture & traditional beliefs, we open our hearts to the possibility of compassion. In the same sutta, the Buddha encouraged Janusonni (a Brahmin) to still give gifts and perform memorial rites for the dead even if none of his relatives were hungry ghosts. 

Why? Because in our countless cycles of rebirth, it is impossible that none of these hungry ghosts would have been associated with us. Compassion is key.

If you would like to read more on how Buddha talked about the plight of hungry ghosts literally camping at the door of their living relatives for merits, check out Tirokudda sutta.

Compassion: The Antidote to Fear

One of the most powerful tools we have against fear is compassion. When we focus on understanding and helping others, including ghosts, we naturally become less focused on our fears.

During Ghost Month, instead of letting fear take over, we can try acts of compassion. This could be making offerings (no need for burning), dedicating good deeds to the departed ones, or even simple acts like chanting or sharing goodwill with all beings, including those in the ghost realm. It’s amazing how helping others can actually help us feel better too.

A favourite chant I like to recite 3 times is a Pattidāna chant “Idam me ñātinam hotu, sukhitā hontu ñātayo.” – “Let this merit accrue to my departed relatives; may they be happy!”.

Staying Present and Aware

Mindfulness is another great tool for dealing with fear. It’s about staying present and aware, noticing our thoughts and feelings without getting carried away by them. During Ghost Month, when our imagination might be working overtime, this can be really helpful.

Next time you’re walking past a spooky-looking alley or see a playground swing swinging itself, try this: pause for a moment and take a deep breath. 

Notice what you’re thinking. Are your thoughts based on what’s really happening, or are they influenced by stories you’ve heard? By staying mindful, you can keep your fear in check and stay calm.

Hence, with your mindfulness strongly established, you can try to see things as they are. This means recognising that ghosts aren’t inherently harmful. They’re just beings caught in a difficult situation due to their past actions.

When we understand this, we can see that our fear of ghosts is often based on misunderstandings. They’re not out to get us; they’re just going through their own struggles, like all of us.

A New Way to See Ghost Month

Ghost Month doesn’t have to be a time of anxiety. By applying these Buddhist teachings, we can approach this period with compassion, mindfulness, and understanding. Instead of fearing the hungry ghosts around us, we can see this time as a chance to practice kindness and deepen our understanding of existence.

So this Ghost Month, let’s try something different. Instead of fear, let’s cultivate compassion. You might be surprised at how much peace you can find, even in the spookiest of times.

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Wise Steps:

1. Acknowledge your fear: It’s okay to feel scared during Ghost Month. Recognize your fear without judging yourself, and try to understand where it’s coming from.

2. Practice compassion: Use this time to cultivate kindness towards all beings, including ghosts. Make offerings or dedicate good deeds to help ease their suffering.

3. Stay mindful: When you feel afraid, take a moment to breathe and observe your thoughts. This can help you stay calm and clear-headed.

4. Seek understanding: Learn more about what ghosts really are from a Buddhist perspective. Understanding can help reduce fear.

5. Participate in rituals mindfully: If you take part in Ghost Month rituals, do so to help spirits rather than just warding them off. This can change your whole experience.