IT IS BEST TO REFRAIN FROM ANY EVIL THOUGHTS OR DEEDS ON THE 15TH DAY OF THE 8TH LUNAR MONTH Master Jun Hong Lu: Why do the Chinese attach such great importance to the 15th day of the 8th lunar month? Do not hold ill-will or commit any evil deeds on that day. If you […]
BODHISATTVAS WILL VISIT THE HUMAN REALM ON MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL – A SOLAR TERM RECOGNISED BY HEAVEN AND EARTH Caller: The Mid-Autumn Festival that falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month is fast approaching. From a metaphysical perspective, is it true that on this day, countless Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors will be visiting […]
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AVOID BUYING SHOES DURING THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Master, there is a folk belief that we should not buy shoes or clothes throughout the 7th lunar month simply because it is the Ullambana Festival. Master has advised against buying shoes during this period, what is your view about buying clothes then? Master Jun Hong […]
WHEN PAYING RESPECT TO THE DECEASED ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS, IS IT ALRIGHT TO BURN LITTLE HOUSES FOR THEM WITHOUT DISPLAYING THEIR PHOTOS? Caller: When offering Little Houses to the deceased on special occasions, such as their birthdays or the Ullambana Festival, is it alright to do so without displaying their photos? Master Jun Hong Lu: […]
STAY UPBEAT DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL; SPIRITS ARE EASILY ATTRACTED TO THOSE WHO ARE SAD OR WORRIED Master Jun Hong Lu: During the Ullambana Festival, it is best that you go about your chores steadily. By doing so, you avert inviting the unwanted attention of the foreign spirits. This is because a slightest change in […]
AVOID HAVING A HAIRCUT DURING PERIODS OF MOURNING Question: Is it alright to have a haircut on our birthday? Answer: It’s up to you. It’s good to have a haircut as it makes one appear neat and tidy. Typically, we must avoid having a haircut on the Ching Ming Festival, Zhong Yuan Festival (Ullambana Festival) […]
PAYING RESPECT TO THE DECEASED DURING THE ULLAMBANA, CHING MING, AND WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVALS Question: During the Ullambana, Ching Ming or Winter Solstice Festivals, certain households may have to pay respect to a few deceased at the same time. In a scenario where based on a totem reading performed by Master, one of the deceased […]
HOW SHOULD WE DEAL WITH FRUIT OFFERINGS TO THE DECEASED? Caller: Master, generally during Ching Ming and Zhong Yuan (Ullambana) Festivals, we will make offerings to our deceased parents at home. At the end of the ceremony, how should we handle these fruits and other consumables? Master has said before that we can leave the […]
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO SET UP A BUDDHIST ALTAR DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL; EXERCISE GREATER CARE WHEN PERFORMING LIFE LIBERATION DURING THIS PERIOD Caller: Master, the Ullambana Festival is fast approaching. It so happens that this year is the Year of Geng Zi (the 37th year of the Chinese 60-year cycle). In light of […]
AVOID HOME RENOVATION ON THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH Question: Can home renovation commence after the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, that is, to start on the 16th day? Answer: Yes, as long as you do so after the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Question: What about having […]
IT IS BEST TO OFFER MORE LITTLE HOUSES TO THE KARMIC CREDITORS OF THE HOUSE WHEN MOVING HOUSE IN THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Can one move house during the 7th lunar month? Master Jun Hong Lu: It should be fine. However, you better be cautious and offer more Little Houses. Caller: Should I offer […]
HOW DOES THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH DIFFER FROM THE 15TH OF THE OTHER LUNAR MONTHS? Caller: Next Wednesday is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. What is so different about this day, as compared to the 15th of the other lunar months? Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course, there […]
IT IS BEST TO SET A TARGETED NUMBER OF LITTLE HOUSES TO BE OFFERED TO A SPECIFIC ANCESTOR DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: Master, the Ullambana Festival is fast approaching, generally how many Little Houses should a diligent Buddhist practitioner commit to offering to his karmic creditors? Please advise, Master. Master Jun Hong Lu: It […]
DO NOT HOLD WEDDINGS ON THE DRAGON BOAT, CHING MING, ULLAMBANA AND THE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVALS Question: A Buddhist practitioner’s son has selected 7th October for his wedding, only to find out that it is the Double Ninth Festival (Chong Yang Festival) on the lunar calendar. Unfortunately, the booking deposit for the hotel has been […]
START OFFERING 49 LITTLE HOUSES A MONTH PRIOR TO THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: Master has previously mentioned that one should offer 49 Little Houses during the Ullambana Festival. Should we start preparing a month before, starting from the 15th day of the 6th lunar month? Is it better to offer Little Houses earlier? Are Little […]
DO NOT CHANGE BEDS DURING THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH; EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN CALLING ONE’S SOUL BACK Question: Is it alright to change the bed that my spouse and I have been sleeping on during the 7th lunar month? Can we do the same to our son’s bed? Answer: It is not recommended to do so […]
WAYS TO HANDLE THE PORTRAIT OF A DECEASED AFTER THIRD DEATH ANNIVERSARY Question: Upon the passing of someone, is it a must to take out his memorial portrait on his death anniversary to pay respect to? Is there a time limit as to how long we can do this for? In the event that we […]
RECITE MORE LITTLE HOUSES AND THE GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: In light of the fast approaching Ullambana Festival, which Buddhist scripture should we recite more of? Answer: Recite more Little Houses. On top of this, increase the recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 11), […]
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO LODGE AN APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF NAME ON THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Is it advisable to lodge an application for Change of Name on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month? Master Jun Hong Lu: Why must you do so on the 15th day […]
TOOTH EXTRACTION DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: Is it alright to go for a tooth extraction one week before the Ullambana Festival? This is because my dental appointment is a few days prior to the festival. Answer: There are a lot more foreign spirits during the Ullambana Festival. If it’s not urgent, it would be […]
OFFER LITTLE HOUSES TO THE DECEASED ON THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Master, should we offer Little Houses on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month or at the tail-end of the 7th lunar month? Master Jun Hong Lu: You should offer Little Houses on a piecemeal basis throughout the […]
HOW MANY LITTLE HOUSES ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL? Caller: Master, the Ullambana Festival, which falls on the 15th Day of the 7th lunar month, is around the corner. If we pray to Bodhisattva to keep us safe and well during this period, what’s the minimum number of Little Houses […]
PERFORMING VIRTUOUS DEEDS ON BEHALF OF THE DECEASED AND THE RELATED PRAYER REQUEST FOR THE TRANSFER OF MERITS Caller: Is it alright to perform virtuous deeds such as releasing captive lives and donating for the purpose of printing the sutra booklets on behalf of the deceased? Master Jun Hong Lu: Definitely! Caller: How should we […]
THINGS TO BE AWARE OF DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: As the “Ghost Festival” is coming up next month, is there anything that we should be aware of? For instance, what should we take note of during the night or whenever we are performing recitations? Master Jun Hong Lu: Firstly, do not speak carelessly – […]
MASTER LU’S GUIDANCE ON THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: Hi Master, in light of the upcoming Ullambana Festival, it’d be good if you could say a word or two about this festival. Master Jun Hong Lu: By offering the Little Houses, we are helping the spirits. In actual fact, we are also helping our deceased relatives. […]
WOULD THE BURNING OF JOSS PAPERS BY OTHERS AFFECT THE LITTLE HOUSES OFFERED TO THE DECEASED? Caller: In the past, during the Ullambana Festival, I had always offered joss papers to my parents and in-laws. These days, I only offer Little Houses to them, but some people continue to offer joss papers. Would it affect […]
THE ISSUE OF CATCHING A COLD OR FEVER BEFORE THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: Master, some Buddhist friends have reported catching a cold or fever before the Ullambana Festival. Is this considered an elimination of karmic obstacles or overcoming a karmic pass? Master Jun Hong Lu: In times of an imminent predestined calamity, one is likely […]
ADJUSTMENT TO THE RECITATION OF BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: How should we adjust our recitation of the Buddhist scriptures before and after the Ullambana Festival? In this regard, how many days before and after would the adjustment apply to? And, do we need to avoid reciting the Heart Sutra and the Amitabha […]
IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO WISH OTHERS ‘HAPPINESS’ DURING THE DRAGON BOAT OR CHING MING FESTIVALS Question: May I ask if there is such a tradition not to wish others ‘happiness’ during the Dragon Boat Festival, because it is a day when we pay respect to the deceased, similar to the Ching Ming Festival? It […]
