TALKING ABOUT OTHERS BEHIND THEIR BACK IS AN ACT OF SOWING DISCORD; REPENT BY RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE Caller: Some Buddhist friends have issues with persons-in-charge of Dharma practice centre because of their approaches / ways of doing things, and started to discuss about their ideas and opinions behind their back. Is this […]
WHAT MAKES A PERSON SUSCEPTIBLE TO JEALOUSY? Caller: There are Buddhist friends who are always being misunderstood by others. They are kind-hearted people but for some reason, others don’t seem to be able to understand them. Could their plight be due to the jealousy of others towards them or their own karmic obstacles? Or could […]
THE KARMIC EFFECTS OF JEALOUSY Master Jun Hong Lu: The Buddha says, “Sentient beings who are habitually jealous of another person’s success, glory or the great respect others are showered with, and a sense of hatred out of jealousy takes root in them, their rebirth as humans will be marked by frail health. This stands […]
AN EXTREMELY JEALOUS INDIVIDUAL WILL NEVER ACHIEVE SATISFACTORY SUCCESS Master Jun Hong Lu: Individuals who are consumed by jealousy will never achieve any satisfactory success in their endeavours. Using past agricultural practice as a metaphor, it is impossible for them to have an abundant harvest. Assuming you cultivate corn as well as paddy and also […]
THE CONSEQUENCES OF JEALOUSY Caller: What are the karmic consequences of jealousy? Master Jun Hong Lu: Being jealous of others will result in you being the target of envy, this is the first retribution. Secondly, harbouring jealousy erodes your wisdom over time. This is because your constant jealousy and your unwillingness to maintain positive relationships […]
THE RELUCTANCE TO COMPLIMENT OTHERS IS A SIGN OF ARROGANCE Caller: Am I right to say that people do not like to give compliments because of their extreme arrogance? Master Jun Hong Lu: That is for sure. When you say, “I simply don’t like to compliment others”, it is a sign of arrogance which, in […]
DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM JEALOUSY, BE FREE FROM CONTENTION Master Jun Hong Lu: If you are someone who still harbours jealousy towards others, it goes to show that you have yet to reach the state of self-liberation. This is the reason why I say this to many young Buddhist practitioners, “You must always remember – never […]
STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS Master Jun Hong Lu: Avoid making comparisons with one another because once you do, you are bound to feel jealous when you realise that you are not as good as others. As one progresses in his spiritual cultivation, they must understand the importance of not harbouring any evil thoughts. Many […]
JEALOUSY BREEDS YOUR INNER DEMONS Master Jun Hong Lu: Why do people with a strong desire to win tend to make good progress in the early stages of Buddhist practice? This is because in the beginning, they are using their competitive nature to desperately do what is needed to the extent of relinquishing many of […]
THE ROOT CAUSE OF JEALOUSY Master Jun Hong Lu: Since time immemorial, jealousy has always been the largest character flaw of mankind. Why is it that every human has jealousy? This is because jealousy stems from the competitive drive to claim a certain level of right and benefit. It is an apathetic response we have […]
TO BE JEALOUS IS FOOLISH Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me use a magnifying glass to enlarge this feeling of jealousy in you. Once magnified, do you know what has become of you? You will realise how foolish you are. You are jealous of your colleague who makes you wonder, “Why is it that he […]
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING COMPETITIVE AND HAVING A STRONG SENSE OF PRIDE Caller: Some people have a strong sense of pride. They are fond of crafting the kind of life they want others to see. They tire themselves out with this conceited lifestyle. What’s the reason for people to go to such an extent? Master […]
A GOOD ATTITUDE THAT ADMIRES THE GOOD OF OTHERS CAN BE A CATALYST FOR ONE’S PROGRESS, BUT A NEGATIVE ONE CAN TURN ADMIRATION INTO HATE Caller: Lately, there is a popular proverbial saying on the internet that goes, “Envious-jealous-hateful”. Master, can you enlighten us as to why we feel envious when we see others living […]
ONE WILL NOT ACHIEVE ANY SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT BY MERELY PERFORMING VIRTUOUS DEEDS WITHOUT ELEVATING ONE’S STATE-OF-MIND Caller: Master, you mentioned that merit is a person’s ultimate token for admission to heaven, and this speaks volumes about its importance. In the case where one purely focuses on self-cultivation, without performing any virtuous deeds such as introducing […]
WHEN INTRODUCING BUDDHISM TO OTHERS, SINCERITY IS THE KEY Caller: Master, in the effort to propagate Buddhism to others, some fellow practitioners may not have the skill to do so. I was just wondering whether it’s alright to compile a guide that can help our sharing to be more focused. Just like in delivering a […]
HOW DO YOU PRACTISE DILIGENCE? AVOID DEGENERATION Master Jun Hong Lu: How do you practise diligence? It is the consistent mindfulness to practise. That is, every single thought is geared towards spiritual cultivation and every single thought is kind. It also means forcing yourself out of bed in the morning, even if you don’t want […]
ALL-ROUNDED DILIGENCE Caller: Master, you often compliment Buddhist friends for being diligent in their Buddhist practice. I am of the opinion that being diligent is not just about going all out to perform recitation. To be deemed as diligent, one needs to study Buddhism in Plain Terms, to safeguard the purity of body, speech and […]
RUN BEFORE YOUR KARMIC OBSTACLES CATCH-UP WITH YOU Master Jun Hong Lu: Whatever causes that put you off from spiritual cultivation are your own karmic obstacles. When you think, “Oh, I‘m too lazy to wake up in the morning” – this is the effect of your karmic obstacle! When your family members obstruct your practice […]
CORRECTING OURSELVES IS KEY TO OUR QUEST TO HELP SENTIENT BEINGS Question: After studying Buddhism in Plain Terms for a certain period of time, some Buddhist practitioners are aware that eliminating a worldly mindset is a critical element in breaking free from the six realms of rebirth. However, in the course of their Buddhism propagation, […]
ARE WE ‘SEEKING WORLDLY BLESSINGS’ IF WE PRAY FOR A LIFE FREE FROM SUFFERING AND FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE? Question: In introducing Buddhism to prospective Buddhist friends, typically we are targeted in our sharing of positive transformations of other Buddhist friends after their Buddhist practice. We would usually touch on aspects […]
A PENITENT HEART HELPS TO ELIMINATE ONE’S KARMIC OBSTACLES Question: How are you, Master? When you give us your guidance and we immediately realise that we have erred and the sense of shame and remorse washes over us, it is right in that instance, the said disciple’s karmic obstacles will be eliminated. What about those […]
WALK OUT OF MENTAL TRAUMA WITH BUDDHISM Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people live their entire lives unaware of the ways to eradicate their karmic obstacles which leaves them with no choice but to suffer. Bear this in mind, you can recover from any physical suffering such as a leg fracture or toothache, but you […]
WAYS TO ENHANCE THE AFFINITY BETWEEN BODHISATTVA AND SENTIENT BEINGS Question: It’s well understood that the success of our Buddhism propagation ultimately boils down to the level of affinity the prospective Buddhist friends have towards Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. Echoing this, the Lord Buddha once said, “The Buddha can only help those with predestined […]
TO WALK THE PATH OF THE BODHISATTVA IN THE HUMAN REALM IS TO HELP YOURSELF AS WELL AS OTHERS Caller: Master Lu, with regards to cultivating the path of the Bodhisattva in this human realm, does it mean that while we are cultivating ourselves, we are in a way also helping others to be awakened […]
WHEN ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTIES IN CULTIVATION, ONE SHOULD STAY CLOSE TO DILIGENT FELLOW BUDDHIST PRACTITIONERS Question: We are so hard-pressed for time in this Age of Dharma Decline. Those who are not spiritual cultivators will be led by the nose through life by their destiny and the force of karma. Having said this, Buddhist practitioners will […]
LESSONS FROM A TRAIN STATION ENCOUNTER: THE INFINITE POWER OF ROLE MODELS Master Jun Hong Lu: Robert is a renowned psychologist in the United States. One day, he was making his way to a subway station during the evening peak hour when he stumbled upon a shabbily-dressed man, lying in the middle of the stairs. […]
ETHICAL DISCIPLINE BEGINS WITH ENDURING Master Jun Hong Lu: I hope all of you will go all out to practise the act of giving. What can you give? Your heart, of course! You need to go all out in being kind to others, in being generous, patient and in maintaining a peaceful state. Unfortunately, you […]
HOW SHOULD A DISCIPLE BE A GOOD DHARMA PROTECTOR OF GUAN YIN CITTA DHARMA DOOR? Caller: How should each of us, the disciples of Guan Yin Citta, uphold our Dharma Door well and do what is right as a Dharma Protector? Master Jun Hong Lu: First and foremost, you should lead by example. This is […]
WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO REPEAT OUR PRAYER REQUEST? Caller: Master Lu, when praying for something, we just have to say it once and Bodhisattva will know. If so, why do we have to repeat our prayer to Bodhisattva? Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me ask you a question. Regardless of what you are doing, […]
THOSE WITH SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION MUST PERFORM RECITATION AND LEARN TO RELAX Master Jun Hong Lu: If your mood is easily affected when you hear negative comments from others, you are already suffering from depression. In this case, you must perform daily recitation including Little Houses, release captive lives and make great vows. If you […]
