TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OTHERS THROUGH SPEECH IS A MANIFESTATION OF GREED Caller: How are you, Master? Would you be able to give me some advice please? Master Jun Hong Lu: The main issue about you is greed. Caller: In which aspect do you think I am greedier? Master Jun Hong Lu: You are greedy for […]
BE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SENTIENT BEINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Those who aspire to become a Buddha or a Bodhisattva must have great resolutions. I hope that you will have a great resolution to help sentient beings in the future, just like me, your master. Do not be preoccupied with your personal […]
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF TALENT BEING UNRECOGNISED? Caller: What is the cause of talent being unrecognised? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is the result of committing speech karma, which holds one back from utilising his ability. Source: Wenda20150524B 01:00:41, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
A CONFIDENT PERSON WILL ALLOW NATURE TO TAKE ITS COURSE Master Jun Hong Lu: Don‘t be silly. All phenomena in this world are merely affinities. Let it come and let it go. Whatever happens, don’t be frightened, like what I have said, “do not change with conditions”. To be able to do so not only […]
THE RIGHT ACTION Master Jun Hong Lu: What is “Right Action”? For example, you cannot steal, nor be promiscuous. What you do for a living should also be of good karma. Many people ask me, “Master Lu, we work in a restaurant and are involved in the act of killing, we don’t have a choice, […]
HOW DO WE ELIMINATE UNRULY THOUGHTS AND REMAIN UNMOVED? Master Jun Hong Lu: We should not be affected no matter what circumstances we are in. In times of adversity, how do we eliminate unruly thoughts and remain unmoved? Firstly, contemplate with wisdom. Understand that all phenomena are transient, and they never last. When we look […]
THE RIGHT MINDFULNESS Master Jun Hong Lu: Right Mindfulness means when faced with things or matters, you observe your thoughts and pay attention to them. By practicing the right mindfulness over a prolonged period, you are observing the causes and conditions. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting, Jakarta, Indonesia, 21 April 2017
DO NOT SUCCUMB TO LUST; COMMITTING ANIMAL-LIKE ACTS LEADS ONE TO BE REBORN AS AN ANIMAL Caller: How are you, Master? You once said, “Greed is the ticket to the hungry ghost realm while hatred and ignorance lead one to hell and the animal realm respectively.” How are these three poisons the roots of our […]
GRATITUDE GROWS FOR THOSE WHO VIEW THE WORLD WITH AN EQUANIMOUS MIND Master Jun Hong Lu: You should view the world with an equanimous mind. Regard everything in this world as an ordinary existence. Adopt an indifferent mindset and be thankful for everything – I am thankful that I have food today, and even if […]
KARMA OF SPEECH IS THE EASIEST WAY FOR ONE TO SHOULDER THE KARMIC OBSTACLES OF OTHERS Master Jun Hong Lu: In today’s society, you commit karma of speech not only through words uttered but also through words written. When you post an article online to criticise others, or make a sarcastic remark about someone, aren’t […]
OBSESSION WITH PETTY GAINS IS ALSO CONSIDERED GREED Master Jun Hong Lu: The basic human needs include clothing, food, shelter, and transport. The word ‘transport’ here does not only refer to the motion of walking, but it also denotes the importance for one to walk the right path in life. How is the ‘right path’ […]
BEING UNPERTURBED IS TO LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE Master Jun Hong Lu: To be unmoved in any given situation is a quality of a broad-minded person. We should not change when we encounter something; neither should be overly anxious. What’s the big deal? Since we have come to this world, we have to be […]
UNDERSTANDING OTHERS IS KEY TO DEVELOPING A SENSE OF GRATITUDE Caller: Master, how should we understand this sentence: only through understanding others can one develop a sense of gratitude? Master Jun Hong Lu: When you understand others, you will empathise with them for the suffering they endure. Only then will you develop compassion and feel […]
WAYS TO CONTROL DISTRACTING THOUGHTS Caller: Master, when we constantly safeguard our mind and the moment distracting thought arises, do we have to deliberately exercise restraint? We can recite some short sutras or mantras to fill up the time and gaps so as not to allow such distracting thoughts to perpetuate; recite more Heart Sutra […]
THOSE WHO ARE QUICK-MINDED AND ALWAYS THINK DEEPLY SHOULD APPLY RIGHT THOUGHTS TO APPRECIATE THE HIGH SPIRITUALITY OF THE DHARMA Caller: Master, those who are involved in brain-intensive professions are more adept at using rational thinking to analyse things in their daily encounters. Such people tend to have greater faith in scientific practices or things […]
THE MEANING OF “TO LISTEN, CONTEMPLATE AND PRACTISE” Master Jun Hong Lu: “To Listen, Contemplate and Practise” means to listen to the dharma, contemplate the dharma teachings, and put the teachings into practice. That is to transform what you listen into the right thoughts and then, you start to put what you learn into cultivating […]
THE ABSENCE OF RIGHT THOUGHTS IS DUE TO THE EVIL IN ONE’S HEART Caller: The dharma body of Master Lu said, “A person who aspires to become a Bodhisattva can’t do without the power of concentration and wisdom. Otherwise, they won’t be able to tell righteousness from evil and good from bad.” Master, when certain […]
CRAVINGS CAN CAUSE ONE TO SUFFER MORE Master Jun Hong Lu: The Buddha teaches us, “It is not the man who has too little but the man who craves more that suffers”; Their desires render them “psychologically impoverished”. A greedy person can be rich yet feels poor while a contented person can be poor yet […]
THE MOST MIRACULOUS QUOTE IN THE WORLD Master Jun Hong Lu: Once upon a time, there was a king who was eagerly in search of a quote that could make a happy person sad and a sad person happy. Unfortunately, it was a quest that yielded him no results. One fine day, the king dreamed […]
PRACTISE TRUE CULTIVATION – A MIND THAT IS UNPERTURBED Master Jun Hong Lu: In practising Buddhism, we must be true to our practice. No matter what happens, our mind should remain unperturbed, “no wax and no wane”. What does this mean? It is a state of “unmoving suchness”. What does it mean by “no wax […]
WAYS TO CORRECT HABITUAL THINKING AND TRANSFORM IT INTO THE RIGHT THOUGHT Caller: How do we correct our habitual thinking and transform it into the right thought, like that of a Bodhisattva? Master Jun Hong Lu: When the same train of thought keeps occurring, it will eventually become your habitual line of thinking. How do […]
RIGHT THOUGHT AND WRONG THOUGHT Master Jun Hong Lu: What is Right Thought? We must understand that what we do and think must be righteous. This means what you normally do must be just. For everything you do, you do it openly; that is, your action can be brought to light and none of which […]
THE SIGNS WHEN ONE SHOULDERS KARMIC OBSTACLES OF OTHERS Caller: Master, are the following possible signs when one shoulders the karmic obstacles of others: falling sick, having a headache, reduced spirituality, overwhelmed by negative energy, regressing in one’s spiritual cultivation or even harbouring thought of giving it up altogether? Master Jun Hong Lu: They are […]
HOW DO WE OBSERVE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS? Caller: One should observe causes and conditions when propagating Dharma to others. Is there a method that we can apply with regards to this? Master Jun Hong Lu: There is definitely a method. It is through calmness that you have the ability to observe causes and conditions. If […]
TRANSFORM BAD HABITS TO ACCOMPLISH THE BUDDHA’S PATH Master Jun Hong Lu: What is “dharma”? It is about making use of Bodhisattva’s wisdom and energy to reflect upon ourselves in our daily lives and to apply the pure Buddhist teachings to our daily life. It is about a constant application of what you know of […]
WHAT CONSTITUTES DILIGENCE? ALL-ENCOMPASSING DILIGENCE Caller: Master, you often make comments about those who have been very diligent in their cultivation. I am in the opinion that just by being diligent in performing recitation is far from enough. One needs to study Buddhism in Plain Terms, keep the “body, speech and mind” pure, help others, […]
HOW DO WE DETERMINE IF WE CAN MAKE THE VOW TO SUCCEED IN OUR CULTIVATION WITHIN THIS LIFETIME? Caller: Master mentioned before that the ripening of negative karma will take place at an accelerated pace within five years after making the vow to succeed in cultivation within this lifetime. Some Buddhist practitioners are worried that […]
EVERY SINGLE THOUGHT IS GEARED TOWARDS SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION 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 to make sure every single thought is positive. It also means forcing yourself out of bed in the morning, even […]
CREATE OUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES Master Jun Hong Lu: In ancient times, there was a fencing master. When asked who and what was the one unforgettable thing that had benefited him the most in his life, he said it was something his mother once said to him. At that time, he was just 18 years old, […]
THOSE WHO ARE TRULY WISE WILL DEVOTE THEIR LIVES TO HELPING OTHERS Master Jun Hong Lu: For Buddhist practitioners, we should understand that it is only through dedication that we are considered to be truly diligent. Have you dedicated yourself today? How much have you done for others, being of service to others and helping […]