Can I go to temples during the Ghost Festival? What should I do if I go to temples during the Ghost Festival?

Can I go to temples during the Ghost Festival? Is it a good idea to go to a temple during the Ghost Festival? What should you pay attention to when visiting temples during the Ghost Festival? Next, let us take a closer look at the details of going to temples to pray to gods and Buddhas during the Ghost Festival.

Can I go to temples during the Ghost Festival?

General Overview

sure. Because the "Yulanpen Festival" on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month is one of the two largest festivals in Chinese Buddhism, it is also known as the Monks' Self-Examination Day and the Buddha's Joyful Day. It is a festival for Buddhists to hold ceremonies to offer sacrifices to Buddha and monks and to pray for the salvation of their deceased ancestors. It is also a major festival for worshiping Bodhisattvas and paying tribute to ancestors. On this day, Buddhist temples will hold a ceremony to pray for the salvation of ancestors. According to the requirements of the precepts, monks and nuns must observe the summer retreat from April 15th to July 15th of the lunar calendar every year. In addition, according to my country's traditional customs, every year during the Spring Festival and the first and fifteenth days of the lunar calendar, people have the habit of going to temples to burn incense, worship Buddha, and pray for blessings and peace.

Things to note when visiting temples during the Ghost Festival

1. About titles: Monks in temples should be addressed respectfully as “Master”, “Dharma Master”, or “Master”; the abbot should be addressed respectfully as “Elder”, “Abbot”, or “Zen Master”; monks in lama temples should be addressed respectfully as “Lama”, which means “Guru”.

2. About etiquette: The way to greet a monk in a temple is to put your hands together and bow your head slightly, or put one hand upright in front of your chest with your head slightly lowered. Avoid inappropriate etiquette such as shaking hands, hugging, touching the monk's head, etc.

3. Regarding speech: When chatting with monks or Taoists in the temple, you should not mention words about killing, marriage, or eating meat.

4. About activities: When visiting a temple, you are not allowed to make loud noises, make comments, make sarcastic remarks or walk around randomly. You are not allowed to touch anything in the temple, especially the statues of gods. If you encounter a Buddhist activity, you should stand still and watch silently or stay away from it quietly.

5. Regarding photography: You can take photos in general temples, but you cannot take photos of the Buddha statues inside the main hall, and you cannot take photos standing in front of the Buddha statues, as this is disrespectful to the Buddha and Bodhisattva.

6. About worshiping Buddha: The real meaning of burning incense and worshiping Buddha is to express respect, gratitude and remembrance for the Buddha, so you should clean your body before going to the temple, and don't run to worship Buddha in a sweat. It's best to wash your hands before worshiping Buddha, and don't eat garlic, onions, fish, meat, wine, etc. before going to the temple.