Aug 19, 2022 · The Obon festival traces its origin to Buddha’s disciple, Mokuren, whose mother had fallen into the world of the hungry ghosts, an unpleasant realm in the afterlife. His heart ached to imagine her suffering.

Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors.

The ritual of obon is conducted according to the teaching of Sâkyamuni Buddha as preached by him in the Urabon Sutra. The Urabon Sutra tells of Mokuren Sonja, a disciple of Sâkyamuni who was a priest famous for being the first amongst all the disciples for his supernatural powers.

Aug 7, 2015 · The Obon Festival originates from the story of Mokuren, one of Buddha’s disciples who used his supernatural powers to check on his deceased mother. Mokuren discovered she had fallen into the realm of the hungry ghosts, a spiritual place often described as a parallel world of suffering endless hunger.

Aug 5, 2024 · Obon is the Japanese custom of honoring ancestral spirits by cleaning ancestral graves, making offerings to ancestors at family graves or altars, and this is celebrated at Obon festivals filled with dancing, taiko drums and street food stalls.

Jul 26, 2019 · Mokuren was so happy he danced for joy, and from this Bon Odori (Bon dance) came into being. Hungry Ghosts scroll Kyoto no3. When is Obon? This is surprisingly difficult to answer. Obon is observed from the 13 th to the 15 th day of the 7 th month.

Obon is a Buddhist observance that was originally observed in Mahayana Buddhist countries, including China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Obon season is a time to express our gratitude to loved ones who have passed on before us.

The main character for the story of Obon is Mokuren, or Maudgalyayana in Sanskrit. Mokuren was known for his supernatural powers. One day, he searched the Six Worlds to find his late beloved mother, because he wondered how she was doing since her death.

The holiday is also rooted in a Buddhist legend about a monk called Mokuren (Maudgalyāyana in Sanskrit), who was a disciple of Buddha. Using his supernatural powers, Mokuren discovered that his mother was suffering in the spirit realm due to unmet commitments from her existence.

The first Obon service was held by Mokuren to save his mother. The first Segaki service was held by Ananda to save himself from falling into the world of the Hungry Spirits. The result turned out the same: to try to save all living beings and all souls from suffering.