Did you know? The seventh lunar month, often called “Ghost Month” in folk tradition, is also known by other softer, more gentle appellations such as “Month of Joy,” “Month of Filial Piety,” and “Auspicious Month”? It is not only a time to honour ancestors but also a season deeply rooted in the Confucian virtue of filial piety.

During this month, families not only make offerings at home or to wandering spirits at crossroads, but also take part in large-scale Buddhist ceremonies and rituals to bless our ancestors and guide departed spirits towards transcendence to a better realm. The most representative of these is the Zhongyuan Enlightenment Ceremony.

Venerable Master Hui Wen, the abbot of Taiwan’s Bodhisattva Pureland, explains that transcendence allows the deceased to be freed from suffering and reborn into higher realms – heavenly, human, or pure lands of the Buddhas. Regardless of the deceased’s religious beliefs – or even lack thereof – Buddhist teachings affirm that such ceremonies bring benefit. Whether or not if the deceased has already found rebirth, the benefits from the merit cultivated will still be profoundly felt.

At the same time, all living loved ones will also gain benefits, blessings, and protection from participating. One will not only dispel misfortune, extend longevity, and increase blessings and wisdom, but will also plant seeds of virtue and cultivate wholesome karmic connections. The collective participation of all attendees further enhances the ceremony’s perfection and spiritual power.

The Meaning of Threefold Transcendence · Blessings for Both Realms

Guided by the spirit of “Filial Piety as the Foundation, Compassion as the Core,” Nirvana Asia Group has held the Zhongyuan Enlightenment Ceremonies in varying scales and forms across its memorial parks every seventh lunar month since 1995. This grand annual event gathers the collective goodwill of devotees to fulfil the Threefold Transcendence:

• Transcending Ancestors from Karmic Obstacles: Praying for departed ancestors to transcend suffering and attain rebirth in auspicious realms.
• Transcending Wandering Spirits: Blessing their future with peace, health, and familial harmony
• Transcending the Living from Afflictions: Helping the living release attachments and attain inner peace.

This is not just spiritual practice, but also emotional solace. Many attend not only for their ancestors’ transcendence, but also to find their own inner calm in the solemn, compassionate atmosphere.

The ceremony is also a vehicle for cultural and filial tradition. Families gather, chant sutras, copy scriptures together, and nurture virtue through collective practice. In doing so, the spirit of Chinese culture and filial piety continues to be passed on.

Clearing Misconceptions · Extending Compassion

There are still misconceptions about the Enlightenment Ceremony, especially the belief that it can only be done during the seventh lunar month. In fact, the merit of the ceremony is not limited by time — Zhongyuan Festival simply holds more significance culturally.

Some also misunderstand the Enlightenment Ceremony as being “only for the departed.” In truth, it benefits both the departed and the living, bringing blessings to both realms.

For this reason, Nirvana Asia conducts Enlightenment Ceremonies not only during Zhongyuan Festival, but also during Qing Ming Festival, Parents’ Day, Chongyang Festival, and even on ordinary days. This allows families year-round opportunities to bless their ancestors and accumulate merit for themselves.

Reaping the Bliss of the Dharma · The Warmth That Endures

For years, Nirvana Asia has dedicated itself to transforming the Zhongyuan Enlightenment Ceremony into a cultural and spiritual feast. Each grand yet heartfelt ceremony allows participants to reap the bliss of the Dharma and blessed wisdom, experiencing inner tranquillity and strength.

More importantly, through these ceremonies, Nirvana Asia hopes to remind everyone to cherish the present and treat family with kindness. Each ceremony is a continuation of love and goodness—a cultural heritage that transcends life and death. We aspire for this virtuous spirit to be passed down through generations, becoming an eternal force that illuminates hearts and warms society.