The Ullambana Ceremony in South Korea

In the morning of August 11th, 2019 (July 11th, Pig Year), at Bhaisajya (Medicine) Buddha Pagoda (Incheon city, Korea), the Ullambana Ceremony of Pious Gratitude was celebrated in the solemn environment for Vietnamese Buddhists. This was the time for Vietnamese living and working in Incheon city and Korean for them together to feel the unlimited love of their parents.

At 11 AM (Korean time), all the Buddhists formally welcomed all the honored ones to the altar stage. After the introduction of the schedule, attendees and the representative of the Buddhists raised the flowers to offer the Buddha. Bhadanta Thich Tam Vuong read the meaning of ‘pinning roses on robes’ on the music background Long Me (Mum’s heart) , which was performed by Van Anh the artist.

After that was the part when roses are pinned on robes of all the honored ones and Buddhists laypeople on the background of the song “Bong Hong Cai Ao”. Then, the Buddhists had the chance for repentance, reviewed and showed their regrets with all the guilt they made with their parents during the part named program “A minute of Ksama”.

Bhadanta Tehyu, Vice Abbot of  Medicine Buddha Pagoda presented and congratulated the ceremony. Bhadanta Tehyu also applauded for the learning spirit of Vietnamese Buddhists, along with some talks about the meaning of The Ullambana Ceremony.The Bhadanta hoped that all of the Buddhists would always strengthen the spirit of Ullambana in their mind.

The ceremony went on with the ritual when all Buddhists contributed the ‘apparel of robes’. After the introduction, Bhadanta Thich Tam Dao, on behalf of the monks, asked for offering alms-giving, the Bhadanta had some words with everyone about the responsibilities of being a child in a family; especially after we had believed in Buddhism. We need to focus more in practicing our “pious”. Beside filing piety for family, there are filing piety for home-leaving family, which needs to be focused more by Buddhists. We are the next generations of our parents and our ancestors, we must make them proud. Our success is also the biggest happiness for them.

At the end, the Bhadanta expressed that he was grateful for the monks of Bhaisajya Buddha Pagoda for supporting the Vietnamese Buddhists to have a successful Ullambana   Ceremony of Pious Gratitude, also his best wishes for the Buddhists.

Besides, there were the music performances of the Buddhists of Bhaisajya Buddha Pagoda. 

In the same evening, the monks of the pagoda ran the program reciting of Ullambana sutra showing  Pious Gratitude, along with communicating the Buddhists.

Some images recorded: