Special Topics
The Seventh Lunar Month Dharma Assembly – Sending Blessings Across Time and Space
How can we convey our deep longing for our deceased relatives? We yearn to do something for them, but don't know how to begin. The stories of Maudgalyayana and the Bright-Eyed Daughter rescuing their mother, as recounted in the scriptures, are still recited in later generations. They point us to a method for sending blessings and offering relief to our deceased relatives. In the fragrant smoke of a Dharma Deliverance Service for the deceased, light a lamp, offer...
Buddhist Rite for the Liberation of the Deceased: Benefiting Both the Living and the Deceased
During the seventh lunar month, participating in a Buddhist Rite for the Liberation of the Deceased not only allows one to connect with the deceased through sincere devotion, hoping to dedicate merit to them so they may hear the Dharma and be reborn in the Pure Land. Simultaneously, through the collective practice of the service, one also maintains a respectful and solemn mind, attracting fellow believers with shared karmic affinities to join in the practice. ■ Yang Renhui楊仁惠 ...
The Ullambana Assembly
Repaying the Kindness of Parents Through Meritorious Deeds The Ullambana Assembly (Yulanpen Hui) is a Buddhist liturgical service in Chinese Buddhism based on the Ullambana Sutra (Foshuo Yulanpen Jing). Held annually on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, it is dedicated to liberating and delivering ancestors across generations to repay the profound kindness and labors of one's parents. "Yulanpen" is a phonetic transliteration of the Sanskri...
Yoga Flaming Mouth Rite
Giving Nurtures a Compassionate Heart The Flaming Mouth Food-Bestowal Rite is held chiefly to deliver beings in the hungry ghost realm. Beyond offering them food to relieve their hunger and suffering, the ceremony’s deeper purpose is to teach them the Dharma—guiding them to take refuge and receive the precepts so that they may swiftly leave behind the suffering of that realm. And in the process of benefiting these beings, participants cultivate their own practice as well, gro...
Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance
Through repentance, the suffering arising from delusion and karma can be eradicated The primary purpose of the Emperor Liang Repentance Ceremony is to help liberate all sentient beings in the Six Realms from suffering. Through practices such as paying homage to the Buddha, reciting scriptures, and engaging in repentance, practitioners are encouraged to reflect upon the negative karma they have created, recognize and sincerely regret their harmful actions, and openly confess their transgres...
Core Concepts Q&A -Dispelling Superstition, Clarifying Concepts
The seventh lunar month is commonly known in Chinese tradition as the “Ghost Month.” How does Buddhism view this month? And, are Buddhist deliverance and folk practices of universal offerings (Hungry Ghost Festival, Zhongyuan Pudu in Chinese) actually the same? This Q&A series aims to clarify some common misconceptions. Q1: How does Buddhist deliverance differ from folk practices of universal offerings, both in concept and practice? A: In Buddhism, deliverance means help...
Practical Q&A-Preparations before attending the Dharma assembly
This is my first time attending a Dharma assembly. What should I do if I don't understand anything? How does one participate in a Dharma assembly, even if for the first time? Let this practical guide tell you, Things to note during the Dharma assembly This will allow you to participate in the Dharma assembly with peace of mind. 1. What are the objects and functions of ancestral tablets for disaster relief and memorial services? What are the differences between the two? A: In Bu...