http://book.bfnn.org/books3/2046.htm#a062

62、在民間信仰中，有時會見到乩童有佛陀附體或問米姑請來祖先的魂魄附體，與陽間的人對話，這些 是不是真 的呢？

Question 62: In the folk beliefs, sometimes we see mediums channeling the Buddha or old women inviting the spirits of ancestors to possess them, so as to communicate with humans. Are these real?

這類民間信仰不單在漢地盛行，在西藏甚至西方的先進國家也都有類似的靈媒。佛陀等聖眾絕不可能 附在凡夫的身 上與人溝通，他們也並非呼之則來、揮之則去，任靈媒差遣的。如果佛陀有必要與凡夫溝通，也必定 不需經過這樣 的媒介途徑。佛陀就是有圓滿力量者，他不需依賴凡夫的協助，這一點是顯而易見的。但在六道中， 有一些眾生的 確有少許神通能力，他們有時會附在某些人的身上，藉而得到一些利益。在這樣的情況下，他們或許 冒充聖眾的身 份，以欺騙無知的信眾。至於祖先附身的情況，我們要知道人在死後便會投生於六道中的其中一道， 其轉生的中間 過程稱為「中陰」，頂多也不過七個星期，此乃佛陀所親說的。我們的祖先死後，不可能全都變為鬼 魂，日夜無所 事事地等著靈媒召喚。即使祖先墮入了餓鬼道，也並不代表他們必定記得前世的事情，而且也不一定 能在人間自由 穿插。上述的情況，相信有很大部份屬於騙局。但也的確有一些餓鬼道的眾生是有少許神通的。它們 並非我們的祖 先，但它們以它們有限的神通能得知我們祖先在生時的一些情況，所以能冒充為我們祖先而博取我們 的同情及信任 ，從而求取欲需的物品，這種情況在西藏也曾發生過。總而言之，如果我們明白佛陀等聖眾的功德及 六道輪迴的教 法，便不會被這些靈媒騙上（有些靈媒本身也是被騙的受害者，以為自己真的有佛陀附身）。我們修 行的人，要依 靠正信的書刊及正信的見解，不要隨便見到、聽到什麼便盲目地相信，否則吃虧的是自己！

Answer: This kind of belief concerning mediums is not only popular among the Hans (Chinese) but also in Tibet and even in advance countries of the West. Buddha and other Sacred Ones will never possess the body of a human and use this body to communicate with others. The Holy Ones are not entities at the beck and call of a medium. Even if the Buddha wanted to communicate with humans, there is also no need for them to do so for the sake of having an outlet for communication.

Buddha is someone with perfect capabilities, there is no need for him to rely on the assistance of a common human being. This is something that is obvious for all to see.

However, in the six realms of samsara, some beings might have a little supernatural power. They may possess a human being and thru this, try to get some benefits. When this happened, they might use the names of the Holy Ones and don this identity to con ignorant beings.

As for the case of ancestors possessing others, we have to understand that when a person die, he/she will be reborn in one of the six realms, before this rebirth, there is this "intermediate state", the entire process last at most 49 days. This was what the Buddha taught.

After our ancestors died, they could not all become ghosts, sitting around, waiting for the summon of the mediums. Even if the ancestors had been reborn into the hungry ghost realm, there is no garantee that he/she will remember their past lives and are able to come to the human realm as and when they like to.

What you saw should mostly be fictitious and false. However, it is true that some hungry ghosts have supernatural powers. They are not our ancestors but are able to make use of their limited powers to see the life events of our ancestors. Thus, they are able to gain our trust and sympathy. This way, they will be able to get the things and benefit they want. This had happened in Tibet before.

In short, as long as we understand the powers and merits of the Holy Ones and also the teachings about reincarnation, we will never be conned by these mediums. For some mediums, they themselves are self deluded and really think that the Buddha had possessed them.

We as practitioners, should rely on the proper materials and right understanding. There should not be blind faith after seeing or hearing something, else, you will only stand to lose everything.