Spiritual Events
Wulan (Hungry Ghost Month)
A month of remembrance and merit-sharing for the dead, kept for our Chinese community.
What it is, and when it falls
The seventh lunar month.
Wulan is a month of remembrance: offerings and merit made on behalf of the dead, especially one's own parents and ancestors.
We keep it for the many families in this community for whom it is the observance of the year, and we keep it honestly.
Why it matters
Gratitude to parents is taught plainly in the Pali Canon, and Wulan is how a large part of our community expresses it.
Please note: Wulan is a Mahāyāna and Chinese observance, not a Pali Canon one. We do not present it as Early Buddhist practice, and we explain the difference openly on the day.
Scriptural origin
Mahāyāna / Chinese observance — not a Pali Canon source
Marked deliberately: this is the one observance in our year that does not come from the Pali Canon.
How the day runs
| Time | What happens | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Gathering | Families arrive; names of the remembered are written. | |
| Offering of the meal | Food offered to the monastics. | |
| Chanting and dedication of merit | Dedicated to parents and ancestors. | |
| Teaching | On gratitude to parents, and on what this observance is and is not. |
Who leads
A member of the Sangha Council, with lay coordinators from the Chinese-speaking community.
What a visitor should know
- Bring the names of those you wish remembered.
- Parts of the day are conducted in Chinese; a plain-English explanation is given throughout.
How to take part
- Submit names for remembrance on the day.
- Bring food to offer.
