Every year, during the Chinese festival of the Hungry Ghost, a short video clip of the late K. Sri Dhammananda would circulate in the social media. The video features the Sri Lankan Buddhist monk's quips on the festival. For some time, I had laughed over his quips, thinking it was funny until lately when someone sent a certain Dr. Punna Wong's view. Local Chinese often make offerings at the roadside on the 7th lunar month, Hungry Ghost month, that is; and according to him, was an act of respect, gratitude and honour. Especially in Malaysia where Chinese men had come to work as tin miners, rubber tappers, coolies in an unfavourable environment, clearing the jungle to earn money for their families back home in China; many had died a miserable death. Chinese those days formed clan associations to help one another; and offerings at the roadside are for those who had died alone; nameless, unknown and unappreciated. Someone else had then commented that Dr. Punna Wong's view should be conveyed to the Buddhist monk. The person who made the proposal appeared annoyed at the monk's quips. While the quips was not on the practice of praying by the roadside but on some offerings Chinese made; suddenly, I could not help but wonder if it is more appropriate for Buddhist monks to just talk about Buddhist precepts, the Four Noble Truth, The Eightfold Path, The Law of Dependent Origination or just the Jataka tales. Otherwise, a sermon stands the chance of ending up as frivolous talk.
What's your take on this?
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