DO NOT INJECT ANY FUNDRAISING AGENDA IN YOUR DHARMA PROPAGATION ACTIVITIES Caller: Hi Master, in this era, there is great potential to spread the dharma to countless people through social media. Now that we are running some paid advertisements online, is it alright to solicit funds among like-minded practitioners to pay for the advertising fees? […]
MONETARY DONATION SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY AND ACCORD WITH CONDITIONS; SOLICITATION OF FUND IS PROHIBITED Caller: Before attending the 1st May dharma convention, I was somewhat more focused on ways to propagate Buddhism as well as the number of people with whom I could share the dharma. However, after the dharma convention, I feel that I have […]
ONLY SINCERE AND THOROUGH REPENTANCE CAN PREVENT ONE FROM REPEATING HIS MISTAKES Caller: Master, why is it that people ‘forget the pain where gain follows’? How can we remember this pain and never commit the same mistake again? Master Jun Hong Lu: Humans are an entity of desires. In fact, the human body shares a […]
WHAT KIND OF SPEECH KARMA WOULD RESULT IN FALLEN LOTUS PEDESTALS IN HEAVEN? Caller: Hi Master, in some totem programs, you caution about the dire conditions of the lotus pedestals of Buddhist practitioners, who have committed negative karma of speech. In some cases, their lotus pedestals have fallen from heaven. Under what circumstances would negative […]
EVEN BODHISATTVAS DO NOT INTERVENE WITH THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT Caller: I heard of a saying, ‘Even Bodhisattvas do not intervene with the law of cause and effect’. I used to think that those who suffer from cancer or other terminal illnesses must have sown the evil seeds that have come to fruition […]
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUDDHIST PRACTICE AND THE LAW OF KARMA Caller: Is it right to say that everything in the human realm will change accordingly when we practise Buddhism? As long as we are diligent in our practice, we will definitely have good karma come our way. Assuming we are not fated to get married […]
HOW POSITIVE ENERGY DERIVED FROM ONE’S EFFORT IN SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION AND RECITATION COMES ABOUT? Caller: The increase in positive energy that Buddhist practitioners experience through spiritual cultivation and chanting are brought about by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas or from within themselves? Master Jun Hong Lu: If you give some thoughts to this question, you will […]
KARMA FOR SOWING DISCORD – A LONELY LIFE Caller: You mentioned before that if a person commits extensive acts of killing in his past lives, he would suffer the retribution of having a short lifespan in this lifetime. Some people seem fated to be lonely, having no one to rely on in this life. May […]
HOW DO DHARMA PROTECTORS RECORD OUR DAILY GOOD AND EVIL DEEDS? Caller: Master once shared that regardless of what we do in the human realm, heaven and the underworld will know about it. All these deeds will also be recorded by the Dharma Protectors. Just out of curiosity, there are six billion people on earth, […]
HOW DO WE ENHANCE OUR POSITIVE AFFINITY WITH GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA? Caller: Hi Master, is it true that the deeper our positive affinity with Guan Yin Bodhisattva, the more blessings we will gain and the easier it is for us to make it in our spiritual cultivation? Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure. Even […]
THE SEVERITY OF NEGATIVE KARMA OF SPEECH DETERMINES THE PART OF THE BODY THAT SUFFERS FROM ITS RETRIBUTIVE EFFECT Caller: With regards to the karmic ramifications from negative karma of speech, different people suffer from different diseases ranging from oral, lungs, kidneys and lower back. Why is that so? Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s very […]
IS IT POSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES FROM THE EIGHTH CONSCIOUSNESS? Caller: When reciting the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) and praying to Bodhisattva to prioritise the elimination of karmic obstacles in our eighth consciousness, would it make it easier for us to eliminate karmic obstacles related to our bad habits and at the same […]
A VIRTUOUS CYCLE IS SET IN MOTION WHEN ONE IS FILLED WITH ENERGY AND VITALITY Caller: Master, if a spiritual cultivator is full of vitality and he feels very energetic all the time, how can he convert this energy to benefit his spiritual endeavour? Master Jun Hong Lu: In fact, if he is full of […]
HOW DOES NEGATIVE KARMA OF SPEECH AFFECT ONE’S BODY? A discourse by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Di Zang Wang Pu Sa) Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: “A person who commits serious negative karma of speech may be born with a stutter or has problems swallowing food. These are the karmic ramifications related to this transgression and punishment is definite. One […]
EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR SUSTAINING INITIAL ASPIRATION Master Jun Hong Lu: To avoid falling into a state of slackness, it’s best to maintain your initial aspiration. This means reflecting on the reason that thrusted you into the dharma gate, and reminiscing about the blessings bestowed by Bodhisattva. The abundance of inspiration, peace, safety and happiness that […]
WILLINGNESS TO BE AT A DISADVANTAGE AND ENDURING HARDSHIPS ARE WAYS TO ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES Caller: Master Lu often advises us to learn to endure hardships and always be willing to take the shorter end of the stick. In this present life, if we suffer from humiliations and are on the losing end, does it […]
AVOID COMMITTING NEGATIVE KARMA OF SPEECH IN DHARMA PROPAGATION THROUGH CONTEMPLATING ON CAUSES AND CONDITIONS Caller: Sometimes when performing totem reading for Buddhist friends, Master detected tell-tale signs that they have inadvertently committed negative karma of speech in their effort to propagate Buddhism. It’d be great if Master could give some examples of cases to […]
MENTALITY IN BESEECHING BODHISATTVA Caller: A Buddhist friend is praying for a particular matter, but he is worried that his hefty karmic obstacles or weak willpower may hinder his prayer from being answered, despite his confidence in Guan Yin Bodhisattva responding to all prayers. Master, how do we overcome such a mentality? Master Jun Hong […]
THOSE WHO PERFORM RECITATION SHOULD BE CAREFUL IN THEIR SPEECH TO PREVENT ‘OUTFLOWS’ Caller: I have been practising Guan Yin Citta for over a year now after being introduced to it by my daughter. Master, can you point out my faults? Master Jun Hong Lu: You don’t know about your own faults? You should refrain […]
WHAT LEADS US TO DO BAD DEEDS? Caller: Master, you’ve mentioned before that when a person did something inappropriate or against the moral principles, say, at a certain time in his previous life, his inner demon will surface and reside in his consciousness. This explains why the person will keep thinking about the said matter. […]
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLASTIC SURGERY AND A PERSON’S FATE Caller: There are many ladies who opt for plastic surgery nowadays. How do we explain this from the metaphysical perspective? Master Jun Hong Lu: When it comes to plastic surgery, if you go overboard, then it is not good. Generally, for any minor ‘correction’ it is […]
THE INITIAL INSPIRATION IS THE CATALYST FOR DILIGENCE IN BUDDHIST PRACTICE Master Jun Hong Lu: Be diligent, and the basis for diligence is to stay true to your initial inspiration. Anyone who is holding on to his initial aspiration will be diligent. How did you start learning Buddhism? It was when you were experiencing great […]
THE GIVING OF DHARMA IS A HEAVENLY MISSION Master Jun Hong Lu: Sharing of the Buddha’s teachings, or the giving of dharma is a heavenly mission that can be performed anytime and anywhere. It is an integral part of Mahayana Buddhism, and hence, you are doing a bad deed if you deter others from performing […]
A RIGHTEOUS, LOUD AND CLEAR VOICE CAN CHANGE YOUR DESTINY Caller: Master, is there any significance to a person’s voice? Master Jun Hong Lu: Your voice foretells your life. Many people have weird voices, and their life is unpleasant. Caller: So, we should project a loud and clear voice so that we can alter our […]
ONE WHO ALWAYS PRAYS FOR SENTIENT BEINGS WILL HAVE HIS PRAYER FULFILLED Master Jun Hong Lu: If someone’s prayer is always answered, this is because he is praying for sentient beings rather than for himself. An awakened person understands, when the wellbeing of sentient beings is taken care of, things will certainly go well for […]
TALKING BEHIND OTHERS’ BACKS IS A SERIOUS KARMA OF SPEECH Caller: Master, you mentioned, “One is halfway to achieving Buddhahood when he is able to guard against creating the karma of speech”. May I ask if the karma of speech includes talking behind others’ backs? Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure. Caller: So, it […]
TACTFUL SPEECH LEADS TO LESS CREATION OF KARMA Caller: Hi Master, you once mentioned, “A person who is tactful in his speech will be less likely to create negative karma or suffer from retribution”. Does it mean that being tactful reduces the chances of creating negative karma? Master Jun Hong Lu: Being tactful with words […]
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE JADE EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY WHICH FALLS ON THE NINTH DAY OF THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH Caller: Hi Master, tomorrow is the ninth day of the first lunar month and it is widely deemed to be the birthday of the Heavenly Grandfather or the Jade Emperor. Who exactly is the Jade Emperor […]
IF YOU HAVE FAITH, YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT YOU PRAY FOR Caller: Master, could you please give me some advice? Master Jun Hong Lu: Just like boiling water, you can never bring the water to a boil without constant heat. You must persevere in your undertakings. With Bodhisattva’s blessings, your prayers will definitely get answered, […]
STATE-OF-MIND IS KEY TO AN EFFECTIVE PRAYER Caller: When we don’t get what we pray for, how do we rebuild our confidence? Please enlighten us, Master. Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me ask you, is there any prayer that will be answered instantaneously? For prayer to be answered, it must have been your effort, your […]
