PLACING OF PENDANT WITH IMAGE OF BODHISATTVA ON BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: If we wish to place our pendant with image of Bodhisattva on the Buddhist altar before going to bed, which side of the altar should we place it on? Is there any sutra/mantra that we should recite for this? Answer: Either side of the […]
CAN WE MAKE PROSTRATIONS AT GUAN YIN TEMPLE AFTER THE OIL LAMP AND INCENSE HAVE BEEN EXTINGUISHED? Caller: This is a question on behalf of our Guan Yin Citta practice centre. If the oil lamp has been extinguished while the incense is still burning, are Buddhist friends allowed to make prostrations? Master Jun Hong Lu: […]
BODHISATTVA WILL APPEAR REGARDLESS OF WHAT TIME WE SET UP A BUDDHIST ALTAR DURING THE DAY. HOWEVER, DO NOT DO SO AFTER 10PM Caller: Master Lu mentioned before that Bodhisattva appears whenever one sets up a Buddhist altar. Does it mean Bodhisattva will appear any time during the day when we set up the altar? Master Jun Hong […]
LEVELLING ASHES IN INCENSE BURNER IS ALSO A MERITORIOUS DEED Caller: Is it necessary to level the ashes in the incense burner? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, it’s essential, the act of levelling ashes in the incense burner reflects the calmness and inner peace in you. Caller: Should we do it before offering incense daily? […]
USE THE SAME TYPE OF OIL LAMPS ON AN ALTAR Question: I have two different types of oil lamps, can I use them on the same altar at home? Answer: No, it must be of the same type. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 265), 17 November 2018
WHICH SIDE OF THE BUDDHIST ALTAR SHOULD AN OIL LAMP BE PLACED ON? Caller: If there is only an oil lamp on the Buddhist altar at home, which is the better position to place it? Master Jun Hong Lu: On the right side. Caller: Our right side when facing the Buddhist altar? Master Jun Hong […]
COLLECTIVE RECITATION OF BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES DURING THE SETTING UP OF A BUDDHIST ALTAR ADDS SOLEMNITY TO THE OCCASION Caller: Master Lu, when performing the ritual of setting up a Buddhist altar, some Buddhist friends prefer to collectively recite the Buddhist scriptures out loud. Is this alright? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, as it is a […]
RICE IS ONLY A STOPGAP WHEN THERE ISN’T ENOUGH INCENSE ASHES IN INCENSE BURNER Caller: I currently fill the incense burner with rice and it has now been infested with weevils due to the hot weather. Before refilling the incense burner with fresh rice, I would like to know whether it is alright to fry the […]
IT IS ADVISABLE NOT TO DIRECTLY FACE BODHISATTVA IN THE GUAN YIN HALL WHEN TAKING OFF OUR JACKET OR DRINKING WATER Caller: While we are inside the Guan Yin Hall, is it better for us not to directly face Bodhisattva when we take off our jacket or drink water? We should instead, step aside if […]
MAY WE OFFER FRUITS THAT ARE ROUND IN SHAPE TO PRAY TO BE ACCOMMODATING AND UNHINDERED IN ALL ASPECTS? Caller: Master Lu, may we offer fruits such as melons which are especially round in shape to Bodhisattva, and pray for us to be more accommodating and unhindered in conducting ourselves in society and propagating Buddhist […]
WHEN MAKING OBEISANCE TO BUDDHA, THE BODY MUST BE UPRIGHT DURING THE FIRST PROSTRATION Question: We noticed there are disciples, despite being physically fit, guiding new Buddhist friends to perform kneeling prostrations to Bodhisattvas in the following way: the buttocks are seated on the back of the lower legs; with only the hands, upper body […]
HANDLING OF CLEANING CLOTH FOR BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: Is it proper for us to continue using the cloth used for cleaning fruits to be offered on the altar if it accidentally drops on the floor? Answer: If the floor is very dirty, do not use it anymore; otherwise, you may wash it before using it […]
DO NOT USE TRANSPARENT PLASTIC PLATES ON BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: Can we lay transparent or semi-transparent plastic fruit plates on the Buddhist altar? Answer: Do not use transparent fruit plates for the Buddhist altar. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 227), 11 May 2018
AFTER WASHING UNDERGARMENTS OR SOCKS, WAIT 15 MINUTES BEFORE OFFERING INCENSE Question: After washing undergarments or socks, how long should we wait before we can offer incense? Answer: Generally, it’s best to wait for 15 minutes. Also, ensure your hands are clean. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 211), 1 March 2018
USING A DRY CLOTH TO CLEAN A STATUE OF A BODHISATTVA Question: Can we use wet tissue to clean a statue or portrait of a Bodhisattva? Answer: If the statue is ceramic, you may use a wet tissue. However, as some types of wet tissues contain alcohol, using them may cause paint on some statues or […]
DO NOT USE TOOTHBRUSH TO CLEAN OFFERING CUP, USE CLOTH Question: Can we use a brand-new toothbrush to clean the cups used for offering water at Buddhist altar? Answer: Using a toothbrush is not ideal. You may use a new cloth instead. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 212), 6 March 2018
KNEELING FOR PROSTRATION Question: Upon kneeling in front of the image of the Buddha, should we kneel down with our right knee first? What about getting up after prostration? Shall we lift the right knee first? Answer: Lift the left knee first, followed by the right knee when you get up. Source: Master Jun Hong […]
KEY TO EFFICACIOUS PRAYER WHEN OFFERING FIRST INCENSE Question: What is the key to efficacious prayer when we are offering the First Incense in Chinese New Year Eve? Is it only efficacious when we make vows, perform recitation and virtuous deeds? If gastric diseases are considered spiritual diseases due to karmic obstacles, will our prayer […]
USE A BRAND NEW CLOTH TO CLEAN THE IMAGE OR STATUE OF BODHISATTVA Question: Are we allowed to use the cloth that was used to wipe the image or statue of Bodhisattva to clean the Buddhist altar. Of course, we do not use it to clean the image or statue of Bodhisattva again? Answer: Yes, […]
DO NOT TOUCH THE TOP OF THE INCENSE WITH OUR HANDS Caller: When we are holding three incenses that are not aligned, usually we will place the incenses downwards onto our palm to tidy them. Is this the proper way of handling? Master Jun Hong Lu: You cannot do that. When you are holding the […]
CAN WE REPLACE FRESH FLOWERS AND FRUIT ON A BUDDHIST ALTAR AT NIGHT? Caller: Now that it’s summer we frequently need to replace fresh flowers and fruit on our Buddhist altar. I’m worried I may not have enough time to do this in the morning. Therefore, I usually replace fresh flowers and fruit a day […]
THE SEQUENCE FOR PLACING OFFERINGS ONTO A BUDDHIST ALTAR Question: When we help a fellow Buddhist practitioner set up a Buddhist altar at home, is there any sequence to observe when placing items on the altar, for example, a portrait of Buddha, offering items (i.e. incense burner, cup, etc.)? Answer: First, ensure the portrait of […]
RETREAT BY WALKING BACKWARDS TO SHOW RESPECT Question: I noticed fellow Buddhist friends walk backwards when heading over to the prostration mat after offering incense in the Guan Yin Hall. Even I walk backwards for a considerable distance after performing prayers. I wonder if it is appropriate, as I am a little confused as Master […]
PORTRAITS OF BODHISATTVA TO BE ROLLED FROM BOTTOM TO THE TOP? Caller: When we receive a portrait of Guan Yin Bodhisattva from a Dharma Convention, should we roll it up from the bottom to the top, or vice versa? Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course roll it up from the bottom to the top. You […]
Q: A Buddhist practitioner has a designated table where he sits when performing recitation of Buddhist scriptures. Master Lu, you once mentioned that it is best if he can place a small image of the Bodhisattva on this table and offer incense when he performs recitation. May I know how to go about it? A: The […]
DOES BODHISATTVA’S BLESSED AURA STILL EXIST IN PARTLY ROTTEN FRUITS REMOVED FROM THE ALTAR? Caller: Master has mentioned before fruits offered to Bodhisattva contain a positive aura. However, after these fruits have been removed from the altar, and before we had a chance to consume them, they may partially go bad due to the recent […]
ALLOW 15 MINUTES AFTER BOWEL MOVEMENT BEFORE OFFERING PRAYERS Question: Previously, Master said after bowel movements we need to observe a 15 minute interval before offering prayers to Bodhisattva, or perform recitations. Yet, in a more recent radio program Master advised us we can actually proceed with recitations, but still need to wait 15 minutes […]
THE INCENSE STICKS’ LENGTH AND THICKNESS SHOULD BE CONSISTENT Caller: I often hear from Master that at home we should not use incense sticks of different lengths. What about at the Guan Yin Hall? Master Jun Hong Lu: They must be of the same length. Caller: Can the thickness be different? Master Jun Hong Lu: […]
EVEN ON DAYS THAT WE OFFER ‘FIRST INCENSE’, DO NOT OFFER INCENSE AFTER 2AM Caller: While offering First Incense, a Buddhist friend failed to ensure the continuation of the burning incense, and so subsequently wished to offer incense in the middle of the night at 3am. He is not supposed to do this at that […]
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INCENSE BURNING SLOWLY OR QUICKLY? Caller: When we offer incense to Bodhisattvas, if one offered to a particular Bodhisattva burns especially slowly or quickly, what does it signify? Master Jun Hong Lu: There are two explanations for this. First, the quality of the incense itself may determine whether it burns […]
