Shuohua20130816 00:57
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
CAN WE ONLY OFFER LITTLE HOUSES TO THE DECEASED WITHOUT PAYING RESPECT TO THEM AT THE CEMETERY?
Caller: If a Buddhist friend has never visited the grave of his deceased relative at the cemetery, neither has he made any flower offering whatsoever. He would only stay at home to recite Little Houses for the deceased. Is it alright to do so?
Master Jun Hong Lu: He may want to visit the cemetery to do some cleaning at least once during the day as a gesture of his thoughtful sentiment. I feel this is necessary to express his reverence to the deceased. At a minimum, he should go there at least once. Otherwise, others may look at him negatively for his reluctance to pay respect to the deceased at the cemetery after learning Buddhism. This may not do him any good. It’s alright for him to go during the daytime.
Caller: It’s likely that he may feel sad being there.
Master Jun Hong Lu: If he feels sad and is unwilling to visit the cemetery, given that there is no family pressure on him and no one blames him for it, in my view, it’s alright if he doesn’t go. He may then recite more Little Houses for the deceased. This is presumably, there are other family members who will be at the cemetery to pay respect to the deceased. On the flip side, in the event that others start finding fault with him and blaming him for being unfilial, understanding that these are natural human behaviour, it would only make sense for him to go.
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