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 […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 197) 28 December 2017 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 […]
Wenda20190802 52:39 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting (Q&A Session) Auckland, New Zealand 8 November 2019 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 […]
Wenda20200925 01:24:26 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20200809 01:10:03 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20131013B 19:25 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) An Excerpt 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 […]
Wenda20200209 35:15 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20181104B 11:18 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20201011 47:23 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 365) 24 February 2020 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, […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 422) 23 October 2020 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, […]
Wenda20200719 12:03 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20121104B 26:56 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 397) 14 July 2020 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 […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 392) 26 June 2020 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 […]
The Buddhist altar consists of all Five Elements of gold, wood, water, fire and earth. Bodhisattvas represent the gold, flowers grow in the earth, the incense is the wood, water is contained in the offering of water, and the oil lamp represents fire. The Five Elements work together to bring good fortune to one’s home. […]
Wenda20200417 33:10 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20190324 04:42 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) WHEN WE ARE PARTICULARLY DOWN ON OUR LUCK, CAN WE OFFER GRAND INCENSE TO BODHISATTVAS EVERY DAY TO PRAY FOR BLESSINGS? Caller: Master Lu, when we are particularly down on our luck, in addition to performing recitations and meritorious deeds, can we pray for the blessings […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 372) 28 March 2020 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, […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 365) 24 February 2020 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 […]
Wenda20200207 20:45 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda2020202 32:37 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20200117 27:27 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20190922 10:10 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting Amsterdam, Netherlands 11 September 2019 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 […]
Wenda20190419 34:36 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Wenda20190113A 19:15 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) 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 […]
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 324) 24 July 2019 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 […]