START OFFERING 49 LITTLE HOUSES A MONTH PRIOR TO THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL
Question: Master has previously mentioned that one should offer 49 Little Houses during the Ullambana Festival. Should we start preparing a month before, starting from the 15th day of the 6th lunar month? Is it better to offer Little Houses earlier? Are Little Houses offered to the deceased whom we dreamt of counted as part of these 49 Little Houses?
Answer: Typically, these 49 Little Houses can be offered a month before the Ullambana Festival, and they can be offered within a span of a month. Generally, you can try to complete them by the Ullambana Festival. This should not include Little Houses that are meant for the deceased. For the deceased whom you have dreamt of, you can recite for them separately. If you dream of many karmic creditors or the need to offer a large amount of Little Houses, I’d suggest that you finish the first batch of 49 Little Houses and you may consider offering more after which.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 121), 5 August 2016