More On Ullambana & Lunar 7th Month
Ullambana Day
The observance of Ullambana on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month is based on the incident of Maudgalyayana (Mogallana), a disciple of the Buddha, who discovered through his meditative powers that his Mother had been reborn in one of the realms of misery. Distressed, he approached the Buddha for help, who then advised him to make offerings to the Sangha, as the merit of doing so would help relieve the suffering of his Mother, and that of other beings in the realms of misery. Making offerings to relive the suffering of departed and other beings in the realms of misery thus became a popular communal observance. Ullambana is observed by making offerings to the Order of monks and nuns, reciting sermons and performing acts of charity. The merit from these deeds is then shared with all beings.
「盂兰盆会」是农历七月十五佛教很重要的节日。相传佛的大弟子「神通第一」目犍连，利用他的神通看见他母亲在地狱受苦，饥饿难耐，很久都没有东西可以吃，於是他就以神通带著他的钵，盛著饭、饮食到地狱去，送给他的母亲吃。可是当他的母亲拿到这个饭食的时候，饭食却变成了火炭，他母亲吃不到这个饭食。目犍连衰嚎大哭，回到佛陀的座前，请问佛陀应该如何去解救他的母亲? 佛陀就告诉目犍连说：「神通没有办法改变业力，这是你母亲的业报，要改变这个业报、拯救你母亲，必须要靠「布施众僧』的功德。」佛陀要目犍连在「七月十五日」，也就是大众僧解夏自恣日-因为大众僧经过三个月结夏精进办道，很多人於此期间证得胜果，若於此时普修供养，易供得贤圣僧；而且亦普遍供得精进用功之 僧众-以他的财物供养大众僧，靠著大众僧的力量，才能解救他母亲的罪业。於是目犍连依著佛陀教导，在七月十五日供僧，他的母亲即得到超度，超拔到善处去。
因为这样的典故，中国佛教在梁朝萧衍的时後，武帝以帝王之身，在七月十五日，用很多的车子，运载著丰美的食物、鲜花、种种百味饮食，供养大众僧。从此以後，中国就盛行「盂兰盆会」，形成很重要的节庆。我们佛弟子乃至世间的人，为了弘扬孝亲以及报恩的精神，或为了救济倒悬、解救苦难亲友，我们应在七月十五日当天上午，用种种美妙百味饮食、鲜花供养僧众，晚上我们亦可作施食「甘露法食」仪式来救度亡魂。
Myth #1: The gates of hell are open every seventh lunar month.
Truth: Beings leave hell not only in the seventh month, but as and when karmically appropriate. Beings leave hell only when their strong negative karma, which rendered them to be reborn in hell, is exhausted and when karma for rebirth surfaces.
Myth #2: During the seventh month, hungry ghosts from hell roam the world freely as wandering spirits.
Truth: Most ghostly encounters are with wandering spirits, not hungry ghosts or hell-beings. Hungry ghosts, hell-beings and wandering spirits are all different. Wandering spirits are beings who have not taken proper rebirths due to strong attachment. Although all are unfortunate beings, hell-beings generally have more intense suffering with no holidays in our world, while we already co-exist with hungry ghosts and wandering spirits.
Myth #3: All will go to hell after death.
Truth: Only those who have created very negative karma are reborn in hell. There are five other possible realms of existence – that of hungry ghosts, animals, humans, demi-gods and gods.
Myth #4: Life in hell requires all the daily items of our world, so we must burn these items.
Truth: Since hell is a realm of suffering, burning paper money, houses, cars and cellphones would not be relevant. There is no basis that burnt paper items will materialize into solid items. Burning them not only wastes money, time and effort, it also pollutes the environment and harms our health.
Myth #5: If we do not burn paper items out of goodwill, we are being uncompassionate?
Truth: It is more helpful to do good deeds and dedicate merits in the name of the deceased. We can also offer prayers by chanting, in the hope they may learn the Buddha’s teachings and alleviate their own suffering. We can also make food offerings to hungry ghosts and wandering spirits.
Myth #6: Why are there more supernatural phenomena during the seventh month?
Truth: If we expect supernatural incidents to occur, experiencing the supernatural can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. There could also be more supernatural activity because of elaborate and rowdy celebrations to gather and honour unseen beings.
What if I have dream of a deceased relative asking for paper items?
You can explain to the deceased to let him or her understand that burning is not needed. Sometimes we dream so because we think the deceased needs the paper items. Other times, it is because the deceased is attached to the idea of needing paper items burnt. We can make food and prayers offerings to the deceased instead.
Myth #7: Life in hell is eternal suffering.
Truth: Since there is limited evil that one can do in a lifetime, one will not experience karmic retribution forever. However, due to great suffering, life in hell is often experienced as a very long duration.
Myth #8: All unseen beings are either mischievous or evil. We need to appease them and ask for protection.
Truth: Most hungry ghosts and wandering spirits exist in states too unfortunate to sabotage us. Buddhists take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, not in unenlightened beings. There is no need to appease any unseen beings, but we can practice compassion when we encounter them.
Myth #9: It is bad luck to have celebrations during the seventh month.
Truth: Ullambana itself is a spiritual celebration. If more of us practice Ullambana in the right way, the seventh month will be a time of great joy, merits and auspiciousness.
Myth #10: It is definitely unfortunate to encounter an unseen being.
Truth: Encountering an unseen being is due to your karmic affinity with each other. You can urge the unseen being to let go of attachment and take a good rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Pureland, where enlightenment is guaranteed. You can do this by having good intentions, and chanting simple chants like “Namo Amitoufo” (Homage to Amitabha Buddha).
Help Protect Our Environment By Burning Less
Environmental pollution including burning paper is one of the greatest problems humanity faces. Buddhism is a religion of compassion and wisdom which encourages environmental protection. In Chinese Mahayana Buddhism, burning joss paper and the like is more as a symbolic gesture rather than serving any important function. In fact, Buddhism does not encourage the burning of joss paper.
我们生活的地球已处在极度脆弱的地步。环境污染是现今人类所面临的最大问题。佛教是充满慈悲与智慧的宗教。焚烧冥纸以及在中国大乘佛教的焚化仪式，只是一种表征动作，它只占仪式的一小部分，是微不足道的。实际上，佛教并不鼓励焚烧冥纸。
Extract from KMSPKS ULLAMBANADAY PRAYERS
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