如何为往生的至亲回响？ HOW TO DEDICATE MERITS TO MY LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED ON?

I love my family and my loved ones.

When they are around, I do my best to care for them and love them in my own ways. I like giving them good food, gifts and hugs.

However, when some of them have passed on… non of these can reach them now.

Thankfully, I can still do light offerings and puja offerings for them. In the past, I would have to visit a temple to do so but now with technology, it is made simpler by having online offerings done.

Check out the following website to do dedications to our loved ones! 请点击以下图片/网址！

https://apply.pray.online/apply

May these profound merits and virtues be dedicated to our loved ones!

The puja is very auspicious as there will be the chanting of various sutras and offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The online puja services invites your participation and your sharing with all buddhist devotees! Share this with your friends!

The Buddhist origins of the Ullambana Festival can be traced back to a story from India. In the Ullambana Sutra, there is an account of a well-to-do merchant, Mahāmoggallāna, who gave up his trade to become a Buddhist monk. After he became an arahant, he wondered what became of his parents. He travelled the Buddhist universe, and found his father in heaven. However, his mother was reborn in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. Despite her inheritance, his mother was not generous. She did not offer daana to Buddhist monks and did not show any kindness. When she died, she was reborn in the realm of hungry ghosts. Mahāmoggallāna eventually saves her from this plight by battling various demons and entreating the help of the Buddha. The story ends with this festival and the rescue of his mother from hell. She ended up being reborn as a dog in a well-off household. It marks the first day of the Ullambana Festival.

佛在世时，其弟子当中，有一位名叫目犍连尊者，他是佛陀十大弟子中，以神通第一而见称。一天他想起自己已经往生的母亲，不知现在何处？于是目犍连尊者就入定中观察，见到母亲堕在饿鬼道中，受尽饥渴之苦，目不忍睹，尊者悲痛万分，不忍母亲饥渴的痛苦，急忙就用自己之钵，盛满白饭，运用神通送到饿鬼道中给母亲充饥。其母见了白饭急不及待，非常高兴地伸出双手，接过盛满白饭的钵，捧到面前，当开口吃时，突然由她口中喷出火焰，整钵的白饭，都变成烧焦的炭一样，不能食用！目犍连尊者看到这种情形，心里非常悲痛，不忍母亲在饿鬼道中受苦而自己又无法救得母亲，使她脱离苦境！于是想起恳求佛陀代为设法，济拔其苦缚。因此他就立即来到佛前，诉说自己母亲在饿鬼道中所受的苦况，并说出己运用神通之力盛饭给母，而母亲不得受食之情形，还至诚恳切地哀求佛陀慈悲救拔。

当时佛陀对目犍连尊者说：“ 你不要以为仗你的神通之力，就能救拔你的母亲！要知道娑婆世界众生，一生都是积恶造业，罪根深重。如你欲想救拔母亲，只仗凭你个人神通之力，非依仗大福德因缘之力量，碓实是无法救离她脱出苦报！”佛教导目犍连：“你应当于七月十五日众僧自恣日，虔诚广设种种供物饮食，恭敬奉献佛僧，承仗三宝威德福力，拔济母亲脱离饿鬼道中饥渴之苦！”
目犍连尊者听闻佛陀教导之后，依随佛陀所示的方法，于七月十五日那天，预备种种饮食，盛于盆器之中，恭敬虔诚地奉佛献僧，当时佛陀也由于这个因缘，而讲了一部《盂兰盆经》。由此可知，七月十五日，能设斋供佛及僧，其功德真能超荐七世父母之罪业。