Ordination protects parents from hell

Discussion of ordination, the Vinaya and monastic life. How and where to ordain? Bhikkhuni ordination etc.
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TRobinson465
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Ordination protects parents from hell

Post by TRobinson465 »

Hello Dhamma friends and foes,

I keep hearing that there is this belief that the incredible merit accumulated by ordaining under a Lord Buddha can even protect your parents (not just yourself) from falling into a hell realm. In fact from what i have heard this is one of the bases for the common practice of Thai men taking up short term ordination in Thai culture.

I think this does sorta make sense since it would be logical that the merit of ordaining as a serious monk would likely be one of the greatest merits one can perform and parents have a special role in sacrificing a huge amount of thier time and money to raising thier kids.

So far I have only found one thing that supports this notion, excerpt below.
The text relates a story, purportedly told by the Buddha himself
when he was living near Savatthi, of a young man, Prince Mahinda
(Mahinda kumiiva), who wanted to be a monk. However, his parents
held false beliefs (micchddit[hika), and his father, in particular, was a
hunter and a cruel man who had no faith in the Three Gems. Denied
his parents' permission to become a bhikkhu on every occasion that he
asked, the young man became very despondent and went on a fast.

After seven days, his mother could no longer remain passive at the
sight of her son wasting away and so she showed mercy ( N T indlr) on
him and granted him permission to be ordained. The son immediately
became happy and asked that his mother take him to enter the religion
under the direction of a learned bhikkhu ( N T khrirbii phikkhu song).
The next part of the text concerns the preparations of the young
man for entering the Sangha and his transformation into a siimanera, a
novice. While her son was in the process of becoming a member of the
Order, his mother continued about her everyday tasks.
One day while in the woods gathering firewood, she grew tired and
stopped to take a rest. She fell asleep, and while in that state she was
visited by a servant of Yama, the Lord of Hell (naraka). He asked her if
she had done any acts of merit (puiiiia) while in the human world.
When she responded that she had not, the servant of Yama tied her up
and told her he would take her to Hell. When she saw the flames of
Hell she said that they were a beautiful yellow like her son's robes
when he entered the Sangha.
Lord Yama consulted the documents and found that the woman
had committed the actions of demerit (piipa) by holding to false views
(micchiiditthi). He then struck her mouth three times with a piece of
wood and then took her and cast her toward Hell. Just at that moment
there appeared a beautiful golden lotus as big as a cart wheel that
spread out to catch her. Seeing her protected from the fires of Hell,
Lord Yama was truly amazed. He brought her back and said that he
could not understand, since the documents showed that she had acted
demeritoriously and he had tried to place her in Hell. Why then have
you not suffered? he asked. You must tell me, he said, whether in fact
you did any meritorious acts in your lifetime.
The woman then addressed Lord Yama in a respectful manner and
said: I neither did any act of merit nor observed any of the moral
precepts (sila) while in the human world. I do have one astute jewellike
son who entered the religion (siisana) of the Buddha and has
become a mendicant (samana) and intends to become a bhikkhu. He
lives in the great city of Savatthi. I have told you all my kamma, she
concluded.
The woman was returned to the human world and she then
reported what had happened to her son. He realized that having gone
forth as a novice, he was able to show compassion and help (NTphZt)
his mother. Then, he thought, I will become a monk in order to help
my father.
After being ordained as a bhikkhu, he undertook to follow the
practice by observing strictly all of the virtues incumbent upon a
monk, by study of the scriptures, and by meditation. Shortly after the
young man's ordination, his father died. Because of his demeritorious
action, the father became a ghost (petta visaya). He made his state
known to his son, who then undertook to extend compassion (metta)
toward his father. After receiving morning alms, he transferred the
merit of the alms to his parents through the pouring of a libation (NT
ydt nam).
As the result of these acts, his father was immediately released from
his loathsome state (NTpZt) and was reborn a deva in heaven (NT
mgang fd) and livcd in a palace fifteen yojanas high. His mother
through merit-building also attained the same place, that is, in the
Tivatirksa heaven. The merit which attached to the parents ensured
that they livcd for a long time.
Karma: An Anthropological Inquiry by Charles Keyes, p276-278

I'm curious if anyone has found any other sources on this idea of parents being protected by the ordination merit of thier children; sutta, commentarial or otherwise.
"Do not have blind faith, but also no blind criticism" - the 14th Dalai Lama

"The Blessed One has set in motion the unexcelled Wheel of Dhamma that cannot be stopped by brahmins, devas, Maras, Brahmas or anyone in the cosmos." -Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
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S. Johann
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Re: Ordination protects parents from hell

Post by S. Johann »

So told, so said, it's actually more then doubtful (incl. the story; given alone that one in hell is not able to receive relatives shares), good householder, but no doubt that a childs going forth benefits most possible parents.

On this account maybe some words here for inspiration: [Q&A] Transfering merits - Can one transfer the merits from ordination?
and
[Q&A] Where does the believe "monks mother will be reborn in heaven" come from?
You may make use of this account as wished for good, it's a cast off one. Password: 12345678. As the good stuff gets usually censured here, good if being quick to find ways out.
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