七月孝亲月，作为家里的"香火"，请吃素念佛吧。
The first month of autumn
Ghost Festival
Ghost Festival
孝亲报恩月
The lunar seventh month is known as the Month of Filial Piety and Repaying Kindness.
As penned in Buddhist scriptures, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva had saved his mother from the suffering of hell several times in his past lives.
农历七月
Ghost Festival
皈依佛
Namo Buddha
皈依法
Namo Dharma
皈依僧
Namo Sangha
the first month of autumn
农历七月为孝亲报恩月，据佛经记载，地藏菩萨在过去世中，曾几度救出自己在地狱受苦的母亲。
The lunar seventh month is known as the Month of Filial Piety and Repaying Kindness. As penned in Buddhist scriptures, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva had saved his mother from the suffering of hell several times in his past lives.
Buddhist cosmology
久远劫以前
久远劫前，清净莲花目如来像法时代，那时的地藏王菩萨叫光目女，她的母亲生前酷爱吃鱼子。其母死后，光目女因担心母亲堕落恶道，于是，请阿罗汉入定观察，见母亲果然在地狱受大苦。阿罗汉告诉光目女，想救母亲，就要为母亲做功德。
Kalpas ago, during the period of semblance dharma under the Pure Lotus Eyes Tathagata, the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva was known as a woman named Guang-mu. Her mother had a strong fondness for eating fish roes during her lifetime. After the demise of her mother Guang-mu, fearing that her mother had fallen into the three lower realms, requested an Arhat to observe her mother's condition through deep meditation. The Arhat discovered that her mother was indeed facing immense sufferings in hell. The Arhat then advised Guang-mu that in order to save her mother, she must perform meritorious deeds on her behalf.
阿罗汉为愍光目女孝心，劝她多念清净莲花目如来，并塑画形象，可以使母超生，自己更培福。于是光目女照做了。
Moved by Guang-mu's filial piety, the Arhat encouraged her to recite the name of the Pure Lotus Eyes Tathagata frequently along with drawings of the Tathagata. This, he said, could help her mother transcend her suffering and allow Guang-mu to accumulate blessings for herself. Guang-mu did as she was told.
终于，佛感于她孝心，告诉光目女，她那母亲会投生于贫困家庭，十三岁死后改生为梵志，年百岁。过此以后，生「无忧国」，后成佛果。
Finally, the Buddha, moved by her filial devotion, informed Guang-mu that her mother would be reborn into a poor family. After living to the age of thirteen, she would die and be reborn as a Brahmin who would live for one hundred years. Thereafter, she would be reborn in the "Land Without Worries" and eventually attain Buddhahood.
我们中国人一直提倡“香火”，在中国传统家庭中，以儿子作为家族的香火，祭祀、抬棺等事都由男丁为主。而地藏王菩萨前世大多又以女子的形象救度双亲。这在当代社会也有所体现，女子在照顾双亲上往往更心细。
For Chinese like us, there has always been an emphasis on "bearer of the family line." In traditional Chinese families, sons are considered the bearers of the family line, responsible for performing ancestral rites and serving as pallbearers. Yet, in Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s past lives, he often manifested as a female to save his parents. This is also reflected in modern society, where women are often more attentive in caring for their parents.
所以，香火从哪里来？就从信仰里来。没有信仰的人，是没有办法成为香火的。而成为佛弟子，你就有了作为“香火”的能力，就可以光宗耀祖、超荐祖先了。
So where does the concept of "bearer of family line" comes from? It comes from faith. Without faith, one cannot become a true bearer of the family line. By becoming a disciple of the Buddha, one gains the ability to be this "bearer," to bring honor to the family and to offer relief to the ancestors.
EARLY AUTUMN
佛教提倡吃素，也是看到其因果不虚，慈悲众生故。地藏王菩萨为光目女时，其母爱吃鱼鳖之子，而到地狱受大苦，所以，提倡吃素是佛教孜孜不倦之事业。
Buddhism advocates vegetarianism, seeing the cause and effect of this practice as no illusionary and rooted in compassion for all beings. In Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's past lives as Guang-mu, her mother suffered greatly in hell because of her love for eating fish and turtle eggs. Thus, advocating vegetarianism has been a consistent mission of Buddhism.
随着巴黎奥运会的各项赛事逐渐接近尾声，这场全球瞩目的体育盛宴不仅留下了无数激动人心的瞬间和辉煌的历史记录，更以其前所未有的可持续食品主义推广力度，为未来的大型活动树立了绿色、可持续的新标杆。
As the Paris Olympics draw to a close, this globally-watched sporting event has not only left behind countless thrilling moments and glorious historic records but has also set a new benchmark for green and sustainable practices in future large-scale events by promoting sustainable food initiatives like never before.
这场巴黎奥运会显著推进了植物性肉类替代品的在大型国际赛事的应用。组织者致力于将志愿者、员工、媒体及运动员饮食中的动物蛋白替换为植物蛋白，目标比例达到50%。此举与奥运会总体目标相一致，即与前几届奥运会相比，将碳排放量减半。虽然实施过程中，遇到种种障碍，奥运会仍坚持提供植物性选项的承诺，确保观众餐食中至少有60%为素食。
The Paris Olympics significantly advanced the application of plant-based meat substitutes in large international events. Organizers committed to replacing animal protein in the diets of volunteers, staff, media, and athletes with plant-based protein, aiming for a 50% substitution rate. This effort aligns with the overall goal of the Olympics to halve carbon emissions compared to previous games. Despite various challenges during implementation, the Olympics adhered to its commitment to providing plant-based options, ensuring that at least 60% of the meals offered to spectators were vegetarian.
一个“肉”字，老祖先写得很清楚：一个门里两个人，出头的人吃没有出头的人。吃肉实际上就是人吃人。中国有一句话，“天地者，无形之父母也。”从这个角度来说，天地间长养的众生都是我们的兄弟姐妹。你可以怜悯它，可以慈悲它，可以救护它，但是不能伤害它。
The Chinese character for "meat" clearly depicts the understanding from our ancestors: two persons within a gate, the person emerging the gate consumes the other who has not emerged. In essence, eating meat is akin to the consumption of human by human. There is a saying in China, "Heaven and Earth are the formless parents of all beings." From this perspective, all living beings nurtured by Heaven and Earth are our brothers and sisters. You can pity them, show them compassion, and protect them, but you must not harm them.
我的师父悟公上人曾说：“我出家一辈子，看了《大藏经》，就总结出四个字：“吃素”、“念佛”。
My Master, Venerable Grand Master Wu-gong, once said, "I’ve been a monk my whole life, and after reading the Tripitaka Sutra, I’ve summarized its teachings into four words: 'Be vegetarian, recite Buddha's name.'"
“吃素”是断最大的恶，“念佛”是修最大的善。因为吃素，吃饭也可以吃得很自在；因为念佛，“南无佛”就跟佛有了关系。
"Being a vegetarian is to cease the greatest evil, and to recite Buddha’s name is to cultivate the greatest good. By going vegetarian, one can dine with ease; by reciting 'Namo Buddha,' one establishes a connection with the Buddha."
七月，孝亲月，
作为家里的香火，请吃素念佛吧！
This July, the month of filial piety,
as the bearer of your family’s lineage,
please adopt vegetarianism and recite the Buddha’s name!
END
频繁刷手机，我们的心灵很容易被碎片化，
不要沉溺其中，学会自我节制，
通过学习佛法来有效滋养
并净化我们的心灵，
一起回归心灵，
保持身心灵的健康。
Frequent phone usage can easily fragment our minds. Avoid indulgence and practice self-restraint.Studying Buddhism can effectively nourish and purify our minds. Let us return to our true selves and maintain the health of our body and mind together.
