Buddhist Preta Ceremony
October 31, 2016
Consecration of Sacred Space
Recite the Vajrasattva Mantra to purify the place.
OṂ VAJRASATTVA SAMAYAM
ANUPĀLAYA
VAJRASATTVA TVENOPATIṢṬHA
DṚḌHO ME BHAVA
SUTOṢYO ME BHAVA
SUPOṢYO ME BHAVA
ANURAKTO ME BHAVA
SARVA SIDDHIṂ ME PRAYACCHA
SARVA KARMA SU CA ME
CITTAṂ ŚREYAḤ KURU HŪṂ
HA HA HA HA HOḤ
BHAGAVAN SARVA TATHĀGATAVAJRA
MĀ ME MUÑCA
VAJRĪ BHAVA MAHĀ SAMAYA SATTVA
AḤ (HŪṂ PHAṬ)
Circumambulate counterclockwise three times, finishing in the east, facing west, chanting in unison “Om Vajrasattva Hum” with lit incense in folded hands.
Calling the Pretas
Facing toward the centre, raise hands in attitude of prayer and salutation.
Oh, all ye hungry ghosts of the departed, bereft of sustenance, devoid of subsistence, experiencing the pain of lack, hear our voice(s) and attend, come to us and partake of this food and drink, which we offer to you in the spirit of love.
Transfer of Merit
To ye we offer the merit of this act, by the power of our compassion, by the saving power of the Buddhadharma, to ease the pain of all suffering beings in the realm of the departed ones and wherever suffering exists.
Offering Food
Each one in turn goes to the centre, places their food (vegetarian) on a clean plate, recites the blessing mantra seven times, snaps their fingers to attract the pretas and tips the food onto clean ground.
Blessing mantra: OM AH HUM.
Circumambulation
Circumambulate three times clockwise, tossing rice into the air.
SUBHAM
Depart.
Further Reading
Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/kariyawasam/wheel402.html
Buddhist Holidays, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_holidays
Early Buddhist Ceremonies, http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/budceremonies.html
Feeding the Dead, https://www.academia.edu/1963905/Feeding_the_dead_Ghosts_materiality_and_merit_in_a_Lao_Buddhist_festival._In_Williams_P._and_Ladwig_P._eds._Buddhist_Funeral_Cultures_of_Southeast_Asia_and_China._Cambridge_University_Press_2012_pp._119-142
From Preta to Hungry Ghost, http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/R401-150617-From-preta-to-hungry-ghost-RB124-rev.pdf
Ghosts in Tibetan Culture, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_in_Tibetan_culture
Hungry Ghost Ceremony, http://www.vzc.org/ceremony_hungryghost.html.
Hungry Ghost, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_ghost
Preta, New World Encyclopedia, http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Preta
Preta, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preta
Significance of the Ritual Concerning Offerings to Ancestors in Theravada Buddhism, http://www.chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Significance_Of_The_Ritual_Concerning_Offerings_To_Ancestors_In_Theravada_Buddhism
Six Realms of Existence, http://buddhism.about.com/od/basicbuddhistteachings/tp/Six-Realms-of-Existence.htm
Six Realms of Existence, http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/six-states.shtml
Dharmata 