The 15th day of the seventh lunar month, also known as the Vu Lan Festival or Mid-July Lunar Festival, is a significant occasion in Vietnamese spiritual culture. This day is not only a time to honor and show respect to ancestors but also deeply intertwined with many spiritual stories that reflect Vietnamese beliefs and traditions. Here are some prominent spiritual stories related to the Mid-July Lunar Festival that help us better understand the meaning of this special day.

The 15th day of the seventh lunar month, also known as the Vu Lan Festival or Mid-July Lunar Festival, is a significant occasion in Vietnamese spiritual culture. This day is not only a time to honor and show respect to ancestors but also deeply intertwined with many spiritual stories that reflect Vietnamese beliefs and traditions. Here are some prominent spiritual stories related to the Mid-July Lunar Festival that help us better understand the meaning of this special day.

1. The Story of Buddha and the Venerable Mục Kiền Liên

One of the most famous spiritual stories related to the Mid-July Lunar Festival is the story of the Venerable Mục Kiền Liên, one of the Buddha's disciples. According to legend, one year, Venerable Mục Kiền Liên used his supernatural powers to see that his mother was suffering in hell. Learning about her plight, Mục Kiền Liên offered food, offerings, and prayers to the Buddha to help free his mother from suffering.

The Buddha then taught Mục Kiền Liên that rescuing his mother from hell required the help of monks and devotees. He advised Mục Kiền Liên to organize a grand offering ceremony and invite all the monks to participate. When the ceremony took place, thanks to the merit of the monks and devotees, Mục Kiền Liên’s mother was liberated from her suffering and reborn in the heavenly realms. This story inspired the tradition of making offerings and showing filial piety during the Vu Lan Festival.

2. The Story of the Open Gate of Hell

Another spiritual story associated with the Mid-July Lunar Festival is about the opening of the gate to hell. According to tradition, on the 15th of the seventh lunar month, the gates of hell open, allowing souls from the underworld to return to the earthly realm to seek redemption and receive offerings from their descendants. These souls are primarily those who are without support or family to offer prayers and rituals.

Therefore, on this day, families perform the ritual of offering to wandering souls to help those lost spirits. The offerings typically include plain rice porridge, candies, and votive paper money, which are placed outside the home or in front of the house. According to folk beliefs, performing this ritual helps the wandering souls find satisfaction, prevents them from disturbing the family, and also accumulates merit for the family.

3. The Story of the Saved Ghost

Many folk stories recount how ghosts were saved due to the sincere offerings and rituals performed by descendants during the Mid-July Lunar Festival. A common story tells of a poor man living alone in an old house. During his time there, he frequently experienced strange phenomena, such as footsteps and knocking sounds with no one around.

On the Mid-July Lunar Festival, the man decided to conduct a simple offering ritual for wandering souls. He prepared a vegetarian meal, along with rice porridge and candies, placed them outside, and lit incense to pray. The next day, the strange occurrences ceased, and the man felt a sense of peace in his home. He believed that, thanks to his sincerity and offerings, the ghosts had been liberated and no longer disturbed him.

4. The Story of Maternal Love and Blessings

Another spiritual story associated with the Mid-July Lunar Festival concerns maternal love and blessings. This story is about a poor mother who sacrificed everything to raise her children. Despite her difficult circumstances, she always taught her children with kindness and responsibility. When she passed away, she left no material wealth but her children grew up to be successful and virtuous individuals.

On the Mid-July Lunar Festival, her children performed rituals to honor and pay respects to their mother. They not only prepared offerings for the ancestral altar but also made offerings to monks and spirits. This story reflects filial piety and gratitude, emphasizing that a mother’s virtues and love will be rewarded with good fortune and happiness for her children.

5. The Story of the Souls Needing Help

Some stories tell of souls needing assistance during the Mid-July Lunar Festival, involving unfortunate spirits who are frequently disturbed or unable to find peace. A notable story is about a young woman who died in a traffic accident and had no family to perform rituals for her. Her spirit could not find peace and often troubled the living.

On the Mid-July Lunar Festival, a family living near the accident site decided to perform the offering ritual for the young woman’s spirit. They prepared offerings and prayed, hoping that her soul would be freed from suffering and find rest. After the ritual, strange occurrences in the area decreased, and the family felt more at ease. This story demonstrates the importance of helping spirits and the impact of offerings in bringing peace.

Conclusion

The spiritual stories related to the Mid-July Lunar Festival not only reflect the depth of Vietnamese culture and beliefs but also convey valuable lessons about compassion, filial piety, and responsibility. Through these stories, we gain a deeper understanding of the profound meaning of this festival and its connection to spiritual and cultural traditions. The Mid-July Lunar Festival is not only a time to honor ancestors but also an opportunity to demonstrate kindness, assist wandering souls, and accumulate merit for oneself and one’s family.