Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Q&A Session with Buddhist Friends
Brisbane, Australia
16 June 2018
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CALL FOR AND THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF IN MAKING A VOW OF 108 EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE
Question: Master Lu, you mentioned before in one of the radio programs that for the recitation of Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance, it is better for us to make a vow to recite a specific number of the mantra. Under what circumstances should we make such a vow as compared to the usual practice of reciting the mantra five times on a daily basis?
Answer: It is alright to make a vow of 108 times when you feel sad or terrible and that when you know you have committed a grave mistake that is unpardonable. Today, let me share with you something new. When you come across a serious matter that calls for your repentance, you may make a great vow and proceed to perform its recitation. In this case, you need not limit your recitation to seven times daily; however, do not recite more than 21 times.
I wish to remind you that you should never casually make such vows. Do it only when you feel that you need to sincerely repent in every way as you are weighed down with sadness, and you felt that you had let somebody down. Otherwise, making such vow is a definite no-no.
< About Making Great Vows