Vu Lan Festival (中元节): A Sacred Time of Gratitude and Compassion

Each year, during the seventh lunar month (which falls in August or September in the solar calendar), it is a sacred time in spiritual practice, especially in Buddhism. In Chinese it is known as 中元节/盂兰节 (Yu Lan Jie), and in Vietnam as Vu Lan — a sacred time of gratitude, compassion, and filial devotion.

📅 In 2025, Vu Lan Festival falls on September 6th, the full moon of the seventh lunar month. It is believed that during this time, the spiritual gate opens, allowing souls to return and receive blessings from the living.

📖 The Story of Vu Lan

The festival’s roots come from the story of Maudgalyayana (Mokuren) and his mother. A devoted disciple of the Buddha, Maudgalyayana used his spiritual powers and discovered that his mother had fallen into the hungry ghost realm, suffering endlessly from hunger and thirst.

Overcome with sorrow, he sought help from the Buddha. The Buddha taught him to make offerings to the Sangha (the community of monks and nuns) on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Through the collective merit of these offerings, Maudgalyayana’s mother was freed from suffering, and countless other beings were blessed.

Since then, Vu Lan has been celebrated as a festival of filial piety, compassion, and the dedication of merit to both ancestors and all sentient beings.

🌸 How the Festival Is Observed

Vu Lan is honored through meaningful rituals and acts of devotion:

• Offerings to Ancestors – Families prepare food, incense, and prayers to show love, remembrance, and gratitude.
• Vu Lan Ceremonies – Devotees at temples offer food and gifts to the Sangha, dedicating the merit to their ancestors and to all beings in need.
• Lantern Offerings – Water or sky lanterns are released, symbolizing guiding light for souls and compassion shining in the darkness.

🌱 Spiritual Lessons of Vu Lan

The essence of Vu Lan goes beyond ritual. It invites us to:

🌸 Honor and Thank Our Parents & Ancestors – Recognizing their sacrifices and keeping their love alive in our hearts.
🌳 Practice Compassion and Generosity – Giving selflessly to help others, both seen and unseen.
🪷 Reflect and Transform Within – Using this sacred time to release attachments, cultivate wisdom, and live with greater kindness.

The opening of the spiritual gate reminds us that life is deeply interconnected — the living and the departed, past and present, are all woven together through compassion and remembrance.

🙏 Sacred Symbols of Blessing

Sacred jewellery and symbols serve as daily reminders of these values:

• Guan Yin Pendants – Embody mercy and compassion, guiding us to live with kindness.
  
• Happy Buddha Pendants – Represent joy, abundance, and light-hearted wisdom.
  
• Prayer Beads and Gemstones – Tools for meditation and dedication, supporting peace and spiritual growth.

Wearing or gifting these pieces is a way of carrying the blessings of Vu Lan into everyday life.

🌕 A Wish for This Sacred Month

As we honor the Vu Lan Festival on September 6, 2025, may we:
✨ Welcome the returning souls with compassion and love
✨ Remember our ancestors with gratitude
✨ Extend kindness and blessings to all beings
✨ Nurture peace and harmony in our own hearts

May this full moon open the way to healing, transformation, and new blessings for both the living and the departed. 🌕💫

 

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