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Monthly Full-Moon Prayer

The 15th of every lunar month

Meaning

The full-moon day (15th of the lunar month) is considered the sacred day of the month. Buddhists and traditional worshippers make offerings to the Buddha, deities, and ancestors on this day to accumulate merit and pray for the family's peace.

Offering preparation

Vegetarian offering (full-moon day): fruit, sweet soup, sticky rice, cakes. Or a meat offering depending on the family: chicken, fish, savory dishes. Incense, candles, clean water, fresh flowers.

Content

Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times) Today is the 15th of the .......... month, year .......... (lunar). The faithful (we) are: .......................................... Residing at: .......................................... On this full-moon day, we sincerely present offerings of incense and flowers. We respectfully bow to the Buddha, Heaven, Saints, and Spirits. We respectfully bow to the local Tutelary Deity, the Kitchen Gods, and the Earth Deity. We respectfully bow to the spirits of the lineage on both paternal and maternal sides. We respectfully invite the venerable ones to come and partake. We humbly ask blessings for our family: Peace and good health. Smooth flow in our work. All luck in the new month. Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)

Source: Source: Văn khấn cổ truyền Việt Nam (Culture and Information Publishing House, 2015), p. 55; Văn khấn Nôm truyền thống (Hồng Đức Publishing House, 2018), p. 60.