Wenda20180930A 19:05
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
SETTING UP THE BUDDHIST ALTAR GENERATES THE BEST FENG SHUI
Caller: Hi Master, with regards to the subject on the Buddhist altar that you just talked about, a Buddhist friend has this understanding, “Master once said that the best feng shui in the home comes from the altar, where the entire space is illuminated by the light of the Buddha when Bodhisattva comes. The Buddhist altar comes complete with the five elements:
● The ‘metal’ element is represented by the golden light of the Buddha and the golden cloth that adorns the Buddhist altar;
● The ‘wood’ element comes from the wood which the Buddhist altar is made of;
● The ‘water’ element is represented by the water offered in the cup and the yellow landscape painting that depicts flowing water;
● The ‘fire’ element comes from the lighting of the oil lamp, and the shining sun; and
● The ‘earth’ element is signified by the contact of the wooden Buddhist altar with the ground or the earth.
Therefore, a Buddhist altar symbolises a complete balance of the five elements of ‘metal, wood, water, fire, and earth’.” Is this understanding correct?
Master Jun Hong Lu: This person is awesome and has some wisdom. In reality, when a Buddhist altar is set up, it is capable of regulating the Yin-Yang, and the five elements of a home. The Bodhisattva represents ‘metal’, and when you ‘burn’ the incense, just think about it, isn’t there ‘fire’ involved in ‘burning’?
What about ‘earth’? Flowers grow in the earth, and when you offer flowers on the altar, you are bringing something from the earth. Though the flower that you offer does not need soil to survive, it is originally rooted in soil. It is also correct to say that the base of the altar is in contact with the earth, because concrete contains soil.
Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth make up the five elements and the Yin-Yang. Although many people place these five elements in their homes, they are often not in harmony. What is harmony? The changing of water, the lighting of the oil lamp, the burning of incense – all these put the five elements to work to augment your home fortune. Even with a Buddhist altar, if you do not offer incense or change the water on your altar, do you think the five elements will be put to work?
You must remember why it is called ‘Wu Xing’ (五行) (Five Elements) in Chinese. ‘Xing’ (行) means ‘movement’. Just like there is ‘movement’ in the flow of water and; when there is ‘water flowing’ there is activation of one’s fortune.
Caller: Master, the fruits that we offer belong to which of the five elements?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Fruit falls under the ‘water’ element. Let’s not forget that in Chinese writing, ‘water’ (水) is the first character of the word fruit (水果). Essentially, fruit belongs to the ‘water’ element.
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