The precept treatise stipulated that the Buddhist followers believe that there are evil spirits2, for there is a legend which is told as follows: In the era of the Buddha named Phossa (Bossa), Pimpisa, who reincarnated as a chief clerk of a King, and many relatives managed the food offerings for the disciples, when in holy faith the Buddha named "Phossa" was the head of his monastery for three months.
When going to prepare the offerings, some relatives had small children go with them, and those children asked for food in the offerings. The relatives were scornful, for the food for the Buddha and the disciples was taken for their children and themselves, while only the remains were offered to the Buddha and the disciples.
When they died, they became a group of evil creatures that were always hungry. They were all crying with hunger, with tears covering their skinny bodies. Some evil creatures could not stand the hunger. They wanted to end their lives, but they could not have it ended. They tore their own flesh and suffered while getting blood for food. And some other evil creatures ate carrion, and held pus in their mouths, and scabs.
Since they were overwhelmed with hunger, they went into the dwelling place of the Buddha under the name of Kakosunthoa and begged him for food. The Buddha said, "Folk, in our religion, you will not have any food." Hearing this, they burst into tears and asked, "My Buddha, when can we eat some delicious food?" The Buddha responded, "From now till the earth grows for one yoach (approximately 16km)3, there will be another reincarnation of Buddha under the name Koanea Keakmono who will be enlightened in the world. You will have to wait and ask that Buddha."
When the earth had grown for one yoach (approximately 16km) and the Buddha under the name Koanea Keakmono got enlightened, those evil creatures went in and asked him, "When can we have some food?" The Buddha responded, "You folk have to wait and ask the next reincarnation of Buddha under the name Kassaboa who will be enlightened in this world. The evil creatures then went to ask the enlightened Buddha in the next reincarnation, "Folk, you cannot have food in the religion of this reincarnation of the Buddha. However, you will have food in the religion of the following Buddha reincarnation under the name Koadom who will be enlightened. At that time, your relative, King Pimpisa, will dedicate the food to you folk."
Having heard that, the evil creatures were so happy, for they expected that they would have food soon." When the Buddha in the reincarnation as Samanak Koadom, our present teacher, became enlightened, the evil creatures went into the dwelling place of Buddha at dawn and asked for food. Buddha answered with a smile, "In the religion of the reincarnation as Koadom, you can have food." The evil creatures responded, "We have been waiting for many reincarnations of Buddha and we have never seen any food for us. Where's the food? Where is the scent of the white rice we want to smell?" The Buddha replied, "You cannot have food unless your relative, King Pimpisa, managed the food offerings for the monks in this religion." In the rainy season, there was a lot of rain. The tree leaves were weighed down by the rain. The evil creatures went to the residence of King Pimpisa at midnight and made cried dreadfully in suffering. Hearing that, the King was very frightened.
The following morning, the King rushed to meet the Buddha and tell him about the strange event. The Buddha responded, "That was the voice of your relatives who were reincarnated as evil creatures, and they have been living in hunger for many reincarnations of Buddha." The King continued, "What am I supposed to do to stop their dreadful crying?" The Buddha told him to arrange food offerings to the monks and to dedicate the food for them so that they would get it.
Later, the King, in good faith, had the food arranged for 500 monks with Buddha as the leader. When the Buddha and monks had the food, they expressed their joy over the offerings made by the King dedicating to them by performing Deroakoddasot (praying for the funeral). Then the King Pimpisa dedicated the offerings to his relatives as told by the Buddha. Those evil creatures expressed joy at receiving food dedicated by the King. It became magic food, and they ate it happily.
The following night, the evil creatures were all happy, they had food. They showed up through windows, pillars, doors and roof beams, to thank the King Pimpisa, but they were naked and smelled unpleasant. Some of them had big mouths, small noses, big stomachs and small mouths, which was terrifying. When King Pimpisa saw that, he became very frightened and pleaded with them to leave.
The following morning, the King told the Buddha about the matter. The Buddha responded, "They have received food, but you have not offered clothing to the monks; that's why they showed up naked like that." Having been told this, the King rushed to have clothing organized to be offered to the monks. And he dedicated the clothing to his relatives with pure good faith.
The third night came. They showed up again with nice clothes and a golden ray of light reflected from their bodies. They presented their wishes to King Pimpisa and then vanished.
Because of this, Buddhists in Cambodia go to pagodas to make offerings made up of food and clothing to monks, dedicated to their deceased relatives when the rainy season comes, from the 1st until the 15th day of the waning moon in the 10th lunar month. This is called Kan Ben (offering days) and Phchum Ben Festival.
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