THE BUDDHA SPEAKS:

　　THE ULLAMBANA SUTRA

　　佛說盂蘭盆經

　　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.

　　聞如是。一時佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園。

　　Mahamaudgalyayana had just obtained the six penetrations and wished to cross over his father and mother to repay their kindness for raising him.

　　大目犍連，始得六通。欲度父母，報乳哺之恩。

　　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.

　　即以道眼，觀視世間，見其亡母生餓鬼中，不見飲食，皮骨連立。目連悲哀，即以缽盛飯，往饷其母。母得缽飯，便以左手障缽，右手抟食。食未入口，化成火炭，遂不得食。

　　Mahamaudgalyayana called out and wept sorrowfully, and hastened to return to the Buddha to set forth all of this.

　　目連大叫，悲號涕泣，馳還白佛，具陳如此。

　　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.

　　佛言：汝母罪根深結，非汝一人力所奈何。汝雖孝順，聲動天地。天神、地祇、邪魔、外道道士、四天王神，亦不能奈何。當須十方衆僧威神之力，乃得解脫。

　　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.

　　吾今當說救濟之法，令一切難，皆離憂苦。

　　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.

　　佛告目連：十方衆僧，七月十五日，僧自恣時。當爲七世父母，及現在父母，厄難中者，具飯百味五果、汲灌盆器、香油錠燭、床敷臥具，盡世甘美以著盆中，供養十方大德衆僧。當此之日，一切聖衆，或在山間禅定；或得四道果；或在樹下經行；或六通自在，教化聲聞、緣覺；或十地菩薩大人，權現比丘。在大衆中，皆同一心，受缽和羅飯。具清淨戒，聖衆之道，其德汪洋。

　　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.

　　其有供養此等自恣僧者，現世父母、六親眷屬，得出叁途之苦，應時解脫，衣食自然。若父母現在者，福樂百年。若七世父母生天，自在化生，入天華光。

　　At that time the Buddha commanded the assembled Sangha of the ten directions to recite mantras and vows for the sake of th…

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