The Annual Ullambana Festival

Dear Members and Friends:

Ullambana means to hang upside down. This is to describe those hungry spirits - their esophagus is as narrow as a needle, their belly is as big as a drum. They cannot eat nor drink and are always hungry.　 Even though there is food, it will turn into charcoal as soon as it is swallowed.　 The pain is similar to being hung upside down. "Bana" is a vessel filled with offerings of food and it has the meaning of salvage. In other words, Ullambana means to save from being hung upside down and to relieve of pain.

In tradition, during the Ullambana period lay people will make offering in particularly to the Sangha (the community of Buddhist monks and nuns) and wishing those offering merit could transfer to their ancestor.

Your contribution for the education of the FoGuangShan Buddhist Sangha of monks and nuns at this time will be greatly appreciated. In return the Sangha can continue serving the need of the community.

If you wish to make a donation to the FoGuangShan Buddhist Sangha of monks and nuns, please make checks payable to: I.B.P.S. Houston and mail to 12550 Jebbia Lane, Stafford TX 77477.

Yours truly,

FoGuangShan Chung-Mei Temple