Teacher Rui-Lie Lee ???? The Underworld #5, Clever ghost and Foolish ghost 冥界, 聰明鬼與笨鬼

(English subtitles) Lectured by Daoist teacher Rui-Lie Lee (李瑞烈, 1921-2015). Subtitles:
Nowadays, many people are talking about ghosts. But you must be aware that there is more than one kind of ghost. Ghosts are classified into spiritual ghosts, sentient ghosts, and malicious ghosts. Sentient ghosts are not terrible. Spiritual ghosts only come out once each year on the 7th month of the lunar calendar for universal salvation. So spiritual ghosts only come to the human world for one month each year.
1:00
Ghosts gate will open and let spiritual ghosts(souls) out to accept our universal salvation on the 15th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. This is a rare opportunity that happens once a year.
However, strangely enough, if ghosts only hang out in the 7th month, are there no ghosts in the 6th or 8th month? Why are there ghosts everywhere? So you have to understand that only spirit ghosts come out in the 7th month.
As for sentient ghosts, they wander in the society all year round. However, sentient ghosts are not fearful because they are not harmful, and you can make friends with them. They only look for food. If people are making offering to their ancestors, they won't make troubles in the human world.
2:00
If we are worshiping ancestors and making offerings, they won't come out to the human world and cause trouble. If nobody are worshiping ancestors or making offerings at home, the sentient ghosts will cause troubles more or less in the society.
Therefore, some say being frightened and confront the wicked qi. These are confronting sentient ghosts or being tricked by them. But, if you ignore them, they won't play tricks on you. It's said, One is so frightened that a ghost hides at the bottom of his pants. The more you fear, the more he will trick you.
But if you bow to them, ask the Daoist priest to perform a ritual, or make offerings to them,
3:00
the sentient ghosts will be content and will not haunt you because they only beg for food. So if you constantly curry favor with these sentient souls, the so-called good brothers. The more you try to curry favor, the more trouble you'll get into. If you don't curry favor with them, you will have less troubles.
Let me tell you a story about a clever ghost and a foolish ghost. What are a clever ghost and a foolish ghost? It sounds funny, true or false, false or true. It's actually a metaphor, just bear with me.
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Once upon a time, there was a foolish ghost, who couldn't find food and was hungry all the time.
Once, he met a clever ghost and asked: Clever ghost, you looked smart. Your mouth is always greasy. People probably often treat you to meals. But I can't find anything to eat no matter what. The clever said, You are lazy. If you don't go find it, how will you have food to eat?
Where can I find it? You have to trick them. If you scare people and let them be scared, they will curry favor with you.
5:00
The foolish ghost heard that and felt reasonable. One day, he was hiding in a dark alley, waiting to play a trick on someone. He happened to meet a gambler who lost all his money and left in a hurry. The foolish ghost saw this chance and transformed into a rock under his foot. The gambler kicked the rock and felt pain in his toe.
When he saw the stone in the middle of the road, he picked it up and said, "Who put this stone here? It hit me." Then he threw it towards the wall corner and almost broke the ghost's head. The foolish ghost groaned in pain, and then went to the clever ghost: You are short-lived that you taught me to do so.
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I saw a man running out of the house with his eyes wide open and wanted to play a trick on him. So I turned into a stone for him to kick, trying to scare him. Unexpectedly, he was not afraid at all. Instead, he picked me up and tossed me against the wall, and my head was almost broken. So, not only humans need to be clever but also ghosts. If you are like that foolish ghost, you will die and not earn any food. If you play tricks on people like that stupid ghost, you will definitely starve. You must keep your eyes open, and so do the ghost's eyes. You shouldn't toy with gamblers, nor should you toy with those in love. Men and women in love even dare to go to the cemetery. Will they fear ghosts? You can't tease those people.
7:00
The clever ghost said: You are a fool. If you want to play tricks, you should play tricks on those are timid. Teasing children are more effective. Adults have more guts than children. Gamblers are not afraid of heaven or earth. If you play tricks on them, they will mess you up instead. You must look for people who are richer, and children are cuter. If you tease children or frighten them, because parents pamper their children, they will ask deities, pray to the Buddha, and make offerings to you.
The foolish ghost thought it reasonable. So he continued looking and found a cute boy, then he played a trick on him.