HUMANITY IS THE FUNDAMENTAL BASIS FOR THE BUDDHA’S PATH OF SALVATION Master Jun Hong Lu: Humanity is the fundamental basis for the Buddha’s path of salvation, which explains why the attainment of Buddhahood takes place in the human realm. How are you able to attain Buddhahood if there is no mankind? This is why those […]
OUT OF HIS UNIVERSAL LOVE FOR SENTIENT BEINGS, THE BUDDHA RENOUNCES THE WORLD TO FIND THE PATH TO LIBERATION Master Jun Hong Lu: Some people say, “After practising Buddhism, we interact less with our parents, and as a result, there is less room to show our filial piety towards them”. Do you agree with this? […]
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLASTIC SURGERY AND A PERSON’S FATE Caller: There are many ladies who opt for plastic surgery nowadays. How do we explain this from the metaphysical perspective? Master Jun Hong Lu: When it comes to plastic surgery, if you go overboard, then it is not good. Generally, for any minor ‘correction’ it is […]
THE INITIAL INSPIRATION IS THE CATALYST FOR DILIGENCE IN BUDDHIST PRACTICE Master Jun Hong Lu: Be diligent, and the basis for diligence is to stay true to your initial inspiration. Anyone who is holding on to his initial aspiration will be diligent. How did you start learning Buddhism? It was when you were experiencing great […]
WHAT IS DOUBLE-TONGUED SPEECH? Master Jun Hong Lu: There will be no arguments or misunderstandings whatsoever if everyone refrains from committing double-tongued speech. What is double-tongued speech? It is essentially sowing discord between people, stirring up conflicts. This is something you should refrain from. A person who observes this discipline is one who cultivates virtuous […]
THE GIVING OF DHARMA IS A HEAVENLY MISSION Master Jun Hong Lu: Sharing of the Buddha’s teachings, or the giving of dharma is a heavenly mission that can be performed anytime and anywhere. It is an integral part of Mahayana Buddhism, and hence, you are doing a bad deed if you deter others from performing […]
A RIGHTEOUS, LOUD AND CLEAR VOICE CAN CHANGE YOUR DESTINY Caller: Master, is there any significance to a person’s voice? Master Jun Hong Lu: Your voice foretells your life. Many people have weird voices, and their life is unpleasant. Caller: So, we should project a loud and clear voice so that we can alter our […]
SPREADING POSITIVE WORDS OR ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO PRACTISE KINDNESS IS CONSIDERED HELPING OTHERS TO BE AWAKENED SPIRITUALLY Question: If we blend in those positive words of Master Lu in our conversation with friends, without intentionally mentioning the dharma element, is this also considered one way to help others to be awakened spiritually? Answer: Of course! […]
ONE WHO ALWAYS PRAYS FOR SENTIENT BEINGS WILL HAVE HIS PRAYER FULFILLED Master Jun Hong Lu: If someone’s prayer is always answered, this is because he is praying for sentient beings rather than for himself. An awakened person understands, when the wellbeing of sentient beings is taken care of, things will certainly go well for […]
EMBRACE THE BEGINNER’S MIND WHEN PROPAGATING THE DHARMA Master Jun Hong Lu: Every Buddhist practitioner must learn to form positive affinities. Propagating the dharma to sentient beings is never easy. Recollect those days when you had yet to find faith in Buddhism, it was equally challenging for others to introduce Buddhism to you, but having […]
STAYING TRUE TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS Master Jun Hong Lu: Bodhisattva said that persistence is a remarkable undertaking. As long as our hearts resonate with that of Bodhisattvas, coupled with our unwavering perseverance and the blessings of the Buddha’s power, we will never regress in our cultivation, regardless of how many difficulties we may encounter in […]
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A NEGATIVE KARMA OF SPEECH? FALSE SPEECH Master Jun Hong Lu: Not telling lies means being honest in one’s words with no intent to deceive others. This is called sheer honesty without deception. Think about this: If you are truthful in conducting your speech, you are someone of noble character. The wise […]
TALKING BEHIND OTHERS’ BACKS IS A SERIOUS KARMA OF SPEECH Caller: Master, you mentioned, “One is halfway to achieving Buddhahood when he is able to guard against creating the karma of speech”. May I ask if the karma of speech includes talking behind others’ backs? Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure. Caller: So, it […]
DEALING WITH OFFICE GOSSIPS Question: If I do not wish to partake in my office gossip, can I just say, “I’m sorry, I need to excuse myself as I need to attend to something”? By making claims like having ‘something to attend to’ when I have none, is it considered telling a lie? Answer: Do […]
CULTIVATE ALTRUISM TO OVERCOME GREED Master Jun Hong Lu: Nowadays, people tune out when you try to give them advice. They are only concerned about their most-immediate vested interest and end up forsaking spiritual purification. It is very important to be far-sighted. When people seek the Buddha’s blessings for those vested interests, they are essentially […]
TACTFUL SPEECH LEADS TO LESS CREATION OF KARMA Caller: Hi Master, you once mentioned, “A person who is tactful in his speech will be less likely to create negative karma or suffer from retribution”. Does it mean that being tactful reduces the chances of creating negative karma? Master Jun Hong Lu: Being tactful with words […]
THE GIVING OF DHARMA BY THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS Master Jun Hong Lu: The Giving of Dharma by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Do you have any idea what it is? That is for everyone to learn Buddhism and cultivate spiritually, so that all sentient beings in the world can reap the greatest benefit of it. […]
LISTEN TWICE AS MUCH AS YOU SPEAK Master Jun Hong Lu: One’s ability to argue is not necessarily what is most valuable. After all, we have two ears and one mouth so that we should listen twice as much as we speak. A true mind-cultivator is one who is adept at attentive listening and appreciates […]
WORDS ARE POWERFUL – THEY CAN MAKE OR BREAK A PERSON Master Jun Hong Lu: A group of people went up the mountain for a hunting trip. Unfortunately, one of the hunters fell into a very deep pit. During the fall, he broke all of his limbs except his left arm. The pit was deep […]
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LANTERN FESTIVAL FROM THE METAPHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE Caller: Hello, Master. As we celebrate the Lantern Festival (also known as the ‘Yuanxiao Festival’) on the 15th day of the first lunar month, would you please share with us the significance of this special day? Master Jun Hong Lu: The first day of Lunar […]
EXTRAORDINARY SCENES OF HEAVEN ON THE LANTERN FESTIVAL Question: The depiction below is the extraordinary scenes that unfolded right before my very eyes on the Lantern Festival on 8 February 2020: On the eve of the Lantern Festival, innumerable Heavenly Dharma Protectors were guarding the paths that led to a myriad of Buddhist altars of […]
STAY STEADFAST IN YOUR BUDDHIST PRACTICE Master Jun Hong Lu: Guan Yin Bodhisattva has always been showering us with blessings. Put in your best effort to perform recitation and practise mind cultivation. Being safe and well is a blessing. Time is running out. I hope none of you waste your time. You must be strict […]
THE SAYING ABOUT “DO NOT HAVE HAIR CUT IN THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH” Caller: Master, there’s a saying, “Do not cut hair in the first lunar month, as it may cause the death of one’s maternal uncle”. Is this true from the metaphysical perspective? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. “Do not cut hair in the […]
IS IT FINE TO WASH HAIR ON THE 1ST AND 15TH DAYS OF THE LUNAR MONTH? Caller: Master, there is a belief that we should not wash our hair on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month. Is this true? Master Jun Hong Lu: Have you done so? Caller: Yes. Master Jun Hong […]
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 […]
CAN WE MOVE HOUSE IN THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH? Question: Can we move to a new house in the first lunar month? Is it alright to do it after the 15th day of the first lunar month but still within the first month, say 17th or 18th day? Answer: It should be fine to do […]
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE JADE EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY WHICH FALLS ON THE NINTH DAY OF THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH Caller: Hi Master, tomorrow is the ninth day of the first lunar month and it is widely deemed to be the birthday of the Heavenly Grandfather or the Jade Emperor. Who exactly is the Jade Emperor […]
THE EIGHT WORLDLY DHARMAS Master Jun Hong Lu: Let it be known that everyone needs to learn the Eight Worldly Dharmas. As I have highlighted in the past, understanding the Eight Worldly Dharmas, which refer to the worldly benefits and traps, is critical in overcoming our self-attachment. You have to understand that we are not […]
WHICH PERIOD OF A MONTH SHOULD LITTLE HOUSES TO RESOLVE CLASHES WITH TAI SUI BODHISATTVA BE OFFERED? Caller: Should Little Houses meant for resolving conflict with Tai Sui Bodhisattva be offered at the beginning, middle or the end of the month? To be exact, should we base it on the lunar or solar calendar? Master […]
IN THE YEAR WHEN YOUR ZODIAC CLASHES WITH TAI SUI BODHISATTVA, THE WEEKLY OFFERING OF LITTLE HOUSES TO PRAY FOR SAFETY SHOULD CONTINUE AS PER NORMAL Caller: To resolve conflicts with Tai Sui Bodhisattva, we are advised to offer either a certain number of Little Houses that matches with our age, or at least 27 […]