As Buddhist practitioners, be it boys and girls, young people, adults, or the elderly, have you ever asked, “How can I truly practise Buddhism in my daily life?”.
Master Lu once said, “I hope all of you can lead a life of wisdom and let Buddhism be your guide in life. You must apply wisdom and Buddhist teachings in your day-to-day life to ultimately break free from this shore of afflictions to reach the other shore of enlightenment”.
We ought to be constantly learning from our Master on these life lessons.
So, let’s find out what our Master has to say to:
Young Buddhist practitioners to the questions that are closest to their hearts, e.g. :
– How should I view norms like having to get married when I am already in my 30s?
– What should I do if I meet the love of my life, one day? Should I pursue such a romantic relationship?
– What should I do when my parents set me up on a blind date?
As an older adult and an elderly, have you got to the point in life when you wonder:
– Why am I so unlucky in whatever I do all my life? What can I do when I seem to be deprived of blessings?
– What parenting style should I adopt when my child is rebellious?
– What is the best thing to leave behind for my children? Life insurance, money in the bank, a family home, or?
Starting this week, we are pleased to launch a three-part series on:
From Baby Boomers to Generation Zoom:
Things that Buddhist Practitioners Need to Know
which will help answer all of the above questions and more…
< MASTER LU’S ADVICE TO YOUNG DISCIPLES >
Caller: Locally, many youngsters are practising Guan Yin Citta. They demonstrate strong resilience and an undaunted attitude during activities like captive life liberation and distribution of dharma materials. However, there are some negative aspects about these youngsters – they have the tendency to slack off, and the other pertains to their vulnerability to relationship problems. Master, would you be able to give some advice pertaining to the relationship issues faced by these youngsters?
Master Jun Hong Lu: What problems are they facing?
Caller: They tend to rush into a relationship, and easily lose momentum in their spiritual cultivation.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s simple. It is very normal for young people to slack off because of their pursuit of idealism and their shallow understanding of the meaning of hardships in the human realm. So, to lose momentum in life is not uncommon as far as they are concerned. Furthermore, the youngsters are at a developmental stage where they learn as they grow, and grow as they learn and hence, it’s important that we encourage them.
On another note, youngsters are clueless when it comes to relationship matters. They just want to partake in any activities that they find thrilling. This is exactly why the young ones are prone to making mistakes, unlike older people.
Older people will not make mistakes because they have tasted life’s suffering. On the flip side, young people, who have yet to taste hardship in life, will unknowingly fall into these traps. Give them 10 or 20 years to reach the maturity of the older generation, by then, they will know how to stay away from some of the more sensitive matters that will bring sorrow upon themselves.
The fact of the matter is, young people go through tribulations in life without a clue what is going on and this is why they are so pitiable. They are unwilling to heed the advice of the old folks, let alone mine. Instead, they succumb to emotional games and fool around with those thrills of the human realm. For all you know, by the time they hit the brick wall and are emotionally scarred, sad to say, a significant part of their life has passed them by.
Caller: Master, there are times you forewarn them in their dreams about their degenerating spirituality.
Master Jun Hong Lu: What should you do when your spirituality degenerates? Be willing to take advice! What can I do if you choose not to? Certain people turn a deaf ear to others’ advice their whole life. There is nothing that we can do to save such people simply because there is no way that we can help sentient beings with no karmic affinity with Buddhism (无缘众生). As for kids like you who can still take my advice today, clearly, there is still hope for you. It’s as simple as that.
Caller: In our youth group, we have a practice of getting the members to report their daily homework to the group as means to encourage them to perform their daily recitation and Little Houses. Our aim is to create mutual motivation so that they can be more diligent in their spiritual practice to lead them onto their spiritual cultivation path.
Master Jun Hong Lu: As a matter of fact, this is what mutual diligence is all about, where they remind, support and help each other in their spiritual cultivation. Through these interactions, everyone is reinforcing and supporting one another to forge ahead. This is an excellent method to achieve mutual motivation.
Assuming everyone is scaling a mountain, there is bound to be people who are at the verge of giving up. In times like these, words such as, “One more step and you will be there! Push a little harder and you will be there! You are almost there!” will serve as a mutual encouragement.
It would be superb if you could get them to mutually encourage each other. That said, it is a no-no to hurl sarcasm, to wrangle or worse still, to reach a point where they start to marginalise each other or speak with the intent to create low morale or jealousy towards one another. Such negativity will very quickly affect others and hence, not only will this diminish your merits, karmic grievances with the other party will be established.
Caller: Understood.
Source: Wenda20141109A 33:15, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
HOW SHOULD BUDDHIST PRACTITIONERS REGARD THEIR PREDESTINED AFFINITY?
Caller: Master, how should Buddhist practitioners regard their predestined affinity (缘分)? How should they demonstrate that they cherish their relationships but at the same time, accord with conditions in eliminating the associated karmic obstacles instead of generating new karma from these karmic relationships (不因缘造业)?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Karmic affinity may not necessarily be all positive – there are positive ones and negative ones too. You may sustain some of these karmic relationships, but in other cases, you simply have no choice but to cut them off. When a negative karmic affinity comes along, you must put an end to it.
Assuming a lady takes a liking to you but you know that this affinity will only bring you immense sorrow and grief. In this case, no matter how attractive she may look, you have no choice but to end it. This is referred to as ‘to severe a predestined affinity’ (断缘).
Let me tell you this: One should observe moral disciplines and there are no two ways about it. We must not let certain karmic affinities perpetuate. Having said that, you certainly do not have to buy into every single affinity that comes your way.
How do we explain predestined affinity in the context of this world? Once a relationship is ignited, an affinity is established. But, if you choose to circumvent it, the karmic affinity will cease to exist. This logic applies to both positive and negative affinities. When a relationship is discontinued, the affinity will lapse.
If you choose not to perpetuate a negative affinity, you put a stop to the negative ties. Similarly, when a positive affinity to practise Buddhism knocks on your door, if you do not seize it, it is as good as severing your affinity with Buddhism.
Source: Wenda20161211A 23:08, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
HOW DO LAY BUDDHIST PRACTITIONERS DEAL WITH MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP ISSUES?
Caller: Master has advised us to accord with conditions when it comes to relationship matters. My view is the spiritual cultivation of Buddhist practitioners, who are unattached, will be somewhat affected when they start dating or get married. At the very least, they will have less time to recite Buddhist scriptures, and less flexibility to perform virtuous deeds.
The reason I ask is because in the dream of a Buddhist practitioner, a Buddhist friend from our Practice Centre commented, “All of you are nuns”, right in front of everyone. Does this refer to our past or present lives?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It should be your past lives. Many of you could have been nuns or someone with a certain level of spiritual cultivation in your previous lives. This is one of the most touchy issues in our secular world. Truth be said, I can tell that some of you are predestined to be single, and will dedicate your life to Buddhist practice. However, I can’t divulge such details because if I did, many parents would have a bone to pick with me. It’s very obvious to me that many of you do not plan to get married.
Everyone knows what marriage is like in this day and age, right? Almost one in two couples ends up in a divorce. The rate of a successful marriage is extremely slim. There are even brides or grooms who walk out on their soon-to-be spouse. Such situations are predestined where positive affinity is on the decline while negative affinity is on the rise.
This is why this is a very sensitive topic for me to comment on. All I can say is, it is best for you to go with the flow and let things happen naturally. If you are fated to get married, you may do so. If you are not, there isn’t a need to be anxious. Simply go with the flow. After all, some of these life events are written in the stars and they cannot be brought upon by your insistence. Some people desperately want to get married when they are single. However, when their marriage ends in divorce, they would look back and say, “If only I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have gotten married”.
Thus, there are things that should not be divulged, otherwise, it is considered a deviation from the path. After all, as practising Buddhists, we should let nature take its course, am I right?
Caller: Right.
Master Jun Hong Lu: When it is time to get married and you have a suitor, you should just go ahead and tie the knot. Conversely, if you don’t have any suitors waiting in the wings, there’s nothing you can do about it, right? You may try to work a bit harder on it but if there is still none to be had, there’s nothing else you can do.
Caller: Yes. Thank you Master, for your advice.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Alright! Many people have passed their prime age to get married and hence, many men would flirt around with women. That said, even if you are fated not to get married, you must not engage in such misconduct. In fact, you must embrace the positive practices and never be corrupted by the bad ones. Do you understand?
Caller: Yes. Thank you Master, for your advice.
Source: Wenda20130104 48:52, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
HOW SHOULD FELLOW PRACTITIONERS OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE DEAL WITH BLIND DATES ARRANGED BY FAMILY MEMBERS?
Caller: I have a question, Master. Presently, many fellow practitioners are in their marriageable age of twenties, thirties, etc. Oftentimes, their parents would arrange blind dates for them. Such blind dates are usually over a meal of seafood. Being a vegetarian – a lifestyle that the other party knows nothing about – the fellow practitioners would still have to recite the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra upon returning home and they are irked by such engagement. On one hand they detest the idea of having to take part in such arrangements, on the other, they have to face their anxious parents. I’d like to seek Master’s advice for ways to address their parents’ anxiety? In this regard, which Buddhist scripture would be more efficacious for them to recite for their parents?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Frankly speaking, if you hope to change your parents’ mind, it is going to be really challenging. It depends on the effort you put in.
Caller: I see.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Typically, it is best to recite the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots and the Heart Sutra. Having said that, it still boils down to the regular communication that you maintain with your parents. Establish a good relationship with them and as it gets deeper, when you put forth a request to them, it is unlikely that your parents would shove their demands down your throat. Do you understand me?
Caller: Yes, Master.
Source: Wenda20130104 47:36, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
THE BEST THING TO LEAVE BEHIND FOR YOUR CHILDREN
Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people simply can’t let go of their children and grandchildren, worrying over their well-being day in, day out. For the sake of their descendants, they toil away and worry for them. Despite their advanced age, many of them are still constantly fretting over matters of their descendants. They are ignorant to the fact that they should think about how much longer they can live, be accountable for and repent of all past wrongdoings as a means to repay their karmic debt to set themselves free.
How do you know what evil deeds you have committed in the past? Simply examine the retribution that you are undergoing. If you are extremely sick in your old age and it feels like your health is falling apart, it means your karmic creditors are coming after you. In addition, if you have frequent nightmares, you should fervently repent of your past transgressions.
On a separate note, if your descendants are more capable than you, what is the point of leaving your wealth to them? Conversely, if your descendants are less capable than you, what purpose does it serve to leave your wealth to them? If your descendants are frequently making you angry and upset, squandering their life on gambling and binge drinking, what is the point of leaving your wealth to them? Aren’t you causing them more harm by offering them the precondition to commit more negative karma?
Do you know what is the best thing you can leave behind for them? It’s none other than virtue. This is because nothing compares to the virtue that a child inherits from his parents.
What do you think parents who are constantly squabbling leave behind for their children? Children who are accomplished in their own right will be indifferent to your riches. Conversely, what good does it serve to leave your wealth for children who are incapable or less capable than you? In fact, the larger the inheritance, the greater the wedge between siblings as they get embroiled in lawsuits, fighting over their parents’ estate. Hence, good parents will know best what to leave behind for their children.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 1 Chapter 28
THE ROOT CAUSE OF REBELLIOUS BEHAVIOUR: CHILDREN ARE MIRRORS OF THEIR PARENTS
Caller: Master, I have a child who has a potty mouth. Occasionally, he will swear at others.
Master Jun Hong Lu: This is a sign of a rebellious mentality. Clearly, his parents do not set a good example and are reckless in their speech, using foul language. Is it possible for a child not to develop the habit of being abusive in his speech if his parents bicker in front of him? Conversely, would a child whose parents never quarrel and are soft-spoken, swear at others? Do not blame others. Your child is a mirror of you. Work on your shortcomings.
Caller: I understand, Master.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Correct your bad habits.
Source: Wenda20130308 09:41, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
ARE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS A MANIFESTATION OF ONE’S KARMIC BLESSINGS?; A PERSON’S KARMIC BLESSINGS ARE DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO HIS WISDOM
Caller: Is the attitude that others have towards us a manifestation of how substantial our karmic blessings are? That is, if we are treated kindly by many, it is an indication of a greater karmic blessing and if we are disliked by many, it may imply a lack of karmic blessings?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Absolutely! If you are well-liked by many, it means that you are full of wisdom, which allows you to transform this world into heaven. Clearly, this is your karmic blessing. On the flip side, if you set yourself against everyone who crosses your path, you are practically turning this splendid world into your own hell and burial ground.
In fact, there are such characters around. At work, they will command people around, yell and cause lots of trouble and they have inflated views of themselves. In the end, for all they know, everyone gangs up to file a complaint and get rid of them.
Caller: Does this mean that the greater one’s blessings, the greater his wisdom?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The greater the blessings, the greater one’s wisdom is and vice versa. They are directly proportional.
Caller: Is it true to say that those who lack wisdom will have less positive karmic affinity?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s wisdom that is lacking and not the positive affinity. What this means is he has yet to perfect any of the six paramitas. For example, if you lack wisdom but you are diligent in your practice, don’t you think you will still gain blessings? By observing the precepts, won’t you gain blessings? However, if you can’t even perfect one single paramita, what more can you do?
Caller: Thank you, Master.
Source: Shuohua20180907 26:24, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF ‘HIGH PROFILE’ AND ‘LOW PROFILE’
Caller: I wish you well, Master.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Thank you.
Caller: Master once taught us that we should behave humbly as a person and maintain a low profile in our undertakings. However, different people have different degrees of comprehension on this code of behaviour. Some people think that they are keeping a low profile in their undertakings, but in the eyes of everyone else, his conduct and working style are somewhat high profile.
Based on the Oxford Dictionary, ‘high profile’ can be translated to the effect of ‘attracting public attention and interests’. Hence, is high-profile an attitude characterised by an overwhelming desire to assert one’s presence?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That is right.
Caller: A low-profile person tends to be prudent in handling matters. The opposite is true for the high-profile people, who love to brag about themselves or even the good or virtuous deeds that they perform. People who are low-profile keep their feet firmly on the ground and every step forward is measured. Am I right?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. One must learn to ride the vicissitudes of life, whether you adopt a high or low-profile attitude. When it is time to take on a high-profile stance, go for it, and when it is time to lie low, just keep quiet. It does not mean that one should lie low forever because in this Evil World of the Five Turbidities (the world of suffering) (五浊恶世), as depicted in the Chinese saying, ‘A tamed horse is often ridden and a good man is always taken advantage of’ (好马被人骑，好人被人欺).
Caller: That’s true.
Master Jun Hong Lu: To adopt a high profile attitude is when you let others know about the reality of the good deeds that you have performed, and the truth of Bodhisattvas. It is not about publicising yourself. Instead, it is about spreading the teachings of the Buddha. In this way, you would have handled this problem well.
Source: Wenda20170702B 24:22, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
< PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIFE FOR A REASON >
< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享