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 […]

IT IS MORE EFFICACIOUS TO PERFORM RECITATION DURING THE 24 SOLAR TERMS AND THE FIRST AND FIFTEENTH OF EACH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Is the efficacy of reciting the Buddhist scriptures during the 24 solar terms comparable to the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month? Master Jun Hong Lu: With regards to the 24 […]

AVOID MAJOR UNDERTAKINGS IN THE FIFTH LUNAR MONTH Question: As the fifth lunar month is deemed a “poisonous” month, is it alright for one to get married or move house during this period? Answer: It is best to avoid doing so. How can you expect things to proceed smoothly if you insist on holding your […]

IS IT APPROPRIATE TO CELEBRATE TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS WITHIN ONE YEAR OF FAMILY MEMBERS’ PASSING? Question: May I know whether it is advisable for my mother to make rice dumplings during the Dragon Boat Festival, within the first year of the passing of my grandmother? The reason I ask is because there is a folk belief […]

RECITE 10,000 TIMES OF THE MANTRA TO UNTIE KARMIC KNOTS BEFORE UNDERGOING SURGERY IN THE FIFTH LUNAR MONTH Question: Master has advised before that one should avoid undergoing surgery in the leap fourth month of the lunar calendar. If unavoidable, we should recite 10,000 times of the Mantra To Untie Karmic Knots. The surgery has […]

IT IS A GOOD PRACTICE TO PROSTRATE AND RECITE MORE HEART SUTRA BEFORE AND AFTER THE DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL AND OTHER SOLAR TERMS Master Jun Hong Lu: To all Buddhist practitioners who are tuning in to this program, tomorrow – a Saturday – happens to be the Dragon Boat festival. Everyone knows that there is […]

HOW THE HUMAN BODY REGULATES ITSELF DURING THE FIFTH LUNAR MONTH – THE “MONTH OF POISON” Caller: Master, every fifth lunar month is commonly known as the “Month of Poison”, of which the “Nine Poison Days” (i.e. fifth, sixth, seventh, fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh days of the fifth lunar month) are perceived […]

PRAYER REQUEST WHEN PAYING RESPECT TO ANCESTORS Question: Some fellow practitioners would like to ask about Ching Ming Festival and the death anniversary of their ancestors. What should we say when taking out the ancestral tablets to pay our respects? Master Jun Hong Lu: You can place the tablets on the offering table and while […]

DO NOT LEAVE THE MEMORIAL TABLETS OF THE DECEASED ON THE OFFERING TABLE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD Question: During Ching Ming Festival or Dong Zhi (Winter Solstice), should we place the memorial tablets of the deceased on the offering table throughout the day or should we put them away once the prayer ceremony is over? […]

IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO SET UP THE BUDDHIST ALTAR ON CHING MING FESTIVAL Question: How many days before or after Ching Ming Festival is it not advisable for us to set up Buddhist altars? Answer: Simply avoid doing so on the day itself. It is best for one to stay at home to perform […]

AVOID SETTING UP THE BUDDHIST ALTAR ON CHING MING FESTIVAL, WINTER SOLSTICE OR ZHONG YUAN FESTIVAL Caller: Is it true that we should avoid setting up the Buddhist altar on the days of the 24 Solar Terms? Master Jun Hong Lu: It should be fine to do so in the morning. That said, avoid the […]

SHOULD WE OFFER LITTLE HOUSES IN FRONT OF THE DECEASED’S TABLETS OR THE BUDDHIST ALTAR ON THE DAY OF CHING MING FESTIVAL? Caller: Hello Master. On the day of Ching Ming Festival, when offering Little Houses to the deceased at home, should we offer them in front of their tablets or the Buddhist altar? Master […]

WHAT SHOULD WE DO IF WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR HOME EMPTY DUE TO BUSINESS TRIPS DURING CHING MING OR ZHONG YUAN FESTIVALS? Caller: Some Buddhist friends have to go for business trips which could be for an extended period, straddling over several weeks and this period coincides with Ching Ming or Zhong Yuan Festivals. […]

IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO PERFORM THE CALLING OF ONE’S SOUL DURING THE PERIOD BEFORE AND AFTER CHING MING FESTIVAL Caller: Master, may I clarify that it is not advisable to perform the calling of one’s soul during the Ching Ming Festival period? Or does it only apply to the day itself? Master Jun Hong […]

CAN WE OFFER FLOWERS AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS WHEN PAYING RESPECT TO THE DECEASED? Caller: When paying respect to the deceased at their grave, can we offer flowers and alcoholic drinks? Master Jun Hong Lu: It is not recommended to do so if you feel that the deceased has ascended to heaven. If you are thinking […]

IT IS ADVISABLE TO WEAR PLAIN CLOTHES TO THE CEMETERY TO PERFORM TOMB SWEEPING DURING CHING MING FESTIVAL Caller: Is it true that we should not wear flashy or bright-colour clothes to the cemetery to perform tomb sweeping during Ching Ming Festival. Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course it is better to wear clothes that […]

DO NOT BRING HOME ANY OF THE OFFERINGS TO THE DECEASED; HOW SHOULD WE STATE OUR PRAYER WHEN OFFERING LITTLE HOUSES TO THE DECEASED IN FRONT OF THEIR GRAVES? Caller: When offering Little Houses at the cemetery, does it matter if we do so in the morning or afternoon? Master Jun Hong Lu: It does […]

HOW MANY DAYS BEFORE CHING MING FESTIVAL IS IT MOST APPROPRIATE TO PERFORM TOMB SWEEPING? Caller: A Buddhist practitioner would like to know how many days prior to Ching Ming Festival is it more appropriate to perform tomb sweeping for those who are unable to be at the cemetery on the day? Master Jun Hong […]

REASONS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PERFORM RECITATION, AND WHY ILLNESS MAKES A COMEBACK DURING CHING MING FESTIVAL, ZHONG YUAN FESTIVAL OR WINTER SOLSTICE Caller: During Ching Ming Festival, Zhong Yuan Festival and Winter Solstice, some Buddhist friends will start having difficulty in performing recitation a few weeks prior to the festivals. Things will return […]