THE BUDDHA SPEAKS:

THE ULLAMBANA SUTRA
佛说盂兰盆经

　　Nomo homage to the Ullambana Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

　　Thus I have heard, at one time, the Buddha dwelt at Shravarsti in the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Solitary.
　　闻如是。一时佛在舍卫国祇树给孤独园。
　　Mahamaudgalyayana had just obtained the six penetrations and wished to cross over his father and mother to repay their kindness for raising him.
　　大目犍连，始得六通。欲度父母，报乳哺之恩。
　　
　　Thus, using his way eye, he regarded the world and saw that his deceased mother had been born among the hungry ghosts, having neither food nor drink, she was but skin and bones. Mahaudgalayana felt deep pity and sadness, filled a bowl with food and went to provide for his mother. She got the bowl, screened it with her left hand, and with her right hand made a fist of food. But, before it entered her mouth, it turned into burning coals which could not be eaten.
　　即以道眼，观视世间，见其亡母生饿鬼中，不见饮食，皮骨连立。目连悲哀，即以钵盛饭，往饷其母。母得钵饭，便以左手障钵，右手抟食。食未入口，化成火炭，遂不得食。
Mahamaudgalyayana called out and wept sorrowfully, and hastened to return to the Buddha to set forth all of this.
　　目连大叫，悲号涕泣，驰还白佛，具陈如此。

The Buddha said, "your mother's offenses are deep and firmly rooted. You alone do not have enough power. Although your filial sounds move heaven and earth, the heaven spirits, the earth spirits, twisted demons, and those outside the way, Brahmans, and the four heavenly king gods, are also without sufficient strength. The awesome spiritual power of the assembled Sangha of the ten directions is neceessary for the liberation to be attained.
　　佛言：汝母罪根深结，非汝一人力所奈何。汝虽孝顺，声动天地。天神、地祇、邪魔、外道道士、四天王神，亦不能奈何。当须十方众僧威神之力，乃得解脱。

　　I shall now speak a dharma of rescue, which causes all those in difficulty to leave worry and suffering, and to eradicate obstacles from offenses.
　　吾今当说救济之法，令一切难，皆离忧苦。

　　The Buddha told Maudgalyayana: "The fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Pravarana day for the assembled Sangha of the ten directions. For the sake of fathers and mothers of seven generations past, as well as for fathers and mothers of the present who are in distress, you should prepare an offering of clean basins full of hundreds of flavors and the five fruits, and other offerings of incense, oil, lamps, candles, beds, and bedding, all the best of the world, to the greatly virtuous assembled Sangha of the ten directions. On that day, all the holy assembly, whether in the mountains practicing dhyana samadhi, or obtaining the four fruits of the way, or walking beneath trees, or using the independence of the six penetrations, to teach and transform sound hearers and those enlightened to conditions. Or provisionally manifesting as bhikshus when in fact they are great Bodhisattvas on the tenth ground--all complete in pure precepts and oceanlike virtue of the holy way--should gather in a great assembly and all of like mind receive the pravarana food.
　　佛告目连：十方众僧，七月十五日，僧自恣时。当为七世父母，及现在父母，厄难中者，具饭百味五果、汲灌盆器、香油锭烛、床敷卧具，尽世甘美以着盆中，供养十方大德众僧。当此之日，一切圣众，或在山间禅定；或得四道果；或在树下经行；或六通自在，教化声闻、缘觉；或十地菩萨大人，权现比丘。在大众中，皆同一心，受钵和罗饭。具清净戒，圣众之道，其德汪洋。

　　If one thus makes offerings to these Provarana Sangha, one's present father and mother, parents of seven generations, as well as the six kinds of close relatives, will escape from the three paths of sufferings. And at that time attain release. Their clothing and food will spontaneously appear. If the parents are still alive, they will have wealth and blessings for a hundred years. Parents of seven generations will be born in the heavens. Transformationally born, they will independently enter the celestial flower light, and experience limitless bliss.
　　其有供养此等自恣僧者，现世父母、六亲眷属，得出三途之苦，应时解脱，衣食自然。若父母现在者，福乐百年。若七世父母生天，自在化生，入天华光。