THE EIGHT CHALLENGES IN LIFE Master Jun Hong Lu: The eight challenges in life are: The challenge of sustaining luxuries The challenge of satisfying desires for wealth The challenge of prolonging honour The challenge of eternalising status The challenge of obtaining good health The challenge of preserving youth The challenge of encountering true affection The […]
VALUE THE WORDS OF OTHERS Master Jun Hong Lu: We have to value the words of others and at the same time have good control over each and every one of our spoken words. Regardless of whether others are making a remark to us or vice versa, we must practise patience under both circumstances. No […]
OUR MINDS ARE JUST LIKE A MIRROR Master Jun Hong Lu: In actuality, we are often able to differentiate between good and bad people with a glance. This is because our minds are just like a mirror. When we reflect the evil in the human realm, all that we will see are the evil appearances […]
DO NOT CLING ONTO DESIRES Master Jun Hong Lu: Life is impermanent and lies between our in and out breaths. A person who is encumbered by the human realm’s ceaselessly demanding desires will rapidly forget their innate nature and conscience. A person who always pushes himself to achieve greater fame and fortune will gradually lose […]
FORGIVING OTHERS IS MORE POWERFUL THAN PUNISHING THEM Master Jun Hong Lu: In this world, there is no such thing as a point of no return nor is there a mistake that is irreversible. Thus, when we see the mistakes of others, at times we should remind ourselves that forgiving others is more powerful than […]
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DO Master Jun Hong Lu: As the saying goes, ‘great undertakings have small beginnings, and difficult tasks are tackled from where it is easy’. After all, even a large tree has the origins of a small sapling; a high platform is constructed piece by […]
CURB OUR DESIRES TO AVOID THE REGRETS OF TOMORROW Master Jun Hong Lu: As I often emphasise, life is like a one-way journey — from the small crib we had, to the small box that we get buried in when we pass on, and there is nothing we can take along with us. All that […]
COMPASSION IS ABLE TO DEFUSE ALL GRIEVANCES Master Jun Hong Lu: In regard to conflict and estrangement among people, it can never be thoroughly eliminated through worldly approaches, no matter how hard we try. This is because as humans, we only resort to human means, not the wisdom of Bodhisattva. However, the power of compassion […]
STRIVE TO CREATE OUR OWN OPPORTUNITIES Master Jun Hong Lu: Do not impute all faults and wrongs on others. Our fate and destiny are in our very own hands. When opportunity presents itself to us, do not hesitate to forge ahead vigorously and advance. Do not be jealous when you see the success of others […]
THE WAY OF LIFE Master Jun Hong Lu: Do not overthink. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to be clear-headed; Do not speak irrevocably. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to compromise; Do not set our pitch too high. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to harmonise; Do not be too extreme […]
MENDING OUR SPIRITUAL WOUND Master Jun Hong Lu: As a mother with a darning needle, Guan Yin Bodhisattva helps mend our spiritual wound and rescue our troubled soul, one stitch at a time. While she is the loving mother who assures us that all our prayers will be answered, she is also the bright light […]
WORDS OF WISDOM Master Jun Hong Lu: Please remember this: A generous person shall receive more karmic rewards; A grateful person shall find a smooth sailing life; A helpful person shall receive more help when in need; A whiny person shall have more worries; A content person shall find more happiness; An evasive person shall face […]
CHERISH EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES Master Jun Hong Lu: Life is like a journey on a one-way train. We must live well at every moment of our lives. Every person who boards and alights from the train has predestined affinity with us. Thus, we should treasure them. We must learn to tap on our […]
RISING ABOVE YOUR PAIN AND LOSSES Master Jun Hong Lu: Through Buddhist cultivation, we will become a stronger person. Do not worry about personal gains and losses. Let your losses become gains so that you will be blessed with virtue. Turn all your afflictions into an opportunity that spurs you to progress spiritually. I hope […]
LIVE WITHOUT STRESS BY UNDERSTANDING NEGATIVE ENERGIES Master Jun Hong Lu: Being vexed is punishment inflicted on ourselves for the mistakes we have made, allowing our faults to play in our mind and torture us long after returning home. Regret is caused by allowing undesirable events in the past that were uncontrollable to ruin our […]
TO BE SAFE AND WELL IS A BLESSING Master Jun Hong Lu: Suffering stems from the mind. When the mind perceives suffering, the body suffers consequently. If you do not wish to suffer, don’t be greedy. When there is no greed, you will be safe and well. In this word this is a blessing in […]
‘BODHISATTVAS FEAR CAUSES, SENTIENT BEINGS FEAR EFFECTS’ Master Jun Hong Lu: In spiritual cultivation, we should focus our efforts on the ‘cause’ rather than praying for the forthcoming ‘effect’: ‘Bodhisattvas fear causes; sentient beings fear effects’. Bodhisattvas contemplate the effects of a deed prior to committing it, whereas sentient beings carelessly commit causal actions without […]
EVERYTHING IS ARRANGED IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY Master Jun Hong Lu: There may come a time in our life’s journey when we find that its freezing cold rain is beyond our endurance. We should then learn Buddhism, practise patience under humiliation, dedicate ourselves to progress, and last but not least, wait. Life is like […]
MOVE SIDEWAYS Master Jun Hong Lu: An elderly Buddhist monk once asked a novice, “If taking a step forward or backward both spell death, what would you do?” Without hesitation, the novice replied, ‘I shall move sideways.’ The idea to be gained from this story is that a side road is another path one can […]
LETTING GO OF NEGATIVE ENERGY Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s a hard truth that this world is filled with suffering. When you are in agony, tell yourself the pain will not last forever, as it diminishes as time passes. Therefore, do not let agony and aggravation anchor themselves in your heart. If you store all […]
VIRTUES AND KIND DEEDS Question: Master Lu, if a person accumulates a lot of virtues from their actions, but does not undertake spiritual cultivation or perform recitations, what would the ultimate result of their lives be like? Answer: You may have performed many virtuous deeds, but without spiritual cultivation or recitations, would you even consider […]
WHEN WE DIE, WE TAKE NOTHING WITH US Master Jun Hong Lu: Our entire life lasts no more than a few decades. On our trip to this world, we borrowed a body to house a soul in which we spend our lives in unproductive effort. When all has been exhausted, there is nothing we can […]
‘HEAVEN’S PLAN SUPERSEDES OUR OWN’ Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a saying ‘Heaven’s plan supersedes our own’ and ‘Heaven is watching over our every move.’ Whenever you take an action, you are bound to receive its corresponding result. Our heart is like the internal memory of a Microsoft computer. All of our kind and […]
STOP WASTING OUR LIFE Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me give you some advice, which I hope everyone will keep in mind: The greatest mistake in life is exchanging our health for mere worldly possessions; The greatest sorrow in life is exchanging our life for personal troubles; The greatest waste in life is spending it […]
TREASURE THOSE AROUND US Master Jun Hong Lu: There was a man who frequently argued with his wife. One day, his wife collapsed out of exhaustion from house chores. Only at that moment, the man looked at his wife and said, “I am really sorry that I have let you down”. Let me tell all […]
DISCONTENTMENT IS AN EVIL ROOT Master Jun Hong Lu: I often ask, “why do some people feel that they are living a blissful life, while others feel that they live in pain and sorrow?” Please remember, it is all about greed and discontentment which are the evil roots. When we are discontented, nothing will ever […]
IMPORTANCE OF TOLERANCE Master Jun Hong Lu: We must learn to endure disasters in life. Endurance will enable you to liberate yourself from sufferings. Endurance lays a foundation for Buddhist cultivators. By Buddhist teachings, “endurance” is the most expedient Dharma door that liberates us from sufferings. Endurance helps you attain “Precepts, Concentration, and Wisdom”. Source: Master […]
BE CONSIDERATE Master Jun Hong Lu: One who often cares about others will be blessed. Nowadays, many people only think about themselves and act selfishly. Ultimately, they are the people who will be hurt. There was a very stingy couple. They even taught their young son to be selfish and stingy. After the son grew up and […]
STEADFAST MINDFULNESS Master Jun Hong Lu: A little monk asked a senior monk, “Master, what did you do before you attained enlightenment?” The senior monk said, “I chopped wood, fetched water and cooked.” The little monk continued to ask, “what about after attaining enlightenment?” The old monk replied, “Chop woods, fetch water and cook.” The […]
LIVE OUT OUR BUDDHA-NATURE AND COMPASSION Master Jun Hong Lu: To practise Buddhism is to lead an upright life in this world – we do not shun the pressures in life and neither are we critical of our sufferings. Our fate and destiny are never set out to be smooth sailing. When we are faced […]
