Living near an old war zone. Bad spirits?

[Boomerang]

I live across the street from a place where 223 people were killed in battle in the 1700's. Twice a year the local residents perform a public reenactment of the battle. Sometimes I wonder, living near an area where so many murders happened, and then having those painful memories ceremonially relived bi-annually at the same place, are I and my neighbors at risk for harmful spirits? Is there something I should do to protect myself? Do the spirits here need help?

I walked through the area once and recited some sutra verses under my breath. I don't know what I was doing.

[Ayu]

If I lived there, I would feel affected and I would try to improve the vibrations.
It is not pertinent to the solution, if the disturbances are factual outer obstacles or "only" inner processes. Inside and outside, everything is impermanent but still effective.

I would dedicate my practice for the healing of the situation there. Maybe I would invite some Chod practitioners or do a demon-feeding-medtation. I would ask the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for their support.

But I wouldn't move from that place, rather I'd take the situation as a challenge or assignment. The situation must be changeable, since everything is impermanent, especially vibrations.

[amanitamusc]

I think there have been multiple murders and births on every inch of land.One who is confident in practice have no worries.

[AlexMcLeod]

In general, as long as you aren't practicing energy cultivation, and it's not an actual graveyard, you should be fine. Ghosts can not harm and only be harmed by humans in most cases.

If there are ghosts around, it's best to not practice energy arts. They can severely injure a ghost, which is bad for your cultivation in the long term. If you practice energy arts, I suggest you move if you suspect a large number ghosts in the area.

[Boomerang]

In general, as long as you aren't practicing energy cultivation, and it's not an actual graveyard, you should be fine. Ghosts can not harm and only be harmed by humans in most cases.

If there are ghosts around, it's best to not practice energy arts. They can severely injure a ghost, which is bad for your cultivation in the long term. If you practice energy arts, I suggest you move if you suspect a large number ghosts in the area.

Do you mean pretas, or devas?

What energy arts are you talking about? I always thought practicing dharma benefitted the beings in the area.

[AlexMcLeod]

Do you mean pretas, or devas?

What energy arts are you talking about? I always thought practicing dharma benefitted the beings in the area.

Preta. Hungry ghosts. Dharma will normally be helpful, but the specific act of cultivating the body's energy strengthens it, and human energy is experienced as turbulent storms in the realm of hungry ghosts. So, sutra and mantra recitation okay, qigong and yoga will likely harm them.

[Nemo]

It will toughen you up. Don't take the nightmares too seriously. I remember some from the army sleeping on a spot where somebody had been killed by a grenade. Wow, very intense. Think of it as an echo or memory and don't hold on. Your body will be trying to convince you otherwise.

I would not recommend it for your forever home. Places tend to repeat their past.

[tomschwarz]

This is not Buddhism. In Buddhism we do not associate any kind of long lived spirit with some old bones. Am I wrong? Dharma references? Otherwise please consider moving thread to an atman- oriented religion forum.

[tomschwarz]

In Buddhism we believe in countless former lives. Imagine how many times you died exactly where you are standing now if that makes you feel "vibed out" )))) try samadhi in Buddhism we are interested in the nature of the mind... ...emotions like this or that vibe, not so much. There something like tolerance patience and discipline are considered with a goal of quietting the mind are considered. Then you get some real peace! And no more "me". Thank goodness....

[sillyrabbit]

Murders have happened in my old and current neighborhoods in recent memory...

Dharma practice like Medicine Buddha mantras, mani mantras, Amitabha mantras, etc help the environment of wherever they are practiced.

But I agree with amanitamusc, there isn't really a place where someone hasn't died under stressful circumstances. Where are there not pretas?

[Grigoris]

Murders have happened in my old and current neighborhoods in recent memory...

Dharma practice like Medicine Buddha mantras, mani mantras, Amitabha mantras, etc help the environment of wherever they are practiced.

But I agree with amanitamusc, there isn't really a place where someone hasn't died under stressful circumstances. Where are there not pretas?

I work with murderers every day... I tend to say the Vajra Guru mantra in my mind while working.

[AlexMcLeod]

But I agree with amanitamusc, there isn't really a place where someone hasn't died under stressful circumstances. Where are there not pretas?

That may be true, but they tend to gather in certain areas, which shift in the same manner as humans do. It's best to just be mindful of areas where lots of them gather, and not do things that are harmful to them in such places. Just as one should be mindful of areas where lots of insects gather on the ground so as to limit the number you tread upon.

If you feel benevolent, do the beneficial practices that will translate correctly into their realm.

I work with murderers every day...

Oh, you work for the U.S. government as well?

[Grigoris]

Oh, you work for the U.S. government as well?

Nope.

[ClearblueSky]

In general, as long as you aren't practicing energy cultivation, and it's not an actual graveyard, you should be fine. Ghosts can not harm and only be harmed by humans in most cases.

That is certainly not considered true in Tibetan Buddhism, where things like gyalpo and others of the preta realm can actually be quite harmful. If that is the case there are certain amulets and things, if you feel you need additional help.
But bottom line, unless you're having some specific problem that you think may be caused by this area, I wouldn't worry about it. Your practice will benefit the area, and reciting sutras like you did is an especially good way to do that. Tonglen might also be nice to do, if that is a practice of yours.

[Ayu]

In general, as long as you aren't practicing energy cultivation, and it's not an actual graveyard, you should be fine. Ghosts can not harm and only be harmed by humans in most cases.

That is certainly not considered true in Tibetan Buddhism, where things like gyalpo and others of the preta realm can actually be quite harmful. If that is the case there are certain amulets and things, if you feel you need additional help.
But bottom line, unless you're having some specific problem that you think may be caused by this area, I wouldn't worry about it. Your practice will benefit the area, and reciting sutras like you did is an especially good way to do that. Tonglen might also be nice to do, if that is a practice of yours.

I'm not sure: are you talking about the same kind of spirits? Are the supposed ghosts of people who had bad luck on a battlefield the same as pretas and gyalpos? Is there any difference between Christian supposed ghosts and Buddhist supposed bad spirits?
And those obstacle-creating spirtits, that are brushed off before an empowerment - what kind of bad spirits are those?

[Malcolm]

And those obstacle-creating spirtits, that are brushed off before an empowerment - what kind of bad spirits are those?

Concepts.

[Ayu]

And those obstacle-creating spirtits, that are brushed off before an empowerment - what kind of bad spirits are those?

Concepts.

Thanks.
My question wasn't precise enough: In an empowerment there are so-called "inner" and "outer obstacles" being brushed off. Probably concepts are inner hindrances, right? I meant: what kind of fellows are those outer obstacles?

[Malcolm]

And those obstacle-creating spirtits, that are brushed off before an empowerment - what kind of bad spirits are those?

Concepts.

Thanks.
My question wasn't precise enough: In an empowerment there are so-called "inner" and "outer obstacles" being brushed off. Probably concepts are inner hindrances, right? I meant: what kind of fellows are those outer obstacles?

Outer obstacles are appearance generated by one's karma, which is in turn created by afflictive concepts. Inner obstacles are concepts themselves.

[White Lotus]

concepts/words point. some towards and some away from direct perception of emptiness. words are empty too. all is empty.

[Grigoris]

concepts/words point. some towards and some away from direct perception of emptiness. words are empty too. all is empty.

Even emptiness is empty, but it is because things are empty that karma arises.