Question: Why do some encounter ghosts, who might follow them home, and appear in their dreams?
Answer: These ghosts are encountered because of karmic connections created in past and/or present lives, be it intentionally or ‘accidentally’, remembered or not. They might follow those whom they feel attachment or aversion to home, manifesting with requests or rage respectively. As the sleeping mode is when our minds are less busy, they might enter dream or nightmare states to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
To prevent encountering ghosts outdoors, especially in deserted or secluded places, there should be mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) with Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) name there. This will offer protection, also minimising the possibility of them following one. If encountering them at home when awake and/or sleeping, there should all the more be mindfulness of Buddha practised as support-chanting (助念), after offering guidance (开示).
See guidance text in grey box at https://purelanders.com/2021/04/11/how-to-help-the-possessed-with-mindfulness-of-buddha on guiding ghosts. This will urge them to practise mindfulness of Buddha to reach Pure Land, thus ending the haunting. Otherwise, a ghost haunting one might haunt another nearby, such as a family member at home, if there is enough affinity for connection.
With mindfulness of Buddha till falling asleep, nightmares can be prevented. Even if there is a nightmare, mindfulness of Buddha in it will wake one up, thus ending the nightmare. Ideally, there should be a proper Buddhist shrine set up at home too, before which there is regular making of sincere prostrations, offerings and mindfulness of Buddha, so as to bless the home, all at home, and to prevent haunting.
If there are reasonable requests made by ghosts that are fulfillable, there can be agreement to help. Otherwise, do not blindly promise to help, lest there is inability to do so, leading to feelings of betrayal, and lest there are immoral requests. If there is inability to fulfil them, simply stick to offering of guidance and support-chanting, as above. After all, this is actually the best help you can give for their own good, for the long run.
Related Article:
How To Help The Possessed With Mindfulness Of Buddha
(A Buddhist ‘Exorcism’ Method)
https://purelanders.com/2021/04/11/how-to-help-the-possessed-with-mindfulness-of-buddha
