On September 3rd, which coincides with the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, a ceremony was held in conjunction with the Buddhist Ullambana Festival. The ceremony started with the chanting of the Ullambana Sutra at 10:45am at the Main Shrine Hall on the 6th floor of Than Hsiang Temple. After that, staff and devotees adjourned to Hall of the Great Vow to chant the Heart Sutra.

The staff of Than Hsiang Temple and devotees then adjourned to the Multi-Purpose Hall, where the venerables attended a lunch dana followed by a dharma talk given by the Abbot of Than Hsiang Temple, Venerable Wei Wu.

Venerable Wei Wu expounded on the Ullambana Festival according to Buddha’s teaching; versus the traditional Chinese way. Venerable Wei Wu stressed that the Ullambana Festival is in fact Buddha’s joyful day and the day of rejoice for the Sangha; and not hungry ghosts’ day!

Venerable Wei Wu mentioned that there are still devotees who could be seen burning “gold” and “silver” joss paper and other paper articles everywhere and efforts should be made to educate these people on the correct way of transferring merits to one’s deceased parents and relatives.

“According to the Ullambana Sutra, one of Buddha’s chief disciples, Mahā Maudgalyāyana had just obtained the six penetrations and wished to benefit his parents to repay their kindness. Thus, using his divine eye, he ‘saw’ that his mother had been born in the realm of the hungry ghosts with no food nor drink. MahāMaudgalyāyana , feeling deep pity and sadness for the mother, filled a bowl with food and went to feed her, but, before the food could enter her mouth, it turned into burning charcoals. Mahā Maudgalyāyana called out and weeping sorrowfully, went to seek the Buddha for advice.

The Buddha told MahāMaudgalyāyana that his mother’s offences were deep and firmly rooted; and instructed MahāMaudgalyāyana on how to obtain liberation for his mother. The Buddha told Mahāmaudgalyāyana, “As the 15th day of the 7th month is the day for the assembled Sangha of the ten directions, and for the sake of fathers and mothers of seven generations past as well as present who are in distress, you should make food offerings to the Sangha on this day” Due to the high number of monks who attained enlightenment during that period, Mahāmaudgalyāyana's dana to these virtuous monks gain much merit and Mahāmaudgalyāyana's mother was thus liberated from the hungry ghost realm.

Venerable Wei Wu went on to further explain the meaning of ‘dana’ and that one can transfer merits to our departed parents and relatives. If they have been reborn in higher realms (human. Deva and asura), their merits may increase; if they are born in lower realms (animal, hungry ghost and hell), they may be liberated frm these realms. By the power of the merits of dana, one can also transfer the merits to one’s living parents so that they may live happily and have long life.

After the dharma talk, Venerable Wei Wu led everyone to transfer merits to all our parents who are still alive or had passed away.

The ceremony ended with Bro. K.T. Chan presenting the venerables with requisites.