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 […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
SETTING UP THE BUDDHIST ALTAR GENERATES THE BEST FENG SHUI Caller: Hi Master, with regards to the subject on the Buddhist altar that you just talked about, a Buddhist friend has this understanding, “Master once said that the best feng shui in the home comes from the altar, where the entire space is illuminated by […]
THE MEANING OF “TAPPING INTO OUR INNATE BUDDHA POWER TO END THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH” Caller: Hi Master, you once mentioned, “There are innumerable dharma methods, but to end the cycle of rebirth, we must tap into our innate Buddha power”. Citing an example, you gave a further explanation that it involves having an unwavering […]
DO NOT TALK ABOUT SCRIPTURES IN WASHROOM Caller: Many Buddhist friends will phone me to enquire about Little House and daily recitation. Once I was in the washroom when someone phoned, very eager to find out more about daily recitation and the Buddhist scriptures. As I was not able to leave the washroom immediately, I […]
