THE RATIO OF NEGATIVE KARMA THAT WILL TRIGGER RIPENING Caller: The issue of ‘ripening of the negative karma’ is often raised and in this regard, is there an approximate level to trigger the ripening of the negative karma? Is there a reference point? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, 80%. Generally, it starts to ripen at […]
DILIGENCE: THE KEY TO CHANGING ONE’S DESTINY In the golden circular pavilion near the entrance of the Pure Land, Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Great Strength Bodhisattva (Da Shi Zhi Pusa) were talking to some heavenly children. Guan Yin Bodhisattva: Children, you see these worldly people who are buying wet tissues? Although the difference in price […]
DILIGENCE IS WHEN YOU TRANSFORM YOUR THOUGHTS Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people say, “When I was little, fortune-teller told me that I would be blessed with good fortune. But, why don’t I see any of these good fortunes now?” It is because every day, you have too many worries and are living in distress, […]
DO NOT SEND INAPPROPRIATE EMOJIS Question: Are Buddhist practitioners allowed to send emojis such as people hugging in online chat groups? As we don’t know the gender of the group members, will there be any karmic obstacles for doing so? Answer: Buddhist cultivators should never do such a thing. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse […]
MEMORISING THE TRANSLATED VERSION OF BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS WILL GARNER THE SAME AMOUNT OF BLESSINGS AS THAT FOR THE CHINESE VERSION Caller: Master, do different languages generate different energy fields? Master’s Buddhism in Plain Terms has been translated into multiple languages. When non-Chinese Buddhist practitioners are learning the translated version by heart, will they […]
BREAK YOUR PHONE ADDICTION Master Jun Hong Lu: A person who often uses his phone is wasting his life and time. Do you not understand? Unless you are using your phone to propagate Buddhism, you are essentially wasting your time. Do you know how much time you spend on your phone? Do you know how […]
TO ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT, ONE MUST BE CONSTANTLY RACING AGAINST TIME, REMAIN DILIGENT, STEADFAST AND NEVER SLACK OFF Caller: How are you Master? Nowadays, the majority of us are aware that most things in life are predetermined. One example is when the Buddha attained enlightenment during His time, it was also at a predetermined time and […]
HOW TO PRAY TO GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA TO ELIMINATE THOUGHTS RELATING TO SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Caller: Is there a way to pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to help me eliminate the thoughts relating to sexual misconduct? How do I state my prayer? Master Jun Hong Lu: ”May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva […]
OBSERVE THE TEN KIND DEEDS TO TRANSCEND WORLDLINESS Master Jun Hong Lu: Misfortune befalls those who take what is not given. Practise frugality, loyalty and never take what is not yours. If you refrain from taking what is not yours, doesn’t this make you a righteous person; one who is free from self-interest? Don’t you […]
CONTEMPLATE THE BODY AS IMPURE Caller: Master Lu, please enlighten us on the various methods of meditation that can help us to effectively calm our mind. Thank you. Master Jun Hong Lu: Meditation methods include counting of breaths. The other method is “Contemplation of the Body as Impure”. The world that we live in is […]
NIPPING OUR BAD HABITS IN THE BUD Master Jun Hong Lu: Once, there was a boy and in his very first attempted theft, he got away with a needle. Thinking that it was just an insignificant loot, his mother brushed it aside and failed to reprimand the boy. This motivated him to continue with his […]
WAYS TO ELIMINATE LUSTFUL THOUGHTS OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Caller: How are you, Master? I’d like to ask about the precepts on abstaining from sexual misconduct. Strictly speaking, having lustful thoughts is considered a form of sexual misconduct, right? Master Jun Hong Lu: Absolutely correct! Caller: Realistically speaking, this is the hardest precept to keep. In […]
TAKING THINGS FROM THE GUAN YIN HALL WITHOUT PERMISSION CONSTITUTES THEFT Master Jun Hong Lu: There are guidelines to follow when making offerings to Bodhisattvas: One must never consume the fruits that have been set aside for offering. When offering some apples to Bodhisattvas, you may think of consuming one of them to quench your […]
AN OVERVIEW OF THE SIX PARAMITAS Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me explain to you what the “Six Paramitas” is. If you wish to be a Tathagata, Bodhisattva, or attain Nirvana, the Six Paramitas are what you ought to practise. The same goes with all of the Bodhisattvas who aspire to be a Buddha. The […]
VARIOUS FORMS OF THEFT Master Jun Hong Lu: The second precept is abstaining from stealing, which includes seizing things by force. This is because everything in this world involves a transfer of sovereignty under its terms. Hence, making an untrue claim to gain benefit is considered an act of stealing. This includes demanding monetary reward […]
GREED TRAPS US IN THE WEB OF ENDLESS SUFFERING Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: Suffering, sickness and vexations of sentient beings are the consequence of causes and conditions planted in their past and present lives. If a person’s soul constantly experiences punishment or imprisonment in hell, though their life has not come to an end, they are already […]
STARTING OFF WITH THE RIGHT INTENTIONS WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO THE SUCCESS IN CULTIVATION Master Jun Hong Lu: The most difficult phase throughout your journey of learning the Dharma will actually be the very beginning. No doubt you will start off with the strongest determination, but this feeling will gradually fade away. When you begin […]
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KARMIC FORCE AND SHORTCOMINGS Caller: Master, how do we differentiate karmic force from shortcomings? Master Jun Hong Lu: Karmic force is the result of all the karmas committed in your past and present lives. After a prolonged period, these karmas transform into a form of force that is called “karmic force”. Shortcomings, […]
LEARN TO VISUALISE AND TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR THOUGHTS Master Jun Hong Lu: In fact, visualisation is a way to train your thoughts – where you contemplate if your thoughts are righteous or not. If you make it a habit to do so, your thoughts will not go wrong. You have to pay attention to […]
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ERADICATE THE SIN OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WHILE IN THIS HUMAN REALM Caller: In one of those past radio programs, Master has said, “Any form of sexual misconduct is a non-negotiable sin”. What does this mean? Does it mean that in comparison with other forms of evil acts, sexual misconduct is so […]
TO TREAD THE BUDDHA’S PATH EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE Master Jun Hong Lu: Let your mind imbue with all the good that others have done for you, Let only gratitude towards others dwell in you, Let your heart be anchored to your Buddha-nature, Thus and so, you tread the Buddha’s path every day of […]
WHAT IS THE WORST KIND OF SUFFERING? Master Jun Hong Lu: The Buddha once said, a long time ago, there was a diligent and steadfast Bhikkhu, who was endowed with five types of supernatural powers. Every time he was cultivating in solitude under a tree in the mountains, he would attract a pigeon, a crow, […]
PASSING ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM MERITORIOUS DEEDS TO OTHERS IS A SIGN OF SLACKING IN CULTIVATION Caller: Is it considered a type of Giving when one passes on the opportunity to perform meritorious deeds to others out of great mercy? Despite having lesser merits, will the person gain new merits for giving the opportunity […]
OUR MASTER IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN THIS WORLD Master Jun Hong Lu: After a few more decades, all of you will not be in this world anymore, what should you do? Master is gone too, will you look for me? One thing for sure, I am nowhere to be found in this world, […]
PRACTISE FILIAL PIETY BY LOVING OUR MASTER AS WELL AS PARENTS Caller: I adore you, Master. I feel my adoration for you has surpassed what I have for my parents. Is this a sign of my lack of filial piety? Master Jun Hong Lu: What’s so unfilial about it? After all, I’m your teacher, providing […]
READING BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS PRIOR TO PERFORMING RECITATION HELPS CONTROL WANDERING THOUGHTS Caller: Hi Master, one fellow Buddhist friend has shared that given our mind tends to wander while performing recitation, he recommended reading a chapter of the Buddhism in Plain Terms aloud prior to performing our recitation. In his view, it’s an effective […]
DO NOT BE A SLAVE OF YOUR DESIRES Master Jun Hong Lu: As humans, we should never enslave ourselves by falling to the temptations of carnal desires – what you desire enslaves you. If you desire money, you will exert yourself at work and learn to earn as much as you can. If you like […]
THE OBSERVATION OF ONE’S THOUGHT HAPPENS AT WHICH LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS? Caller: Hi Master, after practising Buddhism, we have been reminding ourselves to guard against our arising thoughts, that is, we should always observe our thoughts. Such self-awareness can be likened to having someone constantly watching over our thoughts. When an unwholesome thought arises, we […]
A TRUE STORY OF THE INFALLIBLE WORKING OF THE LAW OF KARMA – THE COW SHE BRUTALLY KILLED IN HER PAST LIFE REINCARNATES AS HER HUSBAND, WHO RUTHLESSLY TORTURES HER IN THIS LIFE Question: Can you verify the authenticity of this anecdote? Here’s how the story goes: I rang my youngest aunt today and from […]
THE TRUE PRACTICE OF COMPASSION Master Jun Hong Lu: We must be devoted to the welfare of others. Once, there was a traditional Chinese doctor, who would prepare a pocket-size hot water bag during winter. Every time his hands turned cold, he would immediately replace the water in the bag with boiling water. During every […]