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.
http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/ullambana.html