Q: Dear Master Lu, we would like to invite an image of Guan Yin Bodhisattva to our home. Can we take a photo of the statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva in a temple, and then print the image and pray at home? A: It is best not to photograph any statues or images of Buddhas and […]
Q: May I ask what Great Compassion Water is? Can I recite the Great Compassion Mantra to a bowl of water to perform the blessing by myself? Or is it that only the water that has been offered to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can be called the Great Compassion Water? A: Great Compassion Water is the water that you […]
REPLACEMENT OF THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS ON ALTAR WHILE THE OIL LAMP IS LIT Caller: Master, can we replace the fruit and flower offerings on the altar when the oil lamp is still burning? Master Jun Hong Lu: No, you may get injured while you replace the offerings, the lit incense may scald your skin. […]
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO BODHISATTVA IS OUR SINCERITY, NOT THE SIZE OF OUR ALTAR Caller: My house is small, so is my altar. The altar is placed in my bedroom. Do you think this is okay? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is alright. It doesn’t matter if your altar is small. What matters most to […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, how do we invite the statues or images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to the Buddhist altar in our homes? How can we bless the statues or images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on our own? Is there anything we should take note of afterwards? A: If you are following Master Lu’s Guan Yin […]
Q: We want to offer oil to the Bodhisattvas at the Guan Yin Citta Centre. Should we place a bottle of oil in front of the statues or images of the Bodhisattvas on the altar, or should we light an oil lamp? Thank you. A: Making offerings of vegetable oil to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will result […]
HOW TO DISPOSE OF OLD YELLOW LANDSCAPE PICTURE WHEN REPLACING ALTAR? Caller: A fellow practitioner wants to replace her Buddhist altar. How should she dispose of the old yellow landscape picture placed at the back of the altar? Master Jun Hong Lu: Just wrap it up and keep it for a month. You can recite […]
OFFERING HEART INCENSE TO BODHISATTVA ENSHRINED AT HOME WHILE WHOLE FAMILY IS AWAY Caller: How do you do, Master Lu? A Buddhist friend would like to know what they should do with their altar at home when they go away to the temple for prayers on the first day of lunar month. Master Jun Hong […]
THE ENERGY OF FRUIT OFFERINGS WILL BE DEPLETED FOUR DAYS AFTER THEIR REMOVAL FROM THE ALTAR Caller: Master Lu, may I know how many days does it take for the energy of fruit offerings to be fully depleted after being removed from the altar? Master Jun Hong Lu: Four days. Source: Wenda20170326A 57:34, Master Jun […]
HOW TO ENSURE THAT OUR ALTAR INVITES BODHISATTVA AND NOT FOREIGN SPIRITS? Caller: Master Lu, how can we ensure not to invite foreign spirits to our altar at home? How do we invite Bodhisattva to come more often? Master Jun Hong Lu: Pray and perform recitations daily in front of the altar to prevent attracting […]
WHEN OFFERING HEART INCENSE, PAY RESPECT TO ALL BODHISATTVAS YOU MAKE OFFERINGS TO ON YOUR ALTAR Caller: Master Lu, we are supposed to visualise our altar back home when offering Heart Incense while we are on business trips. Let’s say for example, we have made offerings to six Bodhisattvas on the altar at home. When […]
HOW TO CLEAN THE DUST ON THE STATUE OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA Caller: A Buddhist practitioner has a statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva at home. A year or two later, the statue might have collected dust. Generally, how should we clean it in a proper way? Master Jun Hong Lu: Use a duster, but not […]
PUT OFF OIL LAMP BEFORE CLEANING THE FLOOR Question: When both the incense and oil lamp on the altar are lit up, can we clean the other rooms in the house, such as sweeping or mopping the floor? Or is it not appropriate to sweep or mop the floor even in other rooms? Answer: It […]
QUESTION REGARDING HANGING THE POSTER OF GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA Caller: Please enlighten us Master Lu. You have mentioned previously that hanging the poster of the Great Compassion Mantra at home would help create positive energy field. However, if the family members are not full-time vegetarians, is it ok to hang it in the living room? Master Jun […]
DO NOT SWEEP THE FLOOR WHEN THE INCENSE AND OIL LAMP ON ALTAR ARE LIT UP Caller: Master Lu, may I know if we can sweep the floor in front of the altar when the incense and oil lamp on the altar are lit up? Master Jun Hong Lu: Do not do so when the […]
DO NOT PLACE PORTRAIT/STATUE OF BODHISATTVA ON THE STOOL Caller: A Buddhist practitioner planned to set up an altar after moving into a new house. As he has yet moved in, the portrait/statue of the Bodhisattva is kept on a stool. Is this proper? Master Jun Hong Lu: No, it’s not proper! Stools are for […]
LOTUS LAMPS WITH BENT RODS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR ALTARS Caller: Hello Master Lu. I heard from the radio program a couple of days ago about red lotus lamps. For those who have already placed them on their altars, what should they do? Master Jun Hong Lu: Red lotus lamps are perfectly fine as long […]
CAN WE PERFORM PROSTRATION IN FRONT OF ALTAR AT HOME WITHOUT OFFERING INCENSE Caller: A Buddhist friend sometimes recites the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (Li Fo Da Chan Hui Wen) in front of altar without offering incense beforehand. Master Lu, can we perform prostration while reciting the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance even if there is no incenses […]
DO NOT PUT SAND IN INCENSE BURNER Caller: Hello Master Lu. I heard from a Buddhist friend who had just set up a new altar, said that he put rice grains in the incense burner for offering of incense, but it ended up catching fire. I don’t understand why do they use rice grains instead […]
FRUIT OFFERING TO BODHISATTVA Question: Is it alright to use watermelon as an offering to Bodhisattva on our Buddhist altar? Answer: You may do so. However, please ensure that you do not angle the bottom of the watermelon to face the image of Bodhisattva. You will have to rest the watermelon on its side, with […]
DO NOT SHARE YOUR OWN HOME’S ALTAR PICTURE IN GROUP CHATS Caller: When fellow group cultivators post each individual’s Bodhisattva picture from their home altars to group chats to encourage each other in their cultivation, is this justifiable? Master Jun Hong Lu: I feel there is no necessity to do so, as each individual will […]
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO OFFER INCENSE TO BODHISATTVA AND ANCESTORS AT THE SAME TIME? Question: I have an altar at home where I have enshrined Bodhisattva, deities and ancestors. Though I have always ensured I worship with utmost sincerity, I may have some wrongdoings which I may not be aware of, and in such cases […]
WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN INCENSE BREAKS OR IS EXTINGUISHED IN THE PROCESS OF PLACEMENT INTO THE INCENSE BURNER Caller: Master Lu, when we offer incense to Bodhisattva, if one of the incense sticks breaks or it is extinguished after we place it into the incense burner, do we have to offer three new incenses, […]
PROPER WAY TO PRAY Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people do not know the proper way to pray. Please keep this in mind: When you bow down, close your eyes as this will help you to concentrate and stay free from distracting thoughts. When you lift up your head, open your eyes, gaze at Guan […]
WITH BODHISATTVA IN YOUR HEART, ANY PLACE IS A GOOD PLACE FOR AN ALTAR Caller: How are you Master? Please excuse me, as I am not sure if my question involves dream interpretation or a Totem enquiry. On a few occasions my daughter has dreamed that Guan Yin Bodhisattva has visited our house. At present we […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, how many candles and oil lamps should be placed on the Buddhist altar as offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? Also, can we offer electric lotus lamps or candle lights? Can we leave them on 24 hours a day? A: If possible, the number of oil lamps should match the number of statues/images […]
Q: Master Lu, when it comes to making offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, what type of fruit or flowers should not be offered? Can we offer chrysanthemums, roses, or lilies? A: First of all, a Buddhist practitioner should make offerings of fresh fruit or flower according to their individual circumstances. Ensure the flowers or fruits offered […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, is there anything that we should take note of regarding the quantity of fruit that we offer to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? Does it have to be an odd number? A: The quantity of fruit offered to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas should be an odd number. Specifically, the amount for each layer of fruit […]
Q: Could Master Lu advise on the basic requirements and areas of concern regarding the placement of a Buddhist altar in the home from a Buddhist perspective? Thank you! A: The basic requirements for Buddhist altar placement in the home are as follows: The altar must not be near a toilet (the toilet door should be […]
