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11/1 Soi 3 Bamrungburi Rd., T. Prasingh,
A. Muang., Chiang Mai 50200
Tel. 053 - 814 455-6 Fax. 053 - 814 457
E-mail: guidelin@loxinfo.co.th
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Keeping the Pret Happy

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Traditional belief about dead spirits returning to the world is rather strong. It is believed that in the entire twelfth month in the Lanna lunar calendar (September), Yommarat, who rules the realm of the dead, would allow the dead spirits to rise to the human world to receive a share of virtue from their kin; and so they could rise above the state of evil. The result of this belief is the food offering for the dead. In September some may have seen bowls of rice at the boles of trees, or bags hanging on the trees, or even in the temples. That's what it's for.

The story behind the belief is that a long time ago a king named Chaisena entered the monkhood. His three sons organized a grand food donation for him along with 90,000 other monks for the period of three months. Poor rural people heard of the news and interrupted the feast. They invaded the area and took the food for their families. It was a great sin to steal from monks, and so they went to hell after death and were transformed into pret , tall, skinny and naked beings with big stomachs and miniature mouths as tiny as pinholes. Normally when the family of the dead offer food for monks or make merit, the related pret can get a share of the deeds and fill their stomachs with that food. These particular pret who ruined one of the greatest feast in history, however, cannot get this food and remain in permanent starvation.

They were told that one day in the future one king would offer food to the Lord Buddha and donate the merit to them. So they waited with patience.

Long after that, the king was born and provided food for the Lord Buddha, but unwittingly failed to make a wish to donate it to those poor spirits. The hungry pret were suffering and moaned together. Puzzled by the strange noise at night, the king asked the Buddha in the morning what it was, and was told about the past. He then donated more and dedicated the food to the poor spirits, so they lived in a better state. No longer starving and properly clothed, the pret were overjoyed.

It is believed that the greatest merit accrues to persons who donate. No crying can benefit the deceased; only direct offerings. Hence the Lanna tradition of food donation in September.


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