The Buddha said that it is difficult to repay the kindness of parents
Buddhist festivals include the Obon Festival, which means paying homage to ancestors
The Buddha said that the Obon Sutra
Translated by Master Zhu Fahu of Tripitaka in the Western Jin Dynasty
I heard this. At that time, the Buddha only had a solitary garden in Savatthi State. Maha Moggallana had just gained the six powers, and he wanted to save his parents and repay the kindness of his mother and father. That is, looking at the world with Tao eyes, he saw his dead mother reborn as a hungry ghost, with no food or drink, and the skin and bones standing together. Maudgalyana was sad, so he filled the bowl with rice and went to feed his mother. When the mother received the bowl of rice, she blocked the bowl with her left hand and beat the food with her right hand. The food turned into charcoal before entering her mouth, so she could not eat. Mulian shouted loudly, howled and wept, and rushed back to the white Buddha. This is the case.
The Buddha said: ‘Your mother’s sins are so deep-rooted that it is beyond your power to do anything about it. Even though you are filial, your voice can move heaven and earth, gods and earth, evil spirits, heretics, Taoists and the Four Heavenly Kings and Gods, but you can't do anything about it. It takes the mighty power of the monks from the ten directions to achieve liberation. Now I will tell you the method of relief, so that all difficulties can be eliminated. '
The Buddha told Mulian: 'For all sentient beings in the ten directions, on the 15th day of the seventh month, when the monks are free to indulge themselves, they should be provided with rice, various flavors and five fruits, and a basin for their parents in the seventh life and those who are currently suffering from adversity. Utensils, sesame oil ingots and candles, bed dressings and bedding, and the most delicious sweetness in the world are placed in basins to offer to the virtuous monks in the ten directions. On this day, all the saints may meditate in the mountains, or obtain the fruits of the four paths, or meditate under the trees, or the six kinds of freedom can teach the sravakas and pratyekabuddhas, or the great bodhisattvas of the tenth level will appear in authority to bhikkhu in front of the assembly. Among them, they all have the same mind, receive alms bowls and rice bowls, have pure precepts, follow the path of saints, and their virtues are vast. Those who make offerings to such self-indulgent monks, their present parents, and their six relatives will be liberated from the sufferings of the Three Realms in due time, and will have natural food and clothing. If their parents are present, they will be blessed for hundreds of years. If their parents are born in heaven in the seventh life, they will be reborn in freedom and enter heaven. Huaguang. ’
At that time, the Buddha ordered the monks from the ten directions to first make mantras and vows for the benefactor’s family, asking his parents to meditate and meditate for seven generations, and then receive food. When receiving food for the first time, he should first place it in front of the Buddha. In front of the Buddha in the pagoda and temple, all the monks would make a mantra and wish, and then he would receive the food by himself.
At that time, Bhikkhu Maudgalyana and the great Bodhisattvas were all very happy, and Maudgalyana’s mournful cries were relieved and extinguished.
On that day, Mu Lianmu was liberated from the suffering of hungry ghosts.
Mu Lian replied to the Buddha and said: 'The disciple's mother was blessed with the power of the merits of the Three Jewels and the divine power of the monks. If in the future life, all Buddhist disciples should also offer the Ullambana Basin to save their present parents, and even their parents in the seventh life, can this be done to you? ’
Buddha said: ‘Great benefactor, ask quickly! I was about to say something, but you will ask again now. Good man! If monks, nuns, kings and princes, ministers and prime ministers, the three public officials, and all the people, all behave kindly and filial piety, they should first give birth to their present parents and their parents in the past seven lives. , use various kinds of food, place it in an orchid basin, and give it to the self-reliant monks in the ten directions. I hope that my current parents will live for a hundred years without any disease and all kinds of distress. Even in the seventh life, my parents will be free from the suffering of evil ghosts and be born in human and heaven, with endless happiness and joy. . Those disciples of the Buddha who practice filial piety should always remember their parents, even for seven lifetimes. On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month every year, with filial piety and kindness, we should always remember our parents when we were born, make Ullambana basins, and give them to Buddhas and monks to repay our parents for their kindness and kindness. All Buddhist disciples should always uphold this Dharma. ’
At that time, Bhikkhu Maudgalyayana and his four generations of disciples followed it happily.