KARMA IS GENERATED THE MOMENT HATRED ARISES, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FORMATION OF NEGATIVE AFFINITY Master Jun Hong Lu: The hatred in you will reveal itself if you are someone who frequently loses your temper. The moment you give rise to hatred, the seeds of ‘cause’ are planted and the wheel of karma is […]
STRESS IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE KARMA Caller: One Buddhist practitioner has dreams daily and they are mostly dreams with implications, either premonition dreams or dreams that act as a reminder to him or someone else. As such, he is rather stressed out and is unable to sleep well. To address this problem, what should […]
WE SHOULD NOT LIVE OUR LIVES BLAMING OTHERS Master Jun Hong Lu: We should not live our lives blaming others. Instead of finding fault with others, we must often reflect on our own mistakes. When you are afflicted, as much as possible, you must look for ways to apply wisdom to resolve the issue at […]
WHAT IS KARMIC OBSTACLES? Master Jun Hong Lu: “Karmic obstacle is the negative effect derived from the law of cause and effect. In other words, it is the effect that you have derived from the cause that you have sown.” Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 1 Chapter 8
THE HEART OF REPENTANCE 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 – this is another […]
THE FOUR TYPES OF MIRACULOUS POWER IN THE HEART SUTRA Master Jun Hong Lu: I will now offer you some insights into the Heart Sutra since it is a Buddhist scripture that all of you recite daily. As a matter of fact, the Heart Sutra carries a supremely important message that can be summed up […]
RESENTMENT COMES FROM MAKING COMPARISONS Master Jun Hong Lu: The human heart is full of hatred. But, do you know where does hatred come from? Let me tell you this: Hatred evolves when you make comparisons. The moment you start comparing yourself with others, you will bring forth the resentment in your heart. This explains […]
WHY SHOULD WE BE SINGLE-MINDED AND DILIGENT IN OUR METHOD OF SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION? Master Jun Hong Lu: In Buddhism studies, why should we be single-minded and diligent in our method of cultivation? Once you have identified the dharma door that is most suitable for you, it is important that you must learn and cultivate the […]
REASONS FOR ONE TO DROP OUT OF THE SPIRITUAL PATH; DILIGENCE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS Caller: There is a saying that goes, “Uncrowded is the path to the Lotus Pond in the West” because there are too many who will drop out of this path of spiritual cultivation, arising from: 1. The disappearance of […]
THE STORY OF CONFUCIUS AND HIS MOST-TRUSTED DISCIPLE YAN HUI Master Jun Hong Lu: During the Spring and Autumn-Warring States period, Confucius and his disciples went around the country that had been ravaged by the turmoil and tumult of a war. It was a physically-gruelling journey. Having gone without even a grain of rice for […]
WHERE DOES HATRED COME FROM? NEGATIVE AFFINITIES GIVE RISE TO HATRED Master Jun Hong Lu: Now that we have started practising Buddhism, why is it that we still can’t stand the sight of certain people and bear grudges towards others? It all comes down to affinities. When negative affinities come along, ignorance starts to arise. […]
GIVING IS WISDOM AND RECEIVING IS THE RESULT OF KARMA Master Jun Hong Lu: Today I would like to tell everyone that, the word ‘equanimity’ from the Four Boundless States of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity is very important for Buddhist practitioners. While it is easy to practise loving-kindness, to be compassionate and to […]
THE STRENGTH OF ONE’S MINDSET Master Jun Hong Lu: Even cancer cells will be intimidated by someone who has a heart of joy. Do you think these bad cancer cells will be afraid when they see Bodhisattvas? This is for sure. On one hand, the cancer cells will be frightened when one’s mind is as […]
THE ROAD TO LIBERATION Master Jun Hong Lu: If a particular sect is constantly accusing others of being improper, distorting their words, slandering them and misusing various Buddhist teachings so as to suppress people or matters, it only goes to show that it is not an upright dharma. To date, Master has never ever uttered […]
CRITERIA TO ASCERTAIN A PROPER DHARMA DOOR Master Jun Hong Lu: Using Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door as an example, we may use the following three benchmarks to determine whether Guan Yin Citta is a proper Dharma Door. No. 1 – Does Guan Yin Citta encourage everyone to be kind at all times? No. 2 […]
HOW DO WE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TRUE BELIEF AND DELUSIONAL BELIEF? Master Jun Hong Lu: All of you must bear in mind of the following key characteristics of true belief: No. 1 – it should guide us to be inclined to kindness. No. 2 – its aim in cultivation is to uncover our true nature (innate […]
BE DISCIPLINED IN ORDER TO GAIN WISDOM AND THE POWER OF CONCENTRATION Master Jun Hong Lu: In order to gain wisdom and the power of concentration, one must be disciplined. In fact, the level of wisdom that one gains is in proportion to their strictness on discipline. Lacking in discipline makes the attainment of wisdom […]
IF YOU DO NOT ADVANCE, YOU GO BACKWARDS Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a saying, “If you don’t advance, you go backwards!” In Buddhism studies, a person who fails to exert some pressure on himself to make progress, is in reality going backwards. Therefore, in Buddhism, one’s dedication to progress is extremely important, and […]
THE MEANING OF “IMPERMANENCE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT IN LIFE”, “RICHES DON’T LAST”, “PARTING COMES AFTER EVERY CONGREGATION”, “DEATH DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE EVEN FOR THE STRONG AND HEALTHY” Caller: Hi Master, the Buddha once said that there are four things that are impermanent in this world and I’d like to seek your guidance on them. […]
PERSEVERANCE IS KEY TO EXTERMINATE THE THREE POISONS Caller: How can we restrain the Three Poisons, namely greed, hatred and ignorance in our mind? Is it alright to always pray to the Bodhisattva, “May Bodhisattva help quell the Three Poisons in my heart”, or “Bodhisattva, I do not want any of the Three Poisons”? How […]
A GRATEFUL HEART LIES WITHIN A MAGNANIMOUS HEART AND IT WILL HELP ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES Caller: Hi Master, you once said, “A magnanimous heart will keep afflictions and karmic obstacles at bay”. Is it right to understand it as: A magnanimous heart has the effect of reducing the burden of the onslaught of one’s heavy […]
PRACTISE RIGHT MINDFULNESS SO THAT DEVIL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER YOUR SEVEN APERTURES Master Jun Hong Lu: The more you practise Right Mindfulness, the lesser delusional thoughts you will have. With this, the devil will not be able to enter your Seven Apertures, i.e. (two) eyes, (two) nostrils, (two) ears, and mouth. Conversely, […]
THE OBJECTIVE OF BUDDHIST PRACTICE AND CULTIVATION Master Jun Hong Lu: What is the purpose of Buddhist practice and cultivation? A lot of us have the answer: To attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, specifically, to what extent should one cultivate for one to be reborn in the Western Pure […]
A MIND FULL OF DELUDED THOUGHTS IS A DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND Master Jun Hong Lu: A mind full of deluded thoughts is a devil’s playground. These devils are like the thieves that steal your heart away. That is why it is called the ‘Thief of Hearts’. It robs you off all the kindness, leaving you with […]
WAYS TO AVOID BEING CHAINED DOWN BY GREED AND NOT BECOMING A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES Caller: Hi Master, given our inherent Seven Emotions and Six Sensory Pleasures, we tend to be captivated by beautiful things, people and objects. When one recognises and enjoys the good qualities of the objects or person, but has no desire […]
WHY PRACTISE BUDDHISM? Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people regard Buddhism as a pursuit meant for the old. The reality is, Buddhism is the ultimate truth of the universe. From taking up the faith to the day a complete enlightenment is attained, this is what’s called a perfection of awakening – a state of ‘unsurpassed […]
CONTENTMENT IS THE WAY, GRATITUDE IS VIRTUE Master Jun Hong Lu: Contentment is the Way, gratitude is virtue. Only when you are content, will you search for salvation in Buddhism and seek the path to Buddhahood. Being grateful towards others is a virtue. How does one become virtuous? It is when he is content and […]
ENDURANCE IS NOT THE HIGHEST STATE OF MIND; STRIVE TO RESOLVE THE KARMIC CONFLICTS INSTEAD Caller: Hi Master, as the saying goes, “Kind people are vulnerable to being taken advantage of”, in that case, do we still have to always tolerate everything? As Buddhist practitioners, what should we do? Master Jun Hong Lu: You need […]
IN THE FACE OF A NEGATIVE AFFINITY, DO WE ENDURE OR AVOID IT? Caller: There are both good and bad affinities within one’s relationship circle. In the context of a negative affinity, where deep down, we understand the nature of it is the crystallisation of evil seeds sown in the past, and hence, we must […]
INTERNAL FORBEARANCE AND EXTERNAL FORBEARANCE Caller: For those who are accomplished in their spiritual cultivation, when they endure humiliation, their heart is in a state of unmoving suchness. As for us with lower-level of spiritual cultivation, though on the surface we may appear to be able to restrain from committing negative karma of speech, but […]