ULLAMABANA SUTRA
Translated into Chinese from Sanskrit by TripitakemMaster Darmaraksha
Thus it was heard by me: At one time the Buddha dwelt at Sravasti, in 
the Jeta-grove in the garden of Anathapindaka.
Mahamudgalyayana. Having just attained the six spiritual penetrations,
 wished to deli eve his parents from the realm of hell to offer his 
gratitude to them for upbringing him. He used his deva vision to survey
 the world and saw that his deceased mother had fallen to the realm of 
hungry ghost, with neither food nor drink, she became very thin and 
nearly had only bones left.
Mahamudgalyayana was very sorrowful, he immediately carried some rice 
in his almsbowl and went forth to feed his mother. When the mother 
received the almsbowl of rice, she used her left hand to hand the bowl,
 with the right hand she grasped the food. Before she could eat, the 
food had turned into charcoal, she therefore had no food to eat.
Mahamudgalyayana cried and wept bitterly. He rushed to the Buddha and 
related to Him the incidence.
The Buddha said: Your mother’s offences were very deep, with your 
individual effort she could not be saved. Even though you may have 
filial piety, great as to be able to shake the heaven and earth; all 
the gods in heaven and earth, heretical priests and the four deva kings
 of the four heavens could offer on help. What is necessary is the 
meritorious and miraculous power of the Sanghas members in the ten 
directions. I shall now tell you the dharma to deliever all those in 
great sufferings.
The Buddha said to Mahamudgalyayana: “On the 15th day of the 7th month,
 while all Sangha members in ten directions observe confession, you 
should for the parents of seven previous who might be suffering in the 
lower realms and as well as present birth, prepare rice, all kinds of 
delicies available and five types of fruits, in thoroughly clean bowls 
and other containers. All the delicacies in the world thus prepared shall
 be contained in this tray, together with incense, oils, lamps, candles,
 robes and other requisites. These should be offered to the members of 
the Sangha in the ten directions who are so pure in conduct.”
“On the day, all the aiantly assemblies be they the ones who had gained
 deep Samadhi in the mountains, or ones who had attained the four paths 
and fruits, or ones practttising with diligence, or ones endowed with 
the six spiritual penetrations who are futher helping the Sravakas and 
the Pratyeka-buddhas, or Bodhisattvas of tenth groud who are appearing 
as Bhikshus, living within the great assemblies—will accept the 
offerings. They all possess complete and pure precepts and good conducts
 as vast as the ocean.”
“For anyone who makes such offering to the monks observing the 
confession in this day, his present parents and all six types of 
relatives such as past fathers and mothers will be delivered from the
 suffering in the three lower realms. They will never be deficient of
 clothing and food, if the parents are living, they will enjoy happiness
 for years to come. All the deceased parents of the seven previous birth
 will enjoy great happiness when they are reborned in the deva realm. 
All followers of the Buddha should keep this practice.”. 
Hearing thus, the Venerable Maudgalyayana and the fourfold assemblies 
were filled with delights and followed the teachings accordingly.