DILIGENCE: THE KEY TO CHANGING ONE’S DESTINY In the golden circular pavilion near the entrance of the Pure Land, Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Great Strength Bodhisattva (Da Shi Zhi Pusa) were talking to some heavenly children. Guan Yin Bodhisattva: Children, you see these worldly people who are buying wet tissues? Although the difference in price […]
DILIGENCE IS WHEN YOU TRANSFORM YOUR THOUGHTS Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people say, “When I was little, fortune-teller told me that I would be blessed with good fortune. But, why don’t I see any of these good fortunes now?” It is because every day, you have too many worries and are living in distress, […]
ARE WE ALLOWED TO OFFER LITTLE HOUSES AFTER SUNSET ON SPECIAL DAYS? Caller: On special days such as the commemoration dates of Bodhisattvas, is it fine to offer Little Houses after sunset? I understand that it is not advisable to do so on normal days. However, does this also apply to special days such as […]
DO NOT SEND INAPPROPRIATE EMOJIS Question: Are Buddhist practitioners allowed to send emojis such as people hugging in online chat groups? As we don’t know the gender of the group members, will there be any karmic obstacles for doing so? Answer: Buddhist cultivators should never do such a thing. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse […]
PERFORMING RECITATION ON THE LANTERN FESTIVAL Caller: Which Buddhist scripture should we recite on the Lantern Festival? Master Jun Hong Lu: You should primarily focus on offering Little Houses on the Lantern Festival. You can consider setting aside more Little Houses to be offered on that day because it is exceptionally efficacious. Caller: Does this […]
THE EFFICACY OF LITTLE HOUSES OFFERED ON THE LANTERN FESTIVAL DIFFERS FROM THOSE OFFERED ON NORMAL DAYS Question: Master has said before that offering Little Houses on the 15th day of Lunar New Year has immense merits. May I ask whether it’s alright to burn Little House earlier but post-date it to the 15th day […]
CONTEMPLATE THE DHARMA AS DEVOID OF SELF Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me tell you about: “To contemplate the dharma as devoid of Self”. The word ‘dharma’ in this context refers to the dharma realm. To “contemplate the dharma as devoid of Self” means we should hold the view that “I do not exist in […]
WHICH BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES SHOULD WE STEP UP OUR RECITATION ON THE LANTERN FESTIVAL? Caller: Can we recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) round the clock on the Lantern Festival, just like what we do on the eve and first day of Lunar New Year? Master Jun Hong Lu: No, it’s different. You should not […]
MEMORISING THE TRANSLATED VERSION OF BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS WILL GARNER THE SAME AMOUNT OF BLESSINGS AS THAT FOR THE CHINESE VERSION Caller: Master, do different languages generate different energy fields? Master’s Buddhism in Plain Terms has been translated into multiple languages. When non-Chinese Buddhist practitioners are learning the translated version by heart, will they […]
CHINESE NEW YEAR DECORATIONS CAN BE TAKEN DOWN AFTER THE 15TH DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Caller: When should we take down the Chinese New Year decorations like the character 福 (‘fu’ which means blessings or fortune) or the Chinese paper-cuttings? Master Jun Hong Lu: You may take them down after the 15th day of […]
BREAK YOUR PHONE ADDICTION Master Jun Hong Lu: A person who often uses his phone is wasting his life and time. Do you not understand? Unless you are using your phone to propagate Buddhism, you are essentially wasting your time. Do you know how much time you spend on your phone? Do you know how […]
IT IS BEST TO ADOPT A VEGETARIAN DIET ON THE FIFTH DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE DAY WHEN THE GOD OF WEALTH BRINGS GOOD FORTUNE Caller: Dear Master Lu, it’s Chinese New Year now and we will certainly adopt a full vegetarian diet on the first and the fifteenth days of the first […]
TO ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT, ONE MUST BE CONSTANTLY RACING AGAINST TIME, REMAIN DILIGENT, STEADFAST AND NEVER SLACK OFF Caller: How are you Master? Nowadays, the majority of us are aware that most things in life are predetermined. One example is when the Buddha attained enlightenment during His time, it was also at a predetermined time and […]
INCREASE THE RECITATION OF THE XIAO ZAI JI XIANG SHEN ZHOU DURING THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH Caller: How are you Master Lu? You mentioned that one should recite 49 times of the Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou daily in the first month of the lunar calendar. I’d like to ask whether this recitation can […]
ALL BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS GATHER AT THE SOUTHERN HEAVENLY GATE ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Moments before the clock struck midnight to herald the first day of Chinese New Year, the Heavenly Dharma Protectors, the Buddha, Guan Yin Bodhisattva, Nanjing Bodhisattva, 12 Tai Sui Bodhisattvas, Guan Di Bodhisattva, Victorious Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, […]
IMPORTANT PRAYER WHEN OFFERING THE FIRST INCENSE ON THE NIGHT OF CHINESE NEW YEAR’S EVE Master Jun Hong Lu: When offering the First Incense on Chinese New Year’s Eve, we should state, “May Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless my entire family with safety and auspiciousness”. It’s important to specify “the entire family” because by stating so, […]
CHINESE NEW YEAR DOS AND DON’TS Question: We are not supposed to throw out trash on the first day of Lunar New Year. How about the ashes of Little Houses that have been offered? Answer: You don’t have to throw them away. Just wrap them properly before placing them in a relatively clean dustbin. […]
OUTINGS ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Caller: Hi Master, you once mentioned that it would be best to avoid house-hopping on the first and second days of Lunar New Year. But, in reality this is a common practice during Lunar New Year. By doing so, we run the risk of encountering some […]
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RECITATION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE EVE AND FIRST DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR Caller: Master, I understand that we can recite up to 87 times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) over these two days. I started doing so yesterday and I was a bit wary, and […]
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RECITATION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE EVE AND FIRST DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR Caller: How many times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) can we recite on the eve and first day of Lunar New Year? Master Jun Hong Lu: 87 times. Caller: Is it right to […]
WHY PLAYING CARD GAMES AND MAHJONG ARE INADVISABLE Caller: In one of the past radio programs, Master mentioned that playing cards is an activity of the Underworld. Can Master elaborate about the inappropriateness of playing cards? After all, it is such a popular game in China and many people are fond of playing cards. Master […]
WE CAN PUT FORTH A PRAYER REQUEST TARGETING AT OUR ILL HEALTH WHEN RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE EVE AND FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Caller: Hi Master, is it alright to put forth a targeted prayer request to repent for the sicknesses we are suffering from given that we can […]
THE CUSTOM OF NOT SWEEPING THE FLOOR ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Caller: We have been advised by old folks not to sweep or dispose of rubbish on the first day of Lunar New Year. As Buddhist practitioners, is this something we should pay attention to? Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s indeed […]
NO PARTICULAR AUSPICIOUS DATES TO OBSERVE FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS OR WORK DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR Caller: Master, what are the auspicious dates for the commencement of business or work during Chinese New Year? Is there any particular practice to observe from the metaphysical point of view? Master Jun Hong Lu: Not really. Source: […]
WHICH ASPECT OF OUR KARMIC OBSTACLES SHOULD WE SEEK REPENTANCE ON WHEN RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR? Caller: Hi Master, we can recite up to 87 times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance on first day of Chinese New Year*. In this regard, which aspect of […]
ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR, DO NOT FOCUS ON RECITING A SPECIFIC BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE; IT IS BENEFICIAL TO RECITE ALL OF THEM Caller: Hi Master, you recommend us to perform more recitation on the first day and the eve of Lunar New Year. As the supreme light will radiate from above, and […]
IT IS BEST TO PERFORM MORE RECITATION FOR ONESELF ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR AS THE ENERGY DERIVED FROM YOUR RECITATION IS THREE TIMES MORE POWERFUL Caller: Hi Master, my entire family and I are planning to visit Mount Putuo on Chinese New Year’s Eve to offer the First Incense. May I […]
PRE-CHINESE NEW YEAR ETIQUETTES Master Jun Hong Lu: As Chinese New Year approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the pre-Chinese New Year etiquettes. Generally speaking, one should tidy up his desk and sweep the floor before Chinese New Year. As we embrace the New Year with a […]
THE CHINESE CHARACTER 福 (FU) SHOULD NOT BE PASTED UPSIDE DOWN Caller: As Lunar New Year approaches, many people paste the Chinese character 福 (‘fu’ which means blessings or fortune) and Spring Festival couplets as a tradition. Is there anything to note in particular? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. The Chinese character 福 (fu) should […]
RECITE MORE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE (LIFO) AND OTHER SCRIPTURES BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS AS IT IS ABLE TO ELIMINATE SUBSTANTIAL KARMIC OBSTACLES; THINGS TO OBSERVE ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Master Jun Hong Lu: Lunar New Year is just around the corner. It is my wish that all of you practise […]