> The impetus behind this request is a practice at my local Buddhist
> Temple. (I'm fortunate to have Wat Carolina Buddhajakra Vanaram
> only
> 20 miles or so from my home.) The practice is referred to as
> "lustral
> waters" and involves the pouring of water from one vessel to another
> as
> the monks chant in Pali. It has been explained to me that the
> practice
> transfers one's own merit to a person, alive or dead, of one's
> choosing.
>
> I understand the strong human need for such a practice. On the
> other
> hand, it appears to me un-Buddhist, not un-Buddhist in that
> Buddhists
> shouldn't do this but un-Buddhist in that the practice isn't
> supported
> by the Pali Texts.

Dear Paul,

You shouldn't say this... it is supported by the Pali Texts:

Yathaa vaarivahaa puuraa
Paripuurenti saagara"m
Evameva ito dinna"m
Petaana"m upakappati

Just as rivers full of water
fill the ocean full,
Even so does that here given
benefit the dead.

Khuddakapaa.tha 7

The pouring of water is a symbolic act of giving - just as the water
poured here goes down to fill the glass, so to does the goodness
gained have a ripple effect - any hungry ghosts hanging around that
express "anumodana" will surely benefit from the gift as well.

Also, there are three cetana in an act of giving:

cetana before giving
cetana during giving
cetana after giving

to support these three cetana, we have to use both body and speech:

before giving, we should make some formal request by way of speech,
holding up the object to be offered. This supports the cetana before
giving, by way of body and speech.

during giving, we should offer the gift respectfully, and silently
make a mental determination. This is supporting the cetana during
giving.

after giving, we should rejoice in the gift given, both by words of
determination (you might notice some murmering during the pouring of
water), and by act, here the symbolic pouring of the water. This
supports the cetana after giving.

Symbolic acts are common in religion, and are found in the Pali canon.
Eg when Rahula Thera threw a pile of sand up into the air, saying,
"may I receive as many admonishments as there are grains of sand
here!"

> I did ask the Abbot about this but he responded with a story of how
> as
> a young monk he asked Buddhadassa a question and was sent away
> without
> any response.

Maybe this monk is wiser than me :)

> I know many of you are familiar with Thai Buddhism and I would
> appreciate your response.

Remember, cetana is karma. you should ask yourself not "is this act
Buddhist?" but ask "is the hearts of the actors pure or impure?" At
the time of dedicating merit, I think the minds of the actors is often
quite pure. Consider meditation - why do we just walk back and forth?
Isn't that a meaningless ritual? It's ones cetana that counts.

Sorry, actually you were asking for quotes... here's one:

"Yaadisa.m vapate biija.m, taadisa.m harate phala.m;
kalyaa.nakaarii kalyaa.na.m, paapakaarii ca paapaka.m;"

"Whichever seed he plants, soever is the fruit he reaps;
Who acts in a beautiful way, beauty; who acts in an evil way, evil."

Sagathavagga 11.1.10

kalyaa.na.m hotu,

Yuttadhammo