STUDYING BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF-STUDY VERSUS GROUP STUDY Caller: Master, there was an important discussion on Buddhism in Plain Terms in last week’s call-in radio program that has greatly benefited our Buddhist practitioners. We were filled with dharma bliss conducting Buddhism in Plain Terms Group Study everyday. What is the […]
IN A WORLD OF AFFLICTIONS – RELY ON THE WISDOM OF BODHISATTVA Master Jun Hong Lu: The fact is, we grow up in an environment surrounded by a variety of afflictions. So, how do we transform them to see that, “Affliction is the path to realisation” as preached by Bodhisattvas? When you are able to […]
READING BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS WITH A REMORSEFUL HEART HELPS IN SPEEDY ELIMINATION OF NEGATIVE KARMA Caller: Master, I had a dream whereby I was feeling remorseful as I was reading the Buddhism in Plain Terms and as a result, the elimination of negative karma was remarkable; I sensed that the elimination of karma was […]
WHAT IS THE KIND OF KARMIC OBSTACLE FOR HAVING A HESITANT CHARACTER AND HOW DO WE RESOLVE IT Caller: Master, if a person lacks confidence, is hesitant, indecisive, and lacks principles and opinions in this life, what must he have done in his past life that resulted in these karmic obstacles? How should the person […]
ONE WILL NOT ACHIEVE ANY SPIRITUAL STATUS BY MERELY PERFORMING VIRTUOUS DEEDS WITHOUT ELEVATING ONE’S STATE-OF-MIND Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned that a person’s merit is his token for admission to heaven, hence it is very important. In the case where one focuses on cultivating himself spiritually, but he doesn’t go out to help others […]
THE STRONGER THE RESOLUTION THE GREATER THE POSITIVE RETURNS WILL BE. CULTIVATION IS ABOUT SINCERITY RATHER THAN FORMALISM Caller: Master, each time when we offer large incense, how much help would it be in eliminating our karmic obstacles or transforming our destiny? Master Jun Hong Lu: The question that you just asked is related to […]
HOW TO DEAL WITH SLANDER AND BACKBITING Caller: Master Lu, if slander and backbiting leads to a Buddhist friend becoming estranged with the group, how should we deal with that? Master Jun Hong Lu: Remain in the state of unmoving suchness, just like Bodhisattvas. Remember, when we are confronted with allegations, correct it if there […]
ALL DEEDS OF HUMANS CAN NEVER ESCAPE THE EYES OF BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS Caller: Master Lu, kindly give me a few words of advice. Master Jun Hong Lu: Cultivate diligently. All deeds of humans can never escape the eyes of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Don’t ever think that whatever you’ve done will not be seen by […]
ONE WHO IS ABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE REALITY OF THINGS WON’T SPEND MUCH TIME DOLLING UP Caller: I dreamed that a Buddhist practitioner was wearing a pair of red sunglasses and looked very fashionable. Master Jun Hong Lu: If one looks very fashionable, there will definitely be less room for Buddha’s teachings in the […]
HOW SHOULD WE INTERPRET THE IDEA THAT SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION REQUIRES US TO FORM POSITIVE TIES EXTENSIVELY Caller: In volume one, chapter 32 of Buddhism in Plain Terms, Master mentioned that spiritual cultivation is not simply about cultivating itself, but would also require us to forge positive affinities with others extensively. Lacking in such affinities would […]
ONE SHOULD NOT PERFORM GOOD DEEDS WITH THE INTENT TO COVER UP HIS OWN WRONGDOINGS Caller: A Buddhist practitioner is in debt. In the event that he has money to perform life liberation, but is not repaying his debt, is the virtuous achievement gained through performing life liberation considered perfect? Master Jun Hong Lu: He […]
SHOULD WE PRAY TO BODHISATTVA IN THE PRESENCE OF A RAINBOW Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned in your discourses that rainbows are the seven-coloured lights of Bodhisattva. You have also stated that if we gaze deeper into rainbows, we may be able to see Bodhisattvas. In that case, is it proper for us to gaze […]
WHEN WE ARE PARTICULARLY DOWN ON OUR LUCK, CAN WE OFFER GRAND INCENSE TO BODHISATTVAS EVERY DAY TO PRAY FOR BLESSINGS? Caller: Master Lu, when we are particularly down on our luck, in addition to performing recitations and meritorious deeds, can we pray for the blessings from Bodhisattvas by offering incense daily, especially the grand […]
PLACE WATER, POTTED PLANT OR LANDSCAPE PAINTING OF WATER AND MOUNTAINS ABOVE SHOE RACK TO ENHANCE THE ENERGY FIELD Caller: Master Lu, since the energy field at the shoe rack is not good, can we place some water and potted plant on top of the shoe rack to improve it? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, […]
MOBILE PHONE RINGTONES FROM THE METAPHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE Caller: Master Lu, with regards to mobile phone ringtones, what should we take note of from the metaphysical perspective? Master Jun Hong Lu: If a ringtone is causing you anxiety or irritation every day, the stimulus to the brain often results in an exhausted cortex. Caller: What about […]
BAD KARMA IS CREATED BY EVIL THOUGHTS. APPLY THE BUDDHIST TEACHING OF ‘HAVING NO THOUGHT’. SHOULD ANY THOUGHTS ARISE, THEY SHOULD BE KIND IN NATURE Master Jun Hong Lu: Do bear in mind, our evil thoughts cause bad karma to be created. These thoughts that lead our physical actions and verbal karma. As such, it […]
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THE GREATEST PAIN IN LIFE IS TO WAIT TO REAP WHAT ONE SOWS; ONE WILL NOT SUFFER IF HE DOESN’T SOW THE SEEDS OF CAUSE Master Jun Hong Lu: The greatest pain in life is waiting for your actions to bear karmic fruit. Thus, you will not suffer if you do not sow the seeds […]
ONE WHO USES WISDOM TO HANDLE MATTERS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCORD WITH CONDITIONS Caller: When handling matters, should we strive to use our acquired wisdom in making choices and facing issues or should we strive to accord with conditions? Alternatively, can we say that as long as we apply wisdom in handling of issues, […]
OFFERING GRAND INCENSE EVERY DAY Caller: Offering of grand incense is an act to invite Bodhisattva. Can Buddhist friends perform this act daily even though they do not have any important prayer requests to make? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. If you offer grand incense, Bodhisattva will definitely be there. Caller: Is it alright to […]
PROSTRATION IS THE INGENIOUS WAY TO ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES Master Jun Hong Lu: Putting our palms together signifies our practice of Buddhism while kneeling on our knees is a sign of repentance. When we kneel down with our palms together it means that we are repenting and at the same time committing ourselves to diligence […]
ON WIPING THE INCENSE BURNER FOR BETTER WEALTH LUCK Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned that wiping the incense burner has the effect of attracting wealth. In doing so, do we have to take the incense burner down from the altar, place it on a table or can we do it on the Buddhist altar itself? […]
WHEN WE LOSE COUNT ON THE NUMBER OF PROSTRATIONS DONE, DO MORE, NOT LESS Caller: When offering incense and paying respects to Bodhisattvas, we will usually perform seven prostrations at the beginning and at the end of the process. However, at times, we may be too engrossed that we lose count on the number of […]
WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY. BE MINDFUL AND TAKE CONTROL OF OUR SPEECH, THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS Master Jun Hong Lu: As I have frequently mentioned, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. This is true regardless of all endeavours. We can accomplish anything that we set our minds to. […]
CAN THE DOWNLIGHT THAT SHINES ON THE BUDDHIST ALTAR BE SWITCHED ON FOR 24 HOURS? Caller: Can the downlight that shines on the statue or portrait of Bodhisattva on the Buddhist altar at home be switched on for 24 hours? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is best not to do so. However, the light in […]
IS IT WRONG TO OFFER FRUITS TO BODHISATTVA BASED ON OUR PERSONAL LIKING? Caller: Master Lu, is it wrong for a Buddhist friend to choose the best fruits to be offered to Bodhisattva but at the same he gives consideration that the fruits are something they will enjoy eating when they are eventually removed from […]
PERSEVERANCE IS THE KEY TO BUDDHIST PRACTICE AND CULTIVATION; WE SHOULD LET GO OF OUR EGO AND OVERCOME OUR SHORTCOMINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: Perseverance is the key to Buddhist practice and cultivation. One will not succeed in this journey without perseverance – an essential aspect that we must be aware of. Effectively, we have […]
DISCOURSE BY GUAN DI BODHISATTVA : NO ONE SHOULD PLEAD FOR LENIENCY FOR ANYONE WHO MAKES ILL-GOTTEN GAINS IN THE NAME OF BUDDHA AND BODHISATTVA, DAMAGES OR SLANDERS BUDDHISM; TRANSGRESSORS SHALL FALL INTO THE RELENTLESS HELL WITH NO CHANCE OF REINCARNATION Guan Di Bodhisattva’s discourse: “Those who make ill-gotten gains in the name of Buddha […]
MASTER LU’S DISCOURSE: THREE CONDITIONS TO FULFIL IN ORDER TO ASCEND TO BODHISATTVA REALM Master Jun Hong Lu: Please remember, there are three conditions to fulfil in order to ascend to Bodhisattva Realm: 1) Foundation; 2) Dharma Cultivation; 3) Great Vows. In fact, this information is considered a mystery […]
PURIFY YOUR MIND WHEN DISTRACTING THOUGHTS SURFACE Caller: Master Lu, when we have distracting thoughts during recitations, which conscious level does these wandering thoughts comes from? Master Jun Hong Lu: The third and fourth conscious levels. Caller: When such wandering thoughts surface, should we restrain them or should we cleanse our thoughts? Master Jun Hong […]
