RESERVING THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY OF BLESSINGS FROM MASTER Caller: Hi Master, we understand that meritorious blessings can be conserved for future use. May the same be done for the spiritual energy received through the blessings from Master? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. In fact, it is easily achievable. You just have to bear my words […]
DISCIPLESHIP CERTIFICATE MAY BE BROUGHT ALONG WHEN ATTENDING EXAMINATION Caller: Hi Master Lu, a Buddhist practitioner and I will be attending an English language examination. Can we bring our Discipleship Certificates along to the exam venue? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. Caller: How should we state our prayer request? We have been preparing for this […]
DO WE NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE THE SPOTS WHERE OUR FOREHEAD AND KNEES TOUCH ON THE PRAYER MAT? Caller: Master, when arranging the prayer mats in the Guan Yin Hall, should we fix specific spots for our forehead and knees to touch the mat, or should we do it randomly? In the case of the latter, […]
SETTING UP OF A MINI ALTAR IN A HOSPITAL PRIVATE ROOM Caller: Master, can we set up a mini Buddhist altar in a private room in hospital? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is fine to do so in a private room in hospital. By that, I mean the setting up of a dedicated mini altar […]
HOW TO BREAKTHROUGH IGNORANCE Caller: Master, how many types of ignorance that a person needs to eradicate? Master Jun Hong Lu: What do you think? The bad habits of a person are innumerable! 84,000! That is why we say there are 84,000 Dharma doors to help them. Caller: In our daily life, there are those […]
INCENSE AND OIL LAMPS MAY BE LIT WHEN PARTICIPATING IN ONLINE GROUP STUDY ON BUDDHISM FROM HOME Caller: Hello Master. When participating in online group study on Buddhism from home, can we offer incense and light the oil lamps on the Buddhist altar when there is no one performing recitation? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. […]
DO NOT USE AMULET CARD WITH BODHISATTVA’S IMAGE AS A BOOKMARK Caller: Can we use an amulet card with the image of Guan Yin Bodhisattva as a bookmark for our Buddhism In Plain Terms book? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is inappropriate and disrespectful to do so, as it contains the image of Guan Yin […]
LEARN TO WALK THE MIDDLE PATH; ATTACHMENTS WILL ONLY BRING HARM UPON ONESELF Caller: Hi Master, could you please give me some advice? I feel honoured to be able to get through your line today. I really miss you, Master. Master Jun Hong Lu: You must not think too much as you can’t afford a […]
DO NOT BE ENTANGLED IN THE RIGHT AND WRONG OF THIS WORLD – HOW TO BREAK FREE FROM IGNORANCE? Master Jun Hong Lu: Like how I always tell you, the most important thing that a Buddhist practitioner should learn is to never allow yourself to be ‘entangled’. Things can be right and wrong in this […]
DO NOT TURN ON THE LOTUS LAMP ON THE BUDDHIST ALTAR WHEN NO INCENSE IS OFFERED Caller: Hi Master, should we leave the lotus lamp on the Buddhist altar lighted at night? Master Jun Hong Lu: You should not. Caller: Despite having a lamp that is left lighted permanently at the entrance of my hall, […]
BE PRUDENT IN GUARDING OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Master Jun Hong Lu: As we embark on this new year with a new outlook, everyone should be prudent in guarding their spiritual life. By doing so, it means not to allow yourselves be immersed in the worldly five desires and six senses. Instead, you should dedicate yourselves […]
HOW DO WE PRACTISE DHARMA BEYOND THE HUMAN REALM IN THIS WORLDLY REALM Caller: Master, can you please enlighten us, how do we practise dharma beyond the human realm in this worldly realm? Master Jun Hong Lu: ‘Dharma beyond the human realm’ means to let go of our attachments and to see through the nature […]
ALL PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED? Caller: It is said that Guan Yin Bodhisattva answers all prayers. However, if we are not destined to have certain things in life, will our prayers still be answered? Master Jun Hong Lu: You are absolutely correct! Generally, if you do not sow the seed then there is no ‘cause’. […]
PONDER EARNESTLY WHEN STUDYING THE BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS; PRAYER REQUEST TO BE MADE PRIOR TO TAKING DOWN NOTES Caller: Master has mentioned before that studying Buddhism in Plain Terms in itself is a meritorious deed and as such it will be recorded by heaven. The same applies to taking down notes on it. I […]
HOW DO WE NURTURE UNWAVERING FAITH? Caller: Master, it is mentioned in Buddhism in Plain Terms that, “Unwavering faith can help eliminate all fears”, how do we develop this so that we do not regress in the face of adversity? Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s very simple – keep close tabs on my teachings. How […]
HOW TO DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PROGRESS AND AVOID REGRESSING IN SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION; SINCERITY AND A HEART OF GRATITUDE ARE KEYS TO PRACTISING BUDDHISM Caller: There are many Buddhist friends who set forth in their practice of Buddhism with an objective in mind. For example, they wish to get the blessings of Bodhisattva for their health […]
WATCH MASTER LU’S VIDEO WHEN EXPERIENCING SLACKNESS IN CULTIVATION Caller: A Buddhist friend seemed to be going through a stage where his karmic debt has come to fruition, resulting in slackness in his cultivation. After watching Master Lu’s 3-minute video on Hong Kong Dharma Convention, he felt like he has regained his energy and feels […]
STUDYING BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS CAN HELP ELIMINATE CLINGING ON TO THE NOTION OF SELF Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned that we need Master to help us in eliminating our tendency to cling on to the notion of self. However, if we are not able to get frequent guidance from Master, what can we do? […]
DO NOT CLING TO THE NOTION OF SELF Master Jun Hong Lu: A person who clings to the notion of self, will gradually become arrogant, self-righteous, feel dejected and depressed even with just one word of reprimand from others. Then, they will start to slack off, sleep more, become degenerate, etc. Source: Wenda20131025 15:01, Master […]
MAKING A GREAT VOW TO HONOUR THE MASTER AND REVERE HIS TEACHINGS CAN HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LITTLE HOUSES REQUIRED Caller: A Buddhist practitioner dreamt that he was penalised over USD1,000 for speeding. He thought it could be the number of Little Houses required. Before he could make a vow of the Little House […]
WIPING THE INCENSE BURNER TO PRAY FOR WEALTH IS CONSIDERED A WISH FOR WORLDLY AND HEAVENLY BLESSINGS, AND WILL EXPEND ONE’S MERITS Caller: Hello Master. Master has said that we can wipe the incense burner to wish for better wealth luck. However, a Buddhist friend worries that this is akin to praying for worldly and […]
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING IS FOR ONE TO BEAR PRAISES Master Jun Hong Lu: ….if someone scolds or slanders you, you are able to practise tolerance. What about if they sing your praises? What’s most challenging is for one to bear praises. When this happens, you have to understand that everything in this world is illusory […]
THE SIGNS OF BEING ARROGANT Caller: Master Lu, how can we identify arrogance in ourselves at its earliest stage? What are the signs of an arrogant person? Master Jun Hong Lu: Firstly, an arrogant person tends to ignore others’ opinions. They refuse to follow along. Caller: For example, he refuses to follow instructions when being […]
THE OIL LAMP SHOULD BE PUT OUT WHEN ONE PERFORMS RECITATION WHILE DOING HOUSEHOLD CHORES Caller: I may be performing recitations while attending to the household chores such as doing the laundry or cooking at the time when the oil lamp and incense are lit. As these chores are not done in front of the […]
WHEN TO EXTINGUISH THE OIL LAMP Caller: I have a question regarding extinguishing the oil lamp. Master Lu has previously given multiple discourses on this topic, stating that when the person leaves, the oil lamp should be extinguished. However, some Buddhist friends interpret ‘leaving’ as exiting the house, while other Buddhist friends interpret it as […]
GOLDFISH IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR HOME AQUARIUMS Caller: Master Lu, may I ask, in terms of feng shui, is goldfish the only choice of fish for our home aquariums? Master Jun Hong Lu: Goldfish are good. They must be goldfish. You should try to avoid keeping other types of fish. Source: Wenda20120817 24:59, Master […]
HAVE UPRIGHT PRAYERS FOR GROUP STUDY OF BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS Caller: Master Lu, when engaging in online group study of Buddhism In Plain Terms, some groups state the following prayer, “May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva compassionately bless me, XXX. May I have right faith, right mindfulness, be correct and […]
HOW TO OBTAIN GOOD FORTUNE WITHIN THIS LIFETIME Caller: There is a proverb that goes, ‘If you want to know your past life, look at your present conditions. If you want to know your future life, look at your present actions’. We wish to perform more virtuous deeds in this world, but unfortunately, we are […]
THE POWER OF VOWS DERIVES FROM ONE’S SUFFERING AND ADVANCEMENT IN SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION Caller: The power of vows is the foundation for one to become a Bodhisattva or even attain Buddhahood. May I ask Master, where the power of vows derives from? Master Jun Hong Lu: The power of vows derives from suffering. The more […]
A GRATEFUL HEART REKINDLES A COMPASSIONATE HEART Master Jun Hong Lu: One must understand that an unsurpassed mind of gratitude rekindles the compassion in us. Being grateful to others will allow you to have a good future. If you do not know the meaning of gratitude, you may develop hatred in your heart. Many people, […]
