THE POWER OF SELF-CONFIDENCE AND DILIGENCE IN OVERCOMING LIFE’S CHALLENGES Master Jun Hong Lu: Once, in a language class, a teacher named Zhang asked a student, Wang Da Wei to recite some vocabulary. However, Wang Dawei, who was hiding under the desk secretly reading a martial arts novel, was caught off guard and failed to […]
FACTORS THAT DETERMINE YOUR CAREER CHOICES Question: There are many different types of occupations in this world. Some of them are ethical, while others are not. Other than the meritorious blessings we accrued in our past lives, are there any other factors that may affect our career choices in our current lifetime? Could Master please […]
UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ONE DREAM OF THE DECEASED WHOM THEY HELPED TO ASCEND TO A HIGHER SPIRITUAL REALM? Question: Dear Master, why are there variations in terms of outcome after helping different deceased recite Little Houses? In some cases, the deceased will appear in our dreams to either thank or visit us after receiving […]
BEWARE OF THOSE WHO UNDERMINE YOUR DILIGENCE Master Jun Hong Lu: As you stride forward in your Buddhist practice, we are bound to hear all kinds of remarks. This underscores the importance of being persistent in your practice, and to quickly learn to get used to the different worldly viewpoints. Focus on what you need […]
CORRECTING OURSELVES IS KEY TO OUR QUEST TO HELP SENTIENT BEINGS Question: After studying Buddhism in Plain Terms for a certain period of time, some Buddhist practitioners are aware that eliminating a worldly mindset is a critical element in breaking free from the six realms of rebirth. However, in the course of their Buddhism propagation, […]
ARE WE ‘SEEKING WORLDLY BLESSINGS’ IF WE PRAY FOR A LIFE FREE FROM SUFFERING AND FOR IMPROVEMENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIFE? Question: In introducing Buddhism to prospective Buddhist friends, typically we are targeted in our sharing of positive transformations of other Buddhist friends after their Buddhist practice. We would usually touch on aspects […]
A PENITENT HEART HELPS TO ELIMINATE ONE’S KARMIC OBSTACLES Question: How are you, Master? When you give us your guidance and we immediately realise that we have erred and the sense of shame and remorse washes over us, it is right in that instance, the said disciple’s karmic obstacles will be eliminated. What about those […]
WALK OUT OF MENTAL TRAUMA WITH BUDDHISM Master Jun Hong Lu: Many people live their entire lives unaware of the ways to eradicate their karmic obstacles which leaves them with no choice but to suffer. Bear this in mind, you can recover from any physical suffering such as a leg fracture or toothache, but you […]
WAYS TO ENHANCE THE AFFINITY BETWEEN BODHISATTVA AND SENTIENT BEINGS Question: It’s well understood that the success of our Buddhism propagation ultimately boils down to the level of affinity the prospective Buddhist friends have towards Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. Echoing this, the Lord Buddha once said, “The Buddha can only help those with predestined […]
WHEN ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTIES IN CULTIVATION, ONE SHOULD STAY CLOSE TO DILIGENT FELLOW BUDDHIST PRACTITIONERS Question: We are so hard-pressed for time in this Age of Dharma Decline. Those who are not spiritual cultivators will be led by the nose through life by their destiny and the force of karma. Having said this, Buddhist practitioners will […]
LESSONS FROM A TRAIN STATION ENCOUNTER: THE INFINITE POWER OF ROLE MODELS Master Jun Hong Lu: Robert is a renowned psychologist in the United States. One day, he was making his way to a subway station during the evening peak hour when he stumbled upon a shabbily-dressed man, lying in the middle of the stairs. […]
A STORY ON THE COUGHING PARROT – THE POWER OF ROLE MODELS IS INFINITE Master Jun Hong Lu: Once, there was this person who kept an adorable parrot as a pet. One day, a friend of hers dropped by to visit. The guest asked, “Is the parrot sick? Why does it keep coughing and look […]
OVERCOMING DEPRESSION WITH BUDDHISM Master Jun Hong Lu: Buddhism can help us overcome depression, come around a problem and help us to be clear-headed. Through Buddhism, we can walk out from self-isolation and learn to loosen our grips on things so that we can have a healthier ideal in life. Its wisdom motivates us to […]
COMPASSION OVER COMPETITION Master Jun Hong Lu: In the 1960s, the United States Customs and Border Protection was auctioning off a large batch of confiscated bicycles. During the auction, a 10-year-old boy would always kick-start the bidding process with a five-dollar bid, only to have the rest of the participants jump in to take the […]
CREATE YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES Master Jun Hong Lu: In ancient times, there was a fencing master. When asked who and what was the one unforgettable thing that had benefited him the most in his life, he said it was something his mother once said to him. At that time, he was just 18, young and […]
ALWAYS BE TOLERANT TOWARDS MINOR MISTAKES MADE BY VOLUNTEERS Question: It’s not uncommon to find some volunteers incorporating personal opinions that do not adhere to Master’s advice when taking questions from Buddhist friends at the Practice Centre. Separately, there are also volunteers who habitually turn up late for their duty. After being reminded, they improve […]
HOW TO DEAL WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE AT GUAN YIN HALL? Question: When managing administrative tasks at Guan Yin Hall within our practice group, how do we determine when to use worldly wisdom versus Buddhist principles? Being too stringent may stir up dissatisfaction among volunteers, while being overly compassionate may make it difficult to efficiently resolve […]
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW YOUR PAST, LOOK INTO YOUR PRESENT CONDITION Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a proverb that goes, ‘If you want to know your past life, look at your present conditions’. Therefore, we should live in harmony with others and treasure our predestined relationships. When two people fall in love in […]
ALL RELATIONSHIPS HAVE LINKS BACK TO ONE’S PAST LIVES Master Jun Hong Lu: Do you know what the most common thing I see through totem reading? Many mothers and sons were couples in their past lives. Once, a couple came to see me in my office, and during our conversation, they started to quarrel. I […]
THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTIVATING FORBEARANCE Master Jun Hong Lu: In the dharma realm, forbearance can nurture blessings and kindness can nurture virtues. Forbearance is a huge vessel that is capable of navigating you through all hardships and adversities. Forbearance is an antidote that is capable of saving all sentient beings. Therefore, one who is able […]
THE GIVING OF DHARMA IN NON-BUDDHISM CHAT GROUPS SHOULD BE DONE IN MODERATION AND WITH CONSIDERATION Question: Master mentioned previously that there will be karmic obstacles if we stop others from performing the Giving of Dharma. What about asking fellow practitioners to post less in those chat groups created for different interests and are not […]
REASON WE FAIL TO BE DILIGENT: YOU ARE LAZY! Question: Master once said that practising Buddhism is akin to sailing against the current – if one fails to advance, they will retreat. This is a test every practitioner will encounter. Is “non-diligent” a function of one’s karmic hindrances, lack of faith, or one’s ‘unenlightened’ state? […]
‘THE NINE REFRAINMENTS IN LIFE’ WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MATTERS AND IN TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH 7. Refrain from walking too fast Seventh, refrain from walking too fast. Remember, if you are healthy, do not always replace walking with driving, rather, you should replace driving with walking. Why is it that “one should not […]
‘THE NINE REFRAINMENTS IN LIFE’ WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MATTERS AND IN TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH 6. Refrain from living in an excessively large house Sixth, refrain from living in an excessively large house, that is, your house should not be too spacious. One should be flexible enough to live in any space as […]
‘THE NINE REFRAINMENTS IN LIFE’ WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MATTERS AND IN TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH 5. Refrain from overeating Fifth, refrain from overeating. You should not overeat during meals. On top of this, there is a principle that goes like this, “Do not wait till you are famished to eat and if you […]
‘THE NINE REFRAINMENTS IN LIFE’ WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MATTERS AND IN TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH 4. Refrain going overboard when dressing warm in cold weather Fourth, refrain going overboard when dressing warm in cold weather First and foremost, I would like to share the meaning of ‘not desiring extreme warmth during winter’. What […]
‘THE NINE REFRAINMENTS IN LIFE’ WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MATTERS AND IN TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH 3. Refrain from excessive pursuance of personal gains Third, refrain from excessive pursuance of personal gains. Greed is like a dry well in the desert, capable of absorbing all rainwater, but will never use its privilege to offer […]
‘THE NINE REFRAINMENTS IN LIFE’ WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MATTERS AND IN TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH 2. Refrain from being covetous of fame Second, refrain from being covetous of fame which essentially means, one should not be excessive in their desire for fame. In the past, it was said that fame and riches are […]
‘THE NINE REFRAINMENTS IN LIFE’ WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE, MATTERS AND IN TAKING CARE OF OUR HEALTH 1. Refrain from excessive anger First, you should refrain from excessive anger. Essentially, it means you should not let your anger take hold of you. A famous person once said, “There is nothing in this world that is […]
SUFFERING CEASES WHEN WE LET GO OF OUR ATTACHMENTS Master Jun Hong Lu: We should let go of the idea that we are entitled to happiness. Many people think they deserve happiness, when what they should do is to relinquish the notion of entitlement to happiness and success. Only then will they find their life […]
