kp.7 Khuddakapatha

The Beyond the Walls Discourse

They stand beyond the walls,
and at the junctions and crossroads,
they stand at the door-posts,
having come to their former homes.

But when abundant food and drink,
both staple and non-staple, is prepared,
no one remembers these
beings, because of their past unwholesome deeds,

Thus those who are compassionate
give to their departed relatives,
at the right time, pure, excellent,
suitable drink and food.

Thinking: “May this go to our relatives,
may our relatives be happy!”
Those who have gathered,
the departed relatives who have assembled
around the food and drink,
respectfully offer their thanks:

saying: “ May our relatives live long!
Those to whom we owe this gain,
for we have been honoured,
those who give are not without reward!”

For in that place there is no ploughing,
and cattle-rearing is not found there,
similarly there is no trading,
or buying and selling of gold.

The departed in that place who have died, have to subsist on gifts.
Just as water that rains on the highlands, flows down to the lowlands,
so too what has been given here
is of benefit to the departed.

Just as rivers that are full
flow and fill up the ocean,
so too what has been given here
is of benefit to the departed.

Thinking: “He gave to me, he worked for me,
he was my relative, my friend, my companion,”
he should give gifts for the departed,
remembering what they have done before.

For no tears, or grief,
or any other lamentations,
are of any use to the departed,
as long as their relatives continue grieving in this way.

But that gift that has been given,
and well placed in the Sangha,
is of benefit to them for a long time,
immediately it is of benefit.

This then is the definition of a relative’s duties—
and by this great honour has been done to the departed,
strength has also been given to the monks,
and no little merit has been produced by you!

The Beyond the Walls Discourse is Finished

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Outside the Walls

Outside the walls they stand and wait,
at the junctions and the crossroads.
Returning to their former homes
they wait beside the door posts.
But when lavish food and drink
of many kinds is set out,
no-one remembers them at all,
because of those beings’s deeds.
That’s why those who have compassion
give to their relatives
food and drink at the right time,
that’s clean, delicious, and suitable.
“May this be for our relatives!
May our relatives be happy!”
Those ghosts who have gathered there,
the departed relatives who have come
for the lavish food and drink
gratefully express appreciation:
“May our relatives live long!
For those to whom we owe this gain,
who have given honor to us,
it will not be fruitless for the donor.”
There is no farming there,
no cow pasture can be found;
likewise there’s no trading,
and no commerce in gold.
The departed, the dead in that place
live on what is given here.
Just as water that rains on high
flows down to the plains,
so too what is given here
aids the departed ghosts.
Just as the rivers full
swell the ocean seas
so too what is given here
aids the departed ghosts.
Thinking: “They gave to me, they did for me,
they were my family, friend, companion”,
give offerings to departed kin,
remembering past deeds.
For neither tears nor grief
or other lamentations
are of any use to the departed,
so long as their relatives stay like this.
This offering that has been given,
well placed in the Saṅgha,
is for their lasting welfare,
and aids them right away.
The relative’s duty has now been shown:
how high honor to departed is performed,
how the mendicants can be kept healthy,
and how no little merit is produced by you.