Category: Wheel of the Sangha
August 2023 Newsletter
Seattle Betsuin Monthly Newsletter – March 2023
Seattle Betsuin March 2023 Newsletter
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The Origin of Obon
Obon season has come. “Obon (お盆)” is an abbreviation of “Urabon”. There are three theories about the origin of “Urabon”.
• ullambana or avalambana (Sanskrit) which means “hanging upside down”
• urvan (ancient Iranian, Avestan) which means “spirit”.
• “Ura” came from odana or olaha (Sanskrit) rice / food. “bon” means tray. “Urabon” originally means “a tray to serve food/rice to monks”.