..續本文上一頁e 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. 　

　　時佛敕十方衆僧，皆先爲施主家咒願，願七世父母，行禅定意，然後受食。初受食時，先安在佛前，塔寺中佛前，衆僧咒願竟，便自受食。

　　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.

　　時目連比丘，及大菩薩衆，皆大歡喜。目連悲啼泣聲，釋然除滅。時目連母，即于是日，得脫一劫餓鬼之苦。

　　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.

　　目連複白佛言：弟子所生母，得蒙叁寶功德之力、衆僧威神之力故。

　　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

　　"

　　若未來世，一切佛弟子，亦應奉盂蘭盆，救度現在父母，乃至七世父母，可爲爾否？

　　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.

　　佛言：大善快問！我正欲說，汝今複問。

　　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.

　　善男子，若比丘比丘尼、國王太子、大臣宰相、叁公百官、萬民庶人，行慈孝者，皆應先爲所生現在父母、過去七世父母，于七月十五日佛歡喜日、僧自恣日，以百味飯食，安盂蘭盆中，施十方自恣僧。

　　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.

　　願使現在父母，壽命百年無病，無一切苦惱之患。乃至七世父母，離餓鬼苦，生人天中，福樂無極。

　　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."

　　是佛弟子修孝順者，應念念中，常憶父母，乃至七世父母。年年七月十五日，常以孝慈，憶所生父母，爲作盂蘭盆，施佛及僧，以報父母長養慈愛之恩。若一切佛弟子，應當奉持是法。

　　At that time the bhikshu Maudgalyayana and the four-fold assembly of disciples, hearing what the Buddha said, practiced it with delight.

　　時目連比丘，四輩弟子，歡喜奉行。

《The Ullambana Sutra (佛說盂蘭盆經)》全文閱讀結束。