Is It in Accordance with the Dharma for Monks to Constantly Perform Deliverance Rituals for the Deceased?

Monasteries that frequently engage in deliverance and transmigration rituals for spirits are always in great disorder, and the monastics there cannot cultivate with peace of mind. Because the monks generally lack sufficient practice, their cultivation is weak and their spiritual attainment inadequate, they lack the power to deliver sentient beings. The beings of the shadow realm who are supposed to be delivered cannot be delivered out at all; they then remain in the monastery stirring up conflicts. As a result, the monastics either suffer from chronic illness or are beset by many afflictions, with frequent mutual discord, having no mind for cultivation—normal practice becomes impossible. In some monasteries that specialize in deliverance rituals, because too many beings of the shadow realm fail to be delivered out, the monastery becomes utterly chaotic. These beings all remain in the monastery, unable to take rebirth, gathering in ever greater numbers. With insufficient incense offerings to sustain them, they cause trouble within the monastery, and in the end the monastery is shut down for good. Such are the consequences of deliverance and transmigration rituals. 

The main problem is that when monastics engage in these affairs, they cannot settle their minds on cultivating the Path, as they become entangled by karmic obstructions. Their own karmic obstructions are already not light, making cultivation difficult enough, and yet they must also spend time and energy bearing karmic obstructions that others should bear and that they ought not bear—how could they possibly have the state of mind for cultivation? To demand that monks deliver one's own karmic creditors and bear one's karmic obstructions on one's behalf is an extremely unreasonable demand. Even if compensation is given, no amount of money is proportionate to the karmic obstructions involved. Whether the great matter of birth and death is more important, or obtaining that bit of money is more important—anyone with wisdom can distinguish this. Therefore, do not go to a monastery to pay monks to perform deliverance rituals for your family members; whatever amount you give is too little, for the key issue is not money. Doing so only increases the monastics' karmic obstructions, hinders their normal cultivation, and makes it impossible for them to escape the suffering of birth and death. What the Buddhist scriptures do not teach, and what was not done in the Buddha's time, we should not insist on doing.