'THE AUSPICIOUS SEVENTH LUNAR MONTH'

In the Seventh Lunar Month, many Chinese will offer sacrifices and burn joss paper to seek peace. Buddhists consider this period as an auspicious month and a month for thanksgiving, filial piety and joy.

We should celebrate by offering prayers for world peace, fasting and observing a vegetarian diet to protect life and our environment. There will be peace and bliss if we purify our body and soul and transcend earthly superstitions. Buddhists consider the Seventh Lunar Month as an auspicious month and a month for offering thanks. However Chinese tradition dictates that this is a month we have to appease the dead and the hungry ghosts by burning joss paper and offering sacrifices.

This belief probably stems from the agrarian nature of the olden days. With poverty being the norm in an agrarian economy,meals were simple except during festivals. The deliverance,or offerings, was an opportunity for the people to have a sumptuous meal. In our modern society,there is no need to preserve such a superstitious practice, as offering sacrifices involves killing,which will accumulate bad karma, while burning joss paper causes environmental pollution.Both are undesirable consequences.

SUMMER RETREAT/RAIN RETREAT

During Buddha's time, the summer season in India was also a rainy season, with poisonous insects infesting the surroundings. It was therefore not safe for the Sangha members to beg for alms in the open. So during the three-month period from 15th day of the Fourth-Lunar month to 15th day of the Seventh Lunar Month, which is known as the summer RETREAT RAIN/RAIN RETREAT. Sangha members would stay indoors to meditate. During this time, the followers would offer meals to the Sangha members. The three-month retreat allowed the disciples to attain great progress in their Dharma practice; and upon completion, Buddha was joyful while the common followers felt happy and blessed. Hence,the 15th day of the Seventh Lunar Month is known as Buddha's Happy Day.

Another story about the Seventh Lunar Month concerns Maudgalyayana,one of the 10 great disciples of the Buddha. He intended to deliver his mother and others from hell. So,upon completion of the summer retreat, on the 15th day of the Seventh Lunar Month, he made offerings to the sagely Sangha,thereby collecting merits to achieve the great deliverance. This is what is known today as Ullambaba or Deliverance from suffering among the common people. It also serves to remind us about gratitude and filial piety towards our parents,thus it is also known as Day of Filial Piety.

Having understood the significance behind the deliverance of the suffering, it is good that we purify our minds, do away with ignorant superstitions and strive for conservation. We should also offer sincere PRAYERS for peace and stability so that we have a safe, peaceful and happy world to live.