Ghosts with Attachment (Myanmar)

Ghosts with attachment encompass most spirits from Myanmar folklore. These spirits are tormented by their strong attachment to something significant to them. They linger near their object of fixation, unable to move on because of their deep emotional ties. 

The nature of their attachment can vary widely. It might involve an item of great sentimental value to the deceased, such as a cherished home, or something as seemingly trivial as an old blanket or a childhood doll. Unsurprisingly, it is commonly believed that miserly individuals are more likely to become ghosts because of their unhealthy obsession with their possessions. 

Attachment can also manifest as intense emotional energy, such as deep concern or overwhelming anxiety felt by an individual in their last moments. Because of this belief, close relatives are often advised not to cry loudly near a dying person, so the deceased can pass on peacefully without lingering worries, avoiding the fate of becoming a ghost.  

In some cases, individuals may die in desperation, attempting to escape from the misfortunes they faced in their last moments. Alternatively, they might have died in anger or resentment. These extreme emotions—whether a desperate will to survive or a burning desire for revenge—are all considered forms of attachment. 

In local belief, ghosts are not always bound to the place where they died. Instead, they are believed to manifest near the source of their attachment. As such, if there is a rumor that an apartment is haunted following the death of its former owner, it is common to hear someone remark, “Well… I wonder what that person was attached to.” 

Read more about these ghosts in Ghosts, Spirits and Paranormal Entities from Asian Folklore and Mythology (Book 1).