1-6《戒定真香-瑜伽燄口》連江 東升禪寺 THE YOGA FLAMING MOUTH CEREMONY

1-6《戒定真香-瑜伽燄口》連江 東升禪寺

THE YOGA FLAMING MOUTH CEREMONY

《Background》

When Ananda was dwelling in tranquil solitude, one night in the third watch he saw a hungry ghost named Flaming Mouth who had a ghastly, terrifying appearance: his body was decrepit, his mouth was flaming, his throat was thin as a needle's tip, his hair was disheveled, and he had long fangs and claws. The ghost told Ananda, "Your life will end in three days, and you will be reborn among the hungry ghosts."

Upon hearing this, Ananda was greatly alarmed, and the hairs on his body stood on end. Early the next morning, he went to tell the Buddha what he had seen and asked for instruction. The Buddha told him that limitlessly many kalpas ago, Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva Mahasattva had obtained a dharma called "The Dharani Dharma of the Thus Come One of Limitless Awesome Virtue, Liberation and Brightness." If this Dharani Dharma is performed seven times, it can transform one bit of food into all kinds of food and drink of sweet dew, which can satisfy the hunger of as many hungry ghosts as the sands in limitless Ganges Rivers. They will all be filled with unlimited supremely wonderful food and drink, obtain the fruition of sagehood, and be released from their suffering bodies. Upholding this Dharani Dharma will increase your blessings, wisdom, and lifespan. The hungry ghosts will be able to be reborn in the heavens or the Pure Land, or obtain the body of a human or god. The donor will be able to avert hindrances and calamities, lengthen life, and obtain superior blessings in the present. In the future he will realize Bodhi, bring forth a great resolve, and make a universal, unlimited offering to all sentient beings, parents of lives in many kalpas past, beings in the hells and the ghostly realms, and all sentient beings, down to the smallest bug. All who come to the assembly will, by the Buddha's awesome light, obtain its supreme benefits and receive human and heavenly bliss.

《The Meaning of the Flaming Mouth Ceremony》

"Yoga" is a Sanskrit word meaning "response." It is a general term for the Secret Division. Briefly speaking, the hand performs secret mudras, the mouth recites true words, the mind concentrates on contemplation, and thus the three karmas of body, mouth and mind mutually respond and unite.

《The Purpose of the Ceremony and Those Who Come For Food and Drink》

The Flaming Mouth Ceremony is held for hungry ghosts;
When they die and become ghosts they have no way to eat.
They cannot enjoy the food when it comes
Thus there are beings in the human realm
With kind and compassionate minds
Who prepare food and drink to offer to them
All who come to this ceremony
Are beings of the ghostly path.
Men, women, and children,
The elderly, the feeble, and the sick,
Those who drowned or shot, or died prematurely,
Those who died as soldiers in battle,
All those who cannot be reborn,
And are wandering in their spiritual bodies
May all come to join this Dharma assembly
To eat their fill and cast off greed and stupidity.

【緣由】

阿難獨靜處，於夜三更已，見一餓鬼，名曰「焰口」，形貌醜陋，身體枯瘦，口中燃火，咽如針鋒細，頭髮蓬亂，牙爪長利，狀甚可怖。鬼向阿難說：「你於三日命將盡，即生餓鬼之­中。」

阿難聞此，心大驚怖，身毛皆豎，晨朝即起，往詣佛所，告知所見，並請示佛。佛告之，於過去無量劫中，觀世音菩薩摩訶薩，受得陀羅尼名曰「無量威德自在光明如來陀羅尼法」，­此陀羅尼法加持七遍，能令一食變成種種甘露飲食，即能充足無盡億恆河沙數之一切餓鬼、神眾之上妙飲食，皆得飽滿，亦令其得獲聖果，解脫苦身。受持此陀羅尼法，令你福慧壽命­增長；餓鬼生天及淨土，受人天身；能令施主轉障消災、延年益壽、現招勝福、當證菩提。故當發廣大心，普為有情、積劫已來多生父母、列宿天曹、幽司地府、焰魔鬼界、昆微蠢動­一切含靈，普設無遮廣大供養，悉來赴會，承佛威光，獲斯勝利，受人天樂。

【瑜珈焰口之語意】

「瑜珈」—天竺語，亦即「相應」之意，密部之總名也。簡而言之，即手結密印、口誦真言、意專觀想，身與口協，口與意符，意與身會，三業相應。

【焰口目的及來享飲食者】

焰口目的為餓鬼
是因鬼死無以食
不能吃來不能享
方有人間之眾生
以其慈悲之願心
來備飲食以供之
故凡參與此會者
皆是鬼道之眾生

是男是女是童子
是老是弱是病者
是溺是斃是冤者
或是兵刀爭戰死
凡是不能往生者
流離失所中陰處
皆可來赴此法會
使得飽滿去貪癡