TO HAVE YOUR WISH GRANTED, IT IS IMPORTANT TO STATE A CONCISE AND APPROPRIATE PRAYER
Caller: Master, you mentioned in one of your radio programs that, when praying to Bodhisattva, it is necessary to state our prayers, yet they should not be too lengthy as we run the risk of uttering inappropriate things that Dharma Protectors may find displeasing.
In this regard, Master, how should we state our prayers to Bodhisattva within appropriate bounds?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Learn from me. Didn’t I teach you all? When you say: “May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless me, <your full name>, so that I can be freed from sufferings and attain happiness“, what do you think you are praying for?
Caller: It is to allow myself to gain wisdom.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s wrong! “Be freed from sufferings and attain happiness” means “I am suffering now, may Bodhisattva bless me with happiness”. The prayer already speaks for itself, doesn’t it?
For example, if you hope your child can gain admission to an elite secondary school, you may pray, “May the Great Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless my child, <his/her full name>, with wisdom“. Do you think there’s even a need to mention “gain admission to an elite secondary school”?
Caller: No.
Master Jun Hong Lu: When blessed with wisdom, your child will naturally be able to gain admission to an elite secondary school, don’t you think?
Caller: That’s right.
Master Jun Hong Lu: This is the art of speaking. When it comes to Bodhisattva, it is all about being careful with what you say and not overdoing it.
Caller: How about praying for a career?
Master Jun Hong Lu: “May Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless me, so that I can gain wisdom, form positive affinities extensively, and have a successful career”. You can state your prayer in such a way.
Caller: How about seeking blessings from Guan Yin Bodhisattva so that Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door can spread far and wide across the globe? How should we state our prayer?
Master Jun Hong Lu: “May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, so that it can illuminate in all corners of the world and help every sentient being with predestined affinity to become spiritually awakened”. It’s a short one, isn’t it?
Caller: Precisely.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Haven’t I made it crystal clear by putting it this way?
Caller: It’s quintessential.
Master Jun Hong Lu: For those, who suffer from ill health, you may say, “May Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless me with good health”.
Caller: “So that I have more spiritual energy to help sentient beings”. Our power of vow arises when we also include this in our prayer.
Master Jun Hong Lu: What should you do if you have a toothache? Normally people would say, “Please bless me so that my toothache stops”. A more hilarious one would be, “May Guan Yin Bodhisattva stop my toothache, I will now buy fruits to offer you”. These people are trying to strike a deal with Bodhisattva.
You should state your prayer in this way, “May Guan Yin Bodhisattva eliminate my negative karma, so that my toothache will stop, and please bless me with good health. I will recite Buddhist scriptures to repay my karmic debts”.
The moment Dharma Protectors and Bodhisattva hear this, They will know that you are an enlightened person, because you recognise your toothache relates to karmic obstacles or the insufficiency of merits. When you say so, Bodhisattva will help and put a stop to your toothache. Therefore, how you state your prayers plays a crucial part in having your wishes granted.
Source: Wenda20171224A 36:27, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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