Q: Dear Master Lu and the Secretariat: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s birthday is approaching. As lay Buddhist practitioners, what should we do to commemorate the day and how should we do it? Thank you! A: The Birthday, Enlightenment Day, and Renunciation Day of Guan Yin Bodhisattva are all very important dates. It is recommended that you […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, the Ching Ming Festival (or Qingming Festival, Tomb-sweeping Day) is approaching and I plan to visit the cemetery. Can I burn Little Houses there? Which sutras or mantras should I recite while I am there? Also, is there anything else that I should be aware of? Thank you. A: Festivals celebrated based on the […]
Q: Master Lu, if our house lacks Yang energy, what should we do to increase it? A: If there are only female members at home, and no males (generally referring to males between 12 and 60 years old), then your house may not have enough Yang energy, relatively speaking. How to increase the Yang energy in the house? First of all, it […]
Q: It is our family tradition to hang chilli peppers and bronze coins inside our house, would this affect the Feng-shui of the house? A: Chilli peppers represent a form of “sharpness”. For a family that does not experience much extraordinary success and tends to be ordinary, hanging chilli peppers represents happiness and celebration – similar to the […]
Q: Master Lu, I would like to ask a question. My older brother is addicted to gambling. He gambles all day and does not work at all. When he is broke, he comes home and forces our parents to give him money. What should we do to direct him onto the right path? Master Lu, please […]
Q: Master Lu, I would like to ask a question. The Buddhist altar in my home was set up by my mother-in-law. Originally, there was only a bronze statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva placed at the centre of the altar. Later, as she did not come here often, I was the one who made incense and […]
Q: Master Lu, when females are menstruating, can they still perform their daily recitation, recite and burn Little Houses? Can they make incense offerings, and make prostrations to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? A: It is absolutely fine for females to perform daily recitation and recite Little Houses during menstruation. It is best to recite Little Houses during the daytime on sunny days. […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, how many candles and oil lamps should be placed on the Buddhist altar as offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? Also, can we offer electric lotus lamps or candle lights? Can we leave them on 24 hours a day? A: If possible, the number of oil lamps should match the number of statues/images […]
Q: Master Lu, if we want to have a relationship or get married, which sutras or mantras should we recite? A: To pray for a relationship or marriage, in addition to your daily recitations, which should include the Great Compassion Mantra 7 times, the Heart Sutra 7 times, and the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance 3 to 5 times, you should also recite […]
Q: Master Lu, if elderly people are not capable of reciting sutras, can they just recite “Namo Amitabha” (Na Mo A Mi Tuo Fo) or “Namo the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva” (Na Mo Da Ci Da Bei Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa), and record these recitations of Buddha names on a piece […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, you previously mentioned that “the son repays his father’s karmic debts and the wife repays her husband’s karmic debts”. If my ex-husband behaves indecently, am I still responsible for his karmic debts even though we are now divorced? A: Husband and wife would not have become a couple had it not been […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, my late grandfather was a hunter. Would his karma of killing animals affect me? How can I resolve it? A: If your ancestors were hunters, the tremendous negative karma accumulated from killing other beings would be passed on to future generations. This is very difficult to resolve, and generally affects the next […]
Q: Master Lu, when it comes to making offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, what type of fruit or flowers should not be offered? Can we offer chrysanthemums, roses, or lilies? A: First of all, a Buddhist practitioner should make offerings of fresh fruit or flower according to their individual circumstances. Ensure the flowers or fruits offered […]
Q: Master Lu, if an individual is unable to keep their vows to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? Will they be punished? Is there any way to solve this? A: If an individual is unable to keep the vows they made to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, they are likely to be punished, but it is not always the case. […]
Q: Master Lu, I am moving soon. Is there anything I should do before I move into my new home? A: It is best to move on a Saturday and ensure that there will be someone in your home the following day. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are also suitable. You should invite your friends to come […]
Q: Master Lu, what is the correct way to store sutra booklets? What should we do if sutra booklets have been stored inappropriately and have become mouldy due to exposure to moisture? Which mantra or sutra should we recite for our negligence? What should we do about the damaged sutra booklets? Thank you! A: Strictly […]
Q: Master Lu, how can we tell if someone is stealing our energy? How do we know if our energy is leaking out? What does it feel like when there is energy leakage? What are the symptoms? A: Generally, people do not notice if their energy is being stolen. If you could tell when your […]
Q: What should I do if I feel that my energy is being lost or leaking out? A: If you feel that your energy is leaking out, you should first identify when the leakage occurred. If it occurred at night and you did not lose your temper or get angry, it could be due to […]
Q: Will people with no religious faith be subject to judgement at the end of their lives, as mentioned in established religions? If so, will they receive a standard form of judgement? If not, how is judgement meted out? Is it related to one’s behaviour and temperament during one’s lifetime? Is the mystical spirit world composed […]
Q: Master Lu, can two people recite one Little House together? For example, I recite the Great Compassion Mantra and the Heart Sutra, whereas my husband recites the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra and the Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan. Is this appropriate? A: Two people can recite one Little House together. They can also recite any of the four types of sutras and […]
Q: Master Lu, some children are born with eczema. Is eczema a type of disease related to karmic obstacles? How should we perform recitations in such cases? A: Generally, skin diseases, especially those that are congenital, are related to karmic obstacles. This type of disease is generally the result of major karmic obstacles due to wrongdoings […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, Chinese New Year is approaching. Can we light lanterns and hang them outside the main door for the whole night? Is this appropriate? A: You should never hang lanterns, regardless of whether they use candles, light bulbs or otherwise (especially not with candles). Hanging objects (such as lanterns) usually causes trouble.
Q: Master Lu, countless people from around the world are now downloading recordings of your radio programs and learning Buddhism from them. All the feedback that I have received from people around me has been positive. However, recently I heard that some individuals are reciting the Cundi Dharani to break up other people’s marriages, or to kick their […]
Q: Master Lu, I have a question. On the first day of Chinese New Year, can I go to several temples to offer incense and make vows? All these temples have the statues or portraits of the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva. I make the same vows at each temple. According to […]
Q: Master Lu, the Chinese New Year is approaching. What is the significance of setting off firecrackers during Chinese New Year (the Spring Festival)? A: It is generally good to set off firecrackers in celebration of Chinese New Year. Firecrackers can drive away evil spirits and enhance positive Yang energy. They can therefore prevent unwholesome entities […]
Q: Master Lu, I am praying to an image of Tai Sui Bodhisattva on the Buddhist altar in my home. During the course of following Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, I realised that Tai Sui Bodhisattva changes every year. Should I invite this Tai Sui Bodhisattva to come down from the Buddhist altar? A: “Tai […]
Q: Master Lu, as a Buddhist practitioner do we have an obligation to aim to go to heaven? Can we aim to be reborn as a human in the next life A: When a person cultivates and practises Buddhism with the aim of going to heaven or the higher realms, they have a broader perspective. […]
Q: Master Lu, what should we be aware of as Buddhist vegetarians? Can we drink milk or take fish oil supplements? A: There are five “non-vegetarian foods” within the vegetarian diet known as the five pungent spices, including onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, scallions (green onions) and chives. You should not consume them if you have […]
Q: Dear Master Lu, is there anything that we should take note of regarding the quantity of fruit that we offer to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? Does it have to be an odd number? A: The quantity of fruit offered to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas should be an odd number. Specifically, the amount for each layer of fruit […]
Q: Master Lu, if we regard going to heaven as our ultimate goal, is this considered a desire? A: Wishing to go to heaven is not considered a desire. Once you have attained a certain level of spiritual development, a desire will not constitute an element of greed. Desires can be good or bad. We are […]