THE INITIAL INSPIRATION IS THE CATALYST FOR DILIGENCE IN BUDDHIST PRACTICE Master Jun Hong Lu: Be diligent, and the basis for diligence is to stay true to your initial inspiration. Anyone who is holding on to his initial aspiration will be diligent. How did you start learning Buddhism? It was when you were experiencing great […]
WHAT IS DOUBLE-TONGUED SPEECH? Master Jun Hong Lu: There will be no arguments or misunderstandings whatsoever if everyone refrains from committing double-tongued speech. What is double-tongued speech? It is essentially sowing discord between people, stirring up conflicts. This is something you should refrain from. A person who observes this discipline is one who cultivates virtuous […]
THE GIVING OF DHARMA IS A HEAVENLY MISSION Master Jun Hong Lu: Sharing of the Buddha’s teachings, or the giving of dharma is a heavenly mission that can be performed anytime and anywhere. It is an integral part of Mahayana Buddhism, and hence, you are doing a bad deed if you deter others from performing […]
A RIGHTEOUS, LOUD AND CLEAR VOICE CAN CHANGE YOUR DESTINY Caller: Master, is there any significance to a person’s voice? Master Jun Hong Lu: Your voice foretells your life. Many people have weird voices, and their life is unpleasant. Caller: So, we should project a loud and clear voice so that we can alter our […]
SPREADING POSITIVE WORDS OR ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO PRACTISE KINDNESS IS CONSIDERED HELPING OTHERS TO BE AWAKENED SPIRITUALLY Question: If we blend in those positive words of Master Lu in our conversation with friends, without intentionally mentioning the dharma element, is this also considered one way to help others to be awakened spiritually? Answer: Of course! […]
ONE WHO ALWAYS PRAYS FOR SENTIENT BEINGS WILL HAVE HIS PRAYER FULFILLED Master Jun Hong Lu: If someone’s prayer is always answered, this is because he is praying for sentient beings rather than for himself. An awakened person understands, when the wellbeing of sentient beings is taken care of, things will certainly go well for […]
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A NEGATIVE KARMA OF SPEECH? FALSE SPEECH Master Jun Hong Lu: Not telling lies means being honest in one’s words with no intent to deceive others. This is called sheer honesty without deception. Think about this: If you are truthful in conducting your speech, you are someone of noble character. The wise […]
TALKING BEHIND OTHERS’ BACKS IS A SERIOUS KARMA OF SPEECH Caller: Master, you mentioned, “One is halfway to achieving Buddhahood when he is able to guard against creating the karma of speech”. May I ask if the karma of speech includes talking behind others’ backs? Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure. Caller: So, it […]
DEALING WITH OFFICE GOSSIPS Question: If I do not wish to partake in my office gossip, can I just say, “I’m sorry, I need to excuse myself as I need to attend to something”? By making claims like having ‘something to attend to’ when I have none, is it considered telling a lie? Answer: Do […]
CULTIVATE ALTRUISM TO OVERCOME GREED Master Jun Hong Lu: Nowadays, people tune out when you try to give them advice. They are only concerned about their most-immediate vested interest and end up forsaking spiritual purification. It is very important to be far-sighted. When people seek the Buddha’s blessings for those vested interests, they are essentially […]
TACTFUL SPEECH LEADS TO LESS CREATION OF KARMA Caller: Hi Master, you once mentioned, “A person who is tactful in his speech will be less likely to create negative karma or suffer from retribution”. Does it mean that being tactful reduces the chances of creating negative karma? Master Jun Hong Lu: Being tactful with words […]
THE GIVING OF DHARMA BY THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS Master Jun Hong Lu: The Giving of Dharma by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Do you have any idea what it is? That is for everyone to learn Buddhism and cultivate spiritually, so that all sentient beings in the world can reap the greatest benefit of it. […]
LISTEN TWICE AS MUCH AS YOU SPEAK Master Jun Hong Lu: One’s ability to argue is not necessarily what is most valuable. After all, we have two ears and one mouth so that we should listen twice as much as we speak. A true mind-cultivator is one who is adept at attentive listening and appreciates […]
WORDS ARE POWERFUL – THEY CAN MAKE OR BREAK A PERSON Master Jun Hong Lu: A group of people went up the mountain for a hunting trip. Unfortunately, one of the hunters fell into a very deep pit. During the fall, he broke all of his limbs except his left arm. The pit was deep […]
GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA’S TIPS ON EFFICACIOUS PRAYER Master Jun Hong Lu: Finally, I asked Guan Yin Bodhisattva, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, can you teach us a method that will help make our prayers more efficacious? You have earlier mentioned about a ‘calm state of mind’, how do we achieve this state for our prayers to be […]
THERE IS NO END TO FIGHTS AND CONFLICTS Master Jun Hong Lu: Everyone of you must remember that there is no end to fights and conflicts. Today you fight with this person, tomorrow that person, conflicts are endless. You fight and jostle for all those inconsequential things in life, do you think anything positive will […]
IF YOU HAVE FAITH, YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT YOU PRAY FOR Caller: Master, could you please give me some advice? Master Jun Hong Lu: Just like boiling water, you can never bring the water to a boil without constant heat. You must persevere in your undertakings. With Bodhisattva’s blessings, your prayers will definitely get answered, […]
VALIDATE THE DHARMA THROUGH YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE Master Jun Hong Lu: All our endeavours in this world must accord with the dharma (the “right way of living” and the “path of rightness”). The viability of the teachings can only be proven through one’s personal experience; only you can tell whether your path of cultivation is […]
STATE-OF-MIND IS KEY TO AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER Caller: When we don’t get what we pray for, how do we rebuild our confidence? Please enlighten us, Master. Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me ask you, is there any prayer that will be answered instantaneously? For prayer to be answered, it must have been your effort, your […]
WHY DO MANY PEOPLE NOT GET THEIR PRAYERS ANSWERED EVEN AFTER MAKING VOWS? Master Jun Hong Lu: Instead of making constant progress, if a Buddhist practitioner regresses in their spiritual cultivation, they become nothing more than an ordinary being. On the other hand, if you are able to free yourself from vexations, your cultivation has […]
IT IS OUR RELENTLESS EFFORT THAT MAKES CULTIVATION, ENLIGHTENMENT AND PERFECTION IN SPIRITUAL PRACTICE POSSIBLE Question: During His time in the human realm, the Lord Buddha practised extreme asceticism for more than 10 years and yet, He failed to come to any spiritual awakening. However, when He meditated with His eyes shut under a Bodhi […]
HOW DO WE BALANCE THE NEED TO IMPLORE THE BLESSINGS OF BODHISATTVA? Caller: Master, you mentioned that we may confide anything to Guan Yin Bodhisattva; however, you also reminded us “not to pray to Bodhisattva for trivial matters, otherwise our prayers for matters of grave concern will be rendered ineffective”. The reason I ask is […]
ARE YOU SOWING DISCORD THROUGH “NON-VERBAL” COMMUNICATION? Question: For a person who does not lie, is not deceitful nor hypocritical in his speech, but chooses to adopt a weird tone when speaking, beating around the bush and seems to be trying to sow discord between others, is this still considered as double-tongue and false speech? […]
AWAKENING COMES TO THOSE WHO SINCERELY REPENT AND MEND THEIR WAYS Master Jun Hong Lu: One must learn to sincerely repent to be awakened. No matter what mistakes you have committed, you must be able to admit “I was wrong”. This is because only when you are able to admit your mistakes will you be […]
LETTING GO: WORLDLY VS SPIRITUAL PURSUITS Question: Hello Master, you once mentioned that the more one gains in his career in the secular world, the lesser blessings he is going to receive in heaven. Master, how can we ensure that while we strive hard at work, we are not placing excessive value on our worldly […]
IS IT ALRIGHT TO TELL A WELL-MEANING LIE? Question: I have a question about not telling lies. Assuming one’s spouse strongly opposes the idea of practising Buddhism. When performing life liberation or other meritorious deeds, if asked by the other half, the Buddhist practitioner may give excuses to disguise the truth. Is this considered lying? […]
HOW TO PRACTISE REJOICING IN THE KIND DEEDS AND MERITS OF OTHERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS? Question: How should we cultivate in order for us to be able to truly rejoice in others’ good deeds and meritorious blessings, without feeling a tinge of envy, jealousy or spite? Answer: You feel jealous and spiteful […]
MIGHTY OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW Master Jun Hong Lu: Performing prostrations in Guan Yin Hall may look trivial but, in reality such an act could protect and bless you, your family, and even whomever you think may deserve it. If you perform prostrations and pray sincerely to Bodhisattva, your wish will be fulfilled. The […]
IS BEING NON-COMPETITIVE AN ATTITUDE OF A NON-ACHIEVER? Question: Our practice of Buddhism has made us easy-going and we are not interested to contend. However, some people feel that this is an attitude of a non-achiever. Answer: It is a matter of one’s spiritual state. For example, when you let go after learning Buddhism, in […]
ONCE YOU TELL A LIE, YOU NEED TEN MORE LIES TO COVER THE LIE Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people are inclined to inject lies to even the short sentences they speak. Once you tell a lie, you need ten more lies to cover the lie. For instance, you tell your boss, “Boss, I’ll be […]