WHEN RECITATION BECOMES HABITUAL AND LACKS EMOTION, IS IT A NATURAL CONDITION? Caller: Hi Master, I am confused and would like to ask this question: When I started out performing recitation, I had always recited off a sutra booklet as I had yet to familiarise myself with the Buddhist scriptures. During this period, not only […]
WHAT KIND OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE IS SUITABLE FOR BUDDHIST PRACTITIONERS? Caller: Master has mentioned that yoga has a special energy field in it and it is best that Buddhist practitioners like us not practise this form of exercise. Would Master please advise us what kind of exercise is suitable for lady practitioners? Master Jun Hong […]
HOW TO DETERMINE WHICH OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS WE ARE LACKING? Caller: It is often said that one is lacking in some of the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and earth). Is it true that each and every one of us will always lack one or more of these elements, regardless of the era, […]
THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG FOUNDATION IN SPIRITUAL PRACTICE Caller: Some fellow practitioners think that they are more advanced in their spiritual cultivation than others. They are of the opinion that some of the Master’s teachings are mostly for other people and have nothing to do with them due to their comparatively higher level of […]
THE FIVE ELEMENTS – THE THEORY OF INTER-PROMOTING AND INTER-RESTRAINING Caller: Everyone is talking about the Theory of the Five Elements. How does it affect a person who has more of the Earth element? How should he choose names to make up for any deficiencies? Master Jun Hong Lu: People say that the theories of […]
ATTITUDE TOWARDS FILIAL PIETY Caller: Hi Master, I would like to ask about certain aspects of filial piety towards our parents. Some parents do not practise Buddhism. Hence, as children, what we can do is to offer Little Houses and perform life liberation for our parents but we hardly get in touch with them. Can […]
HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF PAPER WITH THE HOLY NAME OF THE BODHISATTVA PRINTED ON IT? Caller: How should we dispose of paper with the holy name of the Bodhisattva printed on it? Master Jun Hong Lu: Shred it with a paper shredder. This is what I have told you before. Caller: Alright. Source: Wenda20190203A […]
WILL THERE BE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE HOUSE’S ENERGY FIELD BY PLACING A SHOE RACK AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE? Caller: Hello Master. Gratitude to Master, Gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva! We will usually place a shoe cabinet at the entrance of our newly renovated house. Does this have any negative effect on the energy field […]
THE DEMON OF ADDICTION Caller: Mobile phones and computers have now become a necessity for many people. Some even develop mobile phone addiction and suffer from insomnia due to the excessive use of mobile phones at night. Master, can we say that there is an invisible force behind mobile phones and the internet, that manipulates […]
UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF “FILIAL PIETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT VIRTUE” Caller: Master teaches us that “Filial piety is the most important virtue”; Buddhist practitioners should regard filial piety as a foundation in Buddhism practice. Oftentimes, all of us are diligently practising the spirit of filial piety. Master Jun Hong Lu: What does “filial” mean? […]
THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE EIGHT SUFFERINGS OF LIFE Caller: At times, we may develop a sudden realisation that our parents or those who have been with us for many years will depart eventually. Perhaps, they would end up in a better place and this would be good for them. However, those they leave […]
HOW DO WE DETERMINE IF WE HAVE DEVIATED FROM THE RIGHT SPIRITUAL PATH? Caller: Greetings, Master. How do we determine if we have deviated from the right path in our Buddhism practice? Master Jun Hong Lu: Despite your spiritual practice, you feel increasingly hateful and troubled; you seem to hate everything around you, and nothing […]
ONLY BUDDHIST FRATERNITY IS ENDURING; BE OF GREATER HELP TO OTHERS Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me reiterate what I’ve said before: In life, family love cannot be compared with Buddhist fraternity. What do you think Buddhist fraternity is? It’s the love that Bodhisattva bestows upon us, don’t you think? What about family love? It […]
“IMPERMANENCE” EXPLAINED Caller: Master, how does impermanence (non-permanence) come about? Master Jun Hong Lu: ‘Non’ (无) means ‘nothingness’; ‘Permanence’ (常) means long-lasting. Hence, putting them together, ‘impermanence’ means, it appears that there is something and then there is nothing – now you have it, then you don’t. Is this simple enough for your understanding? Caller: […]
REGARDING “NOT TO PURSUE MATERIAL DESIRES WILL RESULT IN ASCENSION OF SPIRITUALITY” Caller: Master, you mentioned in Buddhism in Plain Terms that we have to cultivate, both spiritually and consciously, and we have to cultivate ourselves to the point of “allowing our heart to die and the primordial spirit to revive”. This will lead us […]
THOSE WHO CAN’T THINK THINGS THROUGH LACK WISDOM THOSE WHO HURT OTHERS ARE IN FACT HURTING THEMSELVES Master Jun Hong Lu: In actual fact, it’s easy for one who lacks wisdom to have mental block. Conversely, if one can often understand and think clearly, it means that one has enduring wisdom. One who often hurts […]
SUCCESS REQUIRES NOT ONLY ONE’S DILIGENCE BUT ALSO OPPORTUNE TIMING AND KARMIC AFFINITY; CHERISH THE TRUE DHARMA IN THE AGE OF DHARMA DECLINE AND STRIVE TO BREAK FROM THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH Caller: It is stated in the Buddhist scriptures: In the True Dharma and the Semblance Dharma Age, to attain the state of Arhat […]
WHAT DOES IT MEAN BY “HAVING A DHARMA PROTECTOR WITH US”? Caller: Hello Master, how are you? Can you please explain what it means by having Dharma Protectors with us? I apologise for my ignorance as I am unable to figure out. Some fellow practitioners mentioned that as cultivators of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, […]
WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY Caller: A Buddhist practitioner would like to attend the public talk, but he is worried he may not be able to make it. How should he pray to Bodhisattva to enable him to attend the event？ Master Jun Hong Lu: With willpower you can accomplish everything you want […]
STRICT ADHERENCE TO PRECEPTS; SAFEGUARD ONE’S MIND AND BODY Caller: Master has often used a white shirt with various degrees of soy sauce or ink stains as the metaphor to remind us that we must be an absolute morally-upright person and there’s no two-ways about it. Recently, I heard of Master’s guidance on practising vegetarianism […]
DO NOT WASTE TIME; CHERISHING TIME MEANS TREASURING LIFE Master Jun Hong Lu: Everything in life is like a dream, illusion, bubble and shadow. In the blink of an eye, it is gone for good. Do you think you can still afford to waste your time? Sadly, there are still many people who spend their […]
THE COHERENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GREED, HATRED, IGNORANCE, ARROGANCE AND SUSPICION Caller: Master, with regards to the Five Poisons in Buddhism teachings: greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance and suspicion, when greed is not satisfied, it will lead to hatred, which in turn breeds ignorance. The first three poisons are related coherently, what about the last two poisons, […]
PLAYING PRANKS ON APRIL FOOLS’ DAY CREATES NEGATIVE KARMA Caller: Hello Master, today is April Fools’ day. I was really ignorant in the past and was fond of playing pranks on others and creating hoaxes on April Fools’ day. Are they considered as false or frivolous speech? Master Jun Hong Lu: They can be considered […]
UNDERSTANDING “AFFLICTION GIVES RISE TO BODHI” Caller: How are you, Master? I would like to ask a question pertaining to the phrase, “Affliction gives rise to Bodhi (enlightenment)”. Does this mean that when we are eventually free of affliction, we will lose our wisdom as well? Master Jun Hong Lu: A person who is free […]
THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF BEING NARROW-MINDED AND SENSITIVE Caller: What is the cause and effect for someone to be narrow-minded and sensitive? Master Jun Hong Lu: Being narrow-minded and sensitive are results from badmouthing and suspecting others in one’s previous life. Even in your current life, if you suspect that others are mistreating you […]
OVERCOMING DOUBTS WITH NON-BUDDHISTS OR PEOPLE WHOM WE ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH Caller: Some Buddhist practitioners fully trust our fellow practitioners without any doubt and feel at ease with them. However, they will always have a suspicious mind when dealing with non-Buddhists or people whom they are not familiar with. May I ask, what is the […]
DURING INCENSE OFFERING, CAN IMPROPERLY-POSITIONED INCENSE BE REMOVED AND RE-INSERTED? Caller: A fellow practitioner would like to know whether it is alright to remove and re-insert incense that is either tilted or not firmly positioned in the incense burner. Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, you may do so. But in your heart, you must pray […]
HOW DO WE STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN ‘SEEING THROUGH EMPTINESS’ AND ‘BEING CONCERNED’ WITH THE THINGS WE DO? Caller: Hi Master, you have advised us to see through the emptiness of things in our spiritual cultivation. But, humans have a lot of deep-rooted bad habits like being careless and haphazard in our approach to the […]
IGNORANT BAD HABITS LIKE ENVY, JEALOUSY AND HATRED ARE CONSIDERED KARMIC OBSTACLES Caller: Are the ignorant bad habits of humans for example, envy, jealousy and hatred considered karmic obstacles? Master Jun Hong Lu: The ignorant bad habits of human such as jealousy, hatred, etc are considered karmic obstacles. To be infected by these shortcomings is […]
THOSE WHO ARE OFTEN CONFUSED WILL FALL INTO A STATE OF DELUSION Master Jun Hong Lu: Humans are often assailed by confusion in life. Confusion (迷惑) can cause one’s mind to fall into a state of delusion, oscillating between left and right, high and low, and back and forth. In Chinese writing, the second word, […]
