與舍利弗同為刪闍耶外道的弟子，後來同時皈依佛陀，精進修道，是佛陀十大弟子中神通第一。常以神通教化眾生，曾為救母出離餓鬼道，請佛陀開示方法。佛陀教於七月十五僧自恣日供養十方僧眾，以功德力救於倒懸，此為後世盂蘭盆會的由來。晚年被執杖外道擊傷，深知神通敵不過業力，先佛進入涅槃。

Together with Sariputra, Maudgalyayana was once a disciple of Sanjaya, but both of them later took refuge in the Buddha. He practiced diligently and became one of the Buddha’s ten principal disciples. He was foremost in supernatural powers, which he utilized to guide sentient beings. He asked for the Buddha’s advice on how to save his mother from the hungry ghost realm. The Buddha instructed him to make offerings to the Sangha on the last day of the rainy season retreat, making use of the accumulated virtues to rescue suffering beings. This was the origin of the Ullambana service. In his old age he was attacked by followers of other beliefs and entered nirvana before the Buddha. He accepted his fate because he knew that supernatural powers cannot overcome karmic effects.

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