The Vu Lan Day at Phuc An Vien Cemetery

As late afternoon settled in, the final rays of sunlight spread evenly across the rows of pristine white tombstones within the grounds of Phuc An Vien Cemetery. A gentle breeze swept over the lush green lawns, carrying the faint, sweet fragrance of flowers offered on the altars. In this serene atmosphere, the temple bell from Phat Quang Pagoda rang out clearly, inviting everyone to pause and listen with their hearts.

Venerable Thich Chan Quang stood before the rows of Buddhist devotees who were kneeling in recitation. His eyes, filled with kindness, surveyed the scene around him. He smiled softly as he began to speak.

"Dear friends, when I arrived here at Phuc An Vien, I felt... a desire to die," he said gently. "It sounds strange, but seeing death here brings joy. The scenery is beautiful, and there is such attentive care for the spiritual well-being of those who have passed."

A light smile rippled across the faces of the attendees. The Venerable continued, his voice deep and warm.

"This is especially true during the Vu Lan season. Mr. Tam, the General Director of Phuc An Vien Company, directed the organization of a grand Vu Lan ceremony. He invited our teachers and fellow Buddhists to perform rituals of feeding hungry ghosts and making offerings, ensuring the spiritual needs were met with great thoroughness and dignity."

The Venerable turned toward a man in a white shirt standing beside the large altar.

"It is rare indeed to find someone managing a cemetery who cares so deeply about spiritual matters. Here, the attention to the spirit is the most comprehensive in the entire country. This is also a source of merit for Mr. Tam."

A moment of quiet reflection passed before the Venerable spoke again, his tone becoming more solemn.

"We will all step into the realm of death many times throughout countless lifetimes. Each time we pass away, when we are reborn, we forget what we experienced in the other realm. Yet, in truth, the world beyond death is incredibly complex."

He looked around, his gaze resting on an elderly woman seated in the front row.

"When facing difficulties at home, people with faith pray to deities or saints. But who do some people pray to? They pray to their ancestors, correct? This means they believe that although their grandparents have died, those spirits can still protect them from the other side."

A woman stood up, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, Venerable. There are times when bad things happen, and I call out, 'Mother! Save me!'"

The Venerable nodded understandingly.

"So, on Vu Lan Day, when we perform ceremonies to liberate our ancestors—praying for their peaceful transition and blessings—it implies that our ancestors in the other realm are weak, struggling, and need our prayers. Yet, when we face hardship ourselves, we ask our ancestors to save us, as if they possess immense divine power."

He paused, his eyes looking deep into the distance.

"The issue lies here: only those with great merit can help those with less merit. If our ancestors possessed great merit, they constantly watch over their descendants to offer protection. There are strange cases: a family loses their maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather, yet the children’s businesses flourish wildly."

A middle-aged man in the crowd exclaimed enthusiastically.

"That is exactly right! My great-grandfather passed away, and since then, my family has prospered non-stop!"

The Venerable smiled.

"There are also cases where ancestors pass away, but the descendants remain unchanged, experiencing no shift in fortune. This indicates that the ancestors did not have enough merit to provide protection. In such situations, since we do not know where our ancestors have been reborn, we play it safe by performing ceremonies to express our filial devotion."

His voice grew warmer.

"If our ancestors already have merit, performing these ceremonies adds even more blessing to them. From the other realm, they look down and recognize you as a devoted child. If your ancestors are suffering, this ceremony may help them escape that pain. This, too, is a way to repay their kindness."

A gentle breeze blew through, carrying yellow chrysanthemum petals onto the grass. The Venerable continued, his tone rhythmic and profound.

"There is a fascinating phenomenon: descendants enjoy the blessings left behind by their ancestors. For example, grandparents may not have been wealthy, but they lived virtuously. When they pass away and are reborn, they become rich and noble. Meanwhile, in this current life, their bloodline naturally produces talented and virtuous individuals who bring honor to the family."

He gripped the microphone firmly, his expression serious.

"Cause and effect splits into two outcomes: one result for the individual themselves, and another legacy left for their descendants. When that person dies and is reborn elsewhere, they enjoy their own karma. However, the bloodline in this life continues to benefit from the virtue accumulated. Naturally, outstanding and virtuous people emerge within the family."

A young girl raised her hand, her voice full of curiosity.

"Venerable, why does this happen?"

The Venerable nodded approvingly.

"Because of the resonance between cause and effect. For instance, a being in the heavenly realms with radiant merit wishes to help humanity. To do so, they must be reborn in the human realm. Using their divine eye, they observe and seek a suitable family—one that shares karmic connections from past lives and possesses moral integrity in its parents and grandparents. Once they decide to be reborn, no one should obstruct them."

He shared further, his voice contemplative.

"There are strange occurrences: a poor couple with high moral standards becomes the perfect vessel for a being descending from higher realms. That being enters the womb. The wife discovers she is pregnant and panics, attempting to terminate the pregnancy. Despite taking medicine or injections, the fetus continues to grow, and a healthy baby is born without explanation."

A woman clutching a small child sat nearby, tears welling in her eyes.

"Yes, Venerable. I was terrified, but in the end, the baby came into the world safely."

The Venerable looked at her with compassion.

"And later, when the grandparents or parents pass away and are reborn into blissful states, the child who descended from higher realms grows up to become a person of great distinction."

Funeral music played softly from a speaker somewhere, reminding everyone of the finiteness of human life. The Venerable continued.

"Once, a couple came to me saying, 'Venerable, we want a child. Please bless us with one.' But praying for someone to have a child is difficult, because we plant causes and conditions within samsara, the cycle of rebirth."

He shook his head, a fleeting smile crossing his lips.

"I asked them, 'What kind of child do you want?' They replied, 'We just want a child to add fun for the older siblings.' I told them, 'That intention leads to trouble. If your heart is narrow, the spirit reborn into your family will likely be ordinary. Such a child might engage in frivolous behavior, causing distress as they grow.'"

A ripple of laughter went through the crowd, but the Venerable’s face became serious again.

"As Buddhists who understand the Dharma, if you pray for a child, pray for one who will be beneficial to society."

The sky turned orange as evening approached, and the flickering lights on the altars began to glow. The Venerable spoke on.

"Therefore, when you feel fortunate in life, understand that you are enjoying the blessings left by your ancestors. Expressing filial piety is a necessary moral duty; never forget it."

He looked around, his gaze stern yet caring.

"Social morality begins with filial piety. If a person lacks devotion to their parents, do not expect them to possess any other form of ethics."

He offered a vivid example.

"Suppose a young man tells his girlfriend, 'I love you more than anyone in the world. I will serve you for my entire life.' Hearing this, you immediately know he is speaking nonsense. Why? Because when will he take care of his parents? If he claims he will devote his whole life to you, he is being unfilial."

A young girl laughed, then blushed as the Venerable turned to her.

"But consider someone who says, 'I love you deeply, and I will dedicate one-third of my life to you.' That person is sincere and worthy of love. You might ask, what about the other two-thirds? He still has duties to Phat Quang Pagoda, visits Phuc An Vien to pray for his parents’ peace, and serves the country. That statement is honest and loving."

Applause erupted. The Venerable smiled, then returned to a serious demeanor.

"However, regarding the influence of ancestral merit, avoid extreme thinking. Do not believe that only your specific lineage affects you entirely. As samsara unfolds, the influence of a particular bloodline gradually dilutes."

He paused, his voice tinged with sadness.

"The closest to us are our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. But going further back, those ancestors have long since been reborn. Therefore, Buddhism does not encourage bowing to or worshipping spirits in shrines or temples. The entities residing in those places have also moved on through rebirth, leaving the sites devoid of spiritual presence."

A man muttered, "Then why do so many people still go to shrines to beg for favors?"

The Venerable answered decisively.

"That is superstition. They fail to understand that those beings are not immortal saints; they have already been reborn. The Buddha taught that only enlightened beings who have transcended samsara are worthy of offerings, prostration, and prayer."

The temple bell rang again, serving as a reminder. The Venerable continued.

"Yet, in the laws of life, bloodline is a factor that influences us. People sharing our blood naturally evoke affection. This is a natural instinct and a universal law."

He looked at a family sitting together, his eyes softening.

"But blood ties can be broken by those lacking morality, consumed by greed and hatred, betraying kinship, or treating each other cruelly. When siblings fight over inheritance or harm one another, bloodlines no longer inspire love because profit and afflictions destroy the natural bond."

He spoke with rising intensity.

"Conversely, some people transcend blood barriers through virtue. Consider classmates, comrades-in-arms, colleagues who share ups and downs, or especially fellow practitioners on the path. The bond of shared spiritual practice, grounded in morality, creates a powerful connection."

A man wearing monastic robes nodded.

"Yes, Venerable. Practicing with dharma friends at Phat Quang Pagoda, I feel a love as close as family."

The Venerable smiled.

"And most importantly, the compassion taught by the Buddha allows us to love all sentient beings without needing any commonality. This is infinite morality, surpassing the boundaries of blood."

As twilight fell, neon lights illuminated the rows of graves. The Venerable discussed factors that change a family’s destiny.

"The merit of a lineage can be altered by daughters-in-law who marry into the family. If you attract a virtuous daughter-in-law, she adds merit to the clan, leading to prosperity."

He looked at a middle-aged woman.

"This is why our ancestors were very careful when choosing spouses for their children. A daughter-in-law should know how to visit Phuc An Vien for Vu Lan ceremonies and go to the temple to practice."

The woman replied firmly.

"Yes, Venerable. I tell my son: if he cannot find a wife who practices the Dharma, better to remain single than to marry poorly."

The Venerable praised her wisdom.

"To maintain the morality of a lineage, education is key. Parents must practice first. First, cultivate faith and understanding of cause and effect. Second, develop love even for those unrelated by blood. Third, practice humility and avoid arrogance."

Night had fully descended, and the ceremony was nearing its end. The Venerable looked around with warmth.

"The day is fading, the electricity is precarious, and we are hungry. Yet, the ceremony has reached completion. With the heartfelt dedication of Mr. Tam, General Director of Phuc An Vien, we gather here in this lovely atmosphere. Today’s Vu Lan ceremony has been fulfilled."

He smiled brightly.

"Now, let us prepare for dinner. This meal is hosted by Mr. Tam, while the sisters from Phat Quang Pagoda have prepared the food. Three parties contribute: Mr. Tam invites, the pagoda cooks, and we eat. I wish you all a forever happy Vu Lan season!"

Music for the liberation of souls played softly, blending with the wind through the trees. Everyone rose, eyes shining, hearts filled with peace. The ceremony ended, but the lessons on filial piety and the karma of bloodlines would remain in each person’s heart for a long time.

Meaning of the Story

Descendants and ancestors share a profound relationship governed by cause and effect. The living benefit from the merit left by the deceased, while the deceased require prayers for liberation from their descendants. Filial piety is not just personal ethics but the foundation for all other virtues. Each person should practice the Dharma and live morally to sustain and expand the merit of their lineage.

Compiled from the dharma talk of Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang