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It is said that during the 7th lunar month, the gates of hell open, allowing spirits from the netherworld to visit the mortal realm. Besides honoring Buddha, deities, and praying for our ancestors, it's crucial to perform the ritual of offering to wandering souls.
The period of amnesty for wandering souls, known as the 'opening of the gates of hell,' granting amnesty for departed souls to return to the mortal realm, spans from the 2nd to the 15th day of the lunar month. Therefore, people often perform rituals during these days to offer peace to these wandering souls and prevent them from disturbing the lives of mortals.
Offering to wandering souls, also known as offering to sentient beings in the Northern Buddhist tradition, is practiced by everyone from the 1st to the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. To ensure the ceremony is complete, you'll need the following offerings:
- - Gold coins, starting from 15 offerings, and clothing for sentient beings, ranging from 20 to 50 sets.
- Joss money for sentient beings.
- Five types of fruits in five colors.
- Boiled corn kernels, sweet potatoes (or corn, yams).
For ceremonies involving rice porridge, it's advisable to add a set of salted rice and five bowls and five pairs of chopsticks. Additionally, when laying out the money on the offering table, arrange them in the four cardinal directions: East, West, South, and North, with 3-5-7 incense sticks corresponding to each direction.
Remember, it's important not to prepare salty offerings or set up altars for rituals inside the house because according to folk beliefs, doing so may arouse greed among wandering spirits, causing disturbances in the mortal realm and generating negative energy, disrupting your household.
Below is the practical offering ritual for wandering spirits (sentient beings) that you can refer to for this ceremony at your home:
'...
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
I bow to the nine skies, the ten directions of Buddhas, and Buddhas in all ten directions.
I bow to the Venerable Amitabha Buddha.
I bow to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
I bow to the Deity of the Kitchen, the auspicious and righteous deity.
As the seventh month approaches its midpoint
On the repentance day, wandering souls are pardoned in the ocean of suffering.
The gates of hell swing open
Wandering spirits have no doors, no homes
The Great Saint Khao Jiao teaches the manifested Buddha Nan Da Ton
Welcoming sentient beings, with no graves, no tombs in all four directions
A solitary tree at the edge of the market
Nowhere to seek refuge, wandering through the night
Year-round hunger and cold, harsh and bitter
No sturdy clothes, thin garments offer little warmth
Wandering souls from the north, south, east, and west
Young and old, men and women gather here
Even though: dying in vain, dying unjustly
Dying from addiction, dying from greed for wealth
Death by accident, death by illness, where not known
Death by stabbing, death by slashing, death in premeditated fights
Death by bombs, death by war blades
Death from rabid dogs, drowning, death from inbreeding
Death by lightning strike from above
Now hear the believers' sincere invitations
Enjoying the fruits of past and future words
Rice soup, porridge, betel leaves, and areca nuts
Gold coins, clothing in various colors of red and green
Rice, salt, fruits, real flowers, and lanterns
Carrying a little for tomorrow's reserve
Protecting the believers, bringing luck and wealth
May peace, prosperity, and harmony reside in the family
Remember the day of amnesty for wandering souls
Returning to the believers with heartfelt invitations
Now enjoying the rewards
Guiding both old and young to the underworld
Believers transform wealth into spiritual merit
Together with the allocated clothing
Respectfully addressing the Deity
Proving one's virtue
For the believer's offspring
Name: ........................................
Spouse: ......................................
Son: ..................................................
Daughter: ..........................................
Resides at: ...........................................
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
'...
