..续本文上一页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. 　

　　时佛敕十方众僧，皆先为施主家咒愿，愿七世父母，行禅定意，然后受食。初受食时，先安在佛前，塔寺中佛前，众僧咒愿竟，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.

　　时目连比丘，及大菩萨众，皆大欢喜。目连悲啼泣声，释然除灭。时目连母，即于是日，得脱一劫饿鬼之苦。

　　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.

　　目连复白佛言：弟子所生母，得蒙三宝功德之力、众僧威神之力故。

　　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

　　"

　　若未来世，一切佛弟子，亦应奉盂兰盆，救度现在父母，乃至七世父母，可为尔否？

　　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：大善快问！我正欲说，汝今复问。

　　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、国王太子、大臣宰相、三公百官、万民庶人，行慈孝者，皆应先为所生现在父母、过去七世父母，于七月十五日佛欢喜日、僧自恣日，以百味饭食，安盂兰盆中，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.

　　愿使现在父母，寿命百年无病，无一切苦恼之患。乃至七世父母，离饿鬼苦，生人天中，福乐无极。

　　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."

　　是佛弟子修孝顺者，应念念中，常忆父母，乃至七世父母。年年七月十五日，常以孝慈，忆所生父母，为作盂兰盆，施佛及僧，以报父母长养慈爱之恩。若一切佛弟子，应当奉持是法。

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

　　时目连比丘，四辈弟子，欢喜奉行。

《The Ullambana Sutra (佛说盂兰盆经)》全文阅读结束。