Dao He the God (2)

■Book 111 - Roving Over The World

■Written by GrandMaster Sheng-yen Lu

 

Apart from Dao He Gods, Japanese also pray to Shui Zi Ling - the souls of human foetus.

The image of the Shui Zi Ling can be seen everywhere. Sometimes small houses are built to enshrine the pictures of all the babies.

Shui Zi Ling is the soul of foetus, or the spirit of unborn baby. After abortion, many mothers felt guilty and uneasy, so they make offerings to Shui Zi Ling.

Its said that Shakyamuni Buddha gave a discourse on \`Shui Zi Ling - the souls of foetus\`. 

while it is difficult to vouch whether the Sutra is genuine or not, it would be inconceivable that abortion was carried out as early as Shakyamuni`s time.

It is amusing to see how Japanese make offering to Shui Zi Ling.

The image of a baby in sitting position made of cement covered with a piece of red napkin is placed under a tree, beside a road or anywhere near the graveyard. It smacked of an air of mystery.

Sometimes a small house is built (like the shrine for local god in Taiwan), and the image of Shui Zi Ling is enshrined. Apart from sweets , candy, dolls and toys for children are offered there. 

Offering to the souls of foetus is a reflection of social and spiritual problems. Unless and until all these problems can be solved, the ritual of making offering to Shui Zi Ling will continue.

Its said that after abortion, the mothers will certainly had spiritual hindrances. As the souls of the babies were unable to go for transmigration smoothly, they had hatred towards their mothers, and this made their mothers sick and caused all kinds of problems in their daily lives.

These women yearned for guidance , as a result they made offering to the souls of foetuses.

A woman who went for an abortion will not know how to tackle her spiritual hindrance. She will seek help from others god and Buddha included so as to allay her fear and even find solace in the spiritual world.

A Japanese dharma master explained: \` People try to find out the cause of thing they cannot solve, even if the suggested solution is useless, cannot really settle the problem, they will still try it anyhow!\`

From these words, we can see:

The lonely heart, the physical pain, the hindrance of human beings and their hopes.

He continued : \`It is not important whether making offering to Shui Zi Ling is a wasteful act. People will use all kinds of methods to get rid of the puzzle in their mind. Unless this is done, we can`t stop people from making offering to the souls of foetuses.\`

Making offering to souls of foetuses has caused a furore in the religious fraternity in Taiwan. There were a lot of arguments and all kinds of views.

Most righteous Buddhists believe that it is a waste of money to make offering to the spirits of foetus.

As most people do not really understand the inner meanings of Buddhism, they differ greatly on the value of making offering to Buddha and spirits of foetuses. Some of them support while others reject. And they ask me about the spirits of foetuses:

\`Are there spirits of foetuses?\`

\`All bending bamboo leaves have shadows.\`

\`Is there any benefit to make offering?\`

\`Life is an illusion, so is offering. It is always a dream.\`

\`Living Buddha Lian Shen, do you agree to make offering to them or not ?\`

\`If it does not cost much to feel safe for our mind and body, we need not escape from it.\`

\`Then Living Buddha Lian Shen , you believe that it is OK to make offering to them?\`

\`This is the best solution for both parties. The pitiful soul of the baby will have a place to settle, and the mother will find solace in it. This is the truth.\`

\`Living Buddha Lian Shen, are you not afraid of being attacked for what you have just said ?\`

\`It is no use attacking me , the effect is so remote, as there is no other way out.\`

Perhaps, You have to seek enlightenment from Dao He God and the spirits of foetuses!