AWAKENING COMES TO THOSE WHO SINCERELY REPENT AND MEND THEIR WAYS Master Jun Hong Lu: One must learn to sincerely repent to be awakened. No matter what mistakes you have committed, you must be able to admit “I was wrong”. This is because only when you are able to admit your mistakes will you be […]
LETTING GO: WORLDLY VS SPIRITUAL PURSUITS Question: Hello Master, you once mentioned that the more one gains in his career in the secular world, the lesser blessings he is going to receive in heaven. Master, how can we ensure that while we strive hard at work, we are not placing excessive value on our worldly […]
MASTER LU’S MOST TOUCHING AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS Caller: Hi Master, it’s been almost 20 years since you embarked on your Buddhism propagation journey. Would you be able to share with us the most touching and memorable event that has taken place during this period? Master Jun Hong Lu: The most touching moment was when I […]
IS IT ALRIGHT TO TELL A WELL-MEANING LIE? Question: I have a question about not telling lies. Assuming one’s spouse strongly opposes the idea of practising Buddhism. When performing life liberation or other meritorious deeds, if asked by the other half, the Buddhist practitioner may give excuses to disguise the truth. Is this considered lying? […]
HOW TO PRACTISE REJOICING IN THE KIND DEEDS AND MERITS OF OTHERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS? Question: How should we cultivate in order for us to be able to truly rejoice in others’ good deeds and meritorious blessings, without feeling a tinge of envy, jealousy or spite? Answer: You feel jealous and spiteful […]
DO NOT HOLD GRUDGES, LETTING GO IS THE ONLY WAY Question: Master Lu, you mentioned before that if we hate someone, we will bear the karmic obstacles of the person we hate, and the said party will take away a portion of our merits and virtues. Can you enlighten us on this? Answer: When you […]
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 […]
HOW DO WE STATE OUR PRAYERS WHEN OFFERING LITTLE HOUSES IN TIMES OF GOOD HEALTH AND KARMIC CREDITORS ARE CLEARLY ABSENT? Caller: After starting to recite the Buddhist scriptures, many Buddhist practitioners find themselves in great health and at the same time, they do not sense the presence of any karmic creditors. In such a […]
WHEN YOU REPENT AND FEEL REMORSEFUL, WISDOM WILL ARISE Master Jun Hong Lu: The Buddha’s teachings tell us, if you are able to frequently repent and feel ashamed of your wrongdoings, you will definitely be able to make progress on this path of spiritual cultivation. This allows you to attain the perfection of diligence as […]
REPENTANCE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO BUDDHIST PRACTITIONERS Master Jun Hong Lu: Be it the Buddha or the Bodhisattvas, all of Them have a common understanding that is, ‘If an evil deed manifests into essence and form, it will not be tolerated by the vast realm of space’ (“若此恶业有体相者，尽虚空界不能容受”). For example, you scold a person so viciously […]
LET GO OF THE PAST AND THE ENTANGLEMENTS Master Jun Hong Lu: Letting go is when you stop reminiscing about the past; disentangle yourself from the memory of those who have left you; stop blaming yourself for things you failed to accomplish and stop thinking about things you couldn’t attain. When you let go, you […]
MERITS WILL NOT BE EXPENDED FOR UPRIGHT AND POSITIVE PRAYERS Caller: When we pray to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for blessings, to become more awakened, to have more wisdom, attain enlightenment, eliminate our bad habits and so forth, since such prayers are not aimed at gaining worldly blessings, will our merits be utilised? Master Jun Hong […]
MIGHTY OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW Master Jun Hong Lu: Performing prostrations in Guan Yin Hall may look trivial but, in reality such an act could protect and bless you, your family, and even whomever you think may deserve it. If you perform prostrations and pray sincerely to Bodhisattva, your wish will be fulfilled. The […]
WHEN YOU HELP OTHERS, YOU GAIN INFINITE WISDOM Master Jun Hong Lu: You need to understand that when you help others, you are the one who is benefitting. Did you know how much you gain when you help others? You gain infinite wisdom! This is how it is – when you reach out to others, […]
IS BEING NON-COMPETITIVE AN ATTITUDE OF A NON-ACHIEVER? Question: Our practice of Buddhism has made us easy-going and we are not interested to contend. However, some people feel that this is an attitude of a non-achiever. Answer: It is a matter of one’s spiritual state. For example, when you let go after learning Buddhism, in […]
WHEN WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA WILL BLESS US WITH ‘GLAZE WATER’ Caller: Master, what are the functions of the ‘glaze water’ (nectar of blessings) contained in the vase held by Guan Yin Bodhisattva? Would you please elaborate? Master Jun Hong Lu: First, it helps to clear your mind; second, it blesses you […]
ONCE YOU TELL A LIE, YOU NEED TEN MORE LIES TO COVER THE LIE Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people are inclined to inject lies to even the short sentences they speak. Once you tell a lie, you need ten more lies to cover the lie. For instance, you tell your boss, “Boss, I’ll be […]
HAVING NO MEANS TO HELP BUT REJOICING IN OTHERS’ GOOD DEEDS IS THE CULTIVATION OF SYMPATHETIC JOY Master Jun Hong Lu: I have mentioned before, do not badmouth others, because if you do, you are very far from resembling Bodhisattva. In this case, how can you possibly ascend to heaven? Think about it, is there […]
SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S SIXTH GREAT VOW: TO REQUEST THE BUDDHA TO SET IN MOTION THE WHEEL OF DHARMA Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s sixth great vow is ‘to request the Buddha to set in motion the wheel of dharma’. ‘Shakyamuni Buddha has passed into extinction’. ‘To enter into extinction’ is how people in the past […]
SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S FIFTH GREAT VOW: THE MERITS OF RESPONDING WITH JOY Master Jun Hong Lu: If you have the means to help others but you do not do it, you are not a good person. On the contrary, if you have the means and you go ahead and do it, then, you are truly making […]
SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S FOURTH GREAT VOW: REPENT ONE’S WRONGDOINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s fourth great vow is to repent one’s wrongdoings. As long as we are in the human realm or in the six realms of rebirth, we will definitely be plagued by karmic obstacles. The Chinese word (忏悔) (to repent) can be examined […]
SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S THIRD GREAT VOW: TO MAKE ABUNDANT OFFERINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s third great vow is to make abundant offerings. What does this mean? It means to make offerings to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions and Three Periods of Time and to have deep respect for Them. When we […]
SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S SECOND GREAT VOW: PRAISE THE TATHAGATAS (THUS COME ONE) Master Jun Hong Lu: Please allow me to elaborate on “To praise the Tathagatas”, there are three aspects to it: • Paying respect to the Buddhas through your actions; • Praising the Buddhas through your speech; and • Venerating the Buddhas through your thoughts. […]
SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S SECOND GREAT VOW: PRAISE THE TATHAGATA Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Second Great Vow: Praise the Tathagata (Thus Come One). The Tathagata is likened to all the Bodhisattvas, towards Them, we must be full of praise. For example, when you worship Guan Yin Bodhisattva, your heart should praise Guan Yin Bodhisattva, “You […]
IT IS THE HEART THAT MAKES THE BUDDHA, THE HEART IS THE BUDDHA Master Jun Hong Lu: If you want to become a Buddha, visualise the Buddha’s image, recollect the Buddha’s virtues, and recite the sacred name of the Buddha. When you do these, there and then you are a Buddha. Many people ask me, […]
WHEN YOU RESPECT OTHERS, YOU DIGNIFY YOURSELF Master Jun Hong Lu: When we respect others, we are in fact dignifying ourselves. The fact that we are worthy of honour, respect for others naturally arises. Sometimes, the truth of life lies in those mundane and tranquil moments. When we are going through the humdrums of everyday […]
THE MEANING OF ‘KARMIC FORCE IS AN IMPETUS THAT SPURS ONE TO PROGRESS SPIRITUALLY’ Caller: Master, how should we understand ‘karmic force is an impetus that spurs one to progress spiritually’? Master Jun Hong Lu: Do you think people will seek the blessings of the Buddha if they don’t suffer in life? Aren’t they progressing […]
THE KARMIC CONSEQUENCES OF VERBAL KARMA I cannot emphasise this enough. You do not cultivate your mind with your mouth. Just because you have a silver tongue does not necessarily mean that you are excellent in your cultivation of the mind. If you are serious about cultivation, you should try your best to speak less. […]
RESPECT EVERYONE AROUND US Master Jun Hong Lu: We must maintain a respectful heart and have due regard to everyone around us. Through this, we are able to have a thorough understanding of our Buddha nature. A person, who can let go of his ego, is able to show respect for others; while the one […]
THE IMPORTANCE OF REVERING THE BODHISATTVAS Caller: A fellow Buddhist practitioner had the following revelation when reciting the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance: ‘Paying respect to the Buddhas’ statues and respectfully making offerings on the Buddhist altar is an ingenious method to curb one’s arrogance. There are people who have the financial means but are not […]