On September 5, 2017 (the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month), the joyful Buddhist date marking the end of Vassa (the Buddhist Summer Retreat), which also also falls on Chinese traditional Ghost Festival (also known as Yu Lan Jie or Zhong Yuan Jie in Chinese, a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in Asian countries, in which offerings and blessings are made to the ancestors). To mark this occasion, a grand Dharma assembly was held at the Mahavira Hall of Lingyin Temple in the morning and the Lingyin Sangha respectfully chanted The Buddha Speaks the Ullambana Sutra together at the ceremony. All Buddhist believers and tourists at the temple had the chance to feel experience the solemnity and reverence of a Buddhist ceremony.

It is a tradition that sutras are chanted and offerings are made at the Dharma assembly on the Ghost Festival held by Lingyin Temple. By doing so, the parents of the present and past lives will receive the blessing merits and their karma resolved. At the Dharma assembly, people would have the chance to review how the Buddha instructed the sentient beings to obtain liberation and blessings for their parents, while pray for peaceful existence and well being for the people.

The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month marks the Chinese traditional Ghost Festival, also known as the day of filial piety, in which the Chinese make offerings and blessings to the deceased ancestors. The origin of this tradition can be found in the legend of Maudgalyāyana obtaining liberation for his mother (who had been reborn into a lower realm) by making food offerings to the Sangha. The dharma assembly on this day also promotes the Chinese culture of filial piety and draws more attention to the importance of caring for the elderly.

Welcoming the venerable Buddhist masters

Offering incense

Transferring offerings

Sutras chants while making offerings

The Buddhist faithful chanting at the Dharma assembly