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 necessary 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.