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The 7th lunar month every year is an occasion for descendants to express gratitude to their deceased parents, grandparents, and ancestors. On this day, Vietnamese families typically prepare offerings for Buddha, deities, ancestors, and sentient beings. The ritual of honoring ancestors on the 7th lunar month is a topic of great interest.
1. Sequence of Offerings on the 7th Lunar Month
During the 7th lunar month, homeowners should first conduct the Vu Lan ceremony at the temple before proceeding to offer at home.
If the family follows the Buddhist faith, they should make offerings to Buddha and place them on the Buddha altar. If there is no separate Buddha altar, the homeowner should arrange the Buddha offerings at the highest level, while offerings to deities and ancestors are placed below.
Offerings to sentient beings should not be made inside the house but should be performed outside in the yard, at the gate, or in front of the house. The offerings should also be arranged outside.
2. Ritual Prayer for Offering to Buddha on the 7th Lunar Month at Home
Homage to Amitabha Buddha!
Homage to Amitabha Buddha!
Homage to Amitabha Buddha!
I respectfully bow to the nine directions of the sky, the ten directions of Buddhas, and Buddhas in ten directions.
I pay my respects to the Honored Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, the Honored Maitreya Bodhisattva.
Today is the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month...
We, the faithful devotees, reside at...
Residing at...
Wholeheartedly arranging flowers, offerings, and various offerings, placing them before the altar.
We sincerely pay homage to the venerable Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, the Honored Maitreya Bodhisattva.
We sincerely invite the divine Kim Nien, the revered Thái Tuế deity, the noble Bản cảnh Thành hoàng Lords, the local land deities, the Kitchen God, and all the divine beings governing this region.
We respectfully beseech the celestial judges to preside over the court, examining and scrutinizing the evidence.
Today, on the occasion of Vu Lan Festival, a day where compassionate deeds relieve ancestral souls from transgressions. We are grateful for the protection of the Triple Gem, the benevolent guardians, and the immeasurable merits for which we seek no recompense.
Hence, we offer silver incense, expressing heartfelt sincerity, praying for acceptance. May the guardians sustain both us and our families, ensuring health, peace, prosperity, and familial harmony, with unwavering devotion to the righteous path, flourishing in wealth and virtue.
Revealing our sincere hearts, we humbly request affirmation!
Homage to Amitabha Buddha!
Homage to Amitabha Buddha!
Homage to Amitabha Buddha!
3. Invocation to Spiritual Beings on the 7th Lunar Month
Below is the traditional invocation for spiritual beings on the 7th lunar month in Vietnam:
Homage to Amitabha Buddha (recited three times)
I respectfully bow to the nine directions of the sky, the ten directions of Buddhas, and Buddhas in ten directions.
I pay homage to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, the Honored Maitreya Bodhisattva.
Today marks the 7th lunar month...
Our faith lies in…
Residing at…
Wholeheartedly arranging flowers, offerings, and various offerings, placing them before the altar.
We sincerely pay homage to the venerable Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, the Honored Maitreya Bodhisattva.
We sincerely invite the divine Kim Nien, the revered Thái Tuế deity, the noble Bản cảnh Thành hoàng Lords, the local land deities, the Kitchen God, and all the divine beings governing this region.
We humbly beseech the divine judges to convene, to examine and scrutinize the evidence.
Today, on the occasion of Vu Lan festival, the day of filial piety, sins are pardoned. We express our gratitude to the Triple Gem, may the Buddha protect us, may the celestial beings shelter us. Our immense merit today, we know not how to repay.
Therefore, we offer silver incense, expressing our heartfelt gratitude, praying for acceptance. May the protectors sustain us and our family, always healthy, young and old in peace, with hearts steadfast on the righteous path, prosperity and fortune advancing, family harmony flourishing.
We confess our sincere hearts, humbly requesting confirmation!
Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times).
5. Ancestral worship ritual for the 7th lunar month
Offering prayers to our ancestors on the 7th lunar month in accordance with tradition:
Homage to Amitabha Buddha (recited 3 times).
I bow to the nine directions, ten buddhas, and ten directions of buddhas.
I respectfully pay tribute to our ancestors, both paternal and maternal, and all ancestral spirits.
Our belief is in...
Residing in...
Today marks the 7th lunar month of the year Nhân, coinciding with the Vu Lan festival during the Trung Nguyên occasion. We fondly remember our ancestors, our parents, who gave birth to us, laid the foundation of our lives, and enabled us to enjoy blessings today.
We express gratitude to the immeasurable merits of our ancestors. Understanding the debt we can never fully repay, we diligently prepare offerings, floral tributes, fruits, precious metals, and light incense to honor our forebears—Cao Tằng Tổ Khảo, Cao Tằng Tổ Tỷ, Bá Thúc Đệ Huynh, Cô Di, Tỷ Muội, and all ancestral spirits within and beyond our lineage.
We humbly beseech the compassionate spirits to manifest their presence, bless us with health, peace, prosperity, and all goodness, and guide our families towards righteousness.
With sincere hearts, we prostrate ourselves before the altar, seeking divine protection and guidance.
Homage to Amitabha Buddha (recited 3 times)
5. Offering prayers to all sentient beings on the 7th lunar month
Homage to Amitabha Buddha (recited 3 times).
I bow to the nine directions, ten buddhas, and ten directions of buddhas.
I pay homage to the Buddha Amitabha.
I pay homage to Bodhisattva Guanyin.
I pay homage to the deities and celestial generals of the Heavenly Realm.
The 7th lunar month approaches the autumn equinox
On the full moon, sins disperse across the seas and oceans.
The gates of hell open from the dark realms.
Lost souls, without homes or shelters, wander aimlessly.
The Great Sage, Master A Nan Đà Tôn, guides the lost souls.
Welcoming all beings, without graves or tombs, from all directions.
A market stall, a tree's shade, at the end of the road.
No place to seek refuge, wandering day and night.
Hungry and cold throughout the year, chilling to the bone.
No sturdy garments to shield from the biting wind.
Wandering souls, in all directions, north, south, east, and west.
Young and old, men and women, gather here in harmony.
Today, hearing the call of the devout, we gather.
Reaping the fruits of past and present deeds.
Rice, soup, porridge, and betel leaves.
Gold, clothes, in hues of red and green.
Rice, salt, fruits, and real flowers.
Carrying a little for tomorrow's needs.
Divine protection brings prosperity to the faithful.
May peace, prosperity, and harmony dwell within the family.
Remembering the day sins are absolved across the realms.
Returning to devout beliefs, earnestly inviting within.
Now, having received blessings in full.
Guiding both young and old to the realm beyond.
Devotion transforms base metals into gold.
Together with the allotted garments.
Respectfully informing the divine.
Evidencing merits.
For my faithful believers.
Name:...
Spouse:..
Sons:..
Daughters:..
Residing at:...
6. Offering ceremony for burning garments in the 7th month
Homage to Amitabha Buddha (recited 3 times)
I bow to the Buddha Shakyamuni who appeared in the human world.
I pay homage to Bodhisattva Guanyin and the celestial generals.
The 7th lunar month nears its midpoint.
On the full moon, sins disperse across the seas and oceans.
The gates of hell open, leaving homes deserted.
The Great Sage guides lost souls.
Master A Nan Đà Tôn appears.
Welcoming all beings, without graves or tombs, from all directions.
A tree's roots by the market's entrance.
No shelter to lean on during wandering nights and days.
Hungry and cold throughout the year, chilling to the bone.
No sturdy garments to shield from the biting wind.
Wandering souls, in all directions, north, south, east, and west.
Young and old, men and women, gather here in unity.
Though one may die in vain, die unjustly.
Dying from addiction, dying for greed.
Dying from accidents, dying from illness and pain.
Dying from stabbings, shootings, fights for love or money.
Dying from bombs, bullets, wars.
Dying from rabid dogs, drowning, dying from procreation.
Dying from a lightning strike in the midst of the sky.
Today, hearing the call of the devout, we gather.
Reaping the benefits of all deeds, past and future.
Rice, soup, porridge, and betel leaves.
Gold, clothes, in hues of red and green.
Rice, salt, fruits, and real flowers.
Carrying a bit for tomorrow's share.
Divine protection brings wealth to the faithful.
May peace and prosperity reign within the family.
Remembering the day sins disperse across the realms.
Returning devoutly, inviting the faithful with sincerity.
Now, having received blessings in full.
Guiding both young and old to the realm beyond.
Devotion transforms base metals into gold.
Together with the allotted garments.
Respectfully informing the divine.
Evidencing merits.
For my faithful devotees.
Name:
Wife: ...
Husband: ...
Son: ...
Daughter: ...
Residing at house number… street… district... commune… province…
In the name of Amitabha Buddha
Note: When burning money, gold, and clothes, scatter salt and rice in the five directions.
Above is the invocation, offering for the 7th lunar month that Mytour wishes to share with you. We hope the information in this article will help you perform the worship rituals correctly to encounter many fortunate and auspicious events.
