Chicago Chapter of Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple’s August Dharma Activites:
Chicago Chapter’s Contact information:
Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
Chicago Chapter
1035 W 31st Street
Chicago, IL 60608
Tel: (773) 927-8807
Fax: (773) 927-0134
E-mail: tbs_chicago@hotmail.com
Middle Epoch Ullambana Basin Festival’s Origin
"Middle Epoch Ullambana Basin Festival" occurs on every July 15 of the Agricultural Calendar. This festival is also called "the Middle Epoch Universal Deliverance" by the folk custom. Middle Epoch was originally a Chinese Daoist ancestrial worshipping day. In addition to the touching folklore of "Mahaudgalayana Saving His Mother", it has developed into a custom. Middle Epoch was originally meant delivering wandering ghosts.
July of the Agricultural Calendar is called the "Ghost Month" (equivalent to Halloween of the Occidental belief). According to legend, Ksitibharba Bodhisattva vows to deliver sentient beings. So, on every July 1 of the Agricultural Calendar, the "Gate of the Netherworld" opens and the ghosts of the netherworld are allowed to go back to the material world to visit their relatives. Then until the end of the month, the ghosts are called back to the netherworld. [Because ghosts stalk the earth,] so from July 1st when the gate opens until July 30th when the gate closes, people dare not to have any marital or funeral rites, because they do not want any misfortune happening to them. Every family makes food offerings [to the ghosts]. This kind of worship is also called worshipping "Good Brothers". The worshipping of "Good Brothers" activities reach climax on July 15th. This day is also commonly known as the "Middle Epoch Festival".
According to Buddhism, July 15th is the " Ullambana Basin Assembly". Buddhists prepare offerings of clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five fruits to Buddha and hold the "Ullambana Basin Assembly". "Ullambana" is also the transleration of the Sanskrit term "saving the ones hanging up side down". Life is full of suffering like hanging up side down from the tree. In order to save sentient beings from "hanging up side down", Buddhists chant "Ullambana Sutra", and make offerings to wondering and loney ghosts.This kind of custom was originated from the legend of "Mahaudgalayana Saving His Mother".
During the time of Buddha, Mahaudgalayana, out of his filial will, wanted to learned supernatural powers to save his mother, so he ordained as a monk.
Mahaudgalayana's mother took away too many lives of sentient beings. So when she died, her negative karma drove her into hell.
Within all the deciples of Buddha, Mahaudgalayana's supernatural powers are number one. Using his clairvoyance power, Mahaudgalayana saw his mother was born in the realm of the hungry ghosts.
His mother's stomach was as large as a drum and her neck was as samll as a needle. Even if she wanted to eat, she couldn't. Also, her mouth was smoking. Mahaudgalayana gave her a basin of food. She held the basin with one hand and covered her face with another. Her greed was same as before and her mind was still as narrow-minded as before. Before she could eat, the food was tranformed into ashes. After seeing this, Mahaudgalayana understand that his powers are limited. So, he informed Buddha.
Buddha told him, "This is beyond my powers. It requires the merit-tranferring powers from an assembly of sanghas." It was coincided with July 15th, the day when buddhas rejoyce and when sanghas' or bikshus have repended within the past three months.
On that day, Mahaudgalayana offered delicious food and drinks to Buddha and sanghas. Through the merits of offerings, Mahaudgalayana's mother was delivered. Not only his mother was delivered, his parents from the previous seven lives were also delivered. After salvation, his mother reached enlightenment and she became the dharma protector of Ksitigharba. Hence, July 15th became the day of offerings assistance to the hungry ghosts from ten directions. This was how "Middle Epoch Ullambana Basin Festival" was originated.
Chicago Chapter’s Contact information:
Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
Chicago Chapter
1035 W 31st Street
Chicago, IL 60608
Tel: (773) 927-8807
Fax: (773) 927-0134
E-mail: tbs_chicago@hotmail.com
Middle Epoch Ullambana Basin Festival’s Origin
"Middle Epoch Ullambana Basin Festival" occurs on every July 15 of the Agricultural Calendar. This festival is also called "the Middle Epoch Universal Deliverance" by the folk custom. Middle Epoch was originally a Chinese Daoist ancestrial worshipping day. In addition to the touching folklore of "Mahaudgalayana Saving His Mother", it has developed into a custom. Middle Epoch was originally meant delivering wandering ghosts.
July of the Agricultural Calendar is called the "Ghost Month" (equivalent to Halloween of the Occidental belief). According to legend, Ksitibharba Bodhisattva vows to deliver sentient beings. So, on every July 1 of the Agricultural Calendar, the "Gate of the Netherworld" opens and the ghosts of the netherworld are allowed to go back to the material world to visit their relatives. Then until the end of the month, the ghosts are called back to the netherworld. [Because ghosts stalk the earth,] so from July 1st when the gate opens until July 30th when the gate closes, people dare not to have any marital or funeral rites, because they do not want any misfortune happening to them. Every family makes food offerings [to the ghosts]. This kind of worship is also called worshipping "Good Brothers". The worshipping of "Good Brothers" activities reach climax on July 15th. This day is also commonly known as the "Middle Epoch Festival".
According to Buddhism, July 15th is the " Ullambana Basin Assembly". Buddhists prepare offerings of clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five fruits to Buddha and hold the "Ullambana Basin Assembly". "Ullambana" is also the transleration of the Sanskrit term "saving the ones hanging up side down". Life is full of suffering like hanging up side down from the tree. In order to save sentient beings from "hanging up side down", Buddhists chant "Ullambana Sutra", and make offerings to wondering and loney ghosts.This kind of custom was originated from the legend of "Mahaudgalayana Saving His Mother".
During the time of Buddha, Mahaudgalayana, out of his filial will, wanted to learned supernatural powers to save his mother, so he ordained as a monk.
Mahaudgalayana's mother took away too many lives of sentient beings. So when she died, her negative karma drove her into hell.
Within all the deciples of Buddha, Mahaudgalayana's supernatural powers are number one. Using his clairvoyance power, Mahaudgalayana saw his mother was born in the realm of the hungry ghosts.
His mother's stomach was as large as a drum and her neck was as samll as a needle. Even if she wanted to eat, she couldn't. Also, her mouth was smoking. Mahaudgalayana gave her a basin of food. She held the basin with one hand and covered her face with another. Her greed was same as before and her mind was still as narrow-minded as before. Before she could eat, the food was tranformed into ashes. After seeing this, Mahaudgalayana understand that his powers are limited. So, he informed Buddha.
Buddha told him, "This is beyond my powers. It requires the merit-tranferring powers from an assembly of sanghas." It was coincided with July 15th, the day when buddhas rejoyce and when sanghas' or bikshus have repended within the past three months.
On that day, Mahaudgalayana offered delicious food and drinks to Buddha and sanghas. Through the merits of offerings, Mahaudgalayana's mother was delivered. Not only his mother was delivered, his parents from the previous seven lives were also delivered. After salvation, his mother reached enlightenment and she became the dharma protector of Ksitigharba. Hence, July 15th became the day of offerings assistance to the hungry ghosts from ten directions. This was how "Middle Epoch Ullambana Basin Festival" was originated.
Last edited 09/09/02 at 17:12:25 by Buddhafly