Possible for "Hungry Ghosts" to gain path? Possible to help them out?

Question

Is it possible for states/beings of that of hungry ghosts to gain path? Is it possible to help them?

Or is providing food, in the case they had done merits before, all what one could do for them in their state?

For context and understanding, see also: Escape possible for internets “hungry ghost”? and What are the hungry ghosts or hungry shades really?

Answer 1

In the traditional presentation, pretta (hungry ghosts or shadows) are stuck in a (subjective) world where everything is fake, particularly food - including the metaphorical food of love - but also anything of value: gold, gems, everything. Even friendship is fake. Even Dharma is fake.

They see something that looks like it might be real, and being extremely under-nutritioned, they run and eagerly jump on that promissing source of happiness - but alas, as everything else in their world it turns out to be fake.

What's interesting about a pretta state, in their world they have the same sun, same moon, same rain etc. as we have. However, because of their distorted perception, the sun does not warm them, the moon rays burn them, and the rainwater appears as pee.

It is said that the predominant emotions of prettas are those of frustration and disgust, with regular swings of momentary hope and bitter disenchantment mixed in. Because they are ever energy-hungry, they're constantly looking for something, anything (they don't know what), they see something that gives them hope, but when they come closer it looks as fake as everything else.

It is said, that in order to help hungry ghosts, Buddha must lure them with metaphorical gems, lure them with something shiny and valuable. So when Buddha descents to pretta worlds, he wears his best clothes, carries along a very rich entourage, and in general creates a rather strong impression. The goal is to give them confidence in the Buddha (and by extension Dharma) by being rich, happy, satisfied, strong, and stable.

When presenting Dharma to prettas, Buddha emphasizes that Dharma is the only reliable, infallible, invariably true teaching, and the only real, satisfying, nutritious, healthy food.

Prettas crave something real to rely on, so the way to lure them out of their misery is to give them something firm they can hold on to, something that works - but also something that will keep them busy for a long time, so they don't get tired of it and switch back to seeking new food.

Which is why when going to pretta world and teaching prettas, Buddha emphasizes gradual step-by-step practice. Every step must be directly verifiable and practice must have visible outcome, so students have a sense of progress. This sense of progress and pride then becomes their food that finally gives real nutrition.

For example, the first step for pretta may be a vow to not kill dragons. Of course, there are no dragons in the pretta world, so they can't kill them - but by taking this vow and feeling good about successfully keeping it, they start the good cycle. Small wins like this are the kind of steps that provide energy to move in the right direction.

Answer 2

• Don't ask them for more than they can give -- ask for as little as possible -- ask that they be harmless or good perhaps, rather than generous. I think a person might become needy because someone else is always making excessive/impossible demands on them -- make sure that other person isn't you.
• Let them have what they need: food, clothing, shelter, medical care. These are considered "requisites" for monks. Maybe people (e.g. children) benefit from something else too, beyond those requisites -- social security, acceptance ... just basic friendship ... maybe opportunities to be kind, as well.
• Have some faith in their good nature. Instead of trying to control them it may be that, after their needs are taken of, they'll be able to be generous in their own way.
• Be or demonstrate a good example. I think people easily underestimate how important the social environment is, that it's easier to behave badly with people who behave badly and so on. I think that's evident in the modern world -- what people know about education or working together -- and in the suttas. For a similar reason beware of becoming needy yourself -- needy for status for example, for payback. Perhaps the gift you're trying to give is "liberation" or freedom.
• If you'e a householder then consider whether the house is safe, a refuge. I think the suttas teach that "safety" is associated with nibbana and with metta, even so you might keep a house free from "drug taking" (e.g. as mentioned in Dhammadhatu's answer), and/or from "poisons" such as anger.
• I think you have to learn to be not-needy yourself. In swimming (life-saving) class in school we were warned that if you swim out to a drowning person then in their panic they may try to climb on top of you (to climb out of the water) and in doing so push you under-water -- and so instead there are special "life-saving" techniques to learn, to do it safely and/or successfully.
• As for helping them to "gain the path", as well, perhaps that's possible too. Part of it might be changing your own perception again, but to the extent that the Dhamma is "evident" and so on maybe it isn't too difficult to share, with someone who is willing. Explaining it might be harder than understanding it (I think that true of every language, that it's easier to hear than to speak) but reading a text or visiting a teacher together might help sometime[s].

Answer 3

In the paintings of Dependent Origination, the Buddha:

1. Teaches the practise of renunciation to humans.

2. The practise of beautiful behaviour to devas.

3. The practise of morality to animals (such as Angulimala).

4. The practise of generosity to hungry ghosts.

5. The Four Noble Truths of non-attachment to hell beings with heavy dukkha.

Therefore, it appears the Mahayana Tibetans suggest hungry ghosts should practise generosity; to transform their lust for receiving love into the joy of giving love. I have noticed the hungry ghosts I know gain joy when they give me a gift. Hungry ghosts need to connect with other people so giving wholesome gifts & helpful acts (rather than engaging in desperate impulsive casual sex and group drug taking) is a healthy way for hungry ghosts to gain some happiness.

Note: Hungry ghosts should not give gifts of sexual favours to Tibetan lama gurus. This is not wholesome and will lead to more rebirth in hell.

Note: Hungry ghosts won't gain the Noble Path until they are reborn 'human' ('high minded'); until they understand moral right & wrong clearly. If the hungry impulse remains to engage in sexual misconduct & intoxicants, the hungry ghost cannot attain the Noble Path.

Answer 4

OP: Is it possible for states/beings of that of hungry ghosts to gain path?

In Piyankara Sutta (SN 10.6) it has mentioned that Piyankara Mata tell her son that they should abide by precepts to quit from that suffering birth. Even this sutta is categorized under Yakkha Samyutta, it's said that Piyankara Mata is a vimána peta (hungry ghost). The noble eight-fold path is three-folded as moral virtue (sīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (paññā). According to the above sutta, we can say hungry ghosts can at-least follow few steps of noble eight-fold path under the moral virtue category.

OP: Is it possible to help them? Or is providing food, in the case they had done merits before, all what one could do for them in their state?

According to my understanding, only Paradattūpajīvī hungry ghosts can observe transferred merits (Pattānumodanā) by others and have a better status within their realm. So we should transfer our merits (Pattidāna) for their well-being.

Note: This is what I understood. I may be wrong but not Dhamma.