Offering to Wandering Souls (Monthly on the 2nd and 16th)
2nd and 16th of every lunar month
Meaning
Offering to wandering souls (food alms) is a humanitarian act in spiritual life — bestowing food on hungry, thirsty spirits, asking that they not disturb the household and that they support business affairs.
Offering preparation
- Offer outside the door at 3 or 4 p.m.
- Three sacrifices or 12 bowls of plain congee, salt, rice, candies, gold paper money.
- 1 cup of water, 2 candles flanking the incense bowl.
- Three sacrifices or 12 bowls of plain congee, salt, rice, candies, gold paper money.
- 1 cup of water, 2 candles flanking the incense bowl.
Content
Namo Bodhisattva Diệm Nhiên Vương — leading all spirits to receive the Dharma food.
Namo the Great Being Tiêu Diện, the Dharma-Protector Vi Đà; all you sirs and ladies and the ranks of underworld soldiers; the twelve classes of wandering souls; spirits of fallen warriors; those whose faces and brows are unseen; those who died struck by tree or pestle, by trunk or branch, on river banks and beach ends — come quickly here to enjoy these gifts and food, and shelter our family (state your full name and age...) — peace and ease, harmonious trade (3 times).
*(Then recite the True Mantras 3 times in Buddhist order — see details in the original text such as the Throat-Opening Mantra, Food-Transformation Mantra, Heart Sutra...)*
Mantra-Empowered Dharma Food-Offering
Food is universally given to the sands-of-the-Ganges-many wandering souls.
May all be wholly satisfied and abandon hatred and greed.
May they swiftly leave the dark realm and be born in the Pure Land.
May they take refuge in the Three Jewels and arouse the Bodhi-mind.
May they ultimately attain the supreme Way.
Merit boundless throughout future time.
May all wandering souls together receive the Dharma food...
MANTRA FOR THE PRICELESS FOOD OFFERING:
OM MUC LUC LANG TA BA HA (3 times)