Buddhism in Plain Terms

THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’: YOUR FAQs ANSWERED (PART 2)

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🌟 Unlock the Secrets to Resolving the ‘3, 6, 9 Predestined Calamities’ 🌟

Ready to navigate and conquer the enigmatic ‘3, 6, 9 Predestined Calamities’?

🌪️ Join us as we unravel the answers to these vital questions:

🤓 What are the *Buddhist scriptures* that you should recite to ward off these calamities?

🌟 What’s the magic behind making *Great Vows* to alleviate predestined calamities?

🔮 How should you determine the right quantity for *Life Liberation*?

🔍 Should you recite more Little Houses or accumulate more merits to ward off the calamities?

🙏 What’s the plan when you can’t avert predestined calamities?

Equip yourself with knowledge and wisdom to safeguard yourself and your loved ones from harm. Don’t miss the discourses on ‘3, 6, 9 Predestined Calamities’ – your guide to resolution and empowerment! 🌟 

 


RECITATION OF THE XIAO ZAI JI XIANG SHEN ZHOU AND LITTLE HOUSES TO OVERCOME THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’

  • Recite the Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou 49 times per day.
  • Recite three batches of the Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou every day three months prior to your birthday, with each batch ranging from 49 to 108 times.
  • One batch can be included as part of your daily recitation, while the other two can be recorded on a Self-Cultivation Record Form.
  • Make a vow stating that you will recite one batch of Little Houses that corresponds with your age. For example, you should vow to recite at least 33 Little Houses when you are reaching age 33.
  • If you are 21 years old or under and encounter a year of predestined calamities, you should vow to recite 21 Little Houses.
  • You can say the following prayer before your recitation: “May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>, help me to resolve my predestined calamities at <age>”.
  • If you expect a major predestined calamity, you can vow to recite 108 Little Houses. For particularly severe/highly critical predestined calamities, you will need to vow to recite 3 batches of 108 Little Houses. Address the Little Houses to the “Karmic Creditor of <your full name>”.
  • It is also important that you persistently perform your daily recitation and recite as many Little Houses as possible, make vows and perform life liberations.

For a detailed guide to the recitation and prayer, please click:

Q&A 139. Age and predestined calamities

 

WHEN FACING THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’, IT IS MORE EFFECTIVE IF A VOW IS MADE TO RECITE 10,000 TIMES OF THE XIAO ZAI JI XIANG SHEN ZHOU

Caller: Master, you previously advised that when the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ are approaching, we may begin reciting three batches of the Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou every day, three months before our birthday. Two of the batches can be dotted on the Self-Cultivation Record Form and offer them on our birthday. This practice can help ward off major calamities. Given that we may also make a vow to recite the mantra 10,000 times, which method is more effective?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Making a vow to recite the mantra 10,000 times.

Source: Wenda20200904 18:36, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 

HOW SHOULD WE PLAN THE OFFERING OF LITTLE HOUSES TO ADDRESS THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’?  

Caller: During those ages 39, 66 and 69, when we are confronting the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’, am I right to say that we should double up our recitation of Little Houses? If someone is 69 years of age, he should offer two batches of 69 Little Houses?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Certainly.

Caller: When should we offer these two batches of 69 Little Houses? Before our birthday?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It can be done before or after. To make it particularly efficacious, it’s best to offer one batch before your birthday. The effect may be slightly compromised if you do so after your birthday. Having said that, there will be times when the karmic ramifications may only effectuate after your birthday and not before.

As insurance against such a possibility and assuming you have prepared two batches of 69 Little Houses, what you can do is offer the first batch of 69 and top it up with another half from the second batch and offer them before your birthday. Subsequently, you may offer the remaining 30 over pieces after your birthday.

Caller: Alright, thank you, Master!

Source: Wenda20150614A  48:51, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 

CAN THE VOW TO RECITE 10,000 TIMES OF THE MANTRA TO UNTIE KARMIC KNOTS IN THE FACE OF THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’ BE APPLIED UNIVERSALLY? 

Caller: In a recent radio program, Master has recommended a Buddhist practitioner to make the vow to recite 10,000 times of the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots to ward off the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’. In this regard, can this recommendation be applied across the board or on a case-by-case basis?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It can be applied universally. If you wish to resolve a critical karmic pass and would like to recite more of the mantra, you must first make the vow to recite 10,000 times of the said mantra.

Caller: I see. Our understanding is that the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots is typically meant to resolve those negative affinities, but in his case, it was for the purpose of resolving the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined karmic calamities’.

Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s the same.

Caller: Is it right that we must also recite the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots?

Master Jun Hong Lu: There is an element of karmic grievances in all karmic calamities.

Caller: I see. In this regard, when should we start reciting the mantra? The reason I ask is because Master has previously guided us that we should step up on the recitation of Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou three months before our birthday. Is there any specific aspect that we should take note of with regards to the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Just keep reciting.

Caller: Do we continue to do this all year round?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.

Caller: I see. Does it mean that once the vow to recite 10,000 times of the said mantra is made, we may recite an unlimited amount of the mantra daily?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct.

Source: Wenda20191013 30:27, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 

ONE SHOULD STEP UP ON THE RECITATION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE WHEN ENCOUNTERING THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’

Caller: Hi Master, when the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ are upon us, would it be better for us to increase or reduce on the recitation of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance?

Master Jun Hong Lu: For sure it is to increase your recitation of the sutra. This is because as the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ approach, you would be contending with more karmic obstacles. When karmic obstacles become significantly more, chances are, you will be subject to retribution. Hence, you should seize the opportunity to step up on your recitation.

Caller: What’s the recommended number of recitation that we should do?

Master Jun Hong Lu: In normal times, do not go beyond the number of recitation recommended but when the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ period comes about, you may recite a bit more, say, up to 9 times a day.

Source: Wenda20160826 42:47, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 

PRAY TO ELIMINATE CALAMITIES AND EXTEND LIFESPAN BY RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE (LIFO)

Question: Some Buddhist practitioners have previously made the vows to transfer part of their lifespans to their family members (把寿数折给家人). Are they now able to extend their lifespans through making vows, recitation, life liberation and performing meritorious deeds, and supplement them by reciting Sheng Wu Liang Shou Jue Ding Guang Ming Wang Tuo Luo Ni (圣无量寿决定光明王陀罗尼)?

Answer: Yes. You may do so. After performing life liberation, you can recite the said mantra. Generally speaking, those who wish to extend their lifespan will have to recite some LIFO. This is because the more you repent, the more ‘purified’ you are and the easier it would be to extend your lifespan (越忏悔得干净,越能延寿). For those in their golden years, please remember, if you wish to extend your lifespan, you must recite LIFO.

Question: How many times of LIFO should we recite in a day and for how long?

Answer: You may do five times a day and at the most, seven. You may state this prayer, “I hereby recite five times of LIFO, may Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, help me eliminate calamities and extend my lifespan”.

This is how it works. Before you pray for an extension of lifespan, you must first ask for the elimination of calamities. Without the latter, it’s not possible to have your longevity extended. When predestined calamity is eliminated, your karmic grievances are resolved and correspondingly, your karmic pass is eradicated. Only then, your lifespan can be extended. This is why you must state your prayer in this order, “to eliminate calamities and extend my lifespan”.

Question: Thank you, Master.

Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting (Q&A Session), Melbourne, Australia, 7 December 2019

 

PRAYER REQUEST TO RESOLVE POTENTIAL KARMIC CALAMITIES STEMMING FROM THE ‘3, 6, 9’ OR THE YEAR OF THE ZODIAC

The following prayer needs to be stated before reciting the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance and the Medicine Buddha Dharani:

“May the Greatly Merciful and the Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Medicine Buddha bless, protect, empower <and help me, <your full name>, to resolve my predestined calamities and eliminate the negative energy in my body. I am learning from the compassionate vows of Guan Yin Bodhisattva to transform my predestined calamities and negative energy. 

May the Medicine Buddha bless, empower, and liberate me from karmic obstacles stemming from  my past acts committed out of ignorance. I, <your full name>, hereby recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance [number of times, see below for details] to repent of the lack of positive energy in my mind, and my past inappropriate conduct. May the Bodhisattva bless, empower and help me resolve the karmic calamities, protect me physically and mentally against any negative energy from external sources.”

Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism Your Questions Answered Q&A 174, Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door practitioners may recite the Medicine Buddha Dharani (Yao Shi Guan Ding Zhen Yan)

For more information, please refer to:

Q&A 174. Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door practitioners may recite the Medicine Buddha Dharani (Yao Shi Guan Ding Zhen Yan)

 


MAKING GREAT VOWS WILL HELP ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF RETRIBUTION

Caller: Some Buddhist practitioners are about to face up to their ‘3, 6, 9’ predestined karmic passes, as well as clashes with Tai Sui Bodhisattva. Master mentioned that making great vows will help eliminate karmic obstacles.

What if they make the vow to succeed in their cultivation within this lifetime, would it cause their negative karma to ripen, or would they be hit by more severe predestined calamities?

Master Jun Hong Lu: No, it won’t. Even if the predestined calamities turn out to be more severe, they are simply the manifestations of their past negative karma.

It is meritorious to make such a great vow and hence, by right, it should be able to eliminate their karmic obstacles. Having made such a great vow, how is it possible for the predestined calamities to be more severe? That’s impossible. The only possibility is if it is a present-life retribution where the negative karma has come to fruition, and in this case, the retributive effect would be significantly less harsh by virtue of their great vows.

Source: Wenda20200327 17:10, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 


THE NUMBER OF SOFT-SHELLED TURTLES RELEASED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ERADICATING POTENTIAL KARMIC CALAMITIES SHOULD INCREASE ACCORDING TO ONE’S AGE

Caller: Typically, during the year of the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’, we are advised to offer a certain number of Little Houses that corresponds with our age before and after our birthday as a means to resolve the karmic calamities. And, the number of Little Houses to be offered will increase in tandem with our age.

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct.

Caller: Master has mentioned before that to overcome our karmic calamities, we can liberate 49 soft-shelled turtles. On this front, assuming one uses the soft-shelled turtles as a substitute for Little Houses, does it mean that the number of soft-shelled turtles that needs to be liberated will also correspond with one’s age? For example, we should liberate 69 soft-shelled turtles at the age of 69. Is my understanding correct?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct. We should uphold all good deeds. After all, you should know that as you age, your time in this world reduces and hence, you should perform more life liberation.

Caller: Say, I am 33 this year, is it alright for me to liberate 33 soft-shelled turtles in order to resolve my predestined calamities?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You may do so.

Source: Wenda20180916A 32:34, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 


TO RESOLVE THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’, ONE SHOULD GO ALL OUT TO PERFORM MERITORIOUS DEEDS APART FROM RECITING LITTLE HOUSES

Caller: In terms of nominal age, I will be 40 in the upcoming 2015 New Year. Tomorrow is my birthday and it is my hope that I can complete the recitation of 39 Littles Houses before 31 December. I’d like to pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to bless me so that I can be safe and well during the age of 39. Is it alright to do so?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Certainly! Please be diligent in your recitation.

Caller: Is it alright if I recite another batch of 39 Little Houses after the 2015 New Year?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Definitely, the more the better. Today, I will let all of you know about one important aspect of our practice and this makes today’s radio recording of utmost importance. It’s a must that you share it with as many people as possible. I’d recommend all of you to disseminate things that are worthy. Jot it down because today’s program contains a lot of information that you didn’t know about in the past and this includes your question about the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ that you are bound to face up to, say at the age of 39, 36 and 33.

Apart from having to recite a certain number of Little Houses, say 36 or 39, there is one critical aspect that you should know and that is, during the period before and after your birthday, you must perform a multitude of virtuous deeds.

Assuming you are predestined to meet with a car accident. You may have offered a certain number ofLittle Houses, the accident may still occur. But, if you have been diligently performing meritorious deeds during this period, instead of a car accident, you may sprain your foot instead and since it is a mild injury you will recover in no time. Do you understand? What I am trying to say is you must complement your Little Houses with meritorious deeds. This is very important!

Caller:  I see. Thank you, Master.

Source: Wenda20141116B 13:48, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 


 

MAKE THE VOW TO PERFORM 100 GOOD DEEDS IF YOU ARE EXPECTING CALAMITIES

Question: Master has mentioned recently that if we are expecting calamities, we may make a vow to Bodhisattva to perform 100 good deeds, and keep a record of each good deed performed. Once we have delivered our vow, how many times of the Gong De Bao Shan Shen Zhou should we recite?

Answer: Recite 108 times. Good deeds should be performed with no hesitation – something that each and everyone of us should do. One other thing to remember is to keep a record of these good deeds. When you do so, the heavenly officials will do likewise, nothing more, nothing less. On the same token, all evil deeds will get recorded too. In that case, we may have to repent of our wrongdoings that have been committed.

Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 419), 9 October 2020

 

BY ADOPTING NOMINAL AGE IN THE YEAR WHEN ONE’S AGE ENDS WITH 3, 6 OR 9, WILL HELP ONE SHUN CALAMITIES

Caller: In the year when the last digit of our age ends with a 3, 6 or 9, we would generally mention our nominal age (虚岁, i.e. based on the traditional Chinese method of age reckoning where a person is considered one year of age at birth). For example, at the age of 29, we will tell others that we are 30. Do you think this is a good way to help us avoid some calamities?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.

Source: Wenda20190308 12:23, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 


IN THE FACE OF AN IMMINENT KARMIC CALAMITY, SHOULD WE FOCUS ON REPAYING OUR KARMIC DEBTS THROUGH RECITING LITTLE HOUSES OR ACCRUING MORE MERITS FROM DHARMA PROPAGATION?  

Question: A Buddhist friend is facing a major karmic calamity and his life is at stake. Master has advised him about the number of Little Houses required and the deadline that he needs to complete the recitation. To meet the stipulated requirements, this Buddhist friend practically has to recite Little Houses from morning till late at night.

As a result, this leaves him with no time at all to propagate Buddhism to others. We would like to seek Master’s advice whether the Buddhist friend should solely focus on the recitation of Little Houses to ward off the karmic calamities or recite Little Houses alongside with propagating the dharma to others? To do the latter, he will resolutely set aside a certain time in a week to propagate Buddhism to others and use the merits to shield him from harm. By doing so, he may not be able to recite the required number of Little Houses, but still able to navigate through the calamity safely. In this regard, what should he do to strike a good balance?

Answer: First and foremost, it really depends. My advice for those with hefty karmic obstacles is to stay at home and just focus on reciting Little Houses. Dharma propagation is undoubtedly important but think about it, how many people would you be able to introduce the dharma to at a time when you are still laden with karmic obstacles?

Furthermore, you run the risk of shouldering the karmic obstacles of others. If you feel that you have hefty karmic obstacles, you must first recite Little Houses to pay off your karmic debts. You should only consider propagating the dharma to those with predestined affinity with Buddhism when your karmic calamities and karmic obstacles are substantially reduced.

Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse to Disciples (Q&A Session) – Question 24, Singapore, 19 February 2017

 



HOW TO DETERMINE IF WE HAVE GOT OVER A KARMIC PASS; BEING FINED CAN BE AN INDICATION

Caller: How are you, Master Lu? I would like to ask a question, and this relates to our past phone conversation where you said I had yet to get over a karmic pass. How would I know whether my predestined calamities are over and whether there is a need to continue to offer Little House?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You would be able to sense it if you have not surmounted a karmic pass. If you no longer have nightmares, or in a lighter mood, it means the calamity is behind you.

Caller: I see. The reason I ask is because you mentioned that my karmic pass was a major one.

Master Jun Hong Lu: If that’s the case, have you had a fall lately? If you have, that’s it.

Caller: No, but I have been fined on several occasions. Do they count?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. Being fined is an indication that you have got over a karmic pass.

Source: Wenda20170806B 46:28, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 


WHEN CHALLENGED BY AN IMPENDING KARMIC PASS, ONE SHOULD STEP UP ON RECITATION AND SLEEP LESS

Caller: Hi Master, please give us your blessings as we are embarking on a project and we hope our effort will pay off.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Every one of you must remember, when you do all that is wholesome and nothing that is unwholesome (众善奉行,诸恶莫作), Bodhisattva will bless and protect you. In addition, not only will you receive my blessing, the Dharma Protectors will shower you with blessings too.

Caller: Though this echoes what we have in mind, yet we feel that the karmic pass is insurmountable. On this front, how should we regulate our mind?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Just go all out to perform your recitation. This is what you should do when a sense of defeat sets in. You should vigorously perform your recitation and sleep less. What should you do if you fear of not passing your examination? Step up on your revision and sleep less. What should you do in the face of hefty karmic obstacles? Perform more recitation and sleep less.

Source: Wenda20200731 20:33, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program

 


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