Ghost Month In Taiwan

I am still in the ghost month in Taiwan. During this month, our people have many activities, and we don’t think all ghosts are horrible and bad at all. In our concept, we also believe there are good and bad ghosts. Everyone sometimes makes mistakes, in addition to the vast majority of people have the intuitive ability to know right or wrong. Even you think he is a bad people, he still could do something good. Our people always have the strange concepts and beliefs, therefore I think I should introduce the origin of story.
Our ghost month combine the Taoist and Buddhist tradition. Especially we are touched by a Buddhist story ─Mu-lien rescues his mother, it make our people believe in being filial for your parents and old people.
One of the great enlightened disciples of the Buddha, Mu-lien in chinese society calling, actually his name is Mahamaudgalyayana in Sanskrit.
After he went to the heaven, he wanted to find his parents. He knew his father in heaven but he didn’t find his mother in heaven. He still looked for... his mother. Where was she? His mother was in the Avici hell. Why? Because she did many bad things. When he was seeing her in the hells, he sent her a bowl of food. She took it in one hand and hid it with the other because she was afraid the other hungry ghosts would see it and try to steal it from her. Being greedy herself, she knew that other hungry ghosts were greedy too, and so she covered it over stealthily. Although it was good food, her heavy karmic obstacles prevented her from eating it. When the food reached her mouth it turned to flaming coals which burned her lips. His spiritual powers could not prevent the food from turning into fire, so he asked the Buddha to help him.
Buddha answered; "her past sins are deep and huge for you alone to save". Although your filial respect move the all spirits, are also without sufficient strength. And then Buddha told him to save his mother by arranging an Ullambana offering. Ullambana means ‘releasing those who are hanging upside down.’ The Buddha told him on the fifteenth of the seventh lunar month, the day of the Buddha’s delight and all people’s praying power, he should offer all varieties of food and drink to the hell for all starving ghosts. In this way he could rescue his mother, also she could leave suffering and obtain bliss.
And then he followed those instructions, and his mother was reborn in the heavens. Not only was his mother saved, but all the hungry ghosts in the hells simultaneously left suffering and obtained bliss.
When our people heard that, we were touched by his spirit and wanted to follow his selfless spirit. Even some ghosts are bad, but we want to reduce their sin, moreover, we are worry some ghosts are starving then we feed them food. In addition we respect them. Perhaps story just a story only. But who knows one of ghosts are your cater-cousin? If one day you need help, then you also hope someone help you. In this way, helping others is a pleasure to do.

Last, if you are interested in watching video to know how our people do in this month, then you can check it