THE RECITATION OF THE AMITABHA PURE LAND REBIRTH MANTRA FROM WINTER SOLSTICE TO THE THIRD DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR
Caller: The Winter Solstice is just around the corner. Master once mentioned that during the period from Winter Solstice to the third day of Lunar New Year, we can recite three batches of 49 or 108 repetitions of the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra daily. We can treat one batch as our daily homework, while the rest for self-cultivation purposes and they can be dotted on the Self-Cultivation Record Form with 272 repetitions of the mantra. I’d like to ask Master whether we should pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to protect, bless and help eliminate our karmic obstacles?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, of course. In fact, the Winter Solstice is also an extremely important festival. There is a belief that this is a period to nourish our body, to sustain and extend our longevity etc.
Caller: Alright, do we pray to Bodhisattva to protect and bless us, and help eliminate our karmic obstacles?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.
Caller: What should our prayer be for the additional Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra that we recite during this period?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It is still the same – to pray for the elimination of your karmic obstacles. The Winter Solstice actually represents “the imminent rise of the Yang (positive) energy” in heaven and earth, that is, the picking up of the Yang energy once Winter Solstice passes.
That is why people regard the Winter Solstice as the arrival of a new year since spring comes right after Winter Solstice.
Caller: Is it as good as one has gone through the lunar new year?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. It basically means, relative to the whole year, the sun is directly hitting the southernmost latitude, almost on the Tropic of Capricorn. This is a time when it is most inclined to the northern hemisphere and completely tilted, making it a natural solar term in ancient China.
Caller: I understand. Master, if we do not have a Buddhist altar at home and hence, are unable to offer the Self-Cultivation Record Form during this period, is it alright for us to regard the additional recitations of the mantra as part of our daily homework?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.
Caller: Would it activate our karmic obstacles?
Master Jun Hong Lu: No, it will not.
Source: Wenda20181209A 00:47, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program