盂兰盆报恩超荐法会 Ullambana Dharma Assembly

Origin of Ullambana

Contrary to popular Chinese belief that the 7th lunar month is a period when the gates of hell are thrown open, the Buddhist community observes Ullambana, which falls on the full-moon day of the 7th month, as a day of great joy focusing on two universal virtues: filial love and parental gratitude.

Ullambana originated from one of Buddha’s key disciple Maha Mogallana, who in his deep meditative state saw his late mother reborn as a hungry ghost due to her karmic afflictions. The Buddha advised Mogallana to make offerings to the Sangha members on the full moon day of the 7thlunar month when they came out from their 3-month rainy retreat. With this great merit and the power of the Triple Gem, his mother was liberated from her sufferings.

The Buddha exhorted all his disciples to continue to observe this noble practice for the liberation of suffering…