North American Ullambana Sangha Offering Ceremony Draws Over a Thousand Participants, Honoring Parents and Cultivating Blessings and Wisdom

Reported by Pan Ching Xia, The Life News Agency, Los Angeles, USA

Amid the resonant sounds of bells and drums, the Los Angeles Chapter of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) held the North American Ullambana Sangha Offering Ceremony on July 20th at Fo Guang Shan’s Hsi Lai Temple. The ceremony was presided over by Most Venerable Hsin Bau, Abbot of Fo Guang Shan, with offerings made to 90 monastics from across North America and 27 novice monks participating in short-term monastic training. Approximately 1,300 devotees gathered at the temple to observe the Buddha’s teachings, express filial piety and gratitude through offerings to the Sangha, and cultivate blessings and wisdom.

In her opening remarks, BLIA Los Angeles Chapter President Echo Tsai cited the Ullambana Sutra, explaining that the ceremony originates from Venerable Maudgalyayana’s efforts to rescue his mother from the realm of hungry ghosts. Following the Buddha’s instruction, he made offerings to the pure Sangha and dedicated the merit to his parents of current and past lives, thereby alleviating suffering, dispelling misfortune, and extending life. She further noted that monastics observe the summer retreat from the fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, devoting themselves to diligent practice. Rejoicing in their achievements, the Buddha designated the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month as both Sangha Day and the Buddha’s Day of Joy. In addition to supporting Fo Guang Shan temples throughout North America, the Los Angeles Chapter also extended offerings to 27 orthodox Buddhist temples in Southern California.

Led by the ceremonial officiant, eight representatives respectfully escorted the monastics to their seats to receive offerings. The assembly chanted the Ullambana Sutra in unison, dedicating the merit throughout the ten directions of the Dharma realm. Offering teams formed by BLIA Los Angeles subchapters, dressed in cheongsams and traditional ethnic attire, presented vegetarian delicacies. The Hsi Lai Boy Scouts offered gift boxes, while representatives of BLIA leaders from North America symbolically presented the Four Gifts given to the Sangha: robes, food, lodging, and medicine. Devotees simultaneously received vegetarian meal boxes in the Main Shrine, Dharma Hall, and auditorium, sharing in the joy of the Dharma.

Artistic performances were also offered in reverence to the Sangha. The BLIA San Diego Chapter presented a dance interpretation of the Fo Guang Shan Song; the Austin Chapter performed a martial arts piece titled Martial Rhythm, Compassionate Light; students from Hsi Lai School performed the classical Chinese dance Tang Impressions; BLIA Los Angeles Monterey Park Subchapter 3 recited the poem Spring Has Blossoms, Autumn Has Moonlight; and South Bay Subchapter 2 performed the traditional instrumental piece Spring Arrives at the Xiang River. The program culminated with a performance by renowned Peking opera artist Wang Haibo—recipient of China’s Plum Blossom Award and Taiwan’s Golden Bell Award—who presented Verse of Dedication and Verse in Praise of the Teacher. With a rich and resonant voice, she interpreted verses by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founding master of Fo Guang Shan:

“With a compassionate vow to liberate all beings held in my heart,
My body is like the vast ocean of Dharma, unbound by any vessel.
Ask me what I have sought in this lifetime—
Peace and happiness illuminating the five continents.”

Her performance echoed throughout the Main Shrine, drawing prolonged and heartfelt applause.

In his concluding Dharma talk, Most Venerable Hsin Bau expressed gratitude to all participants for making sincere and respectful offerings to the Triple Gems, thereby cultivating stores of blessings and wisdom to the joy of both human and celestial beings. He explained that offering embodies dāna (giving), the first of the Six Paramitas. Venerable Master Hsing Yun described this practice as “giving,” encouraging practitioners to “give freely and joyfully” by practicing the Four Givings, thus becoming generous and at-ease individuals who cultivate mindfulness in daily life. Citing the Avatamsaka Sutra—“Skillfully using the mind enables the accomplishment of wondrous merit”—Most Venerable Hsin Bau encouraged everyone to realize the Dharma in everyday life, support the true teachings, and promote Humanistic Buddhism. On this auspicious Sangha Day and Buddha’s Day of Joy, he added, diligent practice of the Bodhisattva path—echoing Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s words, “Bring honor to the Dharma and dignity to oneself”—will surely gladden the Buddha’s heart.

As greetings of “Venerable, auspicious blessings” and “Amitabha” echoed throughout the grounds, monastics and novice monks proceeded together with the alms-bowl offering ritual. Devotees lined the east and west corridors; even young children, cradled in their parents’ arms, eagerly reached out to place offerings into the bowls. Smiles were exchanged between monastics and laypeople, accompanied by bows and nods of respect, embodying equality between giver and receiver and cultivating vast fields of merit.

In the afternoon, the Yankou (Flaming Mouth) Ritual was conducted, presided over by Most Venerable Hsin Bau as well as Venerable Abbot Hui Dong and Venerable Hui Ze. Participants dedicated the combined merits of the Sangha offering and the ritual to departed loved ones and beings of the six realms, praying that through the Buddha’s compassion, they may swiftly transcend suffering, be liberated from the nether realms, and be reborn in the Pure Land.

Photo Captions (Photos 01–08 by Chang Chih Cheng; 09–10 by Mario)