Angels, Ghosts & Demons

In Buddhist mythology, hungry ghosts, called preta in Sanskrit, are scary and interesting beings that represent what happens when you can't stop wanting greedy things. People often depict these spirits with big bellies and tiny, narrow necks to demonstrate that they are always hungry and thirsty. Even though their stomachs are swollen, they can't eat or drink enough to meet their cravings. A life of constant longing and unmet needs awaits them. Buddhist cosmology and lessons on karma are where the idea of hungry ghosts comes from. Some people believe that individuals who lived lives full of greed, anger, or selfishness may come back to life as hungry ghosts. Their rebirth reveals their past actions and the moral lessons they overlooked in their previous lives. People believe that their failure to let go of their wants and attachments causes the pain of hungry ghosts. This shows how important it is to develop compassion, generosity, and selflessness.

Certain Buddhist traditions discuss hungry ghosts in a detailed and often frightening manner. People say that they live in a realm that overlaps with ours but is still mostly unseen to us. People typically depict this realm as a desolate, empty space devoid of food or warmth. People believe that hungry ghosts roam this realm, always looking for food and drink but only finding unpleasant or cursed things. Occasionally, what they eat turns into fire or filth, worsening their pain. According to Buddhist beliefs about hungry ghosts, rituals and gifts are very important. During some holidays, like the Chinese Buddhist Ghost Festival, people bring these restless ghosts food, incense, and prayers to make them feel better. The practices have two goals: to temporarily feed the hungry ghosts and to teach people to be kind and generous. Practitioners hope that by making offerings, they can ease the spirits' pain and bring beneficial luck to themselves and their towns. Hungry ghosts are important in religious activities, but they also serve as powerful symbols in Buddhist teachings. Buddhist teachings often use them to illustrate the destructive nature of uncontrolled desire and the crucial importance of breaking free from attachments. The picture of the hungry ghost, with its never-ending hunger and constant pain, is a stark reminder of what happens when you live a selfish and greedy life. It tells Buddhists to think about what they want and work toward a path of moderation, mindfulness, and kindness.

Robot man, played by George German of the Lobster Club, in the annual Mummer's Parade in Philadelphia on January 1, 1936.