Buddhist Sangha proposes eliminating votive paper burning at pagodas
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has sent an official document to its chapters nationwide asking for giving up the practice of burning votive paper offerings at Buddhist worshipping establishments.
Vietnamese people have for years burned votive papers in the belief that those votive papers are sent to their dead relatives in the afterlife (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has sent anofficial document to its chapters nationwide asking for giving up the practiceof burning votive paper offerings at Buddhist worshiping establishments.
A number of Vietnamese people send this kind of offerings todead relatives in the afterlife in the belief that their spirits can livecomfortably there and help them in many aspects in return.
However, over the last few years, the time-honored traditionhas faced mounting criticism. Some consider the practice a backwardsuperstition that’s incongruous with the modern Vietnamese society. Othersargue that the burning of ghost money only causes air pollution and is anostentatious waste of resources.
In the document, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, StandingVice Chairman of the VBS’s Executive Council, urged Sangha chapters in citiesand provinces nationwide to give directions to local monks, nuns, and Buddhistfollowers to organise celebrations in a civilised, thrifty and non-ostentatiousfashion in accordance with the Vietnamese and Buddhist traditions.
Categorising votive paper burning as superstitious, thedocument also underlines that lectures of pagodas should focus on thepreservation of positive points in national customs, and spread the value ofcompassion, generosity and religious tolerance to the listeners.
Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice Chairman of the VBS’sExecutive Council, affirmed that the practice of burning votive papers, orghost money, is not a Buddhist custom.
Therefore, the VBS’s policy is to call for eliminating theburning of paper offerings at pagodas, he affirmed.
“Currently, there are still a number of poor people who donot have enough food to eat, while many others use a lot of money for votivepaper offerings. It is unreasonable,” stated Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu.
He asked State and local management agencies to join handsto gradually eliminate the practice, especially from the production and tradingof ghost money.
Dr Nguyen Ngoc Mai from the Institute for Religious Studiesstressed the important role of Buddhist monks and shamans in encouraging peopleto abolish the practice thanks to their great influence in their community.
Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issueda directive ordering local authorities to supervise spiritual activities inreligious venues in their community to prevent excessive burning of joss papersand incense. - VNA
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Vietnamese people have for years burned votive papers in the belief that those votive papers are sent to their dead relatives in the afterlife (Source: VNA) 
