The Ullambana Festival – What should you be aware of?

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (The Ten Principal Disciple of The Buddha)

Among the ten principal disciples of the Buddha, Moggallana (目犍连尊者) was recognised as the foremost in supernatural powers. He spent his life assisting the Buddha in propagating Buddhism. He was one of the key assistants to the Buddha along with Sariputra (舍利弗尊者). They were known as the virtuous pair.

Having committed great sins, Moggallana’s mother descended to hell to serve her punishment. Moggallana sought help from the Buddha to rescue his mother and was told to  place various foods in a basin and hold a feast to all souls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, before making offerings to a group of sanghas (monks). Through this, his mother was saved. Temples soon adopted this method to save the departed souls and this became the Ullambana Festival. When one talks about the Ullambana Festival, they confer praises on Maha-Moggallana for his filial piety.

<  THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL > 

Buddhism: Your Questions Answered
Q.79 Zhong Yuan Festival (Ullambana Festival)
WHAT SHOULD BE AWARE OF DURING ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL

Question: Master Lu, the Ullambana Festival is approaching, what should we be aware of?

Answer: The Ullambana Festival is also known as the “Ghost Festival” and it is celebrated on the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month. During the month of lunar July, people tend to experience conflicts and unhappiness at home, and family members are likely to become ill and get involved in arguments. Even the weather during this time tends to be not as good, with many cloudy and rainy days. This is because prior to the 7th Lunar Month, many spirits are released from the Underworld to collect or repay their karmic debts in the human world. 

On 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month, it is mandatory for the spirits to return to the Underworld. On this particular day, we should respectfully bid farewell to our karmic creditors or deceased relatives by performing recitations for them.

During this period, if we do not repay enough karmic debts or we do not respectfully bid farewell to the spirits, they will become unhappy or harbour hatred. Upon returning to the Underworld, they can apply to come back to the human world. This is the reason why some people are constantly having karmic creditors.

Q&A 79. Zhong Yuan Festival (Ullambana Festival)

Wenda 20180318A  48:17  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
REASON FOR NOT ABLE TO PERFORM RECITATION, AND ILLNESS MAKES A COMEBACK DURING THE THREE CHINESE SOLAR TERMS

Caller: During the three Solar Terms (Ching Ming Festival, Ullambana Festival and the Winter Solstice), some Buddhist friends will start having difficulty in performing recitation a few weeks prior to the festivals. Things will return to normal once these festivals are over. What’s the reason for this? Is it because they lack the positive energy or they do not recite a sufficient amount of Little Houses during this period? Can Master enlighten me?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me ask you this question and you will know why. When carrying a bucket of water, if you put too much water into the bucket, it will become too heavy to lift, don’t you think? 

Caller: That’s right. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: There will be many spirits nearing the Ullambana and Ching Ming Festivals, so, don’t you think it will make it hard to perform recitation?  

Caller: Yes Master. There is a Buddhist friend who was cured of his illness a few years ago after performing the three Golden Buddhist Practices of reciting the Buddhist scriptures, releasing captive lives and making vows. However, he will suffer a relapse around the three Solar Term periods. 

Is it  because he has yet to offer a sufficient number of Little Houses? Could it be that he has to continue to endure the karmic retribution despite having sufficiently repaid it through Little Houses?

Master Jun Hong Lu: If you have fully repaid your karmic debt with a sufficient number of Little House, the remaining  karmic retribution would be reduced significantly. What does it mean by “fully repaid”? Once fully repaid, the karmic debt ceases to exist. In his case, it looks like he has yet to fully repay his karmic debt. He might have temporarily sent off the foreign spirits, but has yet to thoroughly help them ascend to a higher spiritual realm.  

Caller: I understand now.

 
Wenda20170820A 18:31  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
MASTER LU’S GUIDANCE ON THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL 

Caller: Hi Master, in light of the upcoming Ullambana Festival, it’d be good if you could say a word or two about this festival.  

Master Jun Hong Lu: By offering the Little Houses, we are helping the spirits. In actual fact, we are also helping our deceased relatives. The Ullambana Festival is the day we make offerings and pay respect to the deceased. It is a day to honor the memory of our loved ones. 

In this world, there are many things that can give us a myriad of enlightening moments upon recollection (回忆). They serve as a revelation that we must not venture into uncharted territory (我们不应该做我们没有做过的事情) or do things that cause harm to others.  

Caller: Master, the Ullambana Festival is also a time to honour the memory of  our  deceased relatives. In this regard, how many Little Houses should we offer as a gesture of gratitude and remembrance? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: You must offer a minimum of 21 Little Houses. 

Caller: I see – 21 Little Houses as a gesture of goodwill.  

Master Jun Hong Lu: By doing so, you are in reality offering those Little Houses to your karmic creditors even though they are meant for the deceased. They are the same. That said, it also depends. It’s best to only offer to those you have dreamt about to express your kind intention. If you offer Little Houses to a deceased who has reincarnated, you might attract other foreign spirits who may well take up the ‘vacant spot’ upon seeing one. 

Caller: I see. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: So, you must exercise prudence when extending your gesture of good intention. 

Caller: I can understand it right away with Master’s explanation. In the event that we have no dreams about the deceased, the Little Houses should be offered to our karmic creditors. Am I right to say so? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct. As long as the deceased appears in your dreams, you must offer the Little Houses to them. In the absence of such dreams or the deceased no longer visits you in your dreams, chances are  he or she has already reincarnated. 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 11) 
7 November 2011
RECITE MORE LITTLE HOUSES AND THE GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL

Question: In light of the fast approaching Ullambana Festival, which Buddhist scripture should we recite more of?

Answer: Recite more Little Houses. On top of this, increase the recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra.  

The Great Compassion Mantra

About the Little House – What is the Little House?

< DOS AND DON’TS OF THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL > 

Wenda 20160724B  04:02  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
HOW MANY LITTLE HOUSES ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL?

Caller: Master, the Ullambana Festival, which falls on the 15th lunar July, is around the corner. If we pray to Bodhisattva to keep us safe and well during this period, what’s the minimum number of Little Houses that we should offer?

Master Jun Hong Lu: If you are praying for safety, you must offer at least 49 Little Houses. 

Caller: Do we offer these Little Houses before the Ullambana Festival?. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. Having said that, this will not be sufficient if the year coincides with your 3, 6, 9 predetermined calamities. 

Caller: Does it mean we need to recite more? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right.

Wenda 20111106  11:39 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WOULD THE BURNING OF JOSS PAPERS BY OTHERS AFFECT THE LITTLE HOUSE OFFERED TO THE DECEASED?

Caller: In the past, during the Ullambana Festival, I had always offered joss papers to my parents and in-laws. These days, I only offer Little Houses to them, but some people continue to offer joss papers. Would it affect the Little Houses that I offered to the deceased?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It should not affect the Little Houses you offer. But, if you have helped your deceased family members ascend to heaven, burning of joss papers will have a negative impact on them.

Conversely, it will not have too much of an impact if the deceased remains in the Underworld. You do your part, while letting them do their part. Do not be bothered by the joss papers burnt by others. 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse  (Question 248)
19 August 2018
THINGS TO NOTE WHEN PERFORMING LIFE LIBERATION DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL

Question: What should we take note of when performing life liberation on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month (i.e. the Ullambana Festival or Zhong Yuan Festival)? 

Answer: Perform life liberation as usual, that is, before dark. Say your prayer before releasing the captive lives Remember to complete your prayer first before releasing the captive lives, and not the other way round. 

Wenda 20160925B 36:16  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
HOW SHOULD WE DEAL WITH FRUIT OFFERINGS TO THE DECEASED?

Caller: Master, generally during the Ching Ming and Zhong Yuan Festival, we will make offerings  to our deceased parents at home. At the end of the ceremony, how should we handle these fruits and other consumables? Master has said before that for prayers performed at the cemetery, we can leave the offerings behind. What about those food offerings made at home, Master?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Not very good. It is best not to consume offerings made to the deceased. You aren’t able to see, and Master can’t describe to you in detail. For the deceased that have become ghosts, they will stick out their tongues …their saliva will flow down as they ‘consume’ the offerings. It’s very disgusting and yet, you still want to eat them.  Go ahead if you dare to. 

Caller: No, I don’t eat these offerings, Master. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: Dispose it. 

Caller: Alright! 

Master Jun Hong Lu: You can consume offerings made to Bodhisattvas, but not those offered to the deceased. 

Caller: Yes, Master.

< FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS >

Buddhism: Your Questions Answered
Q.53 Ching Ming (Tomb-sweeping) Festival

OFFERING OF WATER, FRUITS AND CANDLES AT ANCESTRAL TOMBS DURING THE TOMB-SWEEPING FESTIVAL

You should not light oil lamps at the cemetery (坟地). If need be, only light red candles, but this is optional. It’s alright to offer incense to the deceased, perform recitation and offer Little Houses in front of their grave. 

You should use a new offering cup and incense burner specific for this purpose. You may wrap them up after use to bring home and use them for the same purpose in the future. As for the plate used to burn Little House, you may bring it home, keep it for future use, or you may just discard it.

Meanwhile, you may recite the Great Compassion Mantra. It is not advisable to recite the Heart Sutra at the cemetery, though you may do so after offering the incense in front of the grave. 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 8) 6 October 2011
ADJUSTMENT TO THE RECITATION OF BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL

Question: How should we adjust our recitation of the Buddhist scriptures during this period, before and after the Ullambana Festival? In this regard, how many days before and after would the adjustment apply to? And, do we need to avoid reciting the Heart Sutra and the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra during this period?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You should still recite the Heart Sutra and the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra. I did not mean that you should adjust your daily homework, rather I was referring to making adjustments to the recitation of Little Houses. 

Take for example, for someone, who is not keeping pace with the recitation of Little Houses on normal days, as the festival approaches, he must substantially step up his recitation. 

To illustrate, assuming this person has been reciting three Little Houses per week. Leading up to the Ullambana Festival, he would need to increase his recitation to six Little Houses per day. By then, he will be overwhelmed by what is required. 

Wenda20130901B 35:06 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
PERFORMING VIRTUOUS DEEDS ON BEHALF OF THE DECEASED AND RELATED PRAYER REQUEST FOR THE TRANSFER OF MERITS

Caller: Is it alright to perform virtuous deeds (功德) such as releasing captive lives and donating for the purpose of printing the sutra booklets on behalf of the deceased? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: Definitely! 

Caller: How should we put forth our prayer request to Bodhisattva? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s simple. You may say, ‘May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva help transfer the merits and virtues that I have accrued today to <full name of the deceased>. May Bodhisattva bless and protect the deceased so that he can ascend to a higher spiritual realm.” 

Reply from 2OR Secretariat to a written enquiry  (An Excerpt)
23 July 2019
TOOTH EXTRACTION DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL

Question: Is it alright to go for a tooth extraction one week before the Ullambana Festival? This is because my dental appointment is a few days prior to the festival.

Answer: There are a lot more foreign spirits during the Ullambana Festival. If it’s not urgent, it would be better to do it after the festival. If you are someone who performs recitation and offers Little Houses on a regular basis and there is no impending karmic pass, then it is not much of an issue. 

However, if this period coincides with your 3, 6, 9 predestined calamities,  or you are experiencing some physical discomfort or things are not going smoothly, and you are unable to offer a sufficient amount of Little Houses, you may  want to consider having  your tooth extracted after the festival. 

Shuohua20130816  02:10  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHEN PAYING RESPECT TO THE DECEASED ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, IS IT ALRIGHT TO BURN LITTLE HOUSES FOR THEM WITHOUT DISPLAYING THEIR PHOTOS? 

Caller: When offering Little Houses to the deceased on special occasions, such as their birthdays or the Ullambana Festival, is it alright to do so without displaying their photos?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s fine. Ideally, it would be good to know which realm the deceased is in. Typically, if there are a lot of people at home, it would be good to display the photos of the deceased. In cases where there are not many people at home, or you feel that you have disappointed the deceased and there is fear in your heart, then you should just offer Little Houses to the deceased This gesture is in itself a way to honour the memory of  the deceased. This is because Little Houses have the power to take them to a higher spiritual realm and transcend worldliness (超脱); it is the energy that one’s soul rely upon (心灵的寄托).

Zongshu20171031   00:45  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE DECEASED HAS ASCENDED TO THE REALM OF FORM 

Caller: Master, I would like to ask about a deceased, <name>, a female who passed away in 2002. Her family members have been offering Little Houses to her. Would I be able to find out which realm she has ascended to? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: She has ascended to the Heaven – not the ordinary heavenly realm; she is now in the realm of form (色界天). 

Caller: The last time I asked she was already in the realm of form. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: Exactly! She is still there. 

Caller: The last time I asked was some two years ago. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: She is already in Heaven. It’s likely that she does not need all those Little Houses anymore. Most importantly, she is unable to receive them anymore. For someone with such hefty karmic obstacles like you, it is not possible to help someone in the realm of form through recitation.

Caller: She is my paternal grandmother. I am deeply grateful to her for introducing Buddhism to me. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s great that she is now in the realm of form. If she can ascend to the Formless realm (无色界天), it is as good as transcending the six realms of existence. 

Caller: In this case, is it alright for us to offer Little Houses to her during those special occasions accordingly? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, you may do so.

Wenda20200614 01:16:38 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHEN MAKING VOW TO RECITE LITTLE HOUSES FOR OTHERS, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAYING “I SHALL RECITE FOR SOMEONE” AND “I WILL HELP SOMEONE TO RECITE”

Caller: When we make a vow to offer Little Houses to the deceased, is it better to say, “I will offer the deceased <full name>, (x) number of Little Houses” or “I will help the deceased <full name> recite (x) number of Little Houses”. Is there a difference between these two statements?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, there’s a difference. When you state “I will help him”, the deceased will certainly not look you up because you made it clear that you are only extending your help. On the other hand, if you state “I will offer xxx…”, in the event it is insufficient, you will have to offer more.

Caller: So the statement which says “I will help recite (x) number of Little Houses for the deceased <full name>” is to be used?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. Many people are not careful with their words. Their carelessness in speech may cause them problems in their future life.

Caller: I understand. We have to be as careful as treading on thin ice. If a living person is to recite for their own karmic creditors, does the same apply?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.

SUMMARY 

1. Maha Moggallana was the role model in filial piety in Buddhism. His mother had committed great sins and descended to hell to serve punishment. With the guidance of the Buddha to save his mother, Moggallana held a feast to all the souls, then made offerings to the sanghas (monks) on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. This helped liberate his mother. The 15th day of the 7th lunar month marks the origins of the Ullambana Festival.
2. The Ullambana Festival is also a time to reminisce and to recollect memories of the deceased that we were close to. In this regard, as a gesture of goodwill, a minimum of 21 Little Houses must be offered. 
3.   If the deceased fa mily members are still in the Underworld, it is not an issue when you offer Little House while the other people burn the incense papers; the impact is not great. But, if you have helped your deceased family members ascend to heaven, burning of joss papers will have a negative impact on them.
4. When offering Little Houses to the deceased on special occasions, such as their birthdays or the Ullambana Festival, it is fine not to display their photos.
5. When we vow to offer Little Houses to the deceased, it is better to say, “I will help rather than I will offer the number of Little Houses”.

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