The Confession of the Hungry Ghosts in Peta Vatthu (Stories of the Departed)

Abstract

The Academic article entitled ‘The Confession of the departed Ghosts in Petavatthu, Buddhist Doctrine’ aims to propose the concept of merit-sin, good karma-bad karma and hell-heaven according to the confession of the hungry ghosts in Petavatthu (the stories of the departed). It is a documentary study. The study was found that

The Petavatthu consists of 51 stories of people who have pass away. The stories derived from two sources, namely; (1) The story that the Blessed One raised himself from the events that happened (Atthupattihetu) and (2) comes from asking and answering (Pujjha-Visajjana) between Hungry ghosts and Disciples such as the Phra Maha Moggallana Thera, Phra Sariputra Thera, etc. they brought that story to inform the Blessed One, then he preached the cause and taught the Dharma to the followers.

The word "Peta" has two meanings: (1) refers to someone who has passed away from this world, for those who die and to be born as deities are called Peta or Hungry Ghosts. Incliningly, a ceremony to make merit and dedicate merit to those who have died called ‘Petapli’. (2) refers to some animals who born in the Petvisai (realm of hungry ghosts). These animals have suffered various sufferings based on the consequences of one own unwholesome (Akusala).

In addition, there is another group of hungry ghosts who experience the effects of good and bad karma alternately in the same existence, called Vemanikapeta, who have their own castle and happy as the angels for a time, but at another time, he suffered severe suffering like all the other ghosts and hell beings.

In conclusion, this doctrine Described the physical characteristics of each type of hungry ghosts, divided according to the sinful power of the hungry ghosts that had been done. The story of the hungry ghosts in the Scripture of Petvathu gives a reminder to humans about the law of karma and the real existence of merit-sin which is the regularly concept of smarted Buddhists.