Time : Saturday 2pm-4.00pm
Platform : ZOOM Cloud Meeting
Topic of Discussion : Awareness of Karmic Affinities – Part 2
On 24 October 2020, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore held yet another online Buddhism in Plain Terms (BIPT) Group Study (in English) that elaborated more on karmic affinities in a continuation of the previous session.
The session started off with a common family issue: rebelliousness in children. In examining the causes of why children rebel with a Buddhist lens, the answer can always be traced back to that of negative karmic affinities that surround the child and the family.
These karmic affinities manifest as secondary causes which include karmic conflicts, negative family environment, collection of karmic debts, as well as spirits of miscarried children.
This issue pervades many families in this day and age. While some causes may be more visible than others, parents that are plagued by this must take responsibility and improve the karmic affinities surrounding the situation.
This can be achieved through *performing recitation for the rebellious child, themselves or their miscarried children*. The parents should also introspect, work on both themselves and the way they interact with the child.
As a young participant shared from one of Master Lu’s discourses during the discussion, “communication is a critical ingredient for us to understand each other.” Through the exploration of issues found in every household such as this, we can see how Buddhist teachings are versatile and have great utility in resolving our real-world problems.
The discussion then evolved towards another related aspect of karmic affinities in a domestic sphere – what to do if your family has objections to your spiritual practice? A key course of action is in walking the talk. Propagate Buddhism through your actions, emulate Bodhisattva and gradually convince your family members by example.
On making the transition towards vegetarianism, Master Lu said that we must “learn to withstand the pressure when we face opposition from the people around us” and stand by this ideal.
As practitioners of Guan Yin Citta, some certain ingenious methods that we have under our belt would be to pray to Nanjing Bodhisattva, perform recitation to eliminate the karmic debts of our family members, and to lodge the Application for Convincing Family Members.
As a fellow Buddhist practitioner spoke about in his testimonial sharing during the session, these methods can transform an opposed parent to become much more receptive and even visit the Practice Centre!
Let us now look at some comments from participants:
“Through the session I learnt more about using humanistic Buddhism to circumvent obstacles so that we do not clash head-on with those who have dissenting views. They are not wrong and neither are we right. It is just differing views and opinions on a subject at a given time in our life. Tolerance and steadfast devotion is the key.”
“As someone who is also facing immense opposition from family towards my spiritual practice, the topic of discussion was very relatable. I felt deeply for the testimony shared, and hearing from these Buddhist friends gave me a sense of reassurance and community, I am not in this alone. I will try the tips from the session and believe that Bodhisattva will bless me.”
? Join us in our next session
Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information
⏰ Date and time:
Saturday 31 Oct 2020 (2.oopm – 4.00pm)
Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:
BHFF_SUMMARY_Awareness of Karmic Affinities_24102020
UNDERSTANDING RELATIONS AND PREDESTINED AFFINITIES
Master Jun Hong Lu, “We were sinned from the moment we were born. The karma you created in your past life made you sinful. You have brought these karma to this life. Your karma is grave.
By that, I am not referring the present situation,I am talking about all those wrongdoings are from your past lives, from a long time ago. They are caused by the entanglements in your predestined relationship with all beings where you get intertwined and tied down by one another. This is the origin of both the good and bad affinities.”
REBELLIOUS CHILD
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?
PART 1:
Do you think children Rebel without a cause? – Understand child rebellion from the Buddhism perspective.
Learn the Strategies in Handling Rebellious Children
< Why is your child rebellious? >
shuohua20140613 00:41 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
HOW DOES REBELLION IN ADOLESCENTS DEVELOP?
Question: Most children undergo a period of rebellion. In that case, how is rebellion in adolescents explained from the perspective of metaphysics? Is it because of the karmic forces or karmic conflicts?
Answer: It is because of karmic conflicts. In a real-world context, teenage rebellion can be understood as follows: as children mature, they lose a sense of respect for their parents especially when the many shortcomings of the parents become apparent to them.
In addition, these children may have started to have an understanding of the many principles in life and gained exposure to the society. As a result, they may look down on their parents, hence giving rise to a sense of rebellion. Karmic affinities from their past life also play a huge role. Negative affinities starts when one has conceptual thinking and that is how rebellion in adolescents is developed.
Wenda20120316 01:49 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
QUARRELS BETWEEN PARENTS RESULT IN A CHILD BECOMING REBELLIOUS
Caller: My son is extremely disobedient, andhas not been to school for two years. I am very anxious… he does not sleep but instead plays computer games throughout the night. Neither patient methods nor hard attitudes work to change him. He continues to play game till very late at night, even staying up to 4 or 5am on some days and he can’t seem to get enough sleep in the day, tormenting in this fashion everyday, making me worry to an unbearable extent. He does not go to regular school anymore and I have to spend extra money on signing him up at part-time college…
Master Jun Hong Lu: Family environment greatly influences children. You and your husband must have had frequent arguments, is that right?
Caller: Yes, Master Lu.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Your child has been affected by your frequent quarrelling. Don’t you think that this is a result of your actions?This child who plays computer games late at night is obsessed; but this would have been resolved if you had started performing recitation of Buddhist scriptures earlier, don’t you think so? Additionally, you should also recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance.
All the games he plays causes extreme obsession. If you wish to discipline him well, you must first have self-discipline — recite Buddhist scriptures for yourself diligently before helping your child to recite. Only then will your child amount to something.
After all, ‘one who is not upright can never hope to lead others to righteousness’ (己不正，焉能正人).
Why do I ask you to recite 49 times of the Heart Sutra? It is because you lack wisdom. You need to correct your shortcomings and refrain from speaking frivolously. In the past, you would quarrel without rhyme or reason. When educating your son, you would also switch between loving and strict attitudes. With all these, would your words carry any weight?
Recite the Heart Sutra for your son, and the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance for yourself. In addition, you should offer 14 Little Houses to your son’s karmic creditor.
As the saying goes, ‘failing to educate a child is the fault of the father’. Oftentimes, the parents are responsible when a child is not doing well. Similarly, both you and your husband are at fault as your son derived his bad habits precisely because you have pampered and spoiled him since young.
Caller: Indeed, Master Lu. My husband and I have been quarrelling even when we were younger. Our child used to be very obedient and sensible when he was young.
Master Jun Hong Lu: What a pity! Children who grow up in an environment filled with quarrels will develop autism. Now, this child is not willing to interact with others and chooses to stay cooped up at home instead. This must change.
However, you will not be able to change things yourself. Hence, the only way is to perform recitation diligently. Additionally, there are deep-seated grievances between you and your husband and you must recite the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots diligently.
Master Jun Hong Lu – Part III of Explaining the Fundamentals of Metaphysics
2. CHILDREN THAT YOU ARE KARMICALLY INDEBTED TO WILL TEND TO BE REBELLIOUS
Children can either be categorised as those who demand for repayment of karmic debts or those who are here to repay their karmic debts. A child who is here to demand for the repayment of karmic debts would tend to be sickly from birth.
For instance, the child may develop an illness that drains the financial resources of their parents and the child’s parents may frequently quarrel because of them. When the child grows slightly older, he may have many demands and tends to be disobedient. There is a 70-80% chance that such a child is essentially here to demand for repayment of karmic debts.
Hence, one must understand whether their child is here to repay karmic debts or demand for the repayment of karmic debts. With this understanding, you will think, ‘Oh, my child is here to demand for the repayment of karmic debts so I should not hit him but instead, I should treat him better – at least, from a human perspective, I have to let go.’ From this, you will be able to obtain greater balance in your mind.
Many people do not know that in general, girls are here to repay karmic debts while boys are here to demand for the repayment of karmic debts. Oftentimes, boys are more mischievous, do not take any given task seriously, causes trouble and saddens their parents.
When a mother constantly nestles the child in her embrace, feeding him milk and water, as well as taking care of the child with dedication; all these sacrifices constitute the repayment of karmic debts.
Another line of reasoning goes as follows: you must not be unfilial towards your parents as one who is not filial to their parents will experience immediate retribution in this present life. In other words, in the person’s later years, their child would not be filial.
There was a mother who had been bullied by her child and she came crying to me. For the umpteenth time, she had been driven out of the house by her son, and she came to seek my advice, “Master Lu, please help me to see what I did wrong. He has mistreated and bullied me for my whole life.”
Hence, I read her totem where I saw a couple standing in front of a house with a vintage charm. In fact, the mother in this life was the husband that I saw in the totem reading, while her son was the wife. Does everyone understand?
In other words, the husband had mistreated his wife in their previous life. In this life, the wife has become her son and demands repayment of karmic debts from her, and hence mistreats her in return. Most interestingly, the mother had even asked me while weeping, “Do you think my son still has a future?”
Don’t you think this is a display of being karmically indebted? It is indeed a very deep-rooted karmic debt. Additionally, why are mother and daughter-in-law relationships so tense? This is because such relationships are also a result of karmic debts from previous lives.
Master Jun Hong Lu – Part III of Explaining the Fundamentals of Metaphysics
3. A MOTHER’S MISCARRIAGE WILL RESULT IN A CHILD BECOMING REBELLIOUS
Question:
My son is very rebellious.
Answer:
This is because there are 3 spirits of aborted children on him and each foreign spirit requires 21 Little Houses. (Note: If a mother has previously had a miscarriage or an abortion, it is paramount to recite Little Houses urgently to allow these children to ascend to a higher spiritual realm as they are very pitiful.)
Answer: (especially since there is also a possibility that they will be occupying the body of one’s living children, leading to poor academic achievements and disobedience. Hence, one must dutifully allow these miscarried or aborted children to ascend to a higher spiritual realm.)
< What To Do If Your Child is Rebellious ? >
shuohua20140613 00:41 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller: A Buddhist friend has a 16 year old daughter. Recently, she has been refusing to return home or go to school for some time and dislikes studying. Instead, she chooses to head out and frequent the bar, even co-inhabiting with a heavily tattooed, slightly older boy who is a bad influence. In her current social circle, there are many ex-convicts and her mother is currently very worried. When her daughter was younger, she used to be very obedient.
However, her behaviour has resulted in the straining of father-daughter ties and he would criticise her incessantly whenever she returns home. Master Lu, what is the reason that leads to her daughter behaving in this manner?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Firstly, her parents often quarrel. Secondly, her parents are not strict enough in disciplining her. A child who is not disciplined in a strict manner when young will commit wrongdoings. Thirdly, the daughter herself is plagued with karmic obstacles.
Caller: Her mother performs recitation and recites Little House daily. Based on the condition of the daughter now, should the mother focus more on the recitation of Little House for her? As she has previously had three abortions, she is a bit confused as to whether she should recite Little House for her aborted children or for her daughter’s karmic creditor; which one should be given priority?
Master Jun Hong Lu: She should first recite for her daughter. Otherwise, her daughter’s condition will worsen. Furthermore, when bad youths get together, gradually they will do drugs, etc. and this daughter of hers will be ruined. In fact, her life is currently at the brink of ruin.
Caller: In other words, she should go all out in the recitation of Little House for her daughter’s karmic creditor followed by the recitation of the Heart Sutra for her. Besides these, are there any other sutras/mantras that she should look into?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Mantra to Disperse Calamities (Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou) to keep her safe and the Mantra To Untie Karmic Knots. Let me tell you this, when a child is involved in unwholesome deeds like this, it is undeniable that the parents are responsible. Recite 49 times of Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou, 108 times of Mantra To Untie Karmic Knots to pray to resolve the negative affinity of her daughter. As for Little House, offer 7 in each batch, and do it continuously.
Caller: The mother is very worried now as her daughter has not been going home.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Continue to help resolve her negative affinity and recite the Heart Sutra for her – these are the only two solutions apart from performing life liberation for her daughter as well.
Master Jun Hong Lu – Part III of Explaining the Fundamentals of Metaphysics
Parents should take a Unified Stance
Question: My son has come into bad company. How should we resolve this issue?
Answer:
Firstly, pray to Bodhisattva for blessing and protection.
Secondly, move him with emotion and edify him with reason.
Thirdly, you and your spouse must not argue in front of him.
As parents, the both of you must take a unified stance.
You should not display differing opinions in front of the child, as this will result in the child completely disregarding your words.
Answer: Just like a teacher, how can one who is not upright hope to lead someone to righteousness? The both of you often debate in front of your child, one shielding him while the other criticises him. After some time, who will he obey?
Currently, the both of you are still new to the practice of recitation and thus lack the energy required to make your son listen to you. Why do many people with disobedient children come to me? Why is it that when I criticise them, they would not dare to answer back even with a single word? The answer is simple: my words carry power.
WHY DO CHILDREN BECOME REBELLIOUS?
HOW TO COPE WITH FAMILY AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?
While it may not be the primary cause of all family feuds, religion ranks in the top five reasons for family friction and the crumbling of relationships. What can you do if you find yourself in this predicament?
Learn Useful Tips on how to Convince Family Members of your choice of Spiritual Practice.
< WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOUR FAMILY OBJECTS TO YOUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE? >
wenda20160124A 25:20 (Master Jun Hong Lus call-in radio programme)
WHEN FACED WITH OBSTRUCTION FROM FAMILY MEMBERS OF OTHER RELIGION, PRAY TO NANJING BODHISATTVA
Caller: A fellow practitioner has failed to gain the approval from her family members despite practising Buddhism for four years now. Due to their disapproval, she can’t set up a Buddhist altar at home. Master, is this due to the practitioner’s own problem?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course.
Caller: Is it because her karmic obstacle is too hefty?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. She must have been wishy-washy in her Buddhism practice. If she has been genuine in her spiritual cultivation, her family members would surely regard her as a Bodhisattva and approve of her practice. Instead, she is fierce and selfish. With all that, she claims to be a Buddhist practitioner. Naturally, others will react and say, “That’s enough. Stop pretending, who are you trying to fool?” Do you understand?
Wenda20111216 70:21 (Master Jun Hong Lus call-in radio programme)
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE AGAINST OUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
Caller: My prayers have always been answered except my prayer to have my family members agree to my faith in Buddhism, chanting, and my practice of vegetarianism which I am experiencing a lot of hindrances. Master Lu, please give me some advice.
Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s very simple. If you conduct yourself well, others will approve everything you do. In this case, it is clear that you have not been conducting yourself well. Be it in life or in Buddhism practice, we have tolead by examples (以身作则).
If I were to advise you to practise morality and Buddhism but I do not set a good example, do you think you will follow my teachings?Look at me. I risk my life to help sentient beings. There are so many people who are convinced and started to practise Buddhism and cultivate morality.
If you tell your family today, “You should learn Buddhism” but the next thing you know, you are arguing with them and showing your unhappiness; you ridicule them, or do something that is improper. Think about it, who will trust you?
You are bringing disgrace to me! You say, “Master Lu is great” but the next moment you mock your parents by saying “…if you continue to be like this, you will go to hell..” Think about it, who will ever listen to you?
Caller: That’s what I used to say and think.
Master Jun Hong Lu: You have sinned the moment you give rise to these thoughts. Not only have you failed to help them, you have committed new negative karma.
Zongshu20180602 31:34 (Master Jun Hong Lus call-in radioprogramme)
SET A GOOD EXAMPLE TO CONVINCE OTHERS TO PRACTISE BUDDHISM
Caller: I would like to ask about my mother, who was born in 1955, year of the Goat. You can say that she is a believer in Buddhism as she recites Little Houses. However, occasionally she objects to my participating in dharma conventions and gets upset over it.
Master Jun Hong Lu: These are obstructions. Your mother will have faith in Buddhism in the future. She has a good nature and is kind hearted.
Caller: That’s correct. She’s kind but her speech is not.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Her speech is not good, so is her mind. She lets praises get to her head. You must help her recite Heart Sutra and transfer some merits to her. Very soon, she will have more wisdom. As for you, you have tobehave like a Bodhisattva. Otherwise….
Caller: My apologies, Master. You are very right! I have not been cultivating well.
Master Jun Hong Lu: How do you expect others to have faith in you if you are not well cultivated? Had I not set a role model for others to emulate, who would believe me and learn from me? In order to be your master, I must set a good example. As a Buddhist practitioner, you must carry yourself in a dignified manner and be as respectable as an eminent monk; emulate Bodhisattva;refrain from uttering any nonsense or obscene words. Take this in all seriousness. Over time, your mother will say, “Wow, my daughter has really changed! She no longer fights nor shouts back now!”
shuohua20150109 20:51 (Master Jun Hong Lus call-in radioprogramme)
WHAT TO DO WHEN ONE LACKS THE AFFINITY TO PRACTISE BUDDHISM
Caller: Master, recently there are many Buddhist friends, old and young alike, they seem to be experiencing the eruption of negative karma with family members opposing strongly to their Buddhism practice. They are very much troubled by this matter.
Master Jun Hong Lu: This is what happens when one lacks affinity. If you wish to give due consideration to the family, you may practise secretly, perform recitation and don’t go out for dharma propagation activities for the time being. Actually, this has to do with one’s own affinity which has yet to reach maturity. Hence, you need to keep a low profile. You should not try to introduce Buddhism to your family members or argue with them. You have no choice.
Caller: I understand. Master, can you say a few more words to these Buddhist friends? They will listen to the recording. All of them are working very hard to help more sentient beings.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Dedicate yourself to helping others! As you amass more meritorious blessings, your family members will gradually change. If you lack merits, even if you quarrel with them, it will not get you anywhere. Nothing will change. Affinity that has yet to reach maturity, is like an unripe apple. If you insist on picking it, it will surely taste sour. You should instead wait for it to mature and grow before you pick and eat it.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse – Metaphysics QnA (6) – Question 50
12 May 2014
Question:
In order to stand our ground on our journey of spiritual cultivation, we may fall out with our family. We face objections because we spend more time and financial resources to propagate Buddhism and perform life liberation which started to affect our daily lives. Apart from reciting the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots (JieJie Zhou), what else should these Buddhist friends be aware of?
Answer: We need to have wisdom and apply ingenious methods (妙法) in our practice of Buddhism and performing recitation. If, on one hand, you perform recitation but on the other you quarrel with your family members, make a total mess or run away from home for that matter, this shows that you lack wisdom!
A true Buddhist practitioner is one who practises humanistic Buddhism. You can chant while you are preparing the meal. If they are against your practice you should first take it easy rather than meeting them head-on. (不要去跟他对着干)
You may first share with them some Buddhist books, CD-ROMs and other materials, and at the same time recite the Heart Sutra for them every day. Gradually, their affinity will mature and they will start to have faith.
When I was in Germany to propagate the Dharma, I met an elderly lady whose husband was a German. He was very much against her burning the incense and chanting. The lady chanted the Heart Sutra for her husband for several months, and now her husband will prepare the Great Compassion Water and even light the oil lamp on the Buddhist altar for her.
Wenda20140511A 08:50 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE OBSTRUCTION TO OUR PRACTICE OF VEGETARIANISM
Caller: A Buddhist friend who has been practising vegetarianism for more than three years, now faces objections from some of his family members who insist that he takes non-vegetarian food. He had made a great vow to be a vegetarian, as such he can’t consume meat. Master, what should he do?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Persevere!
There are no two ways about it now that you have made the great vow! You have absolute control over what you consume, don’t you?
Learn to withstand the pressure when we face opposition from the people around us. There is not a single person who practises vegetarianism and does not face pressure for holding on to this lofty ideal.
Master Jun Hong Lu: What about those monks? They leave home despite their whole family opposing them. Everyone has different beliefs and understandings. You have to stand your ground! Otherwise, you don’t have the right to make the vow. You are just bragging!
You need to have the willpower to survive in this world. Buddhism practice is not an easy path; you need to persevere. If you are worried about what others have to say, you will get nowhere in your spiritual cultivation.
Wenda20180727 24:09 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
IF ONE AVOIDS DHARMA PROPAGATION ACTIVITIES IN FEAR OF OBJECTION FROM FAMILY MEMBERS, ARE THEY CONSIDERED LIVING THE SPIRIT OF “RESPONDING TO THE WISHES OF SENTIENT BEINGS (恒顺众生)?”
Caller: There is a Buddhist friend who has been practising Buddhism and performing recitation despite objections from his parents. He has been persistently doing so secretly. In order to uphold filial piety, he comes home straight after work as he did not want to make his parents worry.
He forgoes the opportunity to perform meritorious deeds such as dharma propagation as his parents will be worried whenever he returns home late. He views this as a demonstration of his filial piety and in the spirit of“responding to the wishes of sentient beings(恒顺众生)”. Master, can you enlighten us whether his action is proper from a Buddhism standpoint?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Don’t ask me. This question is best answered when this person gains more wisdom one day. Let me give you an example. The monks too, have the responsibility to take care of their parents, don’t they? So why do they leave home to pursue the ascetic life? Why do we address all the monks in the temple as ‘master’? Why do we need to learn from them? Do they not have parents? They are not born out of nothing.
Does that mean they should also return home to practise the act of filial piety in the spirit of ‘responding to the wishes of sentient beings”(恒顺众生)?
Caller: The monastics have sentient beings in their heart. Hence, they relinquish their family life.
Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s good that you understand this.
Caller: My apologies, Master. In the case of this Buddhist friend, am I right to say that he needs to have an enlightened mind to comprehend the circumstance he is in now? Is there any ingenious method (妙法) to manage this situation? Should he perform recitation for his parents or perhaps, in hope of gaining their understanding, tell them, “I’m going to propagate the Dharma and it is a meritorious act that would bring blessings to you too, as my parents.”
Master Jun Hong Lu: Reciting sutras on behalf of his parents works well. Unfortunately, in some cases, parents may never appreciate nor understand. It very much depends on their spiritual foundation (根基). Previously, there was a child whose nature was good, but unfortunately, his spiritual foundation was not. It amounted to nothing in the end.
wenda20160129 55:30 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WILL BUDDHISTS NEED TO BEAR THE KARMIC CONSEQUENCES FROM THE ACT OF KILLING OF THEIR OTHER HALF WHO IS OF ANOTHER RELIGION?
Caller: Master, in the case of a couple, one of them is a practitioner of Guan Yin Citta, while the other is of another religion. The former practise vegetarianism while the latter does not. May I know, will the Buddhist practitioner need to bear the karmic consequences from her other half’s act of killing?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, surely she will need to bear a little. It is inevitable.
Caller: Is there anything they should pay attention to?
Master Jun Hong Lu: There’s freedom of religion and belief. You need to ensure that you do not offend the other party or commit negative karma of speech; you have to respect each other. That’s it. In this human realm now, you are a couple, but what’s more important is that you can have your own religious belief in heaven in the future.
For cases like this, you may need to pray to Nanjing Bodhisattva. You may make your prayer request, “Please bless us so that we can have a peaceful coexistence.” Nanjing Bodhisattva will make the necessary arrangement.
wenda20141214A 07:05 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUCCESS IN CONVINCING FAMILY MEMBERS TO HAVE FAITH IN BUDDHISM AND THE DEGREE OF KARMIC OBSTACLES WE MANAGE TO ELIMINATE FOR THEM
Caller: When preaching Buddhism to family members, we need to help them eliminate karmic obstacles that may impede their faith in Buddhism before they can become more receptive. This is an aspect that we need to put effort in.
In this respect, I am interested to know how much of the karmic obstacles needs to be eliminated? Would it work if one only eliminated a limited portion of the karmic obstacles, all of it or a certain degree will do?
Master Jun Hong Lu: When you continue to help your family members to eliminate their karmic obstacles, their level of acceptance of Buddhism is in tandem with the magnitude of the karmic obstacle eliminated.
Once there was this person who persisted in performing recitation for his family member who went against his Buddhism practice. After six months, his family member started offering water and incense to the Buddha, though still reluctant to perform prostration. Things improved even further a year later when his family member started performing prostration and even recitation. This shows that as one’s karmic obstacle is reduced, things will improve correspondingly.
Buddhism: Your Questions Answered – Question 6
Lodging the Application for Convincing Family Members
Q&A 6. Lodging the Application for Convincing Family Members
Buddhism: Your Questions Answered – Question 106
Lodging the Application for Convincing Family Members
Q&A 106. Lodging an Application for Convincing Family Members without a Buddhist altar
Caution: DO NOT burn this application form
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Auckland, New Zealand, 2 Dec 2017
SEEK EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD – STORY OF A THOUSAND-MILE HORSE
The seemingly ordinary tasks of today are actually the cumulative capabilities of tomorrow. If we experience sadness or rejection today, this may serve as a foundation for a stronger self in the future.
In order to become successful in our pursuits, we need to not only have talent, but seek and be open to the opportunities presented to us. Cherish every chance to accrue meritorious blessings, no matter how many challenges we were presented along the way.
Whatever obstacles we face, we don’t have to raise our hand and surrender. We can choose to advance through them.
Spiritual cultivation can be likened to a race with impermanence. If we are able to succeed before the end of our life, we will be able to ascend to the Four Sagely Realms and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.