Is It Proper According to the Dharma for Monks to Constantly Perform Deliverance Rituals?

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 is inadequate, they are powerless to deliver sentient beings; those beings of the shadowy realm who are supposed to be delivered simply cannot be sent off at all, and then they remain in the monastery stirring up conflicts. As a result, the monastics are either chronically ill or plagued by afflictions and troubles, with many mutual conflicts among them, leaving them without the heart to cultivate—normal practice becomes impossible. In a few monasteries that specialize in such deliverance rituals, because too many beings of the shadowy realm failed to be delivered, the monasteries were thrown into utter chaos. These beings all remained in the monasteries, unable to take rebirth, gathering in ever greater numbers; and without sufficient incense offerings to sustain them, they caused disturbances in the monasteries, until finally the monasteries were shut down altogether. Such are the consequences of these deliverance and transmigration rituals. 

The main problem is that when monks engage in these activities, they themselves cannot cultivate the Path with peace of mind; they become entangled by karmic obstructions, and their own karmic obstructions are already not light, making cultivation difficult enough as it is—yet they must also spend time and energy bearing karmic obstructions on behalf of others that they should not have to bear. How could they possibly have the state of mind for cultivation? To demand that monks deliver one's karmic creditors and bear one's karmic obstructions is an extremely unreasonable demand. Even if compensation is paid, no amount of money can be 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—any wise person can distinguish this. Therefore, do not go to monasteries and pay money to request that monastics perform deliverance rituals for your family members; whatever amount you give is too little, for the key issue is not money. Doing this 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 during the Buddha's lifetime, we should not insist on doing.