HOW DOES THE POWER OF VOWS OF A BODHISATTVA ARISE? Master Jun Hong Lu: The Bodhisattvas see the pain and suffering in this mortal world through each person who comes to Them for guidance, crying and begging. The Bodhisattvas’ power of vows arises from the sense of sadness and compassion They feel for others. Source: […]

THE POWER OF VOWS IS THE KEY TO LEARNING THE DHARMA Master Jun Hong Lu: The power of vows is the most important element when it comes to the practice of dharma. A strong power of vows can overcome any obstacle, including those of our mind; a vow is actually a type of powerful energy. […]

THE POWER OF VOWS STEMS FROM A HEART OF COMPASSION Caller: Hi Master, is the power of vows central to one’s Buddhist practice? Is it correct to say that one who leverages their power of vows to perform recitation and mind cultivation can eliminate their karmic obstacles, making it easy to be awakened to the […]

WHAT IS A GREAT VOW? WHAT IS CONSIDERED HELPING OTHERS TO BE SPIRITUALLY AWAKENED? Caller: What is considered a great vow for lay practitioners like us who practise Buddhism at home? Master Jun Hong Lu: For example, a vow to print Buddhist books, or “I want more people to get to know this dharma door, […]

STAY TRUE TO YOUR INITIAL ASPIRATION Master Jun Hong Lu: You must strengthen your power of vows to protect the impetus that propelled you to make those initial resolutions. What does strengthening your power of vows mean? It means to regularly recollect the time when you gave rise to your initial resolve. At the early […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S TENTH GREAT VOW: TO TRANSFER MERITS TO ALL SENTIENT BEINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva‘s tenth great vow is ‘To transfer merits to all sentient beings’. The merit-garnering deeds that Bodhisattvas perform are all for the sake of sentient beings. Similarly, for you, Buddhist practitioners, the virtuous deeds that you perform are […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S NINTH GREAT VOW: CONSTANTLY ACCEDING TO THE NEEDS OF ALL SENTIENT BEINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva‘s ninth great vow is ‘To constantly comply with the needs of sentient beings’. Think about it, there are no alternative means other than complying with sentient beings, be it in our Buddhism practice, conducting ourselves […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S SIXTH GREAT VOW: TO REQUEST THE BUDDHA TO SET IN MOTION THE WHEEL OF DHARMA Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s sixth great vow is ‘to request the Buddha to set in motion the wheel of dharma’. ‘Shakyamuni Buddha has passed into extinction’. ‘To enter into extinction’ is how people in the past […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S FIFTH GREAT VOW: THE MERITS OF RESPONDING WITH JOY Master Jun Hong Lu: If you have the means to help others but you do not do it, you are not a good person. On the contrary, if you have the means and you go ahead and do it, then, you are truly making […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S FOURTH GREAT VOW: REPENT ONE’S WRONGDOINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s fourth great vow is to repent one’s wrongdoings. As long as we are in the human realm or in the six realms of rebirth, we will definitely be plagued by karmic obstacles. The Chinese word (忏悔) (to repent) can be examined […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S THIRD GREAT VOW: TO MAKE ABUNDANT OFFERINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s third great vow is to make abundant offerings. What does this mean? It means to make offerings to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions and Three Periods of Time and to have deep respect for Them. When we […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S SECOND GREAT VOW: PRAISE THE TATHAGATAS (THUS COME ONE) Master Jun Hong Lu: Please allow me to elaborate on “To praise the Tathagatas”, there are three aspects to it: • Paying respect to the Buddhas through your actions; • Praising the Buddhas through your speech; and • Venerating the Buddhas through your thoughts. […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S SECOND GREAT VOW: PRAISE THE TATHAGATA Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Second Great Vow: Praise the Tathagata (Thus Come One). The Tathagata is likened to all the Bodhisattvas, towards Them, we must be full of praise. For example, when you worship Guan Yin Bodhisattva, your heart should praise Guan Yin Bodhisattva, “You […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S FIRST GREAT VOW: PAY HOMAGE TO ALL BUDDHAS Master Jun Hong Lu: The first great vow is to pay homage to all Buddhas. To pay homage means to have a heart of deference. With great respect, your mind contemplates, your body bows and your mouth praises. You prostrate to Guan Yin Bodhisattva because […]

SEEKING THE BUDDHA’S WAY ABOVE AND TRANSFORMING LIVING BEINGS BELOW Master Jun Hong Lu: Along the path of Buddhism practice, one should, all the more, make great vows. The greater your vows, the more you will advance in your spiritual cultivation. When you say, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, I will be diligent and steadfast in my […]

SAMANTABHADRA BODHISATTVA’S TEN GREAT VOWS Master Jun Hong Lu: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva has made ten great vows, therefore He is known as “Universal Worthy Bodhisattva”. When you recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO), what are you actually reciting? It is in fact about your intention to change your behaviour. When you are determined to do […]

MAKING GREAT VOWS WILL HELP ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF RETRIBUTION Caller: Some Buddhist practitioners are about to face with their ‘3,6,9’ predestined karmic passes, as well as clashes with Tai Sui Bodhisattva. Master mentioned that making great vows will help eliminate karmic obstacles. What if they make a vow to […]

Wenda20200712 42:26 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) VOW TO RECITE BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE OVER 10,000 TIMES Caller: In a radio program on May 19, Master advised a Buddhist practitioner to recite the Heart Sutra 10,000 times to eliminate the lumps. Is this applicable to all? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is not really applicable […]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 354) 28 December 2019 THOSE WHO VOW TO OBSERVE THE FIVE BUDDHIST PRECEPTS BUT STILL MAINTAIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR SPOUSES ARE UNABLE TO TRANSCEND THE SIX REALMS OF EXISTENCE DUE TO THEIR LOW LEVEL OF SPIRITUALITY Question: In the past, I had always thought that physical intimacy […]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 57) 15 May 2013 CONQUER THE DEMON ON ONE’S BODY BY MAKING GREAT VOWS Question: A Buddhist practitioner has a weak constitution. He often experiences sweating and panic attacks in the middle of the night. It is so serious that he is unable to continue with his recitation and […]

Wenda20200925 07:02 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) CAN DAILY GIVING OF DHARMA BE CONSIDERED AS A GREAT VOW Caller: A Buddhist friend persists in online giving of Dharma daily. Is this considered as a great vow? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, but he has to specifically make the vow before performing online giving […]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting (Q&A Session) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 18 October 2019 STATE SPECIFIC PRAYER REQUEST WHEN YOU VOW TO RECITE 10,000 TIMES MANTRA TO UNTIE KARMIC KNOTS Question: Recently many Buddhist practitioners have made vows to recite 10,000 times of the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots, praying to resolve the […]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 419) 9 October 2020 VOW TO PERFORM 100 GOOD DEEDS IF YOU ARE EXPECTING CALAMITIES Question: Master has mentioned recently that if we are expecting calamities, we may make a vow to Bodhisattva to perform 100 good deeds, and keep a record for each good deed performed. May I […]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 355) 1 January 2020 A QUESTION REGARDING THE EXTENSION IN FULFILLING VOWS Question: Recently, as soon as my husband gets home, I would have a headache and experience extreme discomfort in my body. As I keep having the dreams of different karmic creditors, I am worried that if my […]