美國華嚴蓮社將於二○○八年八月三日(星期日)起至八月十日(星期日)止，啟建盂蘭思親報恩大法會。此源於佛陀教導其弟子大目犍連尊者以盂蘭盆供養眾僧超度亡母脫離餓鬼道之法門，其出發點在於弘揚孝道，故又稱為「教孝日」。超度祖先、六親眷屬，是中國人慎終追遠的傳統思想，尤其藉法會共修及仰仗十方僧眾加行之功德，必能令先亡早日離苦得樂。
本年度盂蘭盆法會將禮請本社副董事長上賢下度法師和住持上天下因法師共同主持法會，虔誦八十華嚴經。法會圓滿日，中午舉行盂蘭盆供，供養十方三寶、護法諸天。下午並施放三時繫念法事一壇。
祈願以此功德，迴向世界各地因水、火、風災、戰爭、地震、車禍、空難、疫疾等災情死難之亡靈，及各姓護法門中先亡父母親眷，早生淨土。
屆時敬請大德居士，駕臨拈香，參與共修，同崇孝思，共薦先靈為荷。若需設立往生蓮位，超度祖先親友者，或欲藉此參與消災祈福、打齋、供僧功德者，即日起請至事務處辦理登記。
即日起接受報名
支票抬頭：ABLS
請 寄：AVATAMSAKA BUDDHIST LOTUS SOCIETY
50 South Main St. Milpitas，CA 95035
電 話: 408-942-0874 傳 真: 408-942-0639
米爾必達市華嚴蓮社 住持 天 因 啟
2008年7 月 1 日
盂蘭盆法會的由來
《盂蘭盆》一詞的含意，在歷代典籍中有不同的解釋，其中以宗密之盂蘭盆經疏所載的意義，較為普遍接受。「盂蘭」即倒懸之義。「盆」則為救護之器，故「盂蘭盆」為「救倒懸、解痛苦」之義。
根據盂蘭盆經所載，佛陀弟子中，神通第一的目連尊者，以天眼通見其亡母墮於餓鬼道。皮骨相連，饑苦難喻，遂以缽盛飯往餉其母。然其母因惡口業報，張口將食，食物即化為焦火。目連尊者返回佛處，跪拜佛陀座前悲泣哀告，祈請救母離苦之法。
佛陀憫示目連尊者，應於農曆七月十五日僧自恣日(印度雨季，僧眾結夏安居三個月，此日乃安居結束之日，又稱解夏)，以百味飲食置於盂蘭盆中以供養三寶，藉此無量功德，方能救其母脫離餓鬼道。
因此，我們在每年的農曆七月十五日盂蘭盆法會(又稱僧寶節)這一天，齋供天下僧眾，亦希望此供僧殊勝功德，迴向吾人過去父母及六眷親屬，願他們早日離苦得樂。
~盂蘭盆法會供僧功德~
僧寶延續佛法，為福田的代表，凡供養者，必獲大功德。供僧應具恭敬心，歡喜心，迴向心，此心愈大，則福報愈大，尤以
1、供僧時，觀想受供者不限當前僧眾，而以全世界僧眾為對象。
2、能有此緣份供僧，應自生歡喜心，可無限延長數小時、數天、數月、愈久愈好。
3、同時願以此供僧功德迴向法界一切眾生均得福報。
4、要將所供之財物，觀成無上寶物，愈尊貴愈好，如此則功德必大。
最後總迴向，願法界眾生，共成佛道，並祈求佛法久住世間。
The Origin of the Ullambana Ceremony
There are different meanings of “Ullambana” in different Buddhist Scriptures. From “Ullambana Sutra” of Mahayana Buddhism, it means to relieve the “hang upside down” sentient beings from suffering.
According to the (Ullambana Sutra) , one of the Buddha`s ten great disciples —Maudgalyayana, who used his divine eye saw that his mother had been reborn as a hungry ghost, and he wanted to save her. He fed his mother with a bowl of food. Yet before the food reached her mouth, it turned into burning coals.
Maudgalyayana wept sorrowfully and went to the Buddha for help. The Buddha told him that only the merits of elaborate offerings made to the Sanghas on the last day of the Varsa could help his mother.
From this event developed the custom of offering food, clothing and so on to the clergy on fifteenth day of the seventh month (lunar calendar), the date coincides with the end of the three months rain retreat (Varsa).
Thus, on Ullambana Ceremony (also called the Sangha`s Day), we make offerings to assembled Sanghas, and dedicate the merits to our departed parented parents and relatives, wishing them attain happiness and free from suffering.
The Merits Received from Making Offerings to the Sanghas in Ullambana Ceremony:
The Sangha carry the Torch of Buddha Dharma, representing the land of merits. Whoever makes offerings to the Sangha receives great merits. We should make offerings to the Sangha with a respectful, joyful and dedicated mind . The stronger the mind is, the greater the merits one receives, especially when one is :
1, Contemplating on making offerings to all the Sanghas in the world.
2, Being filled with joy for hours, days and months, the longer the better.
3, Making a vow to share the merits received with all sentient beings.
4, Contemplating on the offerings as precious treasures therefore the merits will become greater.
A comprehensive dedication to all sentient beings for peace and enlightenment will be conducted in the service. We also wish that Dharma would stay in this world forever.
