ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

if the sharing of merit is after donating alms-food, the departed one will be instantly appeased
from hunger by saying, “Well-done” "Sadhu!", if the donation is garments and robes, the
deceased will become well clothed upon saying, “Well-done” . It is utmost importance that in
giving alms in dedication to the deceased, the recipient should be worthy of alms.
Example - Once upon a time, the bereaved members invited an immoral monk and offered alms
in dedication to the departed. When merits were shared, the deceased who was a ghost – (peta)
by then, did not receive his due. Therefore, he yelled to his relatives, "The evil monk is robbing
my share of merits." Therefore, the relatives had to repeat the charity to a virtuous monk. Only
then the ghost received his share and was free from miserable existence.
The above incident gives us a lesson.
• When we dedicate our charity to a departed friend or relatives we must first get rid of our
anguish and grief.
• Then only we should offer food, robes, umbrella, slippers, monasteries, etc. to the monks.
By offering alms, the ghost gets food. By offering robes, the ghost gets clothes to wear. By
offering monastery, the ghost gets a dwelling place. For almsgiving, we ought to invite a good
monk; or should perform offerings to the order of Monks (Sanghika Charity) meant for the entire
Order of Sangha. Prior to this Charity, we should invite the deceased to be present at the
liberation. (They will come if they can). Then we should loudly and distinctly call the deceased
by name and share the merits gained.
6.12d Today's Ritual
Most people today, after their bereavement, do not care to choose good Bhikkhus. Neither do
they get of their anguish and sorrow. They offer alms and even cash to the monks at the cemetery
as a routine duty, just to escape blame and get praise from others. Then they share the merits
gained without thinking deeply of the benefits of the deceased.
It is far better to offer alms at home with a mind free from grief than to do so at the cemetery
while being afflicted with lament and sorrow. However, good deeds done and alms given at the
cemetery will also produce merits if performed without lamentation.
6.12 d Who Received the Merit Shared.
The deceased who have who have become hungry ghosts – (peta) can receive the benefits form
sharing of merit only when they are present in the vicinity. If they are reborn as humans, as
animals or as hungry ghost in the remote jungles, they cannot receive the share of merits.
However, other dead relatives who are now ghosts in the vicinity, can rejoice in these
benedictions and can be reborn in other good planes of existence. Therefore, we should continue
to practice this practice of sharing of merits.
6.13. Listening To The Dhamma - Dhammasavana
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