Thursday, August 24, 2006

Ullambana Festival 盂兰盛会

Ullambana Festival 盂兰盛会

The temporary places allocated for the purpose of celebrating Ullambana Festival.


Dai Xi Ye (Hokkien) aka Da Shi Ye 大士爷 (Mandarin). My mum told me that he is the leader of all the 'ghost'. During July in Chinese Calender, most of the Chinese will pray him so that he can protect them from being disturbed.


Hehe, I guess it is the clothes for Da Shi Ye.


Praying things. 祭品


Long Xiang (龙香). The phrases on the Long Xiang are "you qiu bi ying" 有求必应 (I will definitely get what I pray for), "he jia ping an" 合家平安 (all my family are healty and free from dangerous) and "xin xiang shi cheng" 心想事成 (what I think wil be what I get)


Long Xiang again. :D But these are smaller size.


The food from the prayers used for praying.

曾经是佛学会的我,曾经读过盂兰节的起源。其实,真正的盂兰节并非鬼节。盂兰节是从一个故事,目健连救母开始:

(注:以下的故事只是我所记得的。可能有些错误。如有错误,还敬请多多原谅 :P。)

目健连乃佛陀十大弟子之一。他是佛陀众弟子中,神通第一。有一天,当目健连尊者在禅定时,他看到了自己的母亲沦落于恶鬼道中。母亲的喉咙瘦得像一根针。每当抢到食物,好不容易吞下去后,食物却会在肚子里烈火焚烧,痛苦难当。目健连尊者看了心有不忍。于是就向佛陀请教有什么方法救救自己的母亲。佛陀说:“你的母亲在世时从来不懂的布施,自私自利。今天才会沦落到恶鬼道中。但,七月的月圆日时,所有闭关修行的僧是们都会聚集一堂。如果你要救你的母亲,你可在当时到来,供养所有的僧士们”。于是,目健连尊者就遵照佛陀的话,在七月月圆日当天,到僧士们聚集一堂的精舍,供养所有的僧士们。就在当天,目健连看到母亲升往西方极乐。

所以,我所知道的佛教式的盂兰节,并非宰鸡宰鸭的节日。而是所有佛学弟子向佛陀忏悔所有曾经的过错,并把一切功德回响于父母。佛教对于盂兰节的庆祝方式是举行念诵大忏悔文和浴佛的日子。所以呢,大家就趁今年的润七月,一起来多做好事,并把所有的功德回响于我们的双亲。祝福他们长命百岁,一切顺利,身体健康,心神愉快。:)

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