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.
Na mwo mi li dwo dwo pe ye swo he.