WHEN MAKING OBEISANCE TO BUDDHA, THE BODY MUST BE UPRIGHT DURING THE FIRST PROSTRATION Question: We noticed there are disciples, despite being physically fit, guiding new Buddhist friends to perform kneeling prostrations to Bodhisattvas in the following way: the buttocks are seated on the back of the lower legs; with only the hands, upper body […]
HANDLING OF CLEANING CLOTH FOR BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: Is it proper for us to continue using the cloth used for cleaning fruits to be offered on the altar if it accidentally drops on the floor? Answer: If the floor is very dirty, do not use it anymore; otherwise, you may wash it before using it […]
DO NOT USE TRANSPARENT PLASTIC PLATES ON BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: Can we lay transparent or semi-transparent plastic fruit plates on the Buddhist altar? Answer: Do not use transparent fruit plates for the Buddhist altar. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 227), 11 May 2018
AFTER WASHING UNDERGARMENTS OR SOCKS, WAIT 15 MINUTES BEFORE OFFERING INCENSE Question: After washing undergarments or socks, how long should we wait before we can offer incense? Answer: Generally, it’s best to wait for 15 minutes. Also, ensure your hands are clean. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 211), 1 March 2018
USING A DRY CLOTH TO CLEAN A STATUE OF A BODHISATTVA Question: Can we use wet tissue to clean a statue or portrait of a Bodhisattva? Answer: If the statue is ceramic, you may use a wet tissue. However, as some types of wet tissues contain alcohol, using them may cause paint on some statues or […]
DO NOT USE TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN OFFERING CUP, USE CLOTH Question: Can we use a brand-new toothbrush to clean the cups used for offering water at Buddhist altar? Answer: Using a toothbrush is not ideal. You may use a new cloth instead. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 212), 6 March 2018
KNEELING FOR PROSTRATION Question: Upon kneeling in front of the image of the Buddha, should we kneel down with our right knee first? What about getting up after prostration? Shall we lift the right knee first? Answer: Lift the left knee first, followed by the right knee when you get up. Source: Master Jun Hong […]
KEY TO EFFICACIOUS PRAYER WHEN OFFERING FIRST INCENSE Question: What is the key to efficacious prayer when we are offering the First Incense in Chinese New Year Eve? Is it only efficacious when we make vows, perform recitation and virtuous deeds? If gastric diseases are considered spiritual diseases due to karmic obstacles, will our prayer […]
USE A BRAND NEW CLOTH TO CLEAN THE IMAGE OR STATUE OF BODHISATTVA Question: Are we allowed to use the cloth that was used to wipe the image or statue of Bodhisattva to clean the Buddhist altar. Of course, we do not use it to clean the image or statue of Bodhisattva again? Answer: Yes, […]
DO NOT TOUCH THE TOP OF THE INCENSE WITH OUR HANDS Caller: When we are holding three incenses that are not aligned, usually we will place the incenses downwards onto our palm to tidy them. Is this the proper way of handling? Master Jun Hong Lu: You cannot do that. When you are holding the […]
CAN WE REPLACE FRESH FLOWERS AND FRUIT ON A BUDDHIST ALTAR AT NIGHT? Caller: Now that it’s summer we frequently need to replace fresh flowers and fruit on our Buddhist altar. I’m worried I may not have enough time to do this in the morning. Therefore, I usually replace fresh flowers and fruit a day […]
THE SEQUENCE FOR PLACING OFFERINGS ONTO A BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: When we help a fellow Buddhist practitioner set up a Buddhist altar at home, is there any sequence to observe when placing items on the altar, for example, a portrait of Buddha, offering items (i.e. incense burner, cup, etc.)? Answer: First, ensure the portrait of […]
RETREAT BY WALKING BACKWARDS TO SHOW RESPECT Question: I noticed fellow Buddhist friends walk backwards when heading over to the prostration mat after offering incense in the Guan Yin Hall. Even I walk backwards for a considerable distance after performing prayers. I wonder if it is appropriate, as I am a little confused as Master […]
PORTRAITS OF BODHISATTVA TO BE ROLLED FROM BOTTOM TO THE TOP? Caller: When we receive a portrait of Guan Yin Bodhisattva from a Dharma Convention, should we roll it up from the bottom to the top, or vice versa? Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course roll it up from the bottom to the top. You […]
DOES BODHISATTVA’S BLESSED AURA STILL EXIST IN PARTLY ROTTEN FRUITS REMOVED FROM THE ALTAR? Caller: Master has mentioned before fruits offered to Bodhisattva contain a positive aura. However, after these fruits have been removed from the altar, and before we had a chance to consume them, they may partially go bad due to the recent […]
ALLOW 15 MINUTES AFTER BOWEL MOVEMENT BEFORE OFFERING PRAYERS Question: Previously, Master said after bowel movements we need to observe a 15 minute interval before offering prayers to Bodhisattva, or perform recitations. Yet, in a more recent radio program Master advised us we can actually proceed with recitations, but still need to wait 15 minutes […]
THE INCENSE STICKS’ LENGTH AND THICKNESS SHOULD BE CONSISTENT Caller: I often hear from Master that at home we should not use incense sticks of different lengths. What about at the Guan Yin Hall? Master Jun Hong Lu: They must be of the same length. Caller: Can the thickness be different? Master Jun Hong Lu: […]
EVEN ON DAYS THAT WE OFFER ‘FIRST INCENSE’, DO NOT OFFER INCENSE AFTER 2AM Caller: While offering First Incense, a Buddhist friend failed to ensure the continuation of the burning incense, and so subsequently wished to offer incense in the middle of the night at 3am. He is not supposed to do this at that […]
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INCENSE BURNING SLOWLY OR QUICKLY? Caller: When we offer incense to Bodhisattvas, if one offered to a particular Bodhisattva burns especially slowly or quickly, what does it signify? Master Jun Hong Lu: There are two explanations for this. First, the quality of the incense itself may determine whether it burns […]
REPLACEMENT OF THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS ON ALTAR WHILE THE OIL LAMP IS LIT Caller: Master, can we replace the fruit and flower offerings on the altar when the oil lamp is still burning? Master Jun Hong Lu: No, you may get injured while you replace the offerings, the lit incense may scald your skin. […]
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO BODHISATTVA IS OUR SINCERITY, NOT THE SIZE OF OUR ALTAR Caller: My house is small, so is my altar. The altar is placed in my bedroom. Do you think this is okay? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is alright. It doesn’t matter if your altar is small. What matters most to […]
HOW TO DISPOSE OF OLD YELLOW LANDSCAPE PICTURE WHEN REPLACING ALTAR? Caller: A fellow practitioner wants to replace her Buddhist altar. How should she dispose of the old yellow landscape picture placed at the back of the altar? Master Jun Hong Lu: Just wrap it up and keep it for a month. You can recite […]
OFFERING HEART INCENSE TO BODHISATTVA ENSHRINED AT HOME WHILE WHOLE FAMILY IS AWAY Caller: How do you do, Master Lu? A Buddhist friend would like to know what they should do with their altar at home when they go away to the temple for prayers on the first day of lunar month. Master Jun Hong […]
THE ENERGY OF FRUIT OFFERINGS WILL BE DEPLETED FOUR DAYS AFTER THEIR REMOVAL FROM THE ALTAR Caller: Master Lu, may I know how many days does it take for the energy of fruit offerings to be fully depleted after being removed from the altar? Master Jun Hong Lu: Four days. Source: Wenda20170326A 57:34, Master Jun […]
HOW TO ENSURE THAT OUR ALTAR INVITES BODHISATTVA AND NOT FOREIGN SPIRITS? Caller: Master Lu, how can we ensure not to invite foreign spirits to our altar at home? How do we invite Bodhisattva to come more often? Master Jun Hong Lu: Pray and perform recitations daily in front of the altar to prevent attracting […]
WHEN OFFERING HEART INCENSE, PAY RESPECT TO ALL BODHISATTVAS YOU MAKE OFFERINGS TO ON YOUR ALTAR Caller: Master Lu, we are supposed to visualise our altar back home when offering Heart Incense while we are on business trips. Let’s say for example, we have made offerings to six Bodhisattvas on the altar at home. When […]
HOW TO CLEAN THE DUST ON THE STATUE OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA Caller: A Buddhist practitioner has a statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva at home. A year or two later, the statue might have collected dust. Generally, how should we clean it in a proper way? Master Jun Hong Lu: Use a duster, but not […]
PUT OFF OIL LAMP BEFORE CLEANING THE FLOOR Question: When both the incense and oil lamp on the altar are lit up, can we clean the other rooms in the house, such as sweeping or mopping the floor? Or is it not appropriate to sweep or mop the floor even in other rooms? Answer: It […]
QUESTION REGARDING HANGING THE POSTER OF GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA Caller: Please enlighten us Master Lu. You have mentioned previously that hanging the poster of the Great Compassion Mantra at home would help create positive energy field. However, if the family members are not full-time vegetarians, is it ok to hang it in the living room? Master Jun […]
DO NOT SWEEP THE FLOOR WHEN THE INCENSE AND OIL LAMP ON ALTAR ARE LIT UP Caller: Master Lu, may I know if we can sweep the floor in front of the altar when the incense and oil lamp on the altar are lit up? Master Jun Hong Lu: Do not do so when the […]
