FUNCTIONS OF WATER Master Jun Hong Lu: Disciples should take note that, when you offer water to Bodhisattvas, do not place empty cups on your Buddhist altar before filling with water. Instead, the cups must be filled with some water beforehand. Water cleanses away greed. When making offerings to Bodhisattvas, you must do so wholeheartedly […]
MASTER LU’S PORTRAIT ON THE BUDDHIST ALTAR An Enquiry to Secretariat of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, 12 November 2021 at 22:48 Dear staff, Many Buddhist friends hold such fond memory of the late Master Lu that they don’t want to remove Master Lu’s portrait from the altar. May I seek clarification on the following […]
WEAR PROPER ATTIRE WHEN OFFERING INCENSE Question: When offering incense and paying respect to Buddha, is it alright to leave our outer garment unbuttoned or unzipped? Answer: That is improper and disrespectful. How can you leave your clothes unbuttoned when you pay respect to the Buddha? Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 197), 28 […]
DURING INCENSE OFFERING, CAN IMPROPERLY-POSITIONED INCENSE BE REMOVED AND RE-INSERTED? Caller: A fellow practitioner would like to know whether it is alright to remove and re-insert incense that is either tilted or not firmly positioned in the incense burner. Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, you may do so. But in your heart, you must pray […]
USE SCISSORS TO TRIM FLOWERS OFFERED TO BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS, DO NOT SNAP THEM WITH BARE HANDS Question: For flowers that are to be offered on the Buddhist altar, can we trim them with our bare hands instead of using a pair of scissors? The reason being, for some flowers with longer stems, some florists […]
SETTING UP OF A MINI ALTAR IN A HOSPITAL PRIVATE ROOM Caller: Master, can we set up a mini Buddhist altar in a private room in hospital? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is fine to do so in a private room in hospital. By that, I mean the setting up of a dedicated mini altar […]
INCENSE AND OIL LAMPS MAY BE LIT WHEN PARTICIPATING IN ONLINE GROUP STUDY ON BUDDHISM FROM HOME Caller: Hello Master. When participating in online group study on Buddhism from home, can we offer incense and light the oil lamps on the Buddhist altar when there is no one performing recitation? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. […]
DO NOT TURN ON THE LOTUS LAMP ON THE BUDDHIST ALTAR WHEN NO INCENSE IS OFFERED Caller: Hi Master, should we leave the lotus lamp on the Buddhist altar lighted at night? Master Jun Hong Lu: You should not. Caller: Despite having a lamp that is left lighted permanently at the entrance of my hall, […]
WIPING THE INCENSE BURNER TO PRAY FOR WEALTH IS CONSIDERED A WISH FOR WORLDLY AND HEAVENLY BLESSINGS, AND WILL EXPEND ONE’S MERITS Caller: Hello Master. Master has said that we can wipe the incense burner to wish for better wealth luck. However, a Buddhist friend worries that this is akin to praying for worldly and […]
THE OIL LAMP SHOULD BE PUT OUT WHEN ONE PERFORMS RECITATION WHILE DOING HOUSEHOLD CHORES Caller: I may be performing recitations while attending to the household chores such as doing the laundry or cooking at the time when the oil lamp and incense are lit. As these chores are not done in front of the […]
WHEN TO EXTINGUISH THE OIL LAMP Caller: I have a question regarding extinguishing the oil lamp. Master Lu has previously given multiple discourses on this topic, stating that when the person leaves, the oil lamp should be extinguished. However, some Buddhist friends interpret ‘leaving’ as exiting the house, while other Buddhist friends interpret it as […]
SETTING UP BUDDHIST ALTARS FOR OTHERS WILL ACCUMULATE ENORMOUS MERITS Question: Setting up Buddhist altars for others can accumulate significant meritorious blessings; does it encompass the Giving of Wealth, Dharma and Fearlessness? Answer: If you make monetary contribution towards the costs of the Buddhist altar, it is considered a Giving of Wealth. As Buddhist altars […]
CAN ONE OFFER THE SAME TYPE OF INCENSE BUT WITH DIFFERENT LENGTH? Question: A fellow Buddhist has more time in the morning to perform recitation. Hence, she opts for incense that burns for 60-70 minutes. However, as she finishes work rather late in the evening, she has a relatively shorter time to offer the incense […]
BOTTLED WATER FOR OFFERING TO BODHISATTVA SHOULD BE DIFFERENTIATED FROM THOSE MEANT FOR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION Caller: A fellow Buddhist practitioner usually buys a carton of bottled mineral water, and offers a brand new bottle to Bodhisattva every day. Sometimes, his family members will also take the bottled water from the carton for personal consumption. Master […]
CAN WE OFFER INCENSE WITH DIFFERENT LENGTH? Caller: The incense that we bought are slightly different in length, can we use such incense? Master Jun Hong Lu: It depends on how much difference in length. If the length varies a lot, then do not use the shorter ones. Caller: The difference is less than 1cm. […]
OFFERING OF BOTTLED WATER ON BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: Master has previously stated that if we would like to offer bottled mineral water to Guan Yin Bodhisattva (in addition to the usual offering of the Great Compassion Water in a cup), the bottled water has to be placed on a separate small table in front of […]
GRAND INCENSE MAY BE OFFERED MANY TIMES IN A DAY Question: How many times a day are we allowed to offer the grand incense? Are we permitted to offer grand incense in the morning, noon, afternoon and at night? Answer: Yes. If you offer grand incense, Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector will be present. If you […]
AT WHAT TIME SHOULD WE OFFER INCENSE TO INVITE BODHISATTVA Caller: Master has mentioned that Bodhisattva will come at 6am and 8am daily, or even at 10am, 12 noon, 4pm, 6pm or 10pm. Is it true that as long as the incense is lit during these timings, and we have the predestined affinity, Bodhisattva will […]
CAN FRUIT OFFERINGS BE PLACED ON A CAR SEAT? Question: Master has mentioned in a radio program that fruit offerings or other items may be placed on a car seat. As we are aware that fruit offerings should not be placed on stools or chairs, doesn’t this apply to the car seats where someone has […]
USE LEFT HAND WHEN PERFORMING ONE-HANDED GESTURE OF “PUTTING BOTH PALMS TOGETHER” Question: When performing recitation before the Buddhist altar, we sometimes hold the sutra booklet with one hand and hold the other hand in the prayer position. When doing so, is there a rule in using left or right hand for males and females? […]
OFFERING GRAND INCENSE EVERY DAY Caller: Offering of grand incense is an act to invite Bodhisattva. Can Buddhist friends perform this act daily even though they do not have any important prayer requests to make? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. If you offer grand incense, Bodhisattva will definitely be there. Caller: Is it alright to […]
PROSTRATION IS THE INGENIOUS WAY TO ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES Master Jun Hong Lu: Putting our palms together signifies our practice of Buddhism while kneeling on our knees is a sign of repentance. When we kneel down with our palms together it means that we are repenting and at the same time committing ourselves to diligence […]
ON WIPING THE INCENSE BURNER FOR BETTER WEALTH LUCK Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned that wiping the incense burner has the effect of attracting wealth. In doing so, do we have to take the incense burner down from the altar, place it on a table or can we do it on the Buddhist altar itself? […]
WHEN WE LOSE COUNT ON THE NUMBER OF PROSTRATIONS DONE, DO MORE, NOT LESS Caller: When offering incense and paying respects to Bodhisattvas, we will usually perform seven prostrations at the beginning and at the end of the process. However, at times, we may be too engrossed that we lose count on the number of […]
DO NOT PUT ASHES THAT FELL OUTSIDE THE INCENSE BURNER BACK INTO THE BURNER Question: Master, when we are cleaning ashes that fell outside the incense burner at the Guan Yin Hall, should we put it back into the burner or dispose it? Answer: Ashes that fell outside the incense burner should be disposed of. […]
CAN THE DOWNLIGHT THAT SHINES ON THE BUDDHIST ALTAR BE SWITCHED ON FOR 24 HOURS? Caller: Can the downlight that shines on the statue or portrait of Bodhisattva on the Buddhist altar at home be switched on for 24 hours? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is best not to do so. However, the light in […]
IS IT WRONG TO OFFER FRUITS TO BODHISATTVA BASED ON OUR PERSONAL LIKING? Caller: Master Lu, is it wrong for a Buddhist friend to choose the best fruits to be offered to Bodhisattva but at the same he gives consideration that the fruits are something they will enjoy eating when they are eventually removed from […]
DO NOT LEAVE EMPTY CUP ON THE BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: If we will be away from home for a period of time and there is no one available to change the water offerings, is it alright to leave the cup used for water offerings empty while we are away? Answer: No, you can’t. It is […]
WHAT TO DO IF THE INCENSE WE OFFER IS TILTED? Question: If the incense we stick into the incense burner is tilted, can we remove then reinsert it? Thank you. Answer: Generally, you may make some adjustment to straighten it. Source: Reply from 2OR Secretariat to a written enquiry, 3 July 2019 (An Excerpt)
TIMINGS FOR DAILY OFFERING OF MORNING AND EVENING INCENSE Question: What are the timings for daily offering of morning and evening incense? Answer: Morning incense is not to be offered past noon. Only incense offered before 10am is considered as the morning incense. Between 10am till 12 noon, it is regarded as a different time […]
