Why Do We Celebrate The Hungry Ghost Festival?

For thousands of years, “The Day of Filial Piety” in the 7th lunar month has been culturally known as the “Hungry Ghosts Festival”. In Buddhism, the origin of Ullambana Festival can be traced back to the Ullambana Sutra which speaks of the story of Maudgalyayana, a close disciple of the Buddha, and his mother. Maudgalyayana’s mother committed numerous unwholesome deeds when she was alive and was suffering after being reborn as a hungry ghost. Despite possessing supernatural powers, Maudgalyayana was unable to save his mother from her plight.

The Buddha advised Maudgalyayana to redeem his mother from her misery by offering varieties of food to venerables and seeking their help to pray for his mother on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. The merits accumulated from their prayers would eventually liberate his mother from hell.

Thus, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month has become an occasion for Buddhists to follow the Ullambana, when offerings are made to the Buddha and Sangha to help those suffering in the six realms, as an act of filial piety to their parents of current and past seven lifetimes.

The concept of filial piety has been a strong influence in Chinese society since thousands of years ago. Buddhism also places a great emphasis on the practice of filial piety as seen from the many records related to filial piety in scriptures such as The Sutra of Paying Gratitude to Parents, Ullambana Sutra and so on. As with other virtues such as gratitude, we should always practice filial piety to our parents especially while they are still alive.

Source: KMSPKS

我们为什么要庆祝“鬼节”?

数千年来，许多人把七月的“孝亲日”称之为“鬼节”。在佛教，盂兰盆节的起源可追溯至《盂兰盆经》中，所讲述的释迦牟尼佛的弟子——目犍连与其母亲的故事。目犍连的母亲因生前造作许多恶业而投生至饿鬼道，长期处在饥饿当中，苦不堪言。尽管目犍连拥有广大的神通，却仍旧无法解救其母亲。佛陀建议目犍连在农历七月十五为母亲祈福，并供养僧众，藉此功德让母亲脱离饿鬼道。

盂兰盆节的典故流传至今，全世界的佛教徒都在庆祝这个节日。透过供养佛陀与僧众为亡者祈福，让他们免于苦难，也藉以表达我们对现世及过去七世的父母与先人的感恩情怀。

几千年来，孝道观念对华人社会有莫大的影响。事实上，佛教也非常重视孝道的实践，尤其在《父母恩重难报经》及《盂兰盆经》等经文中都有许多关于孝道的记载，因此我們应趁父母仍在世時及时行孝。

Source: 光明山普觉禅寺