Vu Lan is not just a season

July is here, according to Buddhist tradition, this is the month of Vu Lan to show filial piety. Vu Lan festival has become a big holiday, an occasion for each child to express filial piety to their parents. However, filial piety is not only a seasonal thing but a regular, daily action. Vu Lan is therefore not just a season, but also a profound reminder of filial piety and love in the family.

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Vu Lan Festival takes place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, originating from the story of Bodhisattva Maudgalyayana, one of the great disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, who saved his mother from the realm of hungry ghosts thanks to his filial piety. This has become one of the most important holidays in Buddhism, to repay the kindness of parents.

When Buddhism was introduced to Vietnam, Vu Lan became a symbol of filial piety, and at the same time, it was consistent with the sacred ancestor worship tradition of the Vietnamese people, which has been honored by the people for many generations.

In fact, filial piety is a continuous process, not just a destination or a ritual obligation. Filial piety is not only expressed in material things but more importantly, in spiritual care. A warm meal, a call to ask about one's health, or a handshake when one's parents are old and weak are all acts of filial piety.

The small, simple things in daily life are the core of filial piety. When children take the time to listen to their parents tell stories, patiently explain something without complaining, that is also a way of showing filial piety. This is an expression of respect and sincere love, and at the same time connects generations in the family.

In modern life, people are often busy with work, social relationships or distant projects, sometimes forgetting those who have sacrificed their lives for them. We can spend hours surfing social networks, chatting with friends, but have not spent a few minutes calling to ask about our parents.

We are willing to spend on luxury items, but sometimes forget to buy a small gift for our parents, a seemingly simple gesture but containing deep love and showing devoted care.

Don’t wait until your parents are old and weak, no longer clear-headed, to regret not spending enough time with them. Don’t wait until they pass away to regret not having had time to say I love you. Vu Lan is a season that reminds us that love is limitless and filial piety has no end. Filial piety comes from the heart and is expressed through simple, practical actions, starting from small but meaningful gestures in daily life.

Let's turn every day of our lives into a Vu Lan day, so that love always exists, so that filial piety never fades, because: "Father's merit is like Thai Son mountain/ Mother's love is like water flowing from the source/ Wholeheartedly worship mother, respect father/ To fulfill filial piety is the way of a child".

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202509/vu-lan-khong-chi-la-mua-07a3fe4/