HOW DOES THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH DIFFER FROM THE 15TH OF THE OTHER LUNAR MONTHS?
Caller: Next Wednesday is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. What is so different about this day, as compared to the 15th of the other lunar months?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course, there are slight differences. The 15th day of the 7th month is the Ullambana Festival. It is the time of the year when ghosts and spirits are released from the underworld.
Even before this day, many people would start to experience bad luck or physical discomfort. Among which include experiencing extreme fatigue, careless speech and a sense of hopelessness. These are all telltale signs of a person being surrounded by foreign spirits.
The 15th day of the 7th month is essentially the Ullambana Festival. This is one of the 24 solar terms. It is advisable to recite more Little Houses prior to this day. On this special day, it does not mean that Bodhisattvas will not be present.
Will Bodhisattvas save those evil people? Of course, they will. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Guan Yin Bodhisattva will still rescue the spirits and ghosts in the underworld. There is no incongruity, whatsoever here. This day is no different from the 15th day of other lunar months except that on this day, there will be more spirits being released to the human realm.
Caller: I see.
Source: Wenda20130816 00:44, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program