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 an etiquette for Chinese to eat sticky rice dumplings during the festival. Strictly speaking, this is a time to recollect the deceased.
The story of Qu Yuan is a classical story from Chinese literature. The reality is any solar terms in the human realm have been recognised by both Heaven and the Underworld. In this regard, the Dragon Boat Festival is not solely about Qu Yuan. In fact, it also encompasses the deceased we once knew such as our parents, elders, lovers and all those whom we are karmically indebted to and because of these affinities, they will ‘come looking’ for you. As such, prior to this period, it is likely to incite quarrels or trigger unhappiness, with relationship problems that could potentially crop up during this time being the biggest problem.
It is therefore my wish that everyone can recite more Heart Sutra around the Dragon Boat Festival. Ensure that you recite a sufficient number of Heart Sutra if you are unable to keep pace in your offering of Little Houses. However, it is best to offer Little Houses on this special festive day. It’s always good to perform more recitation and prostration during any solar terms simply because your recitation will be more efficacious than normal days.
Source: Wenda20120622 01:17:26, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program