IT IS MOST EFFECTIVE TO OFFER 78 LITTLE HOUSES TO THE DECEASED ON THE BIRTHDAY OF KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA IN ONE SITTING
Question: Master has previously mentioned that offering 78 Little Houses to the deceased on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s birthday can help them ascend to a higher spiritual realm. If we were to break the offering of these 78 Little Houses into two sittings (half in the morning and half in the afternoon), would it yield a similar result as offering them all at one go? How should we state the prayer?
Answer: Offering them all at one go is certainly better. You may say the following, “May Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva have mercy and help my deceased family member, <full name of the deceased>, to ascend to a higher spiritual realm”. It’s best if you can ascertain the name of the deceased family member who is in the underworld.
Question: Based on my estimate, the time for an incense to burn out is not enough to complete the entire process of offering all the 78 Little Houses. In this regard, is it alright to offer another incense halfway through, perform seven prostrations and then proceed to offer the remaining Little Houses without having to repeat the offering procedure or restate the prayer?
Answer: Yes, it’s alright to do so.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 414), 25 August 2022