Crowding Around the Big House

Just a few hours ago, I attended a wake and I saw...

There were so many people crowding around the big house. They were chatting and at the same time their eyes were dating around as if searching for something. I don’t think they were so into appreciating or scrutinizing the design of the house. They helped each other also. I heard soft murmur, “Have you seen it/them already?”

It was supposed to be a grand house. Not the kind of grand house for you and me, but the grand (paper) house meant for the departed, to be delivered to the other realm through burning. So, those relatives and friends (in grief) of the deceased were actually searching for sets of four digit numbers.

The belief and practice of burning paper worldly items (car, house, maid, aeroplane, cash, attire, TV set, radio … you just name it, you have it.. ) for the deceased has been around for so many years. Besides, the belief that if we give a proper sent-off of the deceased with a sincere heart, the deceased will in return bestow good luck to the friends and relatives. The best immediately way will be through the related sets of four digit numbers during the entire wake.

Such beliefs are so deep-rooted that many people have already accepted it as part of Chinese “culture” or “tradition”. Mm…

Few thoughts ran through my mind.

(1) There must a start point for such practices. Ha. That means those who passed away before the start of such practice must have nothing over there? Then what about the ang mohs who never practise such (burning)? Heh..

(2) Does it mean that poor good man who had left the mortal world will continue to have a hard life over there since his family members will not be financially capable to burn those (expensive) paper items? Heaven forbids..

(3) In the same light, does it mean that rich evil man who had left the mortal world will continue to rule over there since his family members will be financially capable to burn anything and everything? You forbid..

(4) If the deceased brings you riches, are you drawing from his “account” or your “future account”?

Respect the deceased. Yes, I am all for that. Nevertheless, have we think about some of the practices which are wrongly labelled as “culture” or “tradition”?

佛家有云：万般带不走、唯有业随身。
不知读者们体会多少？

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有一位圣者这么说：

以平定巩固理念：在穷途末路的时候，仍然稳如泰山。
以平静修身养心；在凹凸不平的路上，仍然无所畏惧，平步青云一般。
以平安克欲坚志：在猛火战乱中，能够施展蜻蜓点水的功夫。
以平虑而正规正矩：在顺逆的环境中，可以风平浪静的度过。