Great Ullambana ceremony 2016

"July 15th Ullambana ceremony comes". July 15th (Lunar Year) ceremony comes in the ambience of July that summer sunshine has just broken, the autumn breeze dies down. In July, leaves turns into light yellow. The soul, hence, is also terribly sad reminding of two Great people who gave birth to us in order to express gratitude and grace at Ullambana festival. While Westerners have Mother"s Day; we, Asians, take pride in celebrating Ullambana festival, a festival of humanity for those who are sons or daughters having the opportunity to express their heart toward their own parents. Therefore, wherever we go or come, whatever we do, we would spend a bit of time hearing a sutra or a line of a verse to feel the father and mother’s infinite love.

In respect of that noble spirit, Hoang Phap Monastery solemnly organized Great Ullambana ceremony on Aug 17th 2016 (July 15th Monkey Year), Buddhism calendar 2560 – Solar calendar 2016. Great ceremony was witnessed by Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, the Abbot of Hoang Phap Monastery and all the honored ones at the monastery. Buddhists from Ho Chi Minh city and other places came and attended the ceremony.

At truly 9:00 AM, the entire assembly stately held palms to formally invite the honored monks to the main hall in the solemnity and respect. After the ritual of reciting Buddha’s name wishing assistance and protection, declaring reasons, introducing the program, children of Family of Buddhist of Hoang Phap Monastery wholeheartedly represented the entire assembly to conduct the ritual of incense and flower offerings to Three Jewels of ten directions, which was witnessed by the present honored monks.

Then, Lien Thao continued reading the meaning of pining roses in the touched ambience. Now, the beloved images of the mother and father reappeared through every text and every verse. Onerous upbringing and teaching, etc. made the listeners’ eyes to be filled with tears. There were still smiles of the family reunion dinner and happiness to being with parents, however there were tears of children that went far from their parents. In the sacred moment, the entire assembly spent a minute of silence to commemorate Buddha’s tremendous grace, Patriarch and Teachers’ teaching, the selfless martyrs because of Dharma. In addition, we also reminded of the grace of the people, country, and thousands of kinds and beings, predecessors heroes, ancestors and parents from many lives before.

In train of thoughts about the father and the mother, the roses were cherished and appreciated by the pious sons and daughters. Because "the rose is meaningful either red or white", the mother’s gentle image and the father's strict gaze appeared in every rose. Each petal is every tear, every drop of sweat, early and late laborious working of the mother and the father. All was well received with the heart of the Buddhists. "Pinning Roses" song which was performed by little singer Hong Minh helped audiences think deeply about the maternal love that nothing can replace.

Thanks to the protection of Buddha from ten directions above as well as the proof of the present honored monks under, the mass was toward Three Jewels in order to thank the parents' ten great graces. After Exceptional Favor Ceremony, Gratitude Ceremony was for ones who entered the monkhood express gratitude toward their parents. The Venerable Abbot and the honored monks demonstrated filial piety to present parents through the ritual of offering garlands and strings of beads to parents still alive.

As: 

Afterwards, following Moggallana’s exemplary (one of the ten great disciples of the Buddha), Miss Truong Thi May and some young Buddhist women in Hoang Phap Monastery on behalf of the assembly respectfully offered Dharma garment to the present honored monks. Singer Ngoc Mai performed a song "Offering Dharma garment" with her gentle voice at the ceremony.

In order to continue the ceremony, Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, the Abbot of Hoang Phap Monastery and the Director of the ceremony, on behalf of the present monks praised filial piety of all Buddhists and promised to receive the offerings. Senior Venerable also gave some encouraging words to the assembly.

With two real stories on the mass media, Senior Venerable showed the mother’s great love to her children. Despite being absolutely exhausted till the last breath, her love to children made the mother overcome all things, with the only hope that children would be safe and sound. Indeed, that was the most wonderful love that nothing can be compare with. Therefore, a child should fulfil filial duty in order to match up parents’ great love to children in return. Moreover, not only did we take special care for parents, but we should also guide parents to think toward Buddhism so as to achieve happiness in this life and the next ones. Last but not least, Senior Venerable wished that the assembly would have a Ullambana’s season of filial piety.

After the guidance from the Abbot, the assembly was enjoying a short play but deeply touched by Dharmapala’s group with the title: "The burden for children".

As usual, the final part of the ceremony was the session of reciting Ullambana’s sutra.

The program was contributed with the voice of singer Le Quyen “Celebrate Mother’s Birthday”, and Mr. Trí Thông’s musical flute performance “Mother’s Heart”.

On the occasion of ceremony, the organizers gave Buddhists attending the ceremony a CD of The Light Dharma Episode 56.

Here are the images recorded: