AN EXPEDIENT MEAN IS ABOUT PLAYING TO ONE’S STRENGTHS WHEN PROPAGATING BUDDHISM TO OTHERS Caller: Every Bodhisattva has His own strengths in terms of dharma propagation. As for us, while practising, we apprehend the truth. In this aspect, I’d like to seek Master’s advice on whether it is appropriate to pray for Bodhisattva’s blessings on […]
TO MAKE DHARMA PROPAGATION MORE PERSUASIVE, LEARN FROM MASTER’S APPROACH OF USING EXAMPLES Caller: Master often uses examples to explain and answer questions from Buddhist practitioners. Should we also use more examples when sharing the dharma with others? This is especially relevant to questions that cannot be directly answered but can be better explained through […]
WITH A CALM MIND, EVERYTHING WILL NATURALLY GO SMOOTHLY Master Jun Hong Lu: First question: I asked Bodhisattva in my mind, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, nowadays many people often ask me this question: Why does my prayer go unanswered?” Guan Yin Bodhisattva said, “With a calm mind, all prayers will naturally come true”. Are you able […]
GIVING WITHOUT PERCEPTION Master Jun Hong Lu: It is essential for the practice of giving not to be attached to any perception. If you become attached, you will be caught up in the scenario where you are fixated on the act of giving. Do you understand? What this means is you anticipate an reward every […]
SEVEN TYPES OF GIVING IN BUDDHISM THAT DON’T COST MONEY A man once went to the Buddha and cried, “I am such a loser; I fail in everything I do”. The Buddha told him, “That’s because you didn’t practise giving”. This person said, “Buddha, I am a poor man. How am I supposed to practise […]
WEALTH IS DERIVED FROM THE GIVING OF WEALTH Caller: Is wealth only derived from the giving of wealth? Can we also derive wealth from the giving of dharma or fearlessness? Master Jun Hong Lu: Generally, it is from the giving of wealth that one derives wealth. Why is it that prayer for wealth tends to […]
SAFEGUARD YOUR BLESSINGS BY EMBRACING A HEART OF GRATITUDE Caller: Master has said that the great virtue of someone who wholeheartedly propagates Buddhism with a noble intention of wanting to benefit all sentient beings, will result in an increase in his worldly blessings. I’d like to ask Master as to how we should handle such […]
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO USE GRAPHICS THAT EVOKE FANTASIES Question: In an effort to spread the dharma, some fellow practitioners will match Master’s teachings with a caricature of a beautiful girl. Is this appropriate? Answer: It’s never ideal to use anything that evokes fantasies. This explains why you should always go for a decent […]
GIVING IS THE KEY TO WEALTH Master Jun Hong Lu: After learning about the karma of giving, a man eagerly told the Zen Master, “When I strike it rich in the future, I will definitely cultivate generosity and make a career out of helping others”. The Zen master answered, “If you are only willing to […]
THE PRACTICE OF GIVING: THE THREE TYPES OF GIVING Master Jun Hong Lu: First, let’s talk about the perfection of giving. What does it mean? When you see all the sufferings of life, you develop compassion in your heart, and you channel all your energy into helping others so that all deluded beings are able […]
WITH STRONG WILLPOWER, COMES GREAT EFFORTS Caller: Master, you have previously mentioned that we should often enhance our mental strength. For those who are lacking in this aspect, is there any method that can help? Master Jun Hong Lu: Willpower is the key. With strong willpower, the mental strength you have will be greater – […]
IMAGES OF BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS USED FOR ONLINE DHARMA SHARING SHOULD HAVE A SOLEMN APPEARANCE Question: In their effort to propagate the dharma online, some Buddhist practitioners will modify the images or appearances of Amitabha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva to be human-like. Is this appropriate? Answer: Such actions are disrespectful and sacrilegious towards the Bodhisattvas, […]
REFRAIN FROM KILLING, LIVE A SMOOTH LIFE Tai Sui Bodhisattva for 2020 – General Lu Mi: “The acts of killing and sexual misconduct are the most damaging to one’s fortune. They are the gravest sin committed by sentient beings in this Age of Dharma Decline. If any of you can strictly adhere to the Buddhist […]
BE TOLERANT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERZEALOUS IN THEIR DHARMA GIVING Question: We have a dedicated platform primarily to broadcast Master’s latest discourses and notification on the activities of Guan Yin Hall. In the group, there is an overzealous disciple who diligently forwards Master’s discourses that he receives from other social media platforms, including Words […]
THREE WAYS TO AVOID BEING ANGRY Master Jun Hong Lu: When someone in your family is angry, the first thing you should do is to stay away. But for many people, their first reaction is to put themselves on a collision course with their spouse, only to be embroiled in a heated exchange. In fact, […]
IT IS ONLY THROUGH CALMNESS THAT YOU SEE THE TRUTH Master Jun Hong Lu: As Buddhist practitioners, you should actively practise concentration. What is concentration? No matter what suffering and tragedy you are faced with, you need to stay calm, unperplexed and untroubled by what you see. This is because what you see today may […]
KARMA OF SPEECH: THE FOUR TYPES OF SPEECH WE SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM Master Jun Hong Lu: There are four types of speech we should abstain from because it will help prevent missteps in life. You must be aware that there are four types of unwholesome speech and be very careful so that you avoid committing […]
COMPASSION CAN SHIELD ONE FROM HARM Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me tell you that in the 21st century, you can bank on compassion to help you ward off calamities, dispel troubles, eliminate vexations, and defuse conflicts. With a heart of compassion, no major calamities whatsoever will befall you. Conversely, if you lack a compassionate […]
SPEAK AT A MEASURED PACE Master Jun Hong Lu: The way a person speaks represents his level of cultivation. It is important to speak at a measured pace. What’s the point of speaking at length if others cannot understand what you are saying? Speak slowly and let your words reach the listeners’ ears so that […]
WE NEED TO PLUG ALL LEAKAGES CAUSED BY OUR SHORTCOMINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: When a person truly wishes to learn Buddhism and changes his bad habits, he must plug all ‘leakages’ caused by his shortcomings. He is someone who goes, “Today, I have decided to be a good person. Hence, I cannot allow myself […]
THE KARMA OF FALSE SPEECH Master Jun Hong Lu: People who habitually tell lies and commit false speech would suffer from another form of retribution apart from being loathed by others – a kind of retribution that affects their body. Bodhisattva said that this retribution comes in the form of bad breath; it is a […]
WAYS TO PREVENT THE ERUPTION OF KARMIC OBSTACLES Caller: Hi Master, during last Saturday’s radio program, you told a male fellow practitioner that his percentage of karma was 67%. He was born in 1958, the Year of the Dog. He is terrified and has a question. What should he do in order to eliminate at […]
BE INCLINED TO KINDNESS Master Jun Hong Lu: In this modern age, it is important that we incline to kindness and instil kindness into our hearts. Let your compassionate heart spring up, just like the way bamboo shoots sprout after a spring rain. Compassion can help gradually eliminate the karmic obstacles in our eighth consciousness. […]
HOW CAN WE TOUCH OTHERS’ HEART WHEN PROPAGATING DHARMA TO THEM? Caller: Master, you have the ability to deeply resonate with others and speak to their hearts, while we struggle to do the same. Please guide us, Master, on how we can gain the skill of making a heartfelt connection with others. Master Jun Hong […]
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON WITH LESS THAN 20% OF KARMIC OBSTACLES Question: What are the characteristics of a person with less than 20% of karmic obstacles? Kindly advise us, Master. Answer: Their state-of-mind. People with less than 20% of karmic obstacles possess a high state-of-mind. They won’t engage in fights or quarrels. You can […]
STAYING STEADFAST IS A MUST EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE BENEFITED FROM YOUR BUDDHIST PRACTICE Master Jun Hong Lu: There will be times when practising Buddhism can be likened to digging a well. If you wish to dig a well, you have to be prepared to draw water from it later on. Many people merely wait […]
HOW DO WE DETERMINE OUR LEVEL OF KARMIC OBSTACLES? Caller: How do we determine our level of karmic obstacles? Master Jun Hong Lu: Normally, if your prayers go unanswered, it is a sign that your karmic obstacle is hefty. Also, if you experience a lot of obstacles in life or have a run of bad […]
KARMIC OBSTACLES ARE LIKE EXPLOSIVES Caller: A fellow Buddhist practitioner rarely has nightmares. As a result, he rarely recites Little Houses for himself. Can Master explain whether in such cases his karmic obstacles will still accumulate to a point and erupt one day? Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course! If it keeps accumulating and reaches […]
THE BEST RESPONSE TO SLANDER IS TO KEEP SILENT Master Jun Hong Lu: When you are at the receiving end of a slander, the best response is to keep your silence. We must learn from the Bodhisattva to dwell in peace and abstain from talking. Unfortunately, many people cannot do this. Even amongst those who […]
THE PERCENTAGE OF KARMIC OBSTACLES WILL DETERMINE THE REALM THAT ONE ENDS UP IN UPON DEATH Caller: Master, yesterday you commented that a fellow practitioner has a high percentage of karmic obstacles of 29%. I’d like to ask, at what level, karmic obstacles are considered high? Master Jun Hong Lu: Didn’t I tell you before? […]
