Have you ever wondered,
when would one pray to Bodhisattva?
Master Lu once said,
people hardly think of misfortunes when they enjoy their lives.
It is only when misfortune befalls them that they start to
seek the blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
That said, it is not entirely a bad thing. Why is it so?
And did you know:
Why is seeking blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas so essential
and what is the key to receiving Their blessings?
What is the basic qualification to pray to the Bodhisattva?
When should we pray?
Praying is the first step –
WHEN WOULD ONE PRAY TO BODHISATTVA?
< What is the True Faith in Buddhism? >
< A Story >
THE MOUSE IN A RICE JAR
A mouse was over the moon when it accidentally fell into a jar half-filled with rice. It seemed to feel safe in the rice jar, so the mouse spent days just eating and sleeping away. Life had never been so lucky. Very quickly, the jar was emptied, and the mouse realised that it was too late to escape. The mouse felt helpless.
Our lives seem to be peaceful, but in fact, there are dangers everywhere. People hardly think of misfortunes when they enjoy their lives. Many people feel that their good health are here to stay, but when they realise one day that they have cancer, it is too late.
Turning to the Buddha only when disaster strikes is like making a last ditch effort.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, San Francisco, USA, 18 September 2014
I. Beseeching Bodhisattva in times of suffering is an opportunity that spurs us to progress spiritually
THE MEANING OF ‘KARMIC FORCE IS AN IMPETUS THAT SPURS ONE TO PROGRESS SPIRITUALLY’
Caller: Master, how should we understand ‘karmic force is an impetus that spurs one to progress spiritually’?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Do you think people will seek the blessings of the Buddha if they don’t suffer in life? Aren’t they progressing spiritually the moment they beseech for blessings?
Caller: That’s right.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Imagine that people are indulging themselves, living a life free of worries and vexations, losing themselves in luxury and fame, would such people seek the blessings of the Buddha?
However, the moment misfortune befalls them, they will pray for the blessings of the Buddha. In this case, don’t you think their misfortune turns out to be a positive condition for their spiritual practice? Wouldn’t you say that suffering provides you with a kind of force which is derived from your karma? Without such negative karma, you wouldn’t even experience suffering in the first place.
Caller: Are you saying that karmic force is a type of suffering?
Master Jun Hong Lu: I’m talking about karmic retribution, where one suffers the consequence of one’s negative karma. For instance, if you often slaughter fish to eat, misfortune will soon befall you, and tumour will grow in your body. Isn’t this the working of karmic force？
Caller: I see.
Source: Wenda20130519A 03:39, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
II. Seeking blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is essential
BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS ARE ETERNALLY COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS ALL SENTIENT BEINGS
Master Jun Hong Lu: The compassion that the Buddha has for all sentient beings is ever-present. As a Buddhist practitioner, bear in mind that as long as you pray to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, be it Guan Yin Bodhisattva, the Lord Buddha, or any other Bodhisattvas, Their great compassion for you is unfailing. Therefore, it is important for you to learn how to beseech Them.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Episode 74, 13 June 2020
III. The aspiration to help sentient beings is key to receiving Bodhisattva’s blessings
SEEKING THE BUDDHA’S WAY ABOVE AND TRANSFORMING LIVING BEINGS BELOW
Master Jun Hong Lu: Along the path of Buddhism practice, one should, all the more, make great vows. The greater your vows, the more you will advance in your spiritual cultivation.
When you say, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, I will be diligent and steadfast in my spiritual cultivation. I must attain enlightenment in this lifetime. I want to be a Bodhisattva”, the moment you become a Bodhisattva, your entire family will be protected by Dharma Protectors, don’t you think so?
Even if you have six children, you don’t have to state your prayers six times. Similarly, you don’t have to make multiple prayer requests when you wish to pray for your parents or grandparents. Within this short verse, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, I am resolute to become a Bodhisattva and help all sentient beings. May Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless my family with happiness, peace and good health”, all will be taken care of.
Given your aspiration to become a Bodhisattva, don’t you think Dharma Protectors will take care of all your family members? You can be rest assured of that. As the saying goes, “Seeking the Buddha’s way above and transforming living beings below”.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Audio), Episode 35, 29 May 2020
What is the basic qualification to pray to the Bodhisattva?
Master Jun Hong Lu says, “For those who are not even filial to their parents,
no matter how hard they pray, they will not be able to ascend to
the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss or the Four Sagely Realms.
There is no way they can make it to heaven.”
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Radio Program), Volume 2 Chapter 13
IV. Being filial to parents is foremost
BEING FILIAL TO PARENTS IS FOREMOST
Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me share a story with you. Once, there was a son who was very disrespectful towards his mother. Whenever the mother saw her son, she quivered with fear. But this son believed in Buddhism. One day, he prayed to Bodhisattvas and wished for Them to bless him and show Their divine presence.
To his surprise, Guan Yin Bodhisattva answered his prayer and revealed, “In fact, Guan Yin Bodhisattva is already in your house. It is the person who wears her clothes inside out and her shoes on the wrong feet. Just pray to that person.”
He hurried home, eager to find out. At the front door, he shouted and hammered on the door. Upon hearing his voice, his mum was so frightened that she accidentally put her clothes on inside out and her shoes on the wrong feet before scurrying to open the door. When the door flung open, her son was stunned but he quickly realised what had happened. He understood the message of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
The Bodhisattva wanted him to show great care and respect towards his mother before praying to the Bodhisattva. Failing which, the son simply did not have the basic qualification to pray to the Bodhisattva. It’s important to understand the moral of the story.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 1 Chapter 19
COMPASSION IS THE FOUNDATION OF BUDDHISM PRACTICE
Master Jun Hong Lu: Compassion is the key that unlocks the gate of the dharma. How is it possible for someone, who is devoid of compassion, able to set foot on the gate of the dharma? The Buddha once said, “Compassion is the foundation of Buddhism practice”. What does the word ‘foundation’ mean here?
It refers to the spiritual root, that is, the Buddha’s heart of a person. As a Buddhist practitioner, do you have a heart that takes pity on others? First and foremost, you must have sympathy for everyone, more so for yourself because when you do so, you will give rise to a compassionate heart.
Conversely, if you despise everyone that you see, thinking that you are head and shoulders above the rest, how is it possible for you to hold others in high regard let alone having a heart of compassion?
Guan Yin Bodhisattva will never view us through the lens of disdain. This was why She came to the human realm to liberate us from suffering. The same goes to Jigong, the Living Buddha, and Shakyamuni Buddha who came to the human realm to deliver us from afflictions. Not only did the Buddha renounce the comfort of His aristocratic life, He endured countless trials and tribulations for the sake of sentient beings. Aren’t these all a depiction of ‘compassion is the foundation of Buddhism practice’?
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 6 Chapter 32
< Pray Before It’s Too Late >
WE NEED TO HAVE A SENSE OF CRISIS
Master Jun Hong Lu: Once, there were two men who ran into a tiger in the forest. Immediately, the first man squatted down, took out a pair of sneakers from behind him and put them on. The second man saw what happened and scolded him, “What do you think you are doing? Even with your sneakers on, you can never outrun a tiger!” The first man replied, “Well, I just need to make sure that I outrun you!”
The lesson learnt from this story is that the greatest crisis faced by humanity in the 21st century is having no sense of crisis. When we hear news such as plane crashes, people falling ill with cancer, families breaking up or children falling out with their parents, does it ever occur to us that these things may happen to us?
This underscores the importance of Buddhist practice and spiritual cultivation to protect us from any possible harm and crisis. While non-Buddhist practitioners are susceptible to calamities and worries, we, on the other hand, have geared ourselves up with our ‘sneakers’ to deal with life’s sufferings. To save ourselves is a prerequisite for saving sentient beings.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Sydney, Australia, 27 January 2019
< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享