Do Buddhists Believe in Ghosts?
Buddhists living in traditional Buddhist countries in Asia, however, blend a rich variety of beliefs from folk religion with Buddhism. If we look at the original scriptures of Buddhism, we find that it is not so “modern,” that is, free of superstition, as some Buddhists in Europe, Great Britain, and the United States may wish it were. In many countries, Buddhists observe a range of superstition, involving amulets for good luck, curses, ghosts, and witchcraft. Superstitious beliefs are woven into the whole fabric of Buddhist faith and practice. Some of these ideas, such as the belief in ghosts, can be traced to Buddhist scriptures. Buddhism inherited many ideas and words from Hinduism, including the idea of troublesome ghosts. The life as a ghost came to be considered a distinct rebirth for working out bad karma in dreadful places where they eat dreadful foods, including corpses. The best known of these ghosts are the “hungry ghosts.” These ghosts are identified by huge, bloated bellies
