ADVERTISING CONTENTS RELATED TO DHARMA PROPAGATION IS AN ACT OF THE THREE TYPES OF GIVING Caller: Master, when making monetary donations, there are some people who would focus on channelling their funds into advertising contents that aim to help people awaken spiritually. Such advertisements usually attract more than 100,000 clicks. Would such giving be considered […]
HOW CAN WE PREVENT THE OUTFLOW OF WISDOM AND BLESSINGS? Master Jun Hong Lu: How can we prevent the outflow of our wisdom and blessings? First of all, we must observe moral discipline. What is moral discipline? Do what you should, refrain from doing what you shouldn’t. Think only what you should, stop thinking about […]
OFFERING LITTLE HOUSES AND PERFORMING MERITORIOUS DEEDS TO ELIMINATE THE KARMA OF KILLING Caller: When offering Little Houses with the aim of eliminating our karma of killing, should we address them to our karmic creditors, or write ‘<our full name> eliminates karmic obstacles’ in the recipient field? Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s best to address […]
SHOULDERING OF OTHERS’ KARMIC OBSTACLES – WHEN IS IT CONSIDERED MERITORIOUS AND WHEN IT IS NOT Caller: Hi Master, with regards to ‘shouldering of others’ karmic obstacles’, what kind of karmic obstacles that we shoulder is considered meritorious in nature? Master Jun Hong Lu: When you propagate Buddhism, you will shoulder others’ karmic obstacles, and […]
ARE THERE MERITS TO BE GAINED FROM POSTINGS OF DHARMA TEACHINGS THAT GO UNNOTICED? Caller: When one goes about sharing Master’s Words of Wisdom, do we garner any merits even for postings that go unnoticed? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. Bodhisattvas will note it down the moment you undertake such sharing. Source: Wenda20200209 13:43, Master […]
PRAY TO BODHISATTVA TO CATEGORISE OUR MERITS INTO TWO PURPOSES – FOR KEEPING IN RESERVE AND FOR THE ELIMINATION OF KARMIC OBSTACLES Caller: Master, in one of your radio programs, you mentioned that after performing meritorious or kind deeds, we may state the following prayer to Guan Yin Bodhisattva: “May Guan Yin Bodhisattva have mercy […]
HOW DO MERITS AND VIRTUES ELIMINATE NEGATIVE KARMA? Caller: When we pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to use our merits and virtues to eliminate negative karma for cases where foreign spirits are present, are those merits and virtues used directly to repay the foreign spirits? Could they be used as a substitute for Little Houses […]
THE MAGNITUDE OF MERITS LIES IN THE INTENTION Caller: In your early discourses to disciples, Master mentioned, “Distributing dharma books generates tremendous merits, and even Buddhas and Bodhisattvas praise highly of those who distribute dharma books”. Master, exactly how significant are these merits? For fellow practitioners who perform dharma giving online, should the measurement of […]
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE DISCOURSE BEFORE SHARING IT ONLINE Caller: Master, many Buddhist practitioners post the dharma teachings on the internet However, some of them have been involved in actions that are contrary to proper conduct and teachings. Lately, we have noticed some public social media accounts bearing names similar […]
ONE STANDS TO GAIN GREATER SPIRITUAL ENERGY IF HE KEEPS HELPING OTHERS AND PERFORMING MERITS Master Jun Hong Lu: When you perform acts of kindness today by helping others, wouldn’t you increase your spiritual energy? That’s for sure. Conversely, if you engage in self-cultivation at home, would you claim to have the spiritual energy? In […]
IS FORWARDING ALERT ON DECEPTIVE SCHEMES CONSIDERED AN ACTION THAT INTERVENES WITH THE WORKINGS OF KARMA? Caller: It’s common to observe an online social norm where people disseminate information to forewarn others of deceptive schemes, etc. For example, information cautioning people against scams or child abductions. We do pass on such information to those around […]
TO UTILISE MERITS TO ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES, ONE NEEDS TO MAKE THE PRAYER REQUEST TO BODHISATTVA Caller: Master Lu often says that to eliminate our karmic obstacles, we need to have merits. Given that the recitation of the Buddhist scriptures is one type of meritorious deed, so when we recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance […]
ONLY MERITS AND VIRTUES HAVE THE POWER TO OFFSET KARMIC OBSTACLES Master Jun Hong Lu; There are only two ways karmic obstacles are transformed – either they are offset or break out in the form of foreign spirits. While the latter can be an effect of one’s ‘transformed’ karmic obstacles, it can also be due […]
DO NOT TAKE OTHERS’ MONEY WHEN PERFORMING MERITS Caller: Master once cautioned us about making illicit gains on our path of our Buddhist practice, which includes making appeals for financial assistance through our chat groups, is that right? Master Jun Hong Lu: Absolutely right. Illicit gains refer to being in possession of others’ money. For […]
MASTER LU CONDEMNS THE ACT OF RAISING FUNDS TO PERFORM MERITS Caller: Hi Master, say, a Buddhist practitioner pledges to purchase dharma recorders or print Buddhism in Plain Terms and etc, he sets up an account, through which others can remit the funds for payment to the printing company or a third party… Master Jun […]
EXCESSIVE PRAYER REQUESTS COULD BACKFIRE ON YOU Master Jun Hong Lu: When you pray to the Buddha, it is important not to go overboard with your prayer request. If you do it at a time when you have an insufficient level of merits, willpower and worldly blessings, your prayer may reflect back as karmic obstacles […]
MERITS WILL NOT BE EXPENDED FOR UPRIGHT AND POSITIVE PRAYERS Caller: When we pray to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for blessings, to become more awakened, to have more wisdom, attain enlightenment, eliminate our bad habits and so forth, since such prayers are not aimed at gaining worldly blessings, will our merits be utilised? Master Jun Hong […]
MERITS FROM SETTING UP BUDDHIST ALTARS FOR OTHERS CAN BE UTILISED TO PRAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF KARMIC OBSTACLES OR A SPECIFIC MATTER Caller: We understand that setting up Buddhist altars for others can accumulate significant meritorious blessings. In this case, is it proper for us to state the following prayer, “May the Greatly Merciful […]
WILL ONE SHOULDER KARMIC OBSTACLES OF OTHERS FOR TRANSFERRING MERITS TO THEM? Caller: Master, you have mentioned that one will shoulder karmic obstacles for transferring merits to others. May I know what determines the amount of the karmic obstacles shouldered? Is it determined by the amount of the merits transferred or the level of karmic […]
BEING CALCULATIVE OVER THE AMOUNT OF MERITS GENERATED WHEN PERFORMING VIRTUOUS DEEDS WILL NOT TAINT OR WIPE OUT MERITORIOUS BLESSINGS ACCRUED Caller: Let’s say I have 100 dollars in my pocket and plan to utilise them for a meritorious deed. In deciding whether to use it for releasing captive lives or printing of sutra booklets, […]
WOULD REJOICING AFTER PERFORMING MERITORIOUS DEEDS TAINT OUR MERITS? Caller: A Buddhist friend is interested to know whether rejoicing after performing a meritorious deed, or taking delight after being praised by others would taint one’s merits? Master Jun Hong Lu: No, it would not as long as you are not haughty and arrogant. Caller: I […]
UNDERSTANDING THE “PERFECTION OF MERITS AND VIRTUES” Caller: Master, there’s a Buddhism phrase that says, “the perfection of merits and virtues”. How should we comprehend this phrase? Master Jun Hong Lu: When performing meritorious deeds, many people fail to achieve the perfection of merits and virtues. Let’s take the example you mentioned just now: By […]
ACHIEVE PERFECT MERITS AND PREVENT THE DEPLETION OF MERITS BY EMBODYING THE MIND OF A BODHISATTVA Question: When we persistently perform meritorious deeds for an extended period, we are bound to become physically drained. There are times in the midst of performing a virtuous deed, fatigue may overtake us to the extent that our mind […]
DAILY REPETITION OF VOWS TO BODHISATTVA WILL INCREASE MERITS Question: In the recent public talk in Kuala Lumpur, Master said, “If you have vowed to be a full vegetarian, you may confide to Guan Yin Bodhisattva every day by saying, ‘I, <full name>, am already a full vegetarian’. By repeating it daily, you will accumulate […]
PASSING ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM MERITORIOUS DEEDS TO OTHERS IS A SIGN OF SLACKING IN CULTIVATION Caller: Is it considered a type of Giving when one passes on the opportunity to perform meritorious deeds to others out of great mercy? Despite having lesser merits, will the person gain new merits for giving the opportunity […]
RECITING SELF-RESERVED LITTLE HOUSES FOR MASTER Question: Hi Master, whenever we hear your husky and weary voice being transmitted through the radio programs, we will be overcome by emotions and can’t help but feel the pain and tear up. In the past, we had always thought that with the blessings of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, Master […]
THE ASPIRATION TO PERFORM MERITORIOUS DEEDS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE Master Jun Hong Lu: You must know how to transform the meritorious blessings that you are cultivating in this mortal world into one that is transcendental. One example of worldly meritorious blessings is when helping others, you embrace the heart of a Bodhisattva. You appear […]
ONE WILL GAIN MORE MERITS FOR CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS TO PERFORM MERITORIOUS DEEDS Caller: Is it true that one who creates opportunities for others to perform meritorious deeds will gain more merits? Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure. By doing so, he will gain boundless meritorious blessings. For example, you would like to […]
SIGNS OF HAVING ACCUMULATED GREAT MERITORIOUS BLESSINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: How do you determine that you have accumulated great meritorious blessings? Firstly, just like a healthy person will hardly catch a cold, the person won’t be down on his luck easily and his life will always be smooth sailing. Secondly, no misfortune will befall […]
IT IS BEST NOT TO EXPEND OUR MERITS IN ORDER TO SEND FOREIGN SPIRITS AWAY Caller: Hi Master, you have mentioned in one of the radio programs that merits can be used to eliminate foreign spirits. In this regard, can we transfer merits accrued from volunteering at dharma conventions to our karmic creditors? Master Jun […]