7th Lunar Month ... 7th "Celestial" Stage

Singapore has a population predominantly Chinese. Many of the Chinese are believers (not really the same as practitioners – I think) of Taoism or Buddhism.
Yesterday, we saw the first day of the 7th lunar month – the month many Taoists or Buddhists believe the soul of the deceased are released from hell to roam the mortal earth for some reasons.

(Rather) uniquely, we have many
(1) Getais (stage performances with mainly not so current bands and songs),
(2) 10-course dinners with loud auction (apparently to raise funds for charity),
(3) Offering of incense (huge quantity some more), by individuals, or by various independent organizations doing it as a group.

I am not here to challenge the believe or the practice. I am just going to talk a little about the “offering of incense”.

Take a quick peek out of our window. Count the number of burnt grass-patches you see. If we think it is already bad, let’s wait to see how everything escalates on the 15th day of the lunar month (19/08/05). In recent years, our government has set up portable urns to facilitate the offering of incense (especially during this month). So the environment problems are more controlled, but never solved.

It’s a common practice for these believers to offer incense (to deities) on the 1st and 15th day of every lunar month, but nothing compares to the scale we observed on the 7th month. On the 7th month, the offering of incense is done for the deceased, the soul from the nether world. Oh, the offering of incense to the deities is not dispensed with. It will be done separately of course, without significant change in usual scale, I think.
So who’s the powerful ones. Haha..

The entire idea behind may be well-intended. This is the month for 普渡 (meaning Mass Salvation).
Questions :
(a) How does the offering of incense helps in the salvation? (Not doubting the practice, but just want to think about it.)
(b) Why does the word “mass” link to only the souls of the nether world? (Do we think we ourselves are free from ignorance or illusion and salvation only needs to apply to them?)

Many I had talked to expressed the great power they feel from the beings from the nether world. They exclaim (that it’s a proven fact) that if we are generous with the offerings and to do it whole-heartedly, we will be rewarded handsomely. Ok, they say the offerings will appease the souls and when they are appeased, we are much safer. Besides, a windfall will may strike. I think many are looking forward more to the latter. Mm..
Where’s the salvation?
In what ways do these souls being elevated to a higher level of awareness?
I believe in Salvation, but am rather doubtful the way it’s being done / generally observed.

Salvation is to all beings (the word “普– mass” suggests it all), we included. Ok, we shouldn’t neglect the beings from the nether land. I am just thinking, we should also be thinking about our own salvation.

Some Divine/Celestial information :
The Formation (开天辟地) till The Void (混沌) of our material earth comes in 12 stages (compare with 12 mortal months per year) , namely :
子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥。
It is now in between the stages 午 and 未. (Note : 午 is the 7th stage and 未 is the 8th stage.)

If all the while there’s a saying that Mass Salvation is to be done in the mid of 7th month, then on a more celestial view, Mass Salvation is done during the mid of 7th “celestial” stage – NOW!
I don’t know whether we find the logic fuzzy. But IT is really now ..

God Bless..
May All Beings Find The Way.. =)