Vancouver Buddhist Temple

A: "There are such things as ghosts and spirits! After all, there are people who say that they've seen them."
K: "I don't think so. I've never seen a ghost."
J: "But there are people who say that they sense things. So maybe there are ghosts. Why else would there be exorcists and spiritual healing ceremonies?"
M: (Laughing) "Then, what about those who claim that they can contact the deceased? And yet, when they call up Beethoven or Helen Keller, they're not even speaking English!"
T: "At a seminar one time, didn't someone say that Shinran once saw a spirit?"
K: (Laughing) "They were referring to a dream he saw."
J: "Don't people often say that they are carrying or being followed by the spirits of an animal? You know, like if you kill a snake, your life becomes shorter or something."
J: "A curse, is something that befalls you for some wrongdoing."
O: "It's just my opinion, but I think that a curse is to teach you a lesson."

This was a part of a conversation that went on during a recent conversation with some people. The topic we were discussing dealt with spirits and curses.

Tell me, do you believe in spirits and curses? Seeing a lot of television programs dealing with spirits and ghosts, it seems to me that this is a topic of interest for a lot of people.

As Buddhists, let us think about how we should deal with this issue. First of all, in Buddhism, we learn about the karmic teachings. However, in Shintoism (Japanese indigenous religion), spirits are the main focus, with the idea that the life of a spirit is eternal. Things such as bad health, fires, poor farming and fishing crops, automobile accidents, and even a business going bankrupt, are all caused by curses of the infinite spirits. That is why Shintoism is said to be a religion that believes in curses, and through faith, one can rid oneself of such curses.

Buddhism is not a teaching that believes in curses. Rather, Buddhism is a religion that sees things just as they are (sonomama), making clear what truth is.

Many people today hold a scientific view toward things. As a result, when dealing with religion, the beliefs that some religions hold true are seen as being irrational. If animal curses really did exist, eating things like pork, chicken and beef is unimaginable.

If the curse of a deceased person really existed, a murderer would be unable to live. If there were such things as curses, Buddhists, who do not believe in curses, would not exist. And yet, we are all here. Seeing Buddhists living their lives not worrying about curses, I can only begin to think that those who hold beliefs in curses are being deprived of the enjoyments in life.

In Jodo Shinshu, the reasoning that arises from beliefs in spirits and curses is referred to as delusion and perplexity (Jpn. mayoi). Being able to release oneself from such worries as "Would I get cursed?" "Would I be haunted?" is something that Shinran had set out to teach us and make us aware of.

Wouldn't living a life without reason, like grass that has no roots, be exactly like the life of a ghost? Living a meaningful life, by planting my roots of life into Amida's teachings of wisdom and compassion, I will firmly walk down life's path.

Namo Amida Butsu

Tatsuya Aoki