Transcript The Spirits` Happy Days Presentation

• The film follows the ceremonies and rituals found in
Buddhist monasteries in Quanzhou City in Fujian
Province in South East China.
• In China it is understood that at the beginning of the
seventh lunar month King Yama opens the gates of the
underworld to release the spirits of the dead. These
spirits are free to roam the earth and receive offerings
from the living.
• During this ghost month Buddhist monasteries hold
public recitation meetings in which the resulting merit is
transferred to deceased relatives.
• The afternoon before the rituals begin there is an
invitation and purification ceremony. This is undertaken in
order to prepare the monastery for the ceremonies about
to be held.
• Incense invites the Buddha, bodhisattvas, gods to join
the ritual. It is also used as the smell will attract the
ghosts.
• The monks recite a formula to destroy impurities and the
abbot sprinkles blessed water with a willow stick to purify
the monastery before the ritual.
Abbot of the
monastery
performing a
purification ritual by
sprinkling blessed
water with a willow
stick. (Chengtian
Monastery, China:
2008)
• During the seven days of the ritual the monks lead the laity in
chanting the name of Amitābha.
• Daily feeding of ghosts is integral for monks. Helped by the
writing sacred symbols.
• The ghosts and spirits are not allowed near alter of Buddha so
food is given outside temple on special pedestal.
• During the daily recitation rituals a ‘noon offering’ is held in
which the abbot of the monastery and the main sponsors of
the ritual offer incense to the buddhas. Food is also offered
and the monks and devotees recite sacred formulae to
transform and multiply it for the benefit of all beings.
Every day during
Ghost Month a
noon offering is
held during which
incense is offered
to the Buddha.
(Chengtian
Monastery, China:
2008)
• Afterwards, the abbot reads a document known as the
wenshu while the monks silently read lists of the dead so
that they may also benefit from the ritual.
• After the offering at Buddha alter, the assembly moves to
alter of spirits in the Hall of Rebirth to transfer merit.
• The Hall of Rebirth is covered in ‘Lotus Seats’ which are
paper slips with the name of the deceased written on
them as well as the name of the person who purchased
the slip.
• More than 10,000 lotus seats can be seen in the
ceremonies in the film.
Lotus Seats are
displayed in the ‘Hall
of Rebirth’. They have
the name of the
deceased written on
them as well as the
names of those who
purchased the Lotus
Seat (Chongfu
Monastery, China:
2008)
• Food, incense and paper money is offered. Assembly
recite scriptures, mantras and the names of buddhas and
bodhisattvas to help them achieve a rebirth in the
Western Paradise.
• Abbot purifies offerings and quenches thirst of spirits by
sprinkling dew water.
• The monks and devotees also perform daily recitations of
the name of Amitābha, the scripture of the Bodhisattva
Kshitigarbha, or the Precious Penance of the Liang
Emperor. The purpose of this is to help the participants
progress on their path to liberation and to generate merit
which is transferred to the ancestors and other dead
beings.
Paper money is
given to ancestors
and ghosts. The
design of the money
can differ and often
represents the value
of the money, or its
recipient (Chongfu
Monastery, China:
2008).
• The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is the Buddha’s
happy day and is seen as the most auspicious time for lay
people to donate paper money and food for their ancestors
and ghosts.
• It also marks the last opportunity for families to visit the lotus
seats of their relatives.
• In afternoon the ritual is concluded by escorting the spirits to
the burning place where the lotus seats are burned with a
large quantity of paper money.
• As lotus seats burn the laity wish for the deceased to reach
the western paradise where they will gain enlightenment.
• Normally ends after 15 days but in the Chongfu Monastery the
daily recitations continue.
The Lotus Seats
are gathered up
and burned along
with paper money
(Chengtian
Monastery, China:
2008).
• The last day of the ritual starts with the rite of releasing
captured animals. Animals are bought from nearby
markets and saved from almost certain death.
• Animals live pitiful life in a lower realm of existence. The
ritual not only saves their lives but also spiritually
liberated. Is seen as very compassionate.
• Animals released outside of the monastery in nearby
rivers or the sea.
• After animals have been released the abbot conducts a
long rite of food bestowal for hungry ghosts, homeless
souls and hell beings.
• Homeless souls are seen in China to be the spirits of
people who have died young, those who did not have
proper funeral rites and those who died violently.
• Abbot commands ghosts to appears and invites them to
take the triple refuge and recites the precepts to them.
• After being instructed in Buddhist doctrine they are fed
with nuts, sweets and coins.
On the last day a
huge amount of food
is prepared for them
and offered along
with chopsticks,
bowls, cooking oil,
woks and fire-wood
(Chengtian
Monastery, China:
2008)
• Going to the Hall of Rebirth once more the congregation
transfers merit, accumulated through the previous
feeding of the ghosts, to the spirits.
• All of paper slips are taken down and are burned.
• After this happens all of the humans, spirits, homeless
souls, ghosts, buddhas, and bodhisattvas who
assembled for the ghost month go their separate ways
until the next year.