WEALTH IS DERIVED FROM THE GIVING OF WEALTH Caller: Is wealth only derived from the giving of wealth? Can we also derive wealth from the giving of dharma or fearlessness? Master Jun Hong Lu: Generally, it is from the giving of wealth that one derives wealth. Why is it that prayer for wealth tends to […]
SAFEGUARD YOUR BLESSINGS BY EMBRACING A HEART OF GRATITUDE Caller: Master has said that the great virtue of someone who wholeheartedly propagates Buddhism with a noble intention of wanting to benefit all sentient beings, will result in an increase in his worldly blessings. I’d like to ask Master as to how we should handle such […]
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO USE GRAPHICS THAT EVOKE FANTASIES Question: In an effort to spread the dharma, some fellow practitioners will match Master’s teachings with a caricature of a beautiful girl. Is this appropriate? Answer: It’s never ideal to use anything that evokes fantasies. This explains why you should always go for a decent […]
USE THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE WHEN RECITING THE AMITABHA PURE LAND REBIRTH MANTRA (WANG SHENG ZHOU) Guan Yin Bodhisattva said, “My dear disciple, the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra (Wang Sheng Zhou) is also known as “Ba Yi Qie Ye Zhang Gen Ben De Sheng Jing Tu Tuo Luo Ni” (拔一切业障根本得生净土陀罗尼). Do you know the […]
THE IMMENSE WILLPOWER AND GREAT FILIAL PIETY OF KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA Master Jun Hong Lu: As Buddhist practitioners, we must know how to practise filial piety. In Buddhism, we have this saying. “The fortunate live in a fortunate land; a fortunate land has fortunate people living in it”. In relation to this, there is a Buddhist […]
GIVING IS THE KEY TO WEALTH Master Jun Hong Lu: After learning about the karma of giving, a man eagerly told the Zen Master, “When I strike it rich in the future, I will definitely cultivate generosity and make a career out of helping others”. The Zen master answered, “If you are only willing to […]
THE PRACTICE OF GIVING: THE THREE TYPES OF GIVING Master Jun Hong Lu: First, let’s talk about the perfection of giving. What does it mean? When you see all the sufferings of life, you develop compassion in your heart, and you channel all your energy into helping others so that all deluded beings are able […]
WITH STRONG WILLPOWER, COMES GREAT EFFORTS Caller: Master, you have previously mentioned that we should often enhance our mental strength. For those who are lacking in this aspect, is there any method that can help? Master Jun Hong Lu: Willpower is the key. With strong willpower, the mental strength you have will be greater – […]
HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE PHYSICAL, KARMIC, AND FOREIGN SPIRITS-RELATED ILLNESSES? Caller: I heard that some fellow practitioners have questions regarding the differences between physical illnesses and illnesses caused by foreign spirits. Am I right to say that both types of illnesses are illnesses due to karma? Master Jun Hong Lu: That is right. Be it physical […]
WHAT IS THE OTHER SHORE? Master Jun Hong Lu: What is the other shore? It is the other side of a pure and untainted world. From the perspective of Mahayana Buddhism, “the other shore” means to be awakened to the truth where there is purity of mind and when one discovers an eternal balanced spiritual […]
EVEN VOWS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FULFILLED HAVE KARMIC REWARDS Master Jun Hong Lu: One must understand the importance of the power of vows. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has once vowed, “To not become a Buddha until all hells are emptied”. Although hells have not been emptied, the power of His vows has helped Him accomplish His […]
THE POWER OF VOWS IS THE ENGINE THAT SETS OUR INHERENT NATURE INTO MOTION Master Jun Hong Lu: Remember, regardless of your endeavour, it must be geared towards fulfilling the needs of sentient beings, enhancing your wisdom and ultimately benefiting all sentient beings. When troubles of life and death are cast away, the foundation for […]
IT IS MOST EFFECTIVE TO OFFER 78 LITTLE HOUSES TO THE DECEASED ON THE BIRTHDAY OF KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA IN ONE SITTING Question: Master has previously mentioned that offering 78 Little Houses to the deceased on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s birthday can help them ascend to a higher spiritual realm. If we were to break the offering of […]
THE SIX PARAMITAS – THE SIX CODES OF CONDUCT Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me explain what the “Six Paramitas” are. If you aspire to be a Tathagata, Bodhisattva, or attain nirvana, the six paramitas are what you ought to practise. The same goes with all of the Bodhisattvas who aspire to become Buddhas. What […]
ALLOCATION OF LITTLE HOUSES FOR THE DECEASED ON THE BIRTHDAY OF KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA Question: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s birthday is just around the corner. Based on Master Lu’s guidance, we can offer 49 or 78 Little Houses to the deceased, who have descended to the underworld. As we have only a limited number of Little Houses, can […]
CONSISTENT DAILY RECITATION OF SHORT BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES IS A MUST Caller: Master, how should I perform recitation if someone is jealous of me? Which Buddhist scripture should I recite? Master Jun Hong Lu: Recite the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots. “Wo Jin Wei Ru Jie Jin Za, Zhong Bu Wei Ru Jie Jin Za” (我今为汝解金匝，终不为汝结金匝). […]
THE SIX PARAMITAS – SIX METHODS TO BECOME A BODHISATTVA Master Jun Hong Lu: All of you know about the practice of giving. All of you also know that you should practise morality – you should not tell lies. How would you feel when your child lied to you? You felt sad, didn’t you? This […]
IMAGES OF BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS USED FOR ONLINE DHARMA SHARING SHOULD HAVE A SOLEMN APPEARANCE Question: In their effort to propagate the dharma online, some Buddhist practitioners will modify the images or appearances of Amitabha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva to be human-like. Is this appropriate? Answer: Such actions are disrespectful and sacrilegious towards the Bodhisattvas, […]
REFRAIN FROM KILLING, LIVE A SMOOTH LIFE Tai Sui Bodhisattva for 2020 – General Lu Mi: “The acts of killing and sexual misconduct are the most damaging to one’s fortune. They are the gravest sin committed by sentient beings in this Age of Dharma Decline. If any of you can strictly adhere to the Buddhist […]
THE SIX PARAMITAS Master Jun Hong Lu: Please remember, how do you make it to heaven? Those who manage to make their way up cultivate the Ten Good Deeds. Separately, there are six other methods to liberate oneself from the cycle of rebirth. As long as you can specialise in one of these six methods, […]
MASTER LU’S DISCOURSE ON THE CUNDI DHARANI Caller: Master, I dreamt that you asked me if I knew why the Cundi Dharani was so efficacious. I had a notion that this has to do with the Great Compassion Mantra and the Heart Sutra. Master Lu, can you please explain to us? Master Jun Hong Lu: […]
MAHASTHAMAPRAPTA BODHISATTVA: WHEN LOVE TURNS INTO HATRED, KARMIC CAUSES TO THE THREE LOWER REALMS ARE SOWN Master Jun Hong Lu: Just like many other Bodhisattvas, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva (Great Strength Bodhisattva) is most concerned about a particular type of love, that is, the desire for interpersonal affection. This is not solely confined to the romantic love […]
THE GREAT WISDOM OF MAHASTHAMAPRAPTA BODHISATTVA Question 51: On the night of 13 June 2020 as I was deep in sleep, my soul was taken to the Pure Land of Guan Yin Citta. Guan Yin Bodhisattva told me, “Like me, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva (Great Strength Bodhisattva) is one of the Three Sages of the Western Paradise, […]
IMMERSING OUR HEARTS IN THE SCRIPTURES DURING RECITATIONS Caller: Master, you have said before that we should immerse our hearts in the scriptures during recitations. Please enlighten us as to how we can achieve this, Master. Master Jun Hong Lu: You must listen with your ears. For example, listen to your voice when reciting. But […]
TO PROPAGATE THE DHARMA WELL, STUDY BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS DILIGENTLY Master Jun Hong Lu: If you aspire to propagate the dharma, it is essential to diligently study Master’s Buddhism in Plain Terms. By thoroughly comprehending each chapter, or even memorising it, you will be able to engage in fluent discussions with those you share […]
EMBRACE THE FLOW OF LIFE Master Jun Hong Lu: When giving advice to others to cultivate their mind, it’s important not to reprimand them. This is because the reflection of human wisdom is not limited to a specific aspect. In this world, not every seed can grow into a mighty tree, not every flower can […]
RECLUSIVE RETREATS HELPS CLEAR ONE’S MIND AND GAIN MENTAL STRENGTH Master Jun Hong Lu: Our minds must always be pure, and in our daily lives, we should frequently undertake brief reclusive retreats. These reclusive retreats help clear and free our mind from all thoughts. By detaching ourselves from worldly matters and dedicating time to recitations […]
AVOID CONSTANT CRYING WHILE PERFORMING RECITATION Master Jun Hong Lu: Today, Master will teach you some of the latest methods to perform recitation. One must recite the scriptures with utmost sincerity, as it is the most important ingredient in recitation. I have specifically consulted Bodhisattva on this aspect. To perform recitation sincerely means that the […]
HOW DO MERITS AND VIRTUES ELIMINATE NEGATIVE KARMA? Caller: When we pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to use our merits and virtues to eliminate negative karma for cases where foreign spirits are present, are those merits and virtues used directly to repay the foreign spirits? Could they be used as a substitute for Little Houses […]
THE MAGNITUDE OF MERITS LIES IN THE INTENTION Caller: In your early discourses to disciples, Master mentioned, “Distributing dharma books generates tremendous merits, and even Buddhas and Bodhisattvas praise highly of those who distribute dharma books”. Master, exactly how significant are these merits? For fellow practitioners who perform dharma giving online, should the measurement of […]