About This Answer
Asked why the ceremony to be held the next day is especially meritorious, Ajahn Dtun explains that he comes only once a year. Throughout the year people can offer dāna, food and requisites to the Saṅgha at any time, but a forest-cloth offering happens rarely. It is therefore considered more important, and the merit is greater. People set aside their time and their physical and mental effort and come together to make the offering.
He says that when one takes part in such a ceremony and a member of the Saṅgha who has cleansed the heart of defilements is present, there are often beings present that the eye cannot see. They take note of the people who come and the good they do. It is clearly recorded, and at the time of death they will remind those people of the good they have done.
Along with the cloth, a new, raised base for the principal Buddha image will be offered, together with images he has brought on this trip. These are the Buddha's two chief disciples, Sāriputta and Moggallāna; an image of Jinapañjara in the form of a Brahmin; Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, the Buddha's aunt, who raised him as a mother would; and, in the centre, the great Bodhisatta Luang Pu Thuad. Luang Pu Thuad lived in Thailand about four hundred years ago, developed a great deal of pāramī and is considered to be in line to become a future Buddha. The shrine already held images of Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Chah, whom he regards as his teachers. Paritta chanting will also be offered, as a cause of happiness for human beings and celestial beings.
He says the humans who come will be few compared with the celestial beings who attend. Among them are beings whose job is to keep a record of the good and bad that people do, and the occasion will be clearly recorded as one where those who attended or contributed did great good. He prefers not to say much about things that most people cannot see or hear. Some people will doubt them, and some will criticise them, which is the danger, because by criticising they create kamma for themselves. There is much that people do not know, but if someone tries to explain it to those who cannot see or hear it, they cannot understand and will only have doubts.