追思孝道慶讚中元Hungry Ghosts’ Festival – In Remembrance of Filial Piety

在這來臨的星期五，陽曆八月十四日，就是農曆七月初一，也是民間俗稱「阿飘」或「好兄弟」的「假日」。

 

如何確保孩子平安地度過中元節

這期間，請妳你們不要亂帶小孩子到以下的場所：

一、遊樂場所
二、海邊
三、戲院
四、樹林
五、公園

尤其是在晨昏的時候，如下午四點半後，便不要帶小孩到以上提到的場所。

 

 

如果平常要去，你們要懂得給小朋友戴一條五色綫或者一串佛珠。但是大家要記得，吾所謂的佛珠，就是妳你本身有拿來唸佛的，才叫「佛」珠。不然，你隨便拿來戴的，那個不叫佛珠，只是一般戴在手上的珠子罷了。有唸過佛號心咒的，才能叫「佛」珠，方能產生一種光明能量抵擋這些不好的磁場，保護妳你家的孩子。小朋友也能夠好好地在晚間入眠到天亮，不會夜半啼聲。至於成人，如果沒有加班，下班後，也一樣早點回家。如果懂得唸佛號，就多唸。

 

 

爲何應該在中元節孝敬祖先

在這農曆七月初一，大家應該，也可以買一些紙金供品，在你家樓下，焚化給這些「好兄弟」。這些「好兄弟」當中，很多是我們累世的祖先。這點是無可否認的。

祝大家在農曆七月依然安然無恙，依然順逐。

 

 
This coming Friday, 14 August 2015, is the 1st day of the Seventh Lunar Month, which marks the beginning of the Hungry Ghosts’ Festival. This period is the “holiday period” for the spirits or “good brothers” from the Nether World.

 

How to ensure your children’s “safety” during the Hungry Ghosts’ Festival

During this Lunar month, please do not bring your kids to the following places:

1. Playgrounds
2. Beaches
3. Cinemas
4. Forested areas
5. Gardens and parks

Especially when dusk falls (after 4.30pm), please refrain from bringing your young children to the above mentioned places.

If you have to bring the kids to these places, do let them wear a five-colored thread or a string of mala beads (otherwise known as prayer beads, 佛珠) on their wrists. But please note this, the prayer beads (佛珠) I am referring to are those that you have used for sutra/mantra recitation (唸佛持咒).

If the beads have not been used for sutra/mantra recitation, they are purely ornamental. Only those that have are true mala beads and are empowered or energized with Buddha’s energy  to resist negative energies and protect your children. A well-protected child will have a good night sleep and not wake up screaming and crying in the middle of the night. As for adults, do return home early after work if there is no need to work overtime. If you know how to recite the Buddha’s name or mantra, please do so frequently.

 

Why we should display filial piety to our ancestors during the Hungry Ghosts’ Festival

 

Everyone ought to make some offerings of joss papers on the 1st day of the Seventh Lunar Month. You can burn the offerings for the “good brothers” at the ground floor of your residence, for among the wandering spirits, undeniably, are your ancestors from your many past lives.

Master Dai Hu wishes everybody a safe, peaceful and prosperous Seventh Lunar month.