Devotee: Dear teacher, during meditation or nimita kind of meditative be possessed by devas or spirits?
Ajahn Brahm: No, they can't. And the reason I say that is because you are too too virtuous—that is what stops devas or spirits even getting close to you.
One of these stories to make a point: There was this Thai lady here in Perth many years ago, and she was really a hard worker, an excellent mother. She had these four kids, and they all, sort of to this day, look after one another. They always come and see me whenever they're in town. And she had invited her mother over from Thailand because no one was looking after her mother. So her mother came, and when her mother was here, she was much older, obviously, and of course, she has to be asking, but nevertheless, I sometimes say some silly things. And anyway, she got ill, so she went into the hospital—it was King Edward Hospital for Women or something—but anyway. In the Thai tradition, if your mother is in the hospital and it's at all possible for you, you just camp out next to your mother's bed.
The amount of care which you give to a mother is really amazing; they don't leave her side, almost. So anyway, she was looking after her mother, and the mother wasn't making any progress getting more healthy. And so after some time, this Thai lady just kind of wondered: I wonder if this is my mother's last illness? And she didn't trust the doctors, so she went to a medium in Perth, and it was not expensive at that time. She paid twenty dollars for this medium, and this medium was quite well known and very trustworthy.
And the medium said—like a spirit doctor—this medium said, "All I need to do is to know your mother's name, the hospital, the ward number, and her room, and I go in there and check her out and see just how her illness is, see whether it's her last illness or not."
So this Thai lady gave her twenty dollars to the medium, and then the medium just went into a trance, went unconscious, and about ten minutes later, she came back. And the medium said to this Thai girl, "Here's your twenty dollars back." And the Thai lady asked, "Couldn't you find my mother?" And the medium said, "Yes, I found the hospital, I found the ward number, I found the room, but I could not get inside the room. I've never seen this before—there was like a force field around your mother, and I couldn't get in to see exactly what her sickness is and how it's progressing. That's why I give the twenty dollars back. Who is your mum?"
And that's when the Thai lady said, "Oh, she's an eight precept nun; she's been an eight precept nun for years." And that's when the medium grabbed the twenty dollars back and said, "You should have told me—people like me can't get close to people like that."
And she took the twenty dollars back—wasting her time.
But, you know, that was like quite an honest medium. And that's just an example of many I've gathered over all these years—you know, if you've got your precepts very strong, then any spirits and stuff, they can't even get close to you to get inside of you. So over here, you're perfectly safe.
2023 July (13/19) | 9 day Retreat | Ajahn Brahm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-6odzfmELY&list=PLf9HOK_Rf1M62mCrCxOtuSIjQ5uznAU0x&index=13
信眾：親愛的老師，在禪修的時候，或者當出現禪相（nimitta）這種冥想狀態時，會不會被天神或靈魂附身呢？
阿姜布拉姆尊者：不會，他們附不了身。我之所以這麼說，是因為你太、太有戒德了——正是這種極強的戒力，讓天神或靈鬼連靠近你都做不到。
我講一個故事來說明這一點：很多年前在珀斯（Perth）有位泰國女士，她非常勤奮工作，也是一位非常棒的媽媽。她有四個孩子，到現在他們仍然彼此照顧。每次他們來珀斯都會來看我。她把自己的母親從泰國接過來，因為沒有人照顧她媽媽。母親來了之後，當然年紀已經很大了，難免會有些要求，不過我有時候也會說些傻話。總之，她母親後來生病了，就住進了醫院——好像是King Edward婦女醫院之類的。
在泰國傳統裡，如果母親住院，只要你有辦法，就會直接睡在母親病床旁邊。
他們對母親的照顧程度真的非常驚人，幾乎寸步不離。
所以這位泰國女士就一直守在母親身邊，但母親的病情一直沒有好轉。過了一段時間，她心裡開始想：「這會不會是我媽媽的最後一場病？」
她不太相信醫生，就去珀斯找了一位靈媒。那時候收費不貴，她付了二十塊錢。那位靈媒很有名，也很值得信賴。
那位靈媒（就像靈醫）說：「我只需要知道你母親的名字、醫院名稱、病房號碼和房間號，我就可以進去查看她的情況，看看這到底是不是她最後一場病。」
於是這位泰國女士付了二十美元給靈媒。靈媒就進入出神狀態，昏過去，大約十分鐘後醒來。
醒來後，靈媒對這位泰國女士說：「這二十塊還給你。」
泰國女士問：「你找不到我媽媽嗎？」
靈媒說：「我找到了醫院，找到了病房號，找到了房間，但我就是進不去那個房間。我從來沒遇過這種事——你母親周圍好像有一道力場，我完全進不去，沒辦法看清楚她到底生什麼病、病情怎麼樣。所以我把錢還給你。你媽媽是誰啊？」
這時泰國女士才說：「喔，她是持八戒的比丘尼，她已經持八關齋戒很多年了。」
靈媒一聽，立刻又把二十塊錢抓回去，說：「你早該告訴我啊！像我這種人，根本靠近不了那種人。」
然後她把二十塊拿回去——算是白忙一場。
你看，這是一位相當誠實的靈媒。
這些年我收集了很多類似的例子——只要你的戒律非常堅固，任何鬼神、靈體根本靠近不了你，更別說進到你身體裡了。所以在這裡，你是非常安全的。
2023年7月（13/19）｜九日禪修營｜阿姜布拉姆
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-6odzfmELY&list=PLf9HOK_Rf1M62mCrCxOtuSIjQ5uznAU0x&index=13
不知道應該還不應該分享。太神奇了。
但這樣說，大家更專注聽了。
比如說，我們遇到很兇的鬼。
一見到鬼，發慈心，這也是一種禪定。但有些鬼不會接受的，他想鬧。
那我們就用另一種禪定—十遍。可以解決的最佳方法就是火遍。但是最好其實是慈心。如果解決不了就用火。
看到火的畫面，他就會跑掉。不是去燒他哦，這會造惡業。如果要燒的話，有一個技巧方便，不知道分享好不好呢？
就是告訴閻羅王。修禪定然後告訴他:這隻鬼無法度他了。
告訴他去抓他也不好。（而是說）：‘你試試思維怎樣處理他’
禪定其實有很多玩具的。把糖去欺騙小孩了
----隆波帕默
2026.2.1
I'm not sure if I should share this or not. It's quite extraordinary. But saying this makes everyone listen more attentively.
For example, when we encounter a very fierce ghost.
As soon as you see the ghost, radiate loving-kindness (metta) — this is also a form of stillness. However, some ghosts won't accept it; they want to cause trouble.
In that case, we use another type of stillness— the ten kasinas. The best method to resolve this is the "fire kasina." But in truth, loving-kindness is the best. If that doesn’t work, then use fire.
Visualize the image of fire, and the ghost will run away. It’s not about burning them, as that would create negative karma. If you truly want to "burn" them, there is a skillful method — I'm not sure if it's good to share this?
That is, inform Yama, the King of the Underworld. Enter stillness and tell him: "This ghost cannot be helped anymore."
It’s not good to tell him to capture the ghost. Instead, say: "Please consider how to handle this being."
Meditation actually has many "toys." It’s like using candy to coax a child.
---- Luang Por Pramote
2026.2.1
「……從前在黎府ภูเรือ縣一帶頭陀行時，踏遍了每一寸土地。
什麼都經歷過，
什麼滋味都嘗遍。
遇過各式鬼魅、
山靈天神、
黃金柚木的女樹靈、
迷障之鬼，
甚至還有『放屁鬼』——
正坐著好好說話，
突然『噗噗』連響，
環顧四周卻不見人影。
氣得我直接大喝：『你這傢伙！
地方那麼大，偏要在這兒放屁？』
隨即傳來『哈哈哈』的笑聲——
原來是故意捉弄師父的。
這鬼生前曾是寺廟的居士，
本就愛開人玩笑。
我心想：哎，這調皮鬼！
根本不是同一個人（指鬼變了性格）！
有本事就現身較量！
——頓時一片死寂，悄無聲息。
有些地方的鬼非常頑固，
力量強盛；
頑固的就呵斥，
強悍的就以力制力，
善良的便施予慈悲，
兇惡的則厲聲降伏。
修行禪定的僧侶無所畏懼，
未親見真相前絕不退卻！
有些村落，村民
因惡鬼兇悍而不願我們停留——
連同為鬼類的都承認其兇暴！
但最終……
正法終究戰勝一切。
法能降伏非法，
一切山精鬼怪皆俯首頂禮，
皈敬修行證道的僧寶。」
"...In the past, I went on tudong around Phu Ruea District, Loei Province—I’ve walked everywhere.
I’ve experienced everything,
every flavor.
I’ve met all kinds of spirits—
ghosts, deities,
the golden Takhian wood nymphs,
deceptive spirits,
and even farting ghosts!
We’d be sitting and talking peacefully,
then—poof! poof!—farting sounds everywhere.
Looking around, no one in sight.
So I’d yell out loud: 'You bastard!
There are so many places—why fart here?'
Then laughter—'Hahaha!'
They were teasing the teacher.
Before, when they were a lay devotee,
they liked to prank others.
I thought: Huh, you rascal spirit!
That’s not the same person!
If you’re so tough, come out and face me!
Silence!!! Not a sound.
Some spirits are very stubborn,
very powerful.
If they’re stubborn, scold them.
If they’re strong, be stronger back.
If they’re good, show them kindness.
If they’re wicked, rebuke them firmly.
A meditation monk fights everything—
we don’t retreat until we’ve seen its face!
In some places, the villagers
didn’t want us to stay because the spirits were too fierce!
Even other spirits admitted they were fierce.
But in the end…
the Dhamma cannot be defeated.
Dhamma conquers non-Dhamma.
Sprites, ghosts, and woodland deities
all bow in reverence to monastic practitioners who practice the Dhamma."
Luang Pu Somkiat Chitmaro
Wat Pa Tham Phra Thep Nimit, Udon Thani
October 4, 2025
Ajahn Keng 曾教導， 念誦一樣東西將能心想事成，是什麼？
Itipiso (佛隨念)！
大師父也教導Laung por Thongdaeng ，沒有什麼厲害得過itipiso 了，itipiso 是最厲害的了
這是很具威力的‘咒語‘
法句經義註Dārusākaṭikaputtavatthu 曾經記載一個故事：
在王舍城中，正見者之子和邪見者之子這兩個孩子經常一起玩骰子。他們中的正見者之子投擲骰子時，心念佛隨念，並說“禮敬佛陀”，隨後才投擲骰子。另一人則針對外道的德行而說“禮敬阿拉漢”，隨後才投擲。他們中的正見者之子獲勝，而另一人則落敗。
那[邪見者之子]見到正見者之子的行為後，[心想：]「此人如此隨念並如此說完，投擲骰子時就擊敗了我，我也要像[此人]那樣作---大家可以看到，念誦itipiso 的功德能夠帶來吉祥好運的效果和果報
後來有一天，他的父親駕車去[運]木柴時，也帶著那個孩子前去。他們用森林中的木柴裝滿貨車返回時，於城外墳場周圍的一處有水的怡人之地，解開牛後用了餐。
當時，他的那些牛與傍晚時分入城的牛一起進入城市。車夫也緊跟著牛入了城，傍晚找到牛並趕著[它們]離開時，來不及到達城門。那位[車夫]尚未到達，城門就關閉了。
當時，他的兒子在夜晚時分獨自一人躺在貨車下方，進入了睡眠。然而，王舍城本來就有許多非人，這個[孩子]又睡在墳場附近。那裡有兩位非人見到了他。一位是像教法的尖刺那樣的邪見者，一位是正見者。其中的邪見者說：
“這人是我們的食物，我們吃掉他吧。”
另一人則阻止道：“夠了！你不要樂於[殺生]。”
即使在被那[正見者]阻止，邪見者仍不聽從他的話，他抓住孩子的腳，提了起來。那個[孩子]因習慣於修佛隨念，就在那一刻說：“禮敬佛。”
非人嚇壞了，退後站著。當時，另一位[正見者]對他說：「我們作了不當之事，我們要向他贖罪。」隨後，就站著保護他。邪見者入城，將國王的餐盤裝滿食物並帶來。
當時，兩位[非人]就變化成父母的樣子給他餵食。 「讓國王見到這些文字，別讓其他人看見。」[如此決意後]他們以亞卡的威力，在餐盤上刻下了文字以說明那事情經過，並將盤子放入柴車，作完整夜的守護後，離開了。
隔天，“盜賊從王宮中盜走了餐具”，[人們]如此喧嘩著關上城門，由於未在那[城中]發現[盜賊]，就出城四處尋找時，見到了柴車中的金盤，“這人是盜賊”，就抓住了那個孩子給國王看。
國王看見文字，詢問：「這是什麼，孩子？」「我不知道，大王。我的父母前來，於夜間給我餵食，並站著保護[我]，我正是[思惟]'我的父母在保護我'才不畏懼，並進入夢鄉。
國王知道那事情經過後，帶著他們三人去到導師跟前，告知了一切，並詢問：“尊者，唯有佛隨念才是保護嗎？還是說法隨念等也是呢？”
於是，導師對他說：「大王，不只佛隨念是保護，若人以六種方法善修心，他們就不用別的保護、防衛、咒語和藥物了。」隨後，開示六種業處，誦出這些偈頌：
296.
suppabuddhaṃ pabujjhanti, sadā gotamasāvakā,
yesaṃ divā ca ratto ca, niccaṃ buddhagatā sati.
果德瑪弟子，恆常善覺醒；
彼等日與夜，常修佛至念。
297.
suppabuddhaṃ pabujjhanti, sadā gotamasāvakā,
yesaṃ divā ca ratto ca, niccaṃ dhammagatā sati.
果德瑪弟子，恆常善覺醒；
彼等日與夜，常修法至念。
298.
suppabuddhaṃ pabujjhanti, sadā gotamasāvakā,
yesaṃ divā ca ratto ca, niccaṃ saṅghagatā sati.
果德瑪弟子，恆常善覺醒；
彼等日與夜，常修僧至念。
299.
suppabuddhaṃ pabujjhanti, sadā gotamasāvakā,
yesaṃ divā ca ratto ca, niccaṃ kāyagatā sati.
果德瑪弟子，恆常善覺醒；
彼等日與夜，常修身至念。
300.
suppabuddhaṃ pabujjhanti, sadā gotamasāvakā,
yesaṃ divā ca ratto ca, ahiṃsāya rato mano.
果德瑪弟子，恆常善覺醒；
彼等日與夜，心樂於無害。
301.
suppabuddhaṃ pabujjhanti, sadā gotamasāvakā,
yesaṃ divā ca ratto ca, bhāvanāya rato mano.
果德瑪弟子，恆常善覺醒；
彼等日與夜，心樂於禪修。
大家可以看見，當我們念誦itipiso 的時候，連那些有邪念的餓鬼夜叉也會害怕。因為我們在憶念召喚佛陀的德行。心中有佛法的人，誰傷害他，誰就會倒霉。 念誦itipiso 確實具備保護作用，對於知得比人類多的鬼神，他們對於itipiso 的力量尤其忌畏。
Por khao wanchart yimme 曾開示說，‘buddho‘ （佛隨念之一） 是所有非人都會害怕的，餓鬼、阿修羅啊，任何死去的鬼都好，都不能親近。那些大師父他們一個人住在森林。那些阿修羅、鬼啊，都不敢去靠近，就是因為他有’buddho‘ .
其實有許多大師父祝福佛牌，或者念誦祝福，都離不開itipiso 許多都是以佛隨念的功德來祝福您。
有些人很追捧的，被luang por lersi lingdam 開發來保護信徒免受巫術侵擾的鑽石鎧甲護身符，其實都是itipiso 來的，有itipiso 的經文在裡面。
有一次，有人供養食物給Luang por Lersi lingdam ,luang por 看見這次的米飯特別精緻，很不對勁，便知道可能被下巫術了。 他便用水灑上「Itipiso「經文作聖水，沒說什麼，心中念著佛陀的功德。一灑水下去，那白米飯立刻變成了沙子，原本的完好魚肉也變成瞭如小指般長的刺。如果luang por 吃了下去，腸子可就要壞了
又有一次，有人送來一塊皮墊，讓luang por lersi lingdam坐著吃飯。剛開始那皮墊還很大，但越坐越小，最後只剩下膝蓋那麼大了。再這樣下去，恐怕它會一直縮到luang por 屁股裡去，入侵Luang por 的身體，然後死了。見情況不對，luang por 便取了水，想著佛陀的功德，口中念"Itipiso"，灑點水在上面，那皮墊立刻變回原本尺寸。
Itipiso 具有解除巫術，護衛的作用。好過大家去學外道的什麼巫術，什麼咒語。
Ajahn Golf 在馬來西亞也有教導信徒念誦Itipiso --其實luang por lersi lingdam 說這是在修定/禪修。luang por 引述閻羅王說，佛法僧隨念的功德非常大。
那些天人非常喜歡別人念經，尤其是是那些讚頌三寶的經文。
‘這些讚歎三寶的文句，閻羅王和天神也是很注重的，誰會念的話，他們也是會尊重的’ --Ajahn Golf 說
Ajahn Golf 說，‘我們念經的時候，就是在讚頌佛陀三寶，就會讓我們的心清涼平靜下來。然後這樣地念的話，也會受到人類跟天人的愛戴的。‘ –ok ,所以念誦itipiso 另一個好處，就是受人類和天神喜歡愛戴。Ajahn Golf 是深藏不露的大師父，有很多能力他都有，他都看到知道，只不過沒有公開說出來而已。
Ajahn Golf 也說，‘如果我們一直念經，憶念到三寶，天神知道也會隨喜。福報也會照顧我們，天神也會守護我們。‘ ---看，連天神也會守護我們，還要入什麼外道的教來乞求天神的保護嗎？
就如佛陀所說，以六種方法善修心，已經勝於任何的保護、防衛、咒語和藥物了。
佛隨念是其一
僧隨念也是
法隨念也是
身至念也是
心樂於無害也是
心樂於禪修也是
身至念，義註指是三十二身分，觀想屍體，四界分別等等身念住培育正念的方法
心樂於無害-義註解釋是悲心禪
心樂於禪修-義註解釋是慈心禪
簡而言之，只要常憶念三寶，修身念住去除對身體的執著讓自己變得勇敢，常修慈悲—那麼什麼非人，什麼邪靈，什麼冤親債主，什麼巫術，什麼降頭，都不會奈得你何。
佛隨念是無敵的咒語，大家應該多修，放時間在這裡
佛隨念內容：
Itipiso bhagavā arahaṃ sammāsaṃbuddho
vijjācaraṇasaṃpanno sugato lokavidū
anuttarapurisadammasārathī
satthā devamanussānaṃ buddho bhagavā ti.
Ajahn Anan 佛隨念YouTube
《Ghosts》
The so-called ghosts that play tricks or scare people do not actually torment humans; I understand this matter about ghosts very well.
Those who can trick us must be deities. If the beings are lower than deities, they cannot play tricks on us because they are also in pain.
These hungry ghosts are in great pain, very hungry, and very anxious, so they do not play tricks on people.
The asuras are also hungry, and they do not want more people to see them.
The ones that can manifest shapes are definitely wandering spirits. These spirits have lighter suffering but are still hungry. When they are hungry, they hope we will help them. When they come and appear over there, in fact, they are not really there.
At the moment they appear, we can know who this ghost is, right? If we immediately dedicate our merits, they will instantly receive them.
I have asked them about this; I asked them, and they said, “There is no time to play tricks.”
When I asked them, “Why have you come to manifest?”
They replied, “We are currently hungry and hope to receive help.”
But ghosts know this! Why can’t everyone see ghosts? It is not the case that everyone can see them; those who lack sufficient merits cannot help them. If they manifest to be seen, they gain no benefit, and they know this.
Secondly, there are many people with merits who can help them well. However, they also do not have the opportunity to come on that day; they too depend on timing.
Some people have a lot of merits but have no connection with them; they have never had a relationship with them in past or present lives, so they have no right to request merits from them. They will only manifest when qualified individuals who can request merits appear.
Now we need to adjust our attitude; when dedicating merits, we do not have to wait until after doing good deeds. At that time, we already have merits, and they will come to request merits; we should dedicate them to them immediately.
Think in your heart: “Whatever merits I have done, no matter how many, I wish to dedicate them to you; may you rejoice in these merits.”
That’s all; it’s simple to say. There is no need to recite "Imina *** (dedication text)"; reciting it will not allow the ghosts to take another portion. Just speak directly in Thai(or our language).
Excerpt from Luang Por Lersi Lingdam Wat Thasung
"Teachings on Liberation," Issue 268, Pages 73-74
《鬼》
所謂的鬼作弄/嚇人，其實鬼並不會作弄人，我對鬼的事情很了解。
那些能作弄我們的，這必定是天神。如果是低過天神的眾生，這些是無法捉弄我們的，因為他們都有著痛苦。
這些餓鬼們，非常痛苦、非常饑餓、非常焦慮，因此他們不會戲弄人。
阿修羅們也有饑餓，這些阿修羅們更不希望讓更多的人看到。
能夠顯現身形的，必然是遊魂們。這些遊魂們有較輕的痛苦，但會饑餓。當饑餓的時候，就希望我們去幫助他們。當到來時，現身在那邊時，事實上他們並不在那邊。
當他們現身的那一刻，我們就能知道這鬼魂是誰，對吧？如果當下立刻回向功德，他們當下便能立刻得到。
這件事我曾經問過他們了，問他們，他們說：「沒有時間去作弄。」
問他們：「你們來現身做什麼？」
他們回答：「現在正在餓著，希望得到他們的幫忙。」
但鬼他們是知道的！為什麼不是每個人都能看到鬼？這並非所有人都看得到的情況是這樣的，沒有足夠功德的人，無法幫助他們。如果他們顯現出來讓人看到，他們也沒有任何好處，這他們是知道的。
然後第二，有很多功德的人，可以很好地幫助他們。但他們在那天也沒有機會前來，他們一樣也需要依靠時機的。
有些人有很多的功德，但和他們沒緣，從未在前世或今生和他們有過關係，他們就無權向他們請求功德。需要靠有符合資格，可以請求功德的人們出現時，他們才會現身。
現在我們需要重新調整態度，當回向功德時，不用等去做功德之後。在那時，我們已經具足功德了，他們才會來請求功德，當下就回向給他們吧。
在心裡想着說：「我所做的功德，無論有多少都好，我願意回向給你，願你隨喜功德。」
就這樣而已，簡單的去說。不用去念 "Imina *** (回向文)"，念了鬼也無法再拿一份，這不直接，直接用泰語（或自己地方的語言）吧。
摘自 龍婆Lersi Lingdam Wat Thasung
《佛法解脫》第268期，第73-74頁
#听僧说
There was a young man here, one of the first monks ever to come here before I came, and he was a disciple of this Ajahn Tate. Unfortunately, he passed away, but he told really amazing stories. He was sent to one of these monasteries in Thailand which was quite well known for having many spirits there.
One day he was sitting in meditation in his hut as a young monk, and like we all do, he got tired. Sometimes meditation gives you energy, but sometimes you're tired. So he leaned against the wall and put his feet out. Then he felt something grab his foot and pull it. He thought, "This must be a heavenly being because it's waking me up, making me more diligent." He wasn't scared at all; he was actually quite happy something was helping him. It kept coming into his hut many times. But then it started coming in with a bad smell, like rotting corpses, and he realized this wasn't a heavenly being—it was a ghost. What he did next, I really praise him for; it was a wonderful response. He was sitting there and could smell this being enter the room; it was always teasing him. He had another meditation cushion next to him, empty. He told this ghost, "You're welcome in here, but you sit down and stop messing about. You meditate, or else get out." He was firm. Because he was firm, that ghost left and never came back again.
So, here's one of my stories. I already mentioned I was interested in ghosts. I wasn't scared of them; I'd love to see them. One of the monks in Thailand—he passed away soon afterwards—a forest monk, I went to see him in my fifth or sixth year as a monk. I was walking on a long walk, two days until the next big town, Sakon. I asked him, "It's a long way I'm walking. Do you know a nice cave?" (I love caves.) "Is there a nice cave about halfway on the journey? "
He said, "Yes, there is. But please be careful. Make sure your practice is good because many monks have gone into that cave. There's a spirit in there, a ghost in there, and they've gone crazy." When you hear from such a well-known senior monk there's a ghost in the cave, you believe them. Often people say there's a ghost somewhere and there's none at all—it's disappointing. But I went there, and when I got to the nearest village I asked to be shown the way to this cave. It was well known. A layperson took me there (you also check in with them because they will give you a meal the next morning). The cave was really dark but beautiful. There was a spring outside with clean water to wash, and inside was a very old Buddha statue. It was one of those caves used for decades or centuries by wandering monks (tudong monks). There was a nice bench to sleep on above the ground. Great. I'd been walking all day, it was very hot, I was tired. But nevertheless, I really wanted to see a ghost. The villager obviously believed there was a ghost because he couldn't get out of there quick enough. He also told me deeper in the cave was a skeleton—someone had died there.
I sat on that seat in the evening, waiting for the ghost. I waited and waited, probably a couple of hours meditating. My meditation was good. After a couple of hours, tired from walking, I laid down to rest. I hadn't laid down for about one second—my head hit the pillow—and then something came running really fast towards me in the dark (no electric lights, I had my flashlight). You could hear it clearly running right up to me and then stopping right in front. It's a ghost? You know what I said? Honestly, I said, "Ghost, you should respect monks more. You waited all this time to come and meet me? I've been waiting for you a couple of hours. Get out of here!" Then I just closed my eyes and went to sleep. The ghost was very fed up with me; it never came again. That's how to treat ghosts: be firm. Afterwards, I kind of thought maybe I should have chatted with it for a couple of minutes, but it just went. I have lots of nice ghost stories like that.
---Ajahn Brahm
2025 October (3/18) | 9 day Retreat | Ajahn Brahm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvLPf3YZjaI&list=PLf9HOK_Rf1M64DjGAtJ-I0-xNRgPiP3Sr&index=3
這裡曾經有位年輕人，是在我來之前最早到此的僧侶之一，他是阿姜塔特的弟子。不幸的是他已過世，但他講過一些非常精彩的故事。他曾被派往泰國一間以多有靈體著稱的寺院。
有一天，他作為年輕比丘正在自己的小屋中禪坐，就像我們所有人都會經歷的一樣，他感到疲倦了。禪坐有時給人能量，但有時卻令人疲憊。於是他靠著牆，把腳伸出去。接著他感覺到有東西抓住他的腳並拉扯。他想：「這一定是位天人，因為祂正在喚醒我，讓我更精進。」他一點也不害怕；反而很高興有東西在幫助他。那東西多次進入他的小屋。但後來祂開始帶著一股惡臭進來，像是腐爛的屍體，他這才明白這不是天人——是鬼魂。他接下來的應對，我十分讚歎；那真是絕妙的回應。他坐在那裡，聞到這個存在進入房間；祂總是在戲弄他。他身旁有另一個空的禪坐墊。他對這個鬼魂說：「你可以待在這裡，但你要坐下來，別再胡鬧！你要麼禪坐，要麼就離開！」他很堅定。正因為他的堅定，那個鬼魂離開了，再也沒有回來過。
那麼，以下是其中一個我的故事。我提過我對鬼魂很有興趣。我不怕它們；我樂於見到它們。泰國有一位僧侶——他不久後便過世了——是位森林比丘，在我出家第五或第六年時，我去拜訪他。當時我正在長途步行，距離下一個大城沙功還有兩天路程。我問他：「我還要走很長的路。你知道有什麼不錯的洞穴嗎？（我喜歡洞穴。）這段路中途附近有好的洞穴嗎？」
他說：「有的，有一個。但請務必小心。確保你的修行是好的，因為很多比丘進去那個洞穴後，都發瘋了。那裡有靈體，有鬼魂。」當你從這樣一位知名資深比丘口中聽到洞穴裡有鬼，你會相信他。常常有人說某處有鬼，結果根本沒有——令人失望。但我還是去了，到了最近的村莊，我請人指引我去那個洞穴的路。它很有名。一位居士帶我過去（你也會和他們報備，因為他們隔天早上會供養你早餐）。洞穴裡非常黑暗，但很美。外面有一道泉水，水很乾淨可以洗漱，裡面則有一尊非常古老的佛像。那是那種數十年或數百年來，行腳僧（頭陀僧）使用的洞穴之一。裡面有一張不錯的長凳，可以離地而睡。太好了。我走了一整天，天氣很熱，我很累。但儘管如此，我真的很想見到鬼。那位村民顯然相信那裡有鬼，因為他恨不得馬上離開。他還告訴我，洞穴深處有一具骨骸——有人死在那裡。
傍晚，我坐在那張長凳上，等待鬼魂。我等啊等，可能禪坐了幾個小時。我的禪修狀態很好。幾個小時後，走路的疲憊襲來，我躺下休息。我躺下大概不到一秒——頭剛碰到枕頭——黑暗中（沒有電燈，我帶著手電筒）就有東西朝我飛快地跑來。你可以清楚地聽到它直奔我而來，然後就停在我正前方。是鬼嗎？你知道我說了什麼嗎？老實說，我說：「鬼啊，你應該更尊敬比丘。你等了這麼久才來見我？我可是等了你幾個小時。出去！」然後我就閉上眼睛睡覺了。那鬼魂對我十分厭煩；再也沒出現過。這就是應對鬼魂的方法：要堅定。事後我有點想，或許我該跟它聊個幾分鐘，但它就這麼走了。我有很多像這樣不錯的鬼故事。
---阿姜布拉姆
2025年十月 (3/18) | 9日禪修營 | 阿姜布拉姆
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvLPf3YZjaI&list=PLf9HOK_Rf1M64DjGAtJ-I0-xNRgPiP3Sr&index=3