Celebrating Ullambana: The Original Hungry Ghost Festival
The 15th day of the 7th Lunar Month is an important date for Buddhists and Taoists alike. For Taoists, the highlight of the month-long Hungry Ghost Festival is to appease wandering spirits and hungry ghosts who are released from Hades by Tai Su Yah. Many Chinese regard the Hungry Ghost Month as an inauspicious one, and much of the folklore surrounding this festival is filled with age-old rituals, customs and taboos to avoid offending wandering spirits.
On the contrary, Buddhists celebrate the 7th Lunar Month as Ullambana or Yu Lan Pan (in Mandarin). It is believed to be a month of auspiciousness as this is the time to honour our dearly departed by generating as much merits as possible to help them take better rebirths in the upper realms of existence. Buddhists further believe that the best rebirth is a human one as humans, amongst all the Six Realms of Existence, are blessed with the necessary faculties to study, understand and practise the Dharma.
The Origins of Ullambana
Buddha Shakyamuni with his chief disciples, Shariputra and Maudgalyayana
The Ullambana Festival began as a filial son’s wish to liberate his deceased mother’s sufferings. According to the Ullambana Sutra, Maudgalyayana, one of Buddha Shakyamuni’s chief disciples, began to think deeply about his deceased parents after he attained his arhatship. Wanting to repay his parents’ kindness, he sought out his parents with his supernatural powers.
Using his clairvoyance, Maudgalyayana saw that his father was reborn as heavenly being in the Realm of Gods. However, he could not find his mother there, as she had been reborn in a lower realm, known as Avici or the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. His mother had taken on the form of a Hungry Ghost (preta), with a thin long neck and a huge belly that was forever starving.
When he tried to relieve her sufferings by feeding her, the food he offered turned into burning coals as soon as it touched her tiny mouth. Seeing this tremendous suffering, Maudgalyayana went to seek his Guru’s advice on how to liberate his mother from such a woeful state.
According to the Sutra, the Buddha said,
“Your mother’s offences 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 necessary for 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 offences.”
All the food Maudgalyayana offered to his mother turned into burning coals as soon as she tried to eat it.
The reason why Maudgalyayana‘s mother was in such suffering was due to her actions when she was still alive. Maudgalyayana had given some money to her to make food offerings to some monks but due to her miserliness, she kept the money for herself and did not make the offering. As a result, she accumulated such heavy negative karma that even her son, an arhat, could not save her from Hell.
The Awakened One then advised Maudgalyayana to make offerings to the Sangha of the ten directions on the 15th day of the 7th month, which marks the end of the rains retreat. The offerings prescribed by the Buddha were food, incense, oil, lamps, candles, beds and bedding, all of the best quality.
The Buddha then instructed the assembly of monks to recite mantras and dedicate them to the sponsor’s family and parents of seven generations. Due to the vast merits generated from these offerings, Maudgalyayana’s mother was liberated from the lower realms to be reborn as a human.
Why Buddhists Celebrate Ullambana
Ullambana means “deliverance from suffering” in Sanskrit and the best way to relieve the sufferings of others is by dedicating oceans of merits to them. According to the Ullambana Sutra, the Buddha taught that this is a great opportunity to make offerings to the Three Jewels to create the merits to free our ancestors who are suffering in the lower realms.
The merits generated during Ullambana can also be dedicated to our parents and loved ones who are still living, and to increase outer and inner wealth in this and future lives. Many also take the opportunity to repay and appease their karmic debtors during this time. The dedication of merits should ideally be extended to all sentient beings as well.
Comparing Ullambana and the Hungry Ghost Festival
| ULLAMBANA | HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL |
| Celebrated by Buddhists as an auspicious month to generate merits for loved ones, both deceased and alive. | A significant festival for Taoists and is often regarded as an inauspicious month by many Chinese. |
| Offerings are made to the Three Jewels to generate merits to liberate loved ones from the lower realms and for better rebirths. Merits can also be dedicated to karmic debtors and all sentient beings. | Offerings are made to appease wandering spirits and hungry ghosts. |
| The origins date back to Buddha Shakyamuni’s time as recorded in the Ullambana Sutra. | The origins date back to the reign of the 14th Century Ming Dynasty’s Hongwu Emperor. |
| Modern Ullambana offerings include: Food, flowers, light/candles and incense. | Modern Hungry Ghost Festival offerings include: Hell bank notes, paper paraphernalia, food, candles and entertainment. |
How Did Ullambana Evolve into the Hungry Ghost Festival?
According to a report published by the Taiwan Folklore Museum, Ullambana only acquired its inauspicious connotations during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor in the 14th Century. Prior to that, the 7th month was a time for ancestor worship and honouring parents, a practice steeped in filial piety. The museum’s research shows that the Hongwu Emperor “blamed the ghosts” as a way of deterring the commoners from worshipping on the same auspicious days as the Imperial Court.
Historical documents also show that Liu Bowen, an advisor to the Hongwu Emperor, proposed the idea of sending people disguised as Taoist priests to cities and counties to spread the false news that a disaster would happen in the 7th month. From then on, the idea that the 7th month is an unlucky month began to spread, so much so that many would not hold weddings during this period and people minimised their socialising at night to avoid offending the Hungry Ghosts.
Celebrating Ullambana in Kechara Forest Retreat
On 27 August 2017, Kechara set out to celebrate the Ullambana Festival by staying true to its original essence: a day to deliver all from suffering through various virtuous activities. Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) played host to scores who started coming through the main gates as early as 9.30am. This year, two meritorious pujas were part of the day-long programme and many merit-making opportunities were offered at various holy sites around KFR.
Paul Yap briefing all volunteers before the start of the event
Light offerings were one of the most popular this year
Kechara kids, (from left) Hayden Chan, Lew Wen Yi and Lew Wen Yue, promoting animal welfare to raise funds for The Aviary in KFR
From left: JP Thong, Victor Choi and Dr. Chris Chong at the Vajrayogini Butterlamp Retreat counter
Datuk May Phng pays a visit to the VajraSecrets stall
The first puja was Lama Chopa Tsok, also known as the “Guru Puja With Tsok Food Offerings for Unseen Beings“. Pastors Lim Tat Ming and Chia Song Peng led this two-hour long puja, which started at 10am. Those who attended had the opportunity to hear the Guru Puja being sung in Tibetan just the way it is done in the monasteries.
Lama Chopa Tsok led by Pastors Chia Song Peng and Lim Tat Ming
Lama Chopa Tsok in progress
Lama Chopa is the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa, composed by His Holiness Panchen Losang Chokyi Gyaltsen based on secret oral teachings. This practice strengthens our relationship with our Lama or spiritual teacher through making abundant offerings, especially the offering of one’s practice. Tsok (or tsog) offering is a great banquet offered up to all the Enlightened and unenlightened beings. As one of the most essential practices of generosity, this puja is extremely effective in accumulating vast merits.
The sacred ritual of Tsok can only be performed by those with Tantric initiations. While the tantrikas performed the prayer session, non-tantrikas were encouraged to recite Lama Tsongkhapa’s Migtsema mantra. Upon completion of the ritual, the food offerings were then distributed to those who attended to be taken home and shared with family and friends.
Pastors Albert Ratchaga, Antoinette Kass and Tan Gim Lee offer the tsok at H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s throne
Members of the puja team partake of the Tsok offering
Pastor Tan Gim Lee offers the leftover tsok to the unseen beings
Abundant food offerings sponsored by Kecharians, family and friends.
After the Guru Puja, there were special performances to entertain the crowd while they tucked into the complimentary vegetarian lunch sponsored by Kechara Oasis, Aunty Ally and Veggie House Restaurant.
Kechara Oasis was one of the lunch sponsors
Classical Chinese orchestra performance
A treat for the crowd – modern Chinese dance performed by Firex
K-Pop dance by upcoming dance sensation Firex
One of the many merit-making opportunities at the Vajrayogini Stupa. Yeo Kwai Gin and his family travelled all the way from Kuantan for this event.
Giant 8ft incense sticks were offered outside the Gyenze Chapel
Many stopped at the Gyenze Chapel before entering KFR to make supplications to Gyenze, the “increase” form of the World Peace Protector Dorje Shugden
At about 2pm, the Gyabshi Puja or “Grand 400 Offerings Ritual to Send Off Unseen Beings” began with the distribution of dough balls. These are a symbolic method of “removing” one’s pains, illnesses and negativities. Members of the puja team gave a short demonstration on how to shape the dough ball into a bone-like shape.
Yap Yoke Chim demonstrates how to turn the dough balls into a bone-like shape
Puja participants were encouraged to roll their dough balls over areas that require healing
The “bones” were sent off during the latter part of the puja along with other offerings for the unseen
Part of the 400 offerings of 100 men, 100 stupas, 100 tormas and 100 lights
100 lights are offered during Gyabshi
In ancient Tibet, 100 stupas, 100 tormas, 100 lights and 100 men were offered as part of the elaborate Gyabshi ritual. Due to the significant amount of offerings required, only the wealthy and nobility were able to commission a Gyabshi puja for themselves. Today, the stupas and men are symbolically represented by stupas and figurines made from torma dough.
Gyabshi calls upon the potent blessings and protection of Yamantaka, Dorje Shugden and Buddha Shakyamuni. Coupled with extensive offerings, this puja generates a tremendous amount of positive energy that can clear negativities and heavy obstacles related to health, financial or even supernatural causes. It is highly recommended for problems that are dangerous and life-threatening such as severe illnesses, financial or legal issues, physical threats and harmful spirit disturbances.
Given the vast amount of merits generated by this puja, it was a very good opportunity to sponsor and dedicate it to those who have passed on, our loved ones who are still alive, karmic debtors and all sentient beings.
The Gyabshi puja was led by Pastor Tan Gim Lee
The altar set up for Gyabshi requires hours of preparation as each of the tormas, men and stupa are handmade from dough
This figurine or “Lu” represents the sponsor(s). When it is taken out of the hall, one should visualise all sicknesses and negativities leaving together with this figurine.
Food offerings for the unseen beings such as local land deities
Once the tormas are carried out of the prayer hall, no one should look back.
The lu and other offerings are then placed at a quiet corner
Volunteers who made this Ullambana a success!
References
- http://www.cttbusa.org/ullambana/ullambana.asp
- http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2010/08/19/2003480700
For more interesting information:
- Rinpoche on National TV2’s Wesak Day Special!
- The World of Chinese Ghosts
- Making Water Offerings to the Buddhas
- On the Importance of Relating to Unseen Beings
- Nine Emperor Gods Festival
- Powerful Pujas
- Chinese in Malaysia
- The Paranormal Zone: Ghost Marriages
- The Dragon Boat Festival: A Fusion of Traditional and Modern Culture
- Pilgrimage to Mount Wutai
- Chinese New Year
- NEW: OFFERING OF MONK ROBES!
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Ullambana is a Buddhist festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month according to the Buddhist calendar. It is a festival of liberation, as to provide salvation and relief to the ghosts and spirits of the dead. The Buddhist origins of the Ullambana Festival can be traced back to a story that originally came from India. By observing the practice of Ullambana we could liberate the deceased from the three suffering realms and allow the living to enjoy a life of abundance, good fortune and longevity. During this festival, offerings such as light, foods, prayers are made to the spirits of the dead and to the hungry ghosts. On this day, Buddhists offer prayers both to their departed forefathers and to their living parents and elders.
Great …at Kechara Forest Retreat , Bentong, two powerful and extensive pujas will be performed according to the tradition of Gaden Monastery. We are fortunate this year even though we are not able to attend at KFR , these pujas will be streamed live. The two powerful and extensive pujas is to remove obstacles and generate even more merits.
Thank you Rinpoche and Sharon Ong those who are involved making it possible.
Time flies next week is the Ullambana Festival or the Hungry Ghost Festival which is known by many. Many of us might not understand the true meaning of this festival. After we understand the real story behind this festival one should not fear about those scary story which we once knew . Ullambana is the day for helping those beings who are suffering and as well as to remember our dear ones who has passed away. On this day we offer prayers , candles to the departed and the living as well. Its celebrated every year on the 15th day of the seven lunar month, as such this year which is also our Lama Parinirvana Anniversary day. We are fortunate able to join in this festival at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong.
Thank you Rinpoche and Sharon for this sharing.
Now i can understand better and the differences between the Hungry Ghost festival. Reading through these wonderful article i realized what i know about Hungry Ghost festival is very little and different from what i knew.
Ullambana is the day for helping those beings who are suffering so that they can obtain liberation and as well as to remember our dear ones who has passed away.Thank ypu very much for this good article.
The Buddhist origins of the Ullambana Festival can be traced back to a story that originally came from India. To many of us it is also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival. On this day, it is believed that the “Gates of the Hell” are opened and the dead souls visit . Every year in the 7th lunar month, people burned joss paper for the roaming ghosts and offerings are made to the spirits of the dead and to any other wandering spirit, for that matter. The festival is celebrated for fifteen days in the seventh month of traditional Buddhist calendar.
Those days I was told too but not actually after joining Kechara I came to know more about it. Ullambana is the day for helping those beings who are suffering so that they can obtain liberation and as well as to remember our dear ones who has passed away.
On this day, Buddhists offer prayers both to their departed forefathers and to their living parents and elders as well. This year is no exception, Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong will be celebrating too , having 2 powerful pujas and other activities.
It will great to participate the Ullambana Festival in Kechara Forest Retreat.
Thank you Rinpoche and Sharon for this sharing.
I used to be very scared during the ghost festival. by hearing the name already scared the hell out of me. Not only that, every night I go to bed with fear because I was told the ghost are every where looking for food and people to exchange their life.
After understanding the real story behind it (after I joined Kechara and get to know more about Dharma). I started to change my mind set for this festival. It’s a festival for us to remembering those who had left us for another realm. As Buddhists we make offerings to the Three Jewels to generate merits to liberate loved ones from the lower realms and for better rebirths. Merits can also be dedicated to karmic debtors and all sentient beings. It is also an auspicious time to repay the kindness to the people we loved by dedicating the merits to them for their well beings and their spiritual path. It’s an auspicious month indeed.
The tradition celebrating Ullambana festival in buddhist is to make offering to the 3 jewels and buddha in 10 direction. In ancient buddhism, most of the monks with enter to retreat due to raining season. In seven lunar time most of the monks just come out from their retreat. By making offering to the sangha just come out from retreat collect tremandous merit during this time. So seven month in buddísm consider the holy month making offering to Buddha, dharma and sangha. Those merit collected is good to dedicate to the sentient beings who reborn at three lower realm and get liberate from the suffering.
In all religions and our faith system are traditions which we have practised without clear understanding of why. However as we study within the scriptures of Buddhism, the Dharma, our understanding becomes clearer.
As in the case of Ullambana/The Hungery Ghost Festival, the knowledge we have are extremely contradictory with the Buddhist and Taoist doctrines.
At the end of it all, we must respect the beliefs of others and for us to celebrate what we believe in. There are similarities to the reasons why Ullambana/Hungry Ghost Festival co-exist, it is for us to honour and respect our dearly departed and to make the celebration in their honour.
Even though it has been a Chinese tradition to believe that the seventh lunar month is the so called ghost month, but I believe that spirits or unseen beings are everywhere around us all the time and they are not just being “released” during the seventh lunar month. As such, celebration of Ullambana is in fact an important festival that not only helps to remind us of this group of beings that are struggling and suffering in the lower realms but also allows us an opportunity to purify ourselves through the offerings made during the celebration.
目犍連尊者雖然神通第一，仍然無法让母親止饑，善惡有報，自己造的业就要自己還。即使是具足神通有如目犍連也無法代償別人的罪业，所以，不要小看业力。殊胜的是，佛陀指示他在七月十五日当天，举行供僧与大家结善缘，以这分清净心加上欢喜心，共同为他母亲祝福，唯有这股很大力量才能转她的业，
克切拉所举办的盂蘭盆节是坚持其原有佛陀所说的本质， 所以是很殊胜的。而很多現在民間七月十五日的中元普度方式，與佛陀在世時，目犍連設齋供僧的意義完全不同。
There are many unseen beings & we shall all respect each other regardless about belief, culture & religion that we are practicing.
Many people will mistakenly regard their regions as the most supreme ones & started to condemn the other parties and this is not right.
The traditional Chinese way of “celebrating” Ullambana through out the world is very different. To them, this at least half of the 7th month in lunar calendar is inauspicious. There are many restriction, like don’t go out at night, don’t wear certain colour of shirt, as it will attract the unseen beings, make offerings at road side to the unseen beings so that they can “bless” them to have good business, and to some people, so that the unseen won’t “disturb” them. In Malaysia, we, as Chinese are grown up surrounded by the old traditional Chinese believe. Until I join Kechara and come across Ullambana, only I discover the real story behind it for us to really celebrate Ullambana. Of course, until these modern days, we still can see many people make offerings at roadside to the unseen beings, especially those who’s doing retail shop business, be it f&b or any retail shops. Of course, some old tradition still need to maintain to keep the culture going. As a Buddhist, we will do it as Buddhist way, and dedicate our merits to all sentient beings, to beings in the lower realms, to our family and friends and our karmic debtors. ?
My first thought of hungry ghost festival was scary, no night outings for that entire month and it’s a taboo for Chinese not to believe it for bad things will come upon you. What I heard was negativity of this fest.
Ever since I got to know Tibetan Buddhism, learning that Ulambhana was one of the event for dedications to those under worldly beings, blessing them and as well as for us to practice compassionate too. Knowing of this meritorious fest, I won’t feel much fear anymore yet rejoice. Thank you for the sharing. ?
Many Malaysian Chinese who practise the philosophy of Daoism and its rituals regard the 7th month as an important month. As a child growing up in Penang, I used to go to places during the 7th month, where there were food set up as offering to the so called wandering ghosts/spirits. Stages were set up and Chinese opera troupes put on shows that tell stories of ancient days in China. Alas, these skilled actors are, now a dying breed and are being replaced by girls in skimpy outfit, belting out modern songs. Those days at such places, even until today, usually the chairs in the front row facing the stage were not meant for people to sit on. They were ‘reserved’ for the ghosts /spirits to ‘enjoy’ the performances. Whether it is true or not that ghosts wander during the 7th month, it is a belief and practice that is still very much alive today.
Before I join Kechara, my family used to pray to ancestors and also the unseen street spirits during the Ulambana period. After I joined Kechara, I purchase dedication tablet and also candles to be offered to my departed ancestors during the Ulambana day. Now I understand better that we can dedicate prayers and merits to our departed loved ones to ease their suffering.
Didn’t know it all started from Maudgalyayana and it’s an intriguing story to say the least. Am fascinated by the type of “celebration” although differentiated by culture and lifestyle but the main objective is very much the same. It not only teaches us to remember those who were already gone and respect their existence in another realm but also for us to reflect what we are to really do to be really making this precious human life a meaningful one.
Buddha truly is compassionate and full of wisdom. How fortunate are we to be able to make offerings in this holy month and generate mass amount of merits for our dearly departed. And we can also take this opportunity to dedicate merits to those who are still with us. We are truly blessed to have Kechara Forest Retreat, a place where we can attend Puja and make offerings to the many Buddhas around the land. Thank you for a wonderful sharing with so many beautiful pictures.
Dear friends,
This meme is powerful. Who you hang around with and the types of attitude they have is who you will be influenced by many times and who you will become in the future. Look at your friends and the people that always surround you to know who you will become.
Tsem Rinpoche
Thank you for sharing this interesting post about Ullambana. The story above has taught me not to neglect the Dharma and my sadhana as it will only pull you deeper down into the lower realms. It hurts to see one of your parents happy and the other suffering in pain. I`ll be in pain to see that in front of my eyes. Thank you for sharing. _/\_
Thank you very much Sharon for your very good explaination about Buddhist Ullambana and Hungry Ghost Festival. Majority of people will just follow tradition or family blindly and do not understand what it is the meaning behind. I didn’t know the difference until now.
Thanks for clarifying the festival. I always thought it was just day when the ghosts came out to “play”. But after reading this article, I have a better understanding of what the Hungry Ghost festival is all about. For quite a few years, I couldn’t put the Hungry Ghost festival together with Ullambana. In fact, the word Ullambana did not exist in my vocabulary before.
So, there is a connection between the two and not mutually exclusive!! Rather, it is an engineered divide. How very interesting.
Dear Sharon,
Thank you for this wonderful article. Before I read this article, I was having a confuse on what is Buddhist Ullambana and Hungry Ghost Festival, are they the same? This article have dispel my ignorant. We tends to accept the traditional of worshipping ghost without any further investigation. Through this article, I could say that is an eye opener that I came to know this auspicious festival became a ghost day because of the selfishness of the Emperor.
Thank you for this article
Yours sincerely
Freon
Thank you all the visitor, sponsor, and volunteers (who work very hard) to make this event a success.
See you all again next year!
Thank you Sharon for sharing.
Majority of people will just follow tradition or family blindly and do not understand what it is the meaning behind. We are fortunate enough and we should encourage more people to do more dharma.
Any chinese version so that we can share with elderly?
???
Believe me before I read this article, I used to fear Ghost month festival coz when I looked at those papers humans it seems like the Ghost movies props and its scary.
I am just like Lin Mun and others. We often mixed up Taoism and Buddhism practice because of the culture. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to listen and learn from Guru teachings, Pastor teachings, my mum, my sis and fellow Kecharian friends which helping me along Dharma pathway. The explanation in this article indeed enhanced my knowledge about Hungry ghost month or Ullambana festival.
As a Buddhist generating merit is essential for the alive and deceased. Hence, besides burn papers which causes damage to the environment. Why don’t we offer or do something fruitful and isn’t it better!
Thank you Tsem Rinpoche, Sharon and others
Thank you Sharon for the explanation in this article. Previously I’m confused and often mixed up the understanding of Ullambana and Hungry Ghost Festival. I think the same for most of the Chinese communities. Many are very much ingrained with the Taoist method without proper understanding and thus continue to practise blindly. I am glad that I have the opportunity to practise the right method under the guidance of Rinpoche and Kechara team. In it indeed a great experience to participate the Ullambana Festival in Kechara Forest Retreat. May more people are opened and receptive towards the right teaching.
There is still alot of knowlege for me to learn all about this Ullambana. Now i can understand better and the differences between the Hungry Ghost festival. Reading through these wonderful article i realised what i know about Hungry Ghost festival is very little and different from what i knew.
Thank you Sharon Ong for these wonderful article which has opened my eyes and mind.
I am glad i was there at KFR to see for myself and learned some knowlege of this Ullambana . My very first time experience celebrating of the original Hungry Ghost festival. Thank you Rinpoche and Sharon Ong
With folded hands
Sam