| Rating: | ★★★ |
| Category: | Other |
7th Mth Festival, a month/festival that always being misunderstood/mistreat by Folks as Hungry Ghost Festival (餓鬼節). It is really sad to have such thought of honouring Hungry Ghost. Maybe this was being strongly and wrongly influenced by the other Non-Taoist Faith (非本宗道教之信仰).
For this misconception, it will need to be improved and clear-up for people to realise that, 7th Month is actually a Month of Good Intentions (發善心) & Filial Piety (存孝思) rather than making people freak-out by ALL the horrible sayings.
Hope that in the future, certain Official Organisations can take extra close attention on the Title-used for addressing the 7th Month Festival, if not, this misconception will continue to be there forever and not allowing to reveal the True Identity and Main Purpose of Celebration the 7th Month Festival.
中元節或稱七月普度﹐原為一種表達孝思精神的節日及為一種認錯及求赦的活動。但常在誹言流語之中﹐讓人產生恐懼﹐真的很不應該。希望這樣的觀念能及早除去﹐還中元節之原本意義﹐好讓本宗道教能淵源留長。
Shifu, even in modern Buddhist temples, we discourage superstitious beliefs and burning of unnecessary offerings. The Buddha didn't even teach that Hell will be opened. Instead, He taught that this month, we should do good deeds to honour our ancestors and other beings.
ReplyDeleteThis is something we have in common. It's just very sad that businessmen fool people so they can earn more money. No matter how many joss paper they burn, if they do bad deeds, they will still get retribution.
True, indeed this is something that we needed to look into and educated the public.
ReplyDeleteDear Master, I am away from home and couldn't make it home for the 7th month festival. I would like to conduct a prayer outside my rented house here.
ReplyDeleteWhat mantras must I recite to conduct a prayer ceremony to my ancestors outside my house here
Yes, you may do it outside your rented house, go to search for the Tai Yi Praise Mantra in my web, you can recite that before and after you honored your ancestors.
ReplyDeleteThanks Master for your reply. Besides invoking Lord Taiyi, how can I invite my ancestors to the place of honouring?
ReplyDeleteFor that, you will need to report to Cheng Huang & Tu Di, the names & death date of your ancestors (if you know that).
ReplyDeleteOkay, thanks a lot
ReplyDeleteHow to pray to tudi for reporting?
ReplyDeleteUsually we will prepare a set of Tradtional Biscuit & Tea Leaves, a set of 2 oranges and a stack of normal Gold Paper. After placing all the items on the floor, call upon Tu Di (best to recite the Praise Mantra) and then after that, report to Tu Di the names of the Ancestors.
ReplyDelete