--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "junet9876" <junet9876@...> wrote:

>
>
> Hi,
>
> I've always wondered about this.
>
> First reading makes sense, but on a second reading...
> > But she said it helps to concentrate the mind on the thoughts of
> > anumodana. One can see this.
>
> helps who concentrate? If we're the ones pouring water, we're not

the

> ones who are supposed to be doing the anumodana, but those beings
> we are transferring the merit to are supposed to be rejoicing
> (anumodana). The person pouring the water is transferring the

merit.

>
> Correct me if I am wrong.
> ===============

Dear June,
I abbreviated a bit, by anumodana in this case I meant the act of
bringing attention to the dana.
No one can make another have anomodana but we can know our own
citta, and whether another being rejoices is not the main point- it
is whether the citta is kusala. If the action is done purely as a
ritual then it is akusala, but it can be done with the genuine wish
that others rejoice in the merit of our actions.
We have no way of knowing if petas are having anumodana, but we
still benefit by the kusala done.
robert