Ullambana, Kinda Overwhelming
Short introduction of Ullambana
Ullambana, popularly known as the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts, is celebrated by Buddhists and Taoists in China, Korea, Japan, Singapapore and other countries. Following the Chinese Mahayana tradition, it falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calender. The festival evolved from a Mahayana sutra called "Ullambana Sutra", supposed to have been delivered by the Buddha with reference to the suffering mother of the second chief disciple, Maha Moggallana (Mu Lian). "Ullambana" is a Sanskrit term which means "hanging upside down". Hence, it is commented that she was in purgatory undergoing the torment of being hung upside down. The Pali equivalent of the term is "Ullampana" which means "merciful disposition". Thus it depicts the sympathetic attitude to be cultivated towards the departed ones.
Today is my second time participated in ullambana ceremony. Actually, my family celebrated this festival every year, but I began participate after I became uni student.
Ullambana has been a pleasant, unique, and a great experience. To be honest, years ago I can't imagine myself as a person who believe in anything supernatural. Besides, the my sister illness, the most visible proof of the truth of Buddha teaching is this, because ullambana when celebrated correctly is kind of overwhelming, the first time I participated in this, tears welling up in my eyes. The second time, I burst into tears and cried uncontrollable, but what make it so strange is that I felt like I am not the one who crying, It is kind of far far away, hard to explain it. It make no sense that I am crying because what I am crying for? I never cry like that, because It was really really sad, and I am never that sad in my life, even in the lowest time. My eyes watered themself, and my face, mouth move by itself, but it is not to frightening, I am still concious of what is happening, It is just my body cried by themself and I thought "ohh, I am crying, so strange....It is not my sadness"
So It wasn't myself, don't know who that "person" is. But I hope the best for "that person".
May Buddha bless him ....