THE BUDDHA SPEAKS
THE ULLAMBANA SUTRA
Nomo homage to the
Ullambana Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Thus I have heard, at
one time, the Buddha dwelt at Shravarsti in the Garden of the Benefactor
of Orphans and the Solitary.
Mahamaudgalyayana had just obtained the six penetrations and wished to
cross over his father and mother to repay their kindness for raising him.
Thus, using his way eye, he regarded the world and saw that his deceased
mother had been born among the hungry ghosts, having neither food nor
drink, she was but skin and bones.
Mahaudgalayana felt deep pity and sadness, filled a bowl with food and
went to provide for his mother. She got the bowl, screened it with her
left hand, and with her right hand made a fist of food. But, before it
entered her mouth, it turned into burning coals which could not be eaten.
Mahamaudgalyayana called out and wept sorrowfully, and hastened to return
to the Buddha to set forth all of this.
The Buddha said, "your mother's offenses are deep and firmly rooted. You
alone do not have enough power. Although your filial sounds move heaven
and earth, the heaven spirits, the earth spirits, twisted demons, and
those outside the way, Brahmans, and the four heavenly king gods, are also
without sufficient strength. The awesome spiritual power of the assembled
Sangha of the ten directions is neceessary for the liberation to be
attained.
I shall now speak a dharma of rescue, which causes all those in difficulty
to leave worry and suffering, and to eradicate obstacles from offenses.
The Buddha told Maudgalyayana: "The fifteenth day of the seventh month is
the Pravarana day for the assembled Sangha of the ten directions. For the
sake of fathers and mothers of seven generations past, as well as for
fathers and mothers of the present who are in distress, you should prepare
an offering of clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five
fruits, and other offerings of incense, oil, lamps, candles, beds, and
bedding, all the best of the world, to the greatly virtuous assembled
Sangha of the ten directions. On that day, all the holy assembly, whether
in the mountains practicing dhyana samadhi, or obtaining the four fruits
of the way, or walking beneath trees, or using the independence of the six
penetrations, to teach and transform sound hearers and those enlightened
to conditions. Or provisionally manifesting as bhikshus when in fact they
are great Bodhisattvas on the tenth ground--all complete in pure precepts
and oceanlike virtue of the holy way--should gather in a great assembly
and all of like mind receive the pravarana food.
If one thus makes offerings to these Provarana Sangha, one's present
father and mother, parents of seven generations, as well as the six kinds
of close relatives, will escape from the three paths of sufferings. And at
that time attain release. Their clothing and food will spontaneously
appear. If the parents are still alive, they will have wealth and
blessings for a hundred years. Parents of seven generations will be born
in the heavens. Transformationally born, they will independently enter the
celestial flower light, and experience limitless bliss.
At that time the Buddha commanded the assembled Sangha of the ten
directions to recite mantras and vows for the sake of the donor's family,
for parents of seven generations.
After practicing dhyana concentration, they then may accept the food. When
first receiving the basin, place it before the Buddha in the stupa. When
the assembled sangha has finished the mantras and vows, then they may
accept it.
At that time the bhikshu Maudgalyayana and the assembly of great
Bodhisattvas were all extremely delighted and the sorrowful sound of
Maudgalyayana's crying ceased.
At that time Maudgalyayana's mother obtained liberation from one kalpa of
suffering as a hungry ghost.
Maudgalyayana addressed the Buddha and said, "this disciple's parents have
received the power of the merit and virtue of the triple jewel, because of
the awesome spiritual power of the assembled Sangha.
If in the future the Buddha's disciples practice filiality by offering up
the Ullambana basins, will they be able to cross over their present
fathers and mothers as well as those of seven generations past?"
The Buddha replied "good indeed, I am happy you asked that question. I
just wanted to speak about that and now you have also asked about it.
Good man, if bhikshus, bhikshunis, kings, crown princes, great ministers,
great officials, cabinet members, the hundreds of officers, and the tens
of thousands of citizens wish to practice compassionate filial conduct,
for the sake of the parents who bore them, as well as for the sake of
fathers and mothers of seven lives past, on the fifteenth day of the
seventh month, the day of the buddhas' delight, the day of the Sangha's
Pravarana, they all should place hundreds of flavors of foods in the
Ullambana basins, and offer them to the Pravarana Sangha of the ten
directions.
They should vow to
cause the length of life of the present father and mother to reach a
hundred years without illness, without sufferings, afflictions, or
worries, and also vow to cause seven generations of fathers and mothers to
leave the sufferings of the hungry ghosts, to be born among men and gods,
and to have blessings and bliss without limit.
The Buddha told all the good men and good women, "those disciples of the
Buddha who cultivate filial conduct should in thought after thought,
constantly recall their present fathers and mothers when making offerings,
as well as the fathers and mothers of seven lives past. Every year, on the
fifteenth day of the seventh month, they should always, out of filial
compassion, recall their parents who bore them and those of seven lives
past, and for their sakes perform the offering of the Ullambana basin to
the Buddha and the Sangha and thus repay the loving kindness of the
parents who raised and nourished them. All Buddhas' disciples should
respectfully receive this dharma."
At that time the bhikshu Maudgalyayana and the four-fold assembly of
disciples, hearing what the Buddha said, practiced it with delight.
End of the Buddha
speaks of Ullambana Sutra
True words for repaying
parents' kindness.
Na mwo mi li dwo dwo pe
ye swo he.
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Update : 01-08-2003
