Ullambana Ceremony

In Japan, July 15th marks the day of the Ullambana Ceremony, also known as the Ubon Festival. According to the Ullambana Sutra, one of Shakyamuni’s major disciples, Maudgalyayana (Mogallana in Pali), was able to rescue his mother from hell by the merits that he and his fellow monks attained through reciting sutras. Similarly, members gather at this ceremony to chant the sutra for their ancestors’ attainment of buddhahood. 

"The Ullambana Festival will soon be upon us, and we will again encounter the spirits of our ancestors and family members who have passed away. Reflecting on the old days, we will surely deepen our feelings of nostalgia and gratitude as we tell them, “I’m glad to see you.” At the same time, as we contemplate our gratitude for the life that each of us is currently living, passages from Kyoten recitation—such as Taking Refuge in the Three Treasures and the Universal Transfer of Merit—will resonate within us more deeply than ever, renewing our resolve to live in a way that honors the memory of the departed." 

~Nichiko Niwano, President of Rissho Kosei-kai

Ullambana Ceremony

○ Homage (Recite the O-daimoku three times.)

○ Meditation on the Place of the Way

○ Taking Refuge in the Three Treasures

○ Invocation:

We put our faith in

The Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni―Great Benevolent Teacher, World-Honored One;

The Tathagata Abundant Treasures, witness to the Lotus Sutra;

The separated embodiments of the Buddha in the ten directions in the past, present, and future;

The four great bodhisattvas: Superior Practice, Boundless Practice, Pure Practice, and Steadfast Practice;

The bodhisattva-mahasattvas: Manjushri, Universal Sage, Maitreya, and all other bodhisattva-mahasattvas;

Great Bodhisattva Nichiren, revered practitioner of the Lotus Sutra;

Founder Nikkyo, Great Teacher of the One Vehicle;

Cofounder Myoko, Bodhisattva of the Way of Compassion;

The guardian spirits of Rissho Kosei-kai;

And the countless heavenly spirits in the ten directions.

May you all be present among us and know our deep devotion.

We, members of [Dharma center name], all of pure heart, have gathered to solemnly conduct this

Ullambana Ceremony and commemorate the monthly memorial day of Shakyamuni Buddha.

Here, we reverently pray that

All ancestors of every member of this Sangha,

All deceased members,

All those who have passed beyond, known and unknown to us, wherever they be,

And especially (Read out posthumous names),

may delight in the taste of the Dharma through the transfer of merit from our sutra recitation.

We earnestly pray that through the profound, sublime meaning of the Great Vehicle Sutra of the

Lotus Flower of the Wondrous Dharma, you extend your hands of compassion, sympathy,

liberation and protection, as well as your guidance in all things.

(Strike the gong and recite the O-daimoku once.)

○ Opening Verse

○ Sutra Recitation

○ Universal Transfer of Merit

○ Recitation of the O-daimoku

○ Special Words to Transfer Merit

○ Transfer of Merit:

Having respectfully recited the Great Vehicle Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wondrous Dharma, may we transfer its merits to and thus reciprocate the boundless compassion of

The Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni―Great Benevolent Teacher, World-Honored One;

The Tathagata Abundant Treasures, witness to the Lotus Sutra;

The separated embodiments of the Buddha in the ten directions in the past, present, and future;

The four great bodhisattvas: Superior Practice, Boundless Practice, Pure Practice, and Steadfast Practice;

The bodhisattva-mahasattvas: Manjushri, Universal Sage, Maitreya, and all other bodhisattva- mahasattvas;

Great Bodhisattva Nichiren, revered practitioner of the Lotus Sutra;

Founder Nikkyo, Great Teacher of the One Vehicle;

Cofounder Myoko, Bodhisattva of the Way of Compassion;

The guardian spirits of Rissho Kosei-kai;

The guardian spirits of [Dharma center name];

The guardian spirits of member families of Rissho Kosei-kai;

And the countless heavenly spirits in the ten directions.

(Strike the gong once.)

Now, on this occasion of the Ullambana Ceremony and the monthly memorial day of

Shakyamuni Buddha, we express our sincere gratitude for the Buddha’s arrangement of this sutra

recitation.

We reverently offer and transfer the merits of this sutra recitation to

All ancestors of every member of this Sangha,

All deceased members,

All those who have passed beyond, known and unknown to us, wherever they be,

And especially to all those whose first Ullambana is this year,

so that they may delight in the taste of the Dharma and quickly accomplish the wondrous fruit of

Ritual Texts 1.8 2025 EditionSupreme Perfect Awakening.

We earnestly pray that with the help of sagely guidance and boundless protection, all living beings

may awaken to their buddha nature and world peace may be achieved.

○ Homage (Recite the O-daimoku three times.)