Devotees from Diverse Backgrounds Gather to Practice Compassion and Express Gratitude
The Benevolence Temple in Las Vegas hosted a Ullambana Dharma Assembly on September 6, 2025 (the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar). It is a significant event in the Buddhist tradition. The ceremony was presided over by Venerable Master Jiaozun Zhengda, Vice President of the World Buddhism Association Headquarters. The event attracted hundreds of attendees, including participants from various states across the U.S. and from regions in Asia.
At 9:00 a.m., the assembly gathered in solemnity and reverence, with palms joined devoutly. Under the guidance of Venerable Master Jiaozun Zhengda, they respectfully recited The Buddha Speaks the Ullambana Sutra. After the recitation, the Meal Offerings to the Buddhas were conducted. Through chanting, bowing, and making offerings during the Dharma assembly, prayers were offered to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in all directions, and merits were dedicated to all sentient beings of the six realms. The assembly prayed that parents and relatives from past lives be supported by the Buddhas, with hopes they would be free from the evil realms and reborn in the Pure Land. Prayers were also dedicated to family members in the present life, wishing them peace of body and mind, growth in wisdom and merit, and success in all endeavors.
After the Dharma assembly, participants respectfully carried Ullambana bowls filled with delicious foods, seasonal fruits, and daily necessities to make offerings to the monastics. This act of offering to the Sangha was not only an expression of reverence for the Three Jewels but also a practice of filial piety. Many participants were deeply moved during the offering ceremony and filled with spiritual joy.
Due to misconceptions, the seventh lunar month is commonly referred to as the “Ghost Month” in Chinese folk beliefs, often associated with taboos and fear. In Buddhism, however, the seventh lunar month is known as the Month of Filial Piety, the Month of Gratitude, and the Month of Sangha. It is considered an “Auspicious Month” for cultivating virtue, repaying gratitude, and supporting beings in their journey out of suffering. The most well-known occasion during this time is the Ullambana Festival on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.
According to the Ullambana Sutra, Venerable Maudgalyāyana, one of Shakyamuni Buddha’s foremost disciples, used his supernatural powers and saw that his mother had fallen into the realm of hungry ghosts, where her body was emaciated and she suffered great distress. Although he tried to offer her food with his powers, due to the heavy obstruction of her karma, the food turned into burning coals before she could eat, causing her even greater suffering. Moved by this, Maudgalyāyana returned to seek the Buddha’s guidance.
On the day of the Dharma Assembly, devotees from around the world gathered together.
The Buddha explained that his mother’s karmic obstruction was too great to be relieved by a single sage alone. Only by relying on the collective spiritual strength of the Sangha—the noble monks of the ten directions—through joint cultivation and Dharma practice, could she be liberated. Following the Buddha’s instruction, on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, Maudgalyāyana prepared offerings of food, fruits, and various items in bowls and respectfully offered them to the Sangha. Through the vast merits generated by the collective cultivation of the Sangha, his mother was finally freed from the suffering of the hungry ghost realm.
This story not only illustrates that Buddhism places great emphasis on filial piety but also demonstrates the extraordinary power of the Three Jewels—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
In this auspicious month of filial piety, beginning on August 23 (the first day of the seventh lunar month), Benevolence Temple held a series of sutra recitations and memorial dedication services. These included the recitation of the Sutra on Understanding and Realizing Definitive Truth, the Kṣitigarbha Sutra, the Compassionate Samādhi Water Repentance, and the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance Text.
It is especially worth mentioning that, in addition to Chinese-speaking devotees, many local residents also participated in this Dharma assembly. All were inspired by the compassionate and benevolent spirit of Buddhism, regardless of cultural backgrounds. The Benevolence Temple also introduced the true meaning behind the Ullambana Festival to the local community—it is an auspicious celebration of filial piety and gratitude.
This Dharma assembly was not only a religious event but also a cultural exchange and a cleansing of the spirit. It demonstrated the compassion and wisdom of Buddhism while reflecting the overseas Chinese community’s commitment to promoting the finest traditions of Chinese culture.
After the Dharma assembly, participants respectfully carried Ullambana bowls to make offerings to the monastics.
The Benevolence Temple in Las Vegas was established in 2019. It follows the teachings of the Pope of Buddhism, H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, and Shakyamuni Buddha. Under the guidance of Venerable Master Jiaozun Zhengda, the temple studies and practices authentic Buddhist teachings. It embraces all Buddhist traditions and schools, treating people of different religions, races, and genders with equal compassion and love. It actively participates in community activities, bringing a positive and virtuous influence to the local neighborhood.
