Ways to Ensure Efficacious Prayers & About Energy Field | 19 Sep 2020

< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享    

Time : Saturday 2pm-4.15pm
Platform : ZOOM Cloud Meeting
Topic of Discussion : Ways to Ensure Efficacious Prayers & About Energy Field

 

On 19 September 2020, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore held yet another online English Group Study.

⚠️ Ever asked, ‘Why is my prayer not answered?’

This week’s topic on “How to enhance the efficaciousness of your prayer” shared that the key to seeing the results from prayers is not just shooting random arrows in the air, hoping something might happen. Participants gained a radically new perspective to this question as they learn that it is necessary for them to review the conditions for prayers to be answered, which includes, the maturity of conditions, adequate meritorious blessings, amount of Karmic obstacles, etc..

The session also shed light on the fact that one should start their confession of faith before they see the manifestation of answers to their prayers. Buddhist friends were reminded that if they want to hit the bulls-eye every time they pray, their prayers must be based on absolute faith in Guan Yin Bodhisattva.

There is a major element to success in life, that is, the quality of one’s energy. This week, participants were led into an in-depth view on “How positive energy can help a person succeed”. As the expression goes, “Your attitude determines your altitude”, Buddhist friends were reminded that regardless of one’s endeavour, it is paramount that one should have the positive energy, through regulating their mental attitude, perform recitation of Buddhist scriptures, study the Buddhism in Plain Terms diligently and instil compassion in their heart (which includes adopting a vegetarian diet).

Next, the segment on “Journey to Heaven and Hell” allowed the participants to understand one of the most important practices of Guan Yin Citta – The Little Houses, with the focus topic on how to use this powerful tool to help their deceased relatives and friends ascend to higher spiritual realms. 

The story on the ‘soul-weighing scale’ left the participants wondering, “How much does my soul weigh?”. A person who commit unwholesome deeds will weigh more, thus, preventing them from ascending to higher spiritual realm. This knowledge learnt from the story has undoubtedly inspired Buddhist friends to tread on this Buddhist path with renewed determination.

 

Let us now look at some comments from participants:

“It is enlightening for me to learn from today’s session that through a positive attitude, we are able to do more things that make us happy and derive a kind of positive energy from them. And, that by having positive energy, it is possible for us to not be so easily affected by others.”

“I truly thankful for the people who have made this session possible. Deepest gratitude to Bodhisattva!”

 

? Join us in our next session 
Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information

 

 ⏰ Date and time:
Saturday 26 Sep 2020 (2.oopm – 4.00pm)

 

Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:

19 Sep 2020 Summary slides

 

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<33 Manifestation of Guan Yin Bodhisattva > 

 

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< How to Enhance the Efficaciousness of Our Prayer? >

Wenda20190217A 18:12  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHAT IS THE ACCLAMATION OF GUANSHIYIN BODHISATTVA?

Caller: A Buddhist friend dreamed that Master Lu asked him, “What is the words of praise for Guanshiyin Bodhisattva?” He thought for a long time and couldn’t answer. Master, please interpret the dream.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Respond to every request, relieve the sufferings of sentient beings. That is reason why we hail Guanshiyin Bodhisattva – a Bodhisattva of infinite compassion and mercy.

Caller: Master Lu asked him in his dream, he couldn’t answer, does it mean he didn’t cultivate well in this area?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, he did not learn the true meaning of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.

 

Wenda20150814  43:50  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHY PRAYERS ARE INEFFICACIOUS?

Caller: If we suffered an affliction due to inefficaciousness of our prayers, how do we rebuild our confidence?  Please enlighten us, Master Lu.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Let me ask you, is there any prayer that will be answered instantaneously? Efficaciousness only comes about because of the effort you put in, your compassion and your foundations; as a Bodhisattva in the human realm, your mind will be connected to that of Bodhisattva.  With a higher state of mind, when you pray to Bodhisattva, your prayers will be heard.

If you pray now, who will be listening to your prayer?  Can it be heard?  Let me give you a simple example, if a prisoner keeps saying, “Mother, I will mend my way and will never commit the act of killing again.  I beg you, please let me out of jail soon.”  

Do you think the prayer will be efficacious? Can it be heard?  It is only when he is near to his parents, “Dad, mum, please help me.  I have really changed. I will… etc. etc.”. It is because he is out of the jail, thus his parents, who are also free, are able to connect with his energy field and able to hear him.

Caller:  I understand now.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me give you another example. If you wish to learn or seek favor from a professor, you should at least be a tertiary student, isn’t? 

If street sellers, who lack cultural values, wish to talk to a professor, do you think the professor is able to hear them?

Caller:  Understand.  Thank you Master Lu.

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism in Plain Terms Episode 13
Let our thoughts neither increase nor decrease (An Excerpt)
PRAYER IS NOT ANSWERED BECAUSE THE KARMIC CONDITIONS HAVE NOT MATURED

We must educate our Buddhist friends, when karmic conditions ripen, the fruit of karma will certainly take effect. When the karmic conditions of your prayer to the Buddha ripen today, your karmic result will come into being;

If the karmic conditions of your prayer have not ripened, you won’t have your prayer answered no matter how hard you pray.

Thus, Bodhisattvas often say that when conditions are ripened, success will arrive.

If you pray every day, will the Bodhisattvas not know about it? This is very important to know that how many meritorious and virtuous deeds you have performed, and how sincere you are when you pray.  Why do we have worries?

It is because karmic conditions have not arisen, so of course you will be worried. You have prayed to have a certain wish fulfilled. Your prayer is not answered because the conditions have not matured, so you suffer and you feel miserable.

 

Shuohua20180302 20:55 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHY AREN’T PRAYERS ANSWERED IMMEDIATELY?

Caller: When we pray to Bodhisattva, it generally takes some time for our prayers to be answered. Could it be that the meritorious blessings utilised to pray for something or to eliminate negative karma is insufficient to eliminate the obstruction to what we pray for? Or could it be that a part of the negative karma has been eliminated but a remainder has yet to come to fruition?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  These could be valid possibilities. In fact, when our prayers go unanswered, it could be due to two reasons. Firstly, time factor. Just like in reality, when a seed is planted, it will not bear fruits immediately. Secondly, whether or not it grows and the speed of it will depend on the soil, sunshine, weather, water quality, etc.

Caller: I understand. If the meritorious blessings managed to eliminate a part of the negative karma that causes the obstruction, his prayers will be answered very soon along with the elimination of his karmic obstacles – is that right?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. That explains why some people

have their prayers answered almost immediately.

 

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Master Lu said,

“The problem with humans is that we want things instantly. Remember this, seeds will not grow immediately. A smoker will only develop cancer after decades. Hence when I persuaded others to quit smoking, he told me, Master, my lungs are fine, but when his lungs fail, that is when the effects show”.

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Batam, Indonesia – 2016

 

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Wenda20180511 51:15 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHY SOME PRAYERS GET ANSWERED MORE SWIFTLY THAN OTHERS?

Caller: There are some Buddhist friends who have been performing recitation for a few years, however their prayers remained unanswered. On the other hand, there are others whom had their prayers answered even though they had only performed recitation for merely a few months. What could be the reason for this since in both cases, their practices were the same, i.e. making great vows, performing recitation of Buddhist scriptures and performing life liberation. Even though the determination of the former group of people is relatively strong, they just do not seem to be able to succeed.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me quote you a simple example. Two people were down with colds. Both went to the hospital to receive jabs, but only one managed to bring his fever down. Can you tell me why?

Caller: Could it be that the condition of one was more serious than the other?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  That’s right. One of them has weightier karmic obstacles. Secondly, one is in better health than the other.

Caller: I understand now. If they have yet to achieve what they set out to, that shows that they have to put in even more effort.

Master Lu: When the day comes that they succeed, others will think, “whoa! This person got his prayer answered so swiftly! Why is my prayer not answered till now?” The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Caller: I understand now. Thank you, Master Lu.

 

Wenda20160807B  50:31  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHY IS IT NECESSARY FOR US TO MENTION OUR PRAYER REQUEST REPEATEDLY WHEN WE PRAY?

Caller:  Master Lu, when we are praying for something, we just have to say it once and Bodhisattva will know.  If so, why do we have to repeat our prayer a few times to Bodhisattva? 

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Let me ask you a question.  Regardless of what you are doing, don’t you think it’s helpful to have more frequent communication as people may tend to forget? 

Caller:  Yes, indeed.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Although Bodhisattva will never forget, however, if you have heavy negative karma, Bodhisattva may not be able to hear you. Thus, if you repeat yourself a couple more times, Bodhisattva may be able to hear your prayers. 

For example, it’s common to hear people repeating themselves while communicating via walkie-talkie, “Please respond, please respond ….”  When the opposite party can’t hear you, don’t you have to repeat a few times?

 

Wenda20171105A 13:50 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
MENTALITY IN BESEECHING BODHISATTVA

Caller:  A Buddhist friend is worried that the matter he is praying for will not materialize. Although he is confident that “all prayers shall be answered” by Guan Yin Bodhisattva, he is also worried that his karmic obstacles may be too substantial or the power of his vow may be insufficient. Master, may I know how do we overcome this mentality?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  It is not an issue for us to have faith in Guan Yin Bodhisattva and at the same time worried that our karmic obstacles may be too substantial. However, to claim that we have faith in Guan Yin Bodhisattva but at the same time doubt if Bodhisattva is able to help us, is quite a different story and that is where the problem lies. Do you understand?

Caller:  I understand.  Thank you Master.

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Toronto, 24th September 2012
THE FOUNDATION FOR OFFERING EFFECTIVE PRAYERS TO BODHISATTVA COMPRISES OF THREE FACTORS:

1.  Karma from previous lives.

2.  The level of your cultivation in the present life.

No matter how admirable a person’s cultivation was in his or her past lives, if they only have done bad things and nothing good in this present life, their prayers will not be effective.

3. Sincerity.

With a sincere heart, one’s prayer will definitely be effective, as they will be able to sense the energy field of Bodhisattva.

On the contrary, if you do not perform recitations regularly, do not behave like a good person, and have never performed any good deeds, when you are faced with issues and pray to Bodhisattva hoping your prayer will be answered, don’t you think it would be a pipe dream?

Never complain Bodhisattva isn’t answering your prayers, as it is actually our own capabilities and spiritual power that are lacking.

 

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 206), 4th February 2018
KEY TO EFFICACIOUS PRAYER WHEN OFFERING FIRST INCENSE

Question: What is the key to efficacious prayer when we are offering the First Incense in Chinese New Year Eve? Is it only efficacious when we make vows, perform recitation and virtuous deeds? If gastric diseases are considered spiritual diseases due to karmic obstacles, will our prayer for curing the diseases be efficacious? Since Bodhisattva does not intervene with the laws of cause and effect, what is the prerequisite for our prayer to be answered during the offering of the First Incense?

Answer: Sincerity can work wonders. Keep your mind empty, pray desperately and persistently, and your prayer may be answered on the same day.

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, 8th April 2012
BODHISATTVA’S TIPS ON EFFICACIOUS PRAYER

Master Jun Hong Lu:

Finally, I asked Guan Yin Bodhisattva a question, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, can you teach us a method that will help us to be more efficacious in our prayers? You just said earlier that we must ‘calm our mind’, how do we achieve it, so that our prayers will be answered?

Guan Yin Bodhisattva replied,

“After the prostration before your prayers, enunciate: The Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva.Silence…(静) Leave your mind totally blank, without having a single thought.”

Thank you Guan Yin Bodhisattva!

 

wenda20160110A  01:19:28 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
RECITE 1 TIME OF THE GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA AND HEART SUTRA RESPECTIVELY BEFORE PRAYING

To enhance efficaciousness, it is best for you to recite 1 time of the Great Compassion Mantra and Heart Sutra respectively before praying. If you frequently pay respect to the Buddha, you will be recognised and your prayers will get be answered instantaneously with just a thought.

Caller: Master Lu, does that mean that when you recite the Heart Sutra, Guan Yin Bodhisattva will instantly know that you are praying for help? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. That is why many people misunderstand Bodhisattva as being biased although it is not the case. In fact, Bodhisattva is unable to sense your spiritual energy, hence you are not seen. Even when Bodhisattva is able to see you, you are unable to see Bodhisattva. How will you gain a spiritual connection?

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk,  20151214
PROPER WAY TO PRAY

Many people do not know the proper way to pray. Please keep this in mind:

When you bow down, close your eyes as this will help you to concentrate and stay free from distracting thoughts. When you lift up your head, open your eyes, gaze at Guan Yin Bodhisattva and instantly “capture” the image in your mind. Then close your eyes again as you bow down. By doing so, you would have retained Guan Yin Bodhisattva in your heart.

Prostration should be done at a slow pace.Hasty prostration serves no purpose. There are people who offer incense in a rush… (Master Lu imitated the action of offering incense hurriedly),  it won’t be effective. By doing it slowly, you are showing your sincerity and respect.

Placing both palms together represents the unity of Buddha nature and our hearts. When you close your fingers and place your palms together, it helps clear the circulatory system.

Prostration must be performed at a slow pace as it takes a little while for Guan Yin Bodhisattva to receive your energy field and messages. When I invite Bodhisattva to come, even if she travels at the speed of light, it still takes a little while for her to get here as she’s coming from a very high realm.

How will you know about this if I do not tell you? Many people have been performing prostrations all their lives without knowing the essence, which is why they never seem to have their prayers answered.

 

Master Jun Hong Lu Discourse 7 , 14 May 2014 (An Excerpt)

RECITE Eighty-Eight Buddha Great Repentance diligently when your prayers are not answered for a long time. The more remorseful you are, the more efficacious will be your prayers.

 

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Wenda20160603 21:58 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
OUR PRAYERS WILL BE MORE EFFICACIOUS WITH 13 PROSTRATIONS

Caller: Master Lu, will it be more efficacious if we say our prayers followed by 13 prostrations?(Yes.)

Caller: If we have three matters to pray for, do we perform 13 prostrations for each matter? Or we can only pray for one matter each day with 13 prostrations?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Both are fine.  It’s not an issue.

 

Wenda20160115  01:19:28 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
HOW DO WE ENHANCE OUR POSITIVE AFFINITY WITH GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA?

Caller:  Master Lu, is it true that the deeper our positive affinity with Guan Yin Bodhisattva, the more blessings we will gain and the easier it is for us to make it in our spiritual cultivation?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure. Even your positive affinity with me shares the same logic – the more positive affinity we have between us, the more blessings you will receive. Previously, I mentioned this in one of the discourses to my disciples. Let me share this with you now. As much as you gaze at Guan Yin Bodhisattva, Guan Yin Bodhisattva is also watching over you. When you frequently perform prostrations in front of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, you grow accustomed to gazing at Bodhisattva.

At the same time, Guan Yin Bodhisattva is accustomed to seeing you perform prostrations at the Guan Yin Hall. Hence, should you be faced with any calamities at some point in your life, Guan Yin Bodhisattva will recognise you right away and render you a helping hand.

For example, if someone showed me a photo of a familiar face and asks me to read the person’s totem, I will help that person right away. The same goes with Guan Yin Bodhisattva. By performing daily prostrations, Guan Yin Bodhisattva will be familiar with your face. Hence, it will be possible for you to seek help from Guan Yin Bodhisattva when you are in Heaven.

Caller: That’s right. Generally, the deeper the affection we have now in the human realm, the more blessings we will receive.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Take Shakyamuni Buddha for example. Out of his 500 disciples, all of them were able to ascend to Heaven and become great Bodhisattvas, this also includes Ananda and Mahakasyapa.

Master Jun Hong Lu: In fact, the Bodhisattva’s vow of “all prayers will be answered” is fuelledby Bodhisattva’s affection towards sentient beings.  Of course it is not about the superfluous affection of the human realm but a profound and boundless concept of affection. However, when you perform prostrations on a daily basis, Bodhisattva will recognise you.

Hence, when you raise your head to look at Bodhisattva, you should have your eyes wide open to gaze at the face of Bodhisattva. When you lower your head in prostration, your eyes should be closed.

You will have to aim to allow Guan Yin Bodhisattva to recognise you. In the future when you make your way to Heaven, Guan Yin Bodhisattva will know everything about you with a mere glance, including where you hail from, and that you are a Guan Yin Citta practitioner.

 

Wenda20180408B 13:07 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
ALWAYS INSTILL GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA IN OUR MINDS; KEEP GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA ALIVE IN OUR THOUGHTS; ALLOW GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA TO RESIDE IN OUR HEARTS

Caller: Day after day, Guan Yin Bodhisattva is relentlessly helping all predestined sentient beings. Is that right, Master Lu?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s true. Therefore, if the thought of Guan Yin Bodhisattva fails to bring a person to tears, it shows that the person is inherently ungrateful.

On the other hand, only one who is moved to tears by the mere thought of Bodhisattva is compassionate.

Caller: That’s right.

Master Jun Hong Lu: This is because the compassion of Guan Yin Bodhisattva is unparalleled, be it among heavenly beings or common mortals. 

Caller: Yes. The same goes with some people who are moved to tears when they see you, Master Lu.

Master Jun Hong Lu: In comparison, what I have done is insignificant. I have still a lot to learn from Guan Yin Bodhisattva in being more merciful and compassionate. Our tears need not be an external manifestation, more so, it should come from within.

Always instill Guan Yin Bodhisattva in our minds

Keep Guan Yin Bodhisattva alive in our thoughts

Allow Guan Yin Bodhisattva to reside in our hearts

 

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< HAVING POSITIVE THINKING & ENERGY CAN HELP US SUCCEED >

 

“WHAT IS ENERGY FIELD?”

 

<FOR A PERSON WHO PRACTISE MORALITY AND PERFORM CHANTING WHERE DOES HE GAIN HIS POSITIVE ENERGY FROM? >
shuohua20130215  28:34 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: With regards to the increase of energy that Buddhist practitioners experience through spiritual cultivation and chanting, are they from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas or from within themselves?

Master Jun Hong Lu: If you give some thoughts to this question, I am sure you will have the answer.  Now, why don’t you tell me your answer?

Caller: Personally, I feel that we can produce some energy from our recitation of Buddhist scriptures. On top of that, we also gain energy from the blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Master Jun Hong Lu: If a person is able to receive the energy of the Bodhisattva, it goes to show that he has the energy in him and vice-versa. Just like how you need a pocket to hold your things, without which you won’t be able to do so.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Therefore, the energy that we gain from spiritual cultivation is from the blessings of the Bodhisattvas as well as from within us; this is when the two forces are combined into one.

Caller: If a Buddhist practitioner deviates from the right path, does it mean that the external negative energy will cancel out the positive energy in him?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That is absolutely correct.

 

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< WHY POSITIVE ENERGY IS IMPORTANT TO US? >

Wenda20190816  28:01  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
A WEAK BODY TYPICALLY HAS MORE ‘YIN’ ENERGY WHEREAS A STRONG BODY POSSESSES POSITIVE SPIRITUALITY ENERGY

Caller: Buddhist practitioners who perform recitations will usually have spiritual light illuminating from their body. Will our body conditions affect our sense of righteousness and the brightness of the spiritual light and the aura above our head?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That is impossible. Our body gets stronger as our positive energy multiplies. Therefore a person with poor health condition definitely has more ‘yin’ energy in his body.

 

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< HOW DO WE GARNER MORE POSITIVE ENERGY? >

 

Master Jun Hong Lu‘s Discourse (Question 362) 10 February 2020
RECITE 100,000 TIMES OF MANTRA TO UNTIE KARMIC KNOTS IF ONE IS OVERLOADED WITH NEGATIVE ENERGY

Question: If we have too much negative energy, can we make a vow to recite 100,000 times of Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots to resolve the karmic obstacles and karmic conflicts that led to the overloaded negative energy?

Answer: Yes.

 

Wenda20190301 23:05  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
A GOOD MENTAL ATTITUDE IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE AS IT WILL BRING ABOUT AN INCREASE IN ONE’S POSITIVE ENERGY

Master Jun Hong Lu: Regardless of our endeavour, it is paramount that we should first regulate our mental attitude as it is just that important. A good attitude will render us success in resolving any issue, while a negative one may simply mess up the matter in hand.

It is through a positive attitude that we are able to do more things that make us happy and derive a kind of positive energy from them. And, it doesn’t end here, because the more of such tasks we undertake, the happier we tend to be.

 

zongshu20191114 06:44  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
DO NOT EAT YOUR WAY TO BAD LUCK

Master Jun Hong Lu: When a person consumes and store lots of fats from unfortunate animals in his body, it would be inevitable for him to be afflicted with misfortune. Don’t you think the pigs are unfortunate? They are ill-fated animals that are farmed mainly for food. Hence, if you consume their meat, you are eating your way to bad luck because what you take in are all of their negative energy!

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting,Sydney, Australia
26 January 2019
THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTIVATING COMPASSION

Master Jun Hong Lu: Compassion can increase one’s longevity and develop positive energy in a person. As such, when we witness the compassion of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, the lesson that we may glean is that one should always aim to be free from the notion of self — never to be overly selfish but instead, to be ever willing to sacrifice ourselves in the service of others. It is only through the above that we may advance from a superficial understanding of Buddhist teachings towards truly grasping the essence of Buddha wisdom.

 

Wenda20171022A   17:55   (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
STRENGTHEN OUR RECITATION & STUDYING OF BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS CAN ELIMINATE DISTRACTING THOUGHTS

Caller: Master, we offer Heart Sutra self cultivation form to pray for wisdom.  Under normal circumstances, can we burn a one off 272 times Heart Sutra cultivation form; during times when we have evil thoughts, evil desires and difficulty in controlling our selfish distracting thoughts; and pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to help us eliminate our evil thoughts, evil desire and selfish distracting thoughts?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, you can. Strengthen your recitation of scriptures and studying of Buddhism In Plain Terms can absolutely eliminate your distracting thoughts. The negative energy will reduce immediately once you receive positive energy. For instances, when the Sun rises, the Moon sets; when the Sun sets, we see the Moon. Learn from Master’s teaching and talk like me and apply them when propagating Dharma to others in future, they will be more receptive.

For instance, there is no darkness in the day, hence, when your innate heart is filled with positive energy, helpfulness, care and concern towards others, there will be no more darkness.

Caller: That is correct. Master, the current society has great influence in people, as the saying goes, “People are easily influenced by environment and the companions they stay with.” Nowadays, to propagate Dharma we must stay in contact with positive energy.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Correct. This depends on the type of friends you mingle with. If you be-friend with “Lu”, that place you in the positive influence; if you be-friend with bad people, you will be influenced in negative way.

 

Wenda20191222 57:24  (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
STUDY MORE BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVOURS, CAREER AND HEALTH

Caller: I have nothing else to ask for the time being, except that I haven’t called Master for a long time.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Remember this, study more Buddhism in Plain Terms.  I can’t reveal much, but all I can say is, after studying Buddhism in Plain Terms, you will be blessed with a lot of positive energy, which will be beneficial to your future endeavours, career and health.

Caller: OK, got it.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  The spiritual power of Buddhism in Plain Terms is positive energy and it can’t be helped if one does not study it.

Caller: I understand now. Thank you, Master Lu.

 

 

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< Journey to Heaven and Hell >

 

< Story On the Efficaciousness of the Little Houses >

One night last month, I was woken up by the sound of crying. After listening to it carefully, I realised that it was my mother crying in her sleep. The next morning, my mother told me that she dreamt about my grandparents who had died many years ago. My mother described her dream and said that my grandparents looked pale and were dressed in thin clothes. They all cried after seeing each other. After hearing what my mother said, I understood why she was crying during her sleep. I could not help but also cry when my mother described her dream to me as I could imagine the pain my grandparents are suffering from. I have practiced the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door for nearly two years and during the forty years since they passed away, no one in our family had dreamt about them. I thought they were reborn into other families.

Later that morning, when I offered the morning incense, I knelt down in front of my altar and made a vow to the Guan Yin Bodhisattva that I would offer 21 Little Houses to each of my grandparents by the end of the month and I wished that the Guan Yin Bodhisattva would lead them to a higher realm so they would not suffer any more pain. Early this morning, my mother told me that last night, she dreamt about Master Lu. In the dream, Master Lu raised my grandparents high into the sky with his hands and my grandparents looked very happy! Nothing can express my excitement and gratitude.

Without the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and the magical Little Houses, I could never have helped my grandparents enter a higher realm. The Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door is real! I would like more people to develop faith in the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and to recite Buddhist scriptures, as this will be beneficial to all of us.

Deepest gratitude to the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, to the merciful Master Lu, and to all the Dharma followers!

 

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< Soul-Weighing Scale >

Excerpt from Master Lu’s Q&A (265), 17 November 2018

Question:

On 28 October 2018, an Underworld officer appears in my dream, declaring that a high-ranking Underworld official (the King of Hell) has ordered me to go to him. He reminds me to bring my communication device. The device is the key to touring the Underworld, and it’s kept by Guan Ping Bodhisattva of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. He told me that I must have it whenever I journey to the Underworld, as the landscape is complex and navigation difficult.

Soon, I arrive at the King of Hell’s office in the Underworld. On this day, there has been a major reshuffle of Underworld personnel. As Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door is a newly established practice here, and because many things have to be dealt with as many people practise Guan Yin Citta in my country, multiple Underworld officials were transferred to deal with the tasks associated with Guan Yin Citta. The King of Hell seated at the desk appears even more solemn and stern than the one I saw last time.

The King of Hell beckons me to sit, and says: “Today, the Underworld is very busy. For a few reasons, I’ve been transferred here from another court. From now on, I will be responsible for dealing with matters related to Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door in this country. Today, I have a few words that I wish you to share with the people of the human world.

“From ancient times to the present, it has been passed down that the good will be rewarded, and the evil punished. A person’s karma is created all by themselves. The same applies to all others, regardless of their religious practice or faith. All beings are equal before the law of karma. When people die and are escorted here, they have no idea how karma works because they don’t practise Buddhism, nor do they have any religious faith. They even try to argue with our Underworld officials using the ideas and principles of the Human Realm.

“Kid, now that you have this opportunity to visit the Underworld, I wish you would tell the followers of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door that as long as they practise it diligently, and behave according to your Master’s teachings, and refrain from committing unwholesome deeds, the Bodhisattvas of your religious practice (Guan Yin Bodhisattva) will take them to Buddha’s Pure Land when they pass away. If they are just average practitioners, and refrained from committing unwholesome deeds, they could be reborn into a very good family. But if they don’t perform any benevolent deeds, and continue instead to commit unwholesome deeds, let me tell you, kid – regardless of the religious practice they follow, or whichever faith they belong to, they will all be sent to Hell for punishment fit for their offences.”

An enforcement officer, in police uniform, escorts a soul to the court. The King of Hell orders the officer to bring over an instrument that resembles a weighing scale. The soul is ordered to step on it, and a number appears on the screen. The King of Hell glances at it and declares: “He shall be reborn in the Human Realm.” The soul is taken away.

The king tells me: “This instrument is used to measure the weight of the soul. Naturally, those who commit unwholesome deeds will be covered in a patch of dark energy, while those who have done small acts of wholesome and unwholesome deeds will be covered in a light grey energy. Those who are very heavy in dark energy will be taken to the Hell Realm. If the scale shows they have exceeded 100% – the maximum – they will be taken to a series of different Hells to be punished. Once their sentence is complete, they will be thrown into the cauldron of boiling oil for their soul to be fried and scattered.

“Many a time, when those who have recently passed away realise that they will be sent to Hells or reborn as animals, they become recalcitrant. They continue to debate and argue with me at the court. We have a special mirror here. I ask them to stand in front of it and have their consciousness (the Alayaconsciousness) checked. The mirror reflects all of the wholesome and unwholesome deeds they have done, and they are dumbstruck.

“There are other evil souls who continue to argue and bicker, believing they’re still in the Human Realm where they can act like a lord. When I encounter these people, I order the enforcement officers to beat them. Enforcement officers and the officers who escort the souls are different. The enforcement officers are much bigger and more intimidating, and the souls are normally beaten brutally and violently before being escorted to the Hell Realm. It’s miserable.

“When your Master performs Totem Reading and says he can see white or black energy, he is simply revealing the facts about the spirit world. How can that be described as nonsense? The Underworld is fair in its meting out of punishment. Do you people in the human world know how big the Underworld is? The complexity of the landscape is something unfathomable. Even if you’re a spiritual practitioner, including practitioners of all religious practices, monastic or layperson, your level of cultivation means you simply don’t know enough. The Earth is already beyond your knowledge. Only those who possess great supranormal powers and have attained Buddhahood know about the matters of Heaven and the Underworld. Do you think all practitioners have attained Buddhahood? It is with the grace and kindness of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas that they are able to practise Buddhism. In the language of the human world, those who are arrogant are destroying their future, and their cultivation will be in vain. 

“Currently, we are arresting those who slander and defame the Right Dharma. For those who have benefitted from the Buddha’s grace and kindness and yet speak ill of Buddhism, they will undergo the consequences they deserve unless – when they are still alive – they sincerely reform and repent to the Buddhas, Guan Yin Citta’s great Dharma-protecting Bodhisattvas and Guan Yin Bodhisattva.”

May Master verify the above conversation.

Master Jun Hong Lu’s reply:

If you fail to heed my advice, it will be too late once you pass away. You must never commit unwholesome deeds, and you must take my advice and do not speak irresponsibly. I have never permitted any of you to criticise other religious practices, which is serious verbal misconduct – mind your own business.

 

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< How Little Houses Purify Soul’s Negative Karma and Help Them Ascend to Higher Realm >

An Excerpt from Master Lu’s Q&A (265), 17 November 2018

On the night of 29 October 2018, I am in a daze before slowly entering a deep slumber. Guan Ping Bodhisattva instructs me to bring along the communication device that was given to me, and deliver some documents to the high-ranking official of the Underworld—the King of Hell. I take the scroll and my soul is whisked off to the office of the Underworld by a ray of golden light.

The King of Hell is sitting at his desk. Having paid my respect and told him the purpose of my visit, I hand over the scroll. He opens it up and tells me to stand aside. After he finishes reading, he tells me that Heaven has given him an order to convey a few matters regarding the Underworld to the human world.

 “As different religious practices exist between Heaven and Earth, there are corresponding places of worship that appear in the Human Realm. The purpose is to spiritually awaken sentient beings. However, the details cannot be fathomed without an in-depth and advanced level of cultivation. I can tell you now that, for practitioners of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, you must not violate the precepts, break your vows, cheat the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, show disrespect to your Master or commit serious deeds of verbal misconduct. If you do, the great Dharma protector of your Dharma Door— Guan Di Bodhisattva – will order the other Dharma protectors under his banner to punish you severely, especially the disciples.

“As for those who have initiated great repentance to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas while still alive, their cases will be reviewed at the discretion of the related authorities, and be judged by the severity of their unwholesome deeds. For those who have a lot of negative karma, a formal letter will be written and delivered from Heaven to the Underworld to enforce the law.

“To prevent Buddhists from committing all kinds of offences due to ignorance of the corresponding punishment in Hell, the Bodhisattvas of your Dharma Door have led your soul to the Hell Realm several times so that you can share what you witness with the people of the human world.

“Next, let me tell you how Little Houses (the energy of the Buddhist scriptures) cleanses souls of their negative karma and help them ascend to higher realms. The Little House is formed from the energy of four different and combined Buddhist texts. When mortals commit evil deeds, the negative karma forms into dark energy that enshrouds their spiritual body (the dark energy and karmic obstacles that the Master mentions in his Totem readings). According to the degree of negative karma created by the person, the energy of their spiritual body typically has the following colours: light grey, dark grey, or black. Black is only found on people who have committed very grave offences, and the majority of them will fall into the Hell Realm.”

(During my last visit to the Underworld, the King of Hell explained the weighing of souls.)

The King tells me to watch a display. It depicts a spirit that is receiving a Little House offered by their living relatives. With the blessings of the Bodhisattva, the Little House constantly glistens. And as the energy of the four Buddhist scriptures from the Little House turns into golden light that enters the spirit’s body, the dark grey coloured energy surrounding the spirit becomes a shade lighter.

“This spirit did not commit many evil deeds when he was alive – that’s why he doesn’t need too many Little Houses. Some beings perform no wholesome deeds for all of their life, and they all descend to the Hungry Ghost Realm after death. If their living relatives practise Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and offer Little Houses to help them ascend to a higher realm, they can then exchange the Little Houses for the Underworld currency and improve their living conditions. Those who do not wish to be reborn in the Human Realm, or if their time simply hasn’t come yet, they can continue to live in the Underworld. The Underworld and the Human Realm look exactly the same – it’s just that one is for the dead, and the other is for the living.

“By the way, I have a few words for you practitioners. If you’re reciting Buddhist scriptures but still eating meat, the energy of your recitation will emit only a weak golden light. For practitioners who eat meat and continue to commit deeds of killing, I can tell you now – their recitation has absolutely no energy. Some practitioners have a low level of spirituality and cannot abstain from eating meat. In these cases, they must recite a large number of Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra to help the animal spirits occupying their body ascend to a higher realm. For those who have committed deeds of killing, even if they have ceased those activities and become permanent vegetarians and they have helped animal spirits occupying their bodies to ascend to a higher realm, the negative karma already created will still form dark energy and envelop their spiritual body. Atoning for the deeds of killing requires an abundance of meritorious deeds and a lot of very hard work in Buddhist practice.”

The King of Hell presses the communication device. He gives it to me and I return to the human world, under the protection of a golden light.

 

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<The Buddha Cautious all Parents Should Set a Good Example; Watch a Trial of Three Offenders >

An Excerpt from Master Lu’s Q&A (272), 11 December 2018

 

Question:

On 18 November 2018, after I offered the evening incense at the Guan Yin Citta Centre, I received a thought message from the Bodhisattvas that the Underworld asked me to go over there that night. When I returned home and fell asleep, I found myself enveloped in a golden light and was taken to the Heavenly Realm. I arrived at the Hall of Guan Di Bodhisattva. I saw Victorious in Battle Buddha, Guan Yin Bodhisattva, the Buddha, Nanjing Bodhisattva, Guan Di Bodhisattva, Guan Ping Bodhisattva and Zhou Tsang Bodhisattva, and they were having a meeting.

After I paid respect to every one of them, Victorious in Battle Buddha asked me, “When there are different opinions among fellow Buddhists and disciples, how should one deal with it?” I replied, “The Master once said that retaining harmony should be the highest priority, and one must not allow their selfishness and distracting thoughts take hold. Selfishness will lead to distractive thoughts.” Victorious in Battle Buddha asked again, “How should a person cope with their distractive thoughts?” I answered, “We should replace “thought” with “no thought”.

Master Lu said that the state of no thought is virtuous. If one has no thoughts, then they won’t create karma. Because we are still in the process of cultivating, our thoughts that arise are not in the state of perfect enlightenment. When we encounter the inner demon, unwholesome thoughts will appear, and a slight mistake in our thoughts will create negative karma. If you get yourselves into a conflict, then you must immediately recite sutras. That is what I learnt from reading Master Lu’s Words of Wisdom and the story book about Meng Bao.”

After hearing my answer, Nanjing Bodhisattva smiled. I didn’t know whether I answered correctly; I could only stand aside, waiting for further instructions. Not long after, the Buddha said telepathically, “Parents in the Human Realm pamper their children too much. They overindulge their children and grandchildren with material goods that lead them to form bad habits and behaviours out of ignorance. They soon follow their parents in committing unwholesome deeds and eventually descend into the Lower Realms. It is a very pitiful sight.

If people continue like this, the negative energy will intensify. What awaits them is the suffering of rebirth within the Lower Realms. After you have watched the trial in the Underworld, write it down and quickly send your observations to your Master so that people in the Human Realm will be warned. Parents should set a good example by being noble and virtuous, accumulate benevolent blessings and virtues, and studying and practising Buddhism. That is the right way to sow blessings for future generations.”

Afterwards, I was whisked off by a golden light to the Underworld. When I arrived, I saw three offenders kneeling on the ground. The King of Hell gave one of the female offenders a stern look and said, “You completely lack any sense of morals, and indulge yourself in sexual pleasures. You were married yet you lacked self-restraint, you enjoyed going to nightclubs, getting intoxicated and having casual sex with the different men you met. Some of them were also married.

You thought that it was trendy and cool, but you were ignorant of the fact that it’s a shameless and lustful act that the heavens can’t tolerate! There’s a saying from the past: ‘Lust is the worst of all unwholesome deeds.’ Those who are promiscuous are bound to receive karmic retribution, let alone you had been promiscuous for a very long time. Yet you still dare to argue with me.”

The female offender was unwilling to accept it. She cried and said, “Ever since I married my husband at a young age, I endured hardships with him raising the family and taking care of our child. When my husband was young, he had an affair. I couldn’t stand it and vent to my close friends. My original intention was just to get it off my chest, and then I wasn’t going to take it lying down. I thought about how much suffering I endured, and the guys I met outside were really good sweet-talkers. I was already faced with a dysfunctional marriage. Everyone is like this nowadays, even my close friends also have had affairs. I didn’t even know about the law of karma. Who knew about these things!”   

The King of Hell replied, “Even so, you should not sink so low! Forget it; there’s no point saying anything more. You are sentenced to be punished in the Hell of Iron Bed.”

Afterwards, the King of Hell pointed at the male offender beside her and said, “Your family is very wealthy, and your parents cared for you very much. They satisfied all your materialistic desires and gave you whatever you wanted. But they did not educate you properly. You became rude and wilful. And even now, you are still acting the same in front of me. It is because you acted impudently in my court, that I ordered the enforcement officers give you a beating. Your parents were ignorant, but do you think that the offences you have committed can escape my eyes?”

When the King of Hell finished, a display appeared and started to show the offences that the offender had committed before his death. When he was alive, the offender ran a business with his relative. When the business failed, he lied to his parents and shifted all the blame towards his relative, sowing discord between them and caused financial difficulties for his relative.

While he was working with his relative, he would go clubbing regularly and have casual sex with the girls he met there. He also liked watching pornography on the Internet. Even when he met girls who were Buddhists, he forced them to have intimacy with him regardless of their wiliness and take away their innocence. The offender’s parents were also dishonest in business, so their son followed suit and cheated their relative over their company’s shareholding. He tampered with the legal documents and seized assets that shouldn’t be his.

The King of Hell glared at the offender and said, “I now sentence you to be punished in the Hell of Iron Bed, the Tongue-Ripping Hell and the Hell of Eye Shock. Once your sentence is over, you will be reborn into an impoverished family as a woman.”

The King sighed, “Did you know that it was due to your cultivation in your previous lives that you were blessed to reborn as a rich family’s son? But you committed a series of grave offences, that’s why your life was cut short, and now you are sent to hell.” With no care or concern for his resistance, the enforcement officer dragged the offender out.

The King of Hell then turned to another male offender and said, “You were ignorant of the Buddha-Dharma and the law of karma, so you committed the karma of killing. You are now sent to hell for punishment. During the 49-day period after your death, one of your family members, who is practising Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, has performed meritorious deeds and life liberations for you, as such I will use these merit and virtue to reduce some of your punishment in hell.”

Afterwards, the King of Hell said to me, “If a deceased person’s relatives are practising Buddhism and performing meritorious deeds for them (such as performing life liberations) during the initial 49-day period after their death, it will help the deceased eliminate their negative karma very quickly. But once the 49-day period is over, their negative karma is set, and only the energy from Buddhist scriptures can help them ascend to a higher realm.

Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door uses a collection of Buddhist scriptures – Little Houses, while other Dharma Doors have their own methods to help spirits ascend to a higher realm. You must remember not to compare nor make causal comments about other Dharma Door. Every Dharma Door has their sutras and mantras that helps the deceased ascend; they are equally effective.

“The reason why Little Houses can help spirits ascend to a higher realm and eliminate your negative karma so quickly is because of the immense power of vow and compassion that Guan Yin Bodhisattva possesses. If anyone in Human Realm dares to recklessly recite and offer the Little Houses – like those who fill in all the dots of the Little House but fail to finish reciting the full amount, then the Underworld will report the name of the person who signed it (the reciter) to the Heavenly court after the counterfeit Little Houses have accumulated to a certain amount or when we receive complaints from the spirits about not receiving enough scriptures.

We have the device to track it. The Heavenly courts will then write an official letter and scroll to authorise us to take action. I hope that you convey this to the people in the Human Realm, reminding them to recite the sutras properly. Don’t use Dharma items to trick people and line their own pockets. Don’t fool around with the Underworld. Buddhist rituals and matters related to helping spirits ascend to a higher realm should never be treated lightly. Otherwise, when you have to come down and kneel before me, I can only act according to the law.” After he finished, I was enveloped in a golden light and returned to the Human Realm.

Master Jun Hong Lu’s reply:

That is very good. You must remember, you can learn a lot from the observations. If you have offered Little Houses of very bad quality, the spirits will not be able to receive them and they can then complain to the King of Hell. In the past, some dramas depicted this. When the spirits appealed to the King of Hell, the King of Hell would hear the trial. For example, in the Cantonese opera ‘Wong Kui and Guiying’, when Guiying died, she became a spirit and wanted to take revenge on the guy. The King of Hell approved her request to go to the Human Realm and drag him away. These kinds of things happen a lot. If you trick the spirits and the amount of Little House you offered is insufficient, you commit an offence. So, you must be careful.

Last time, this person wrote about a similar case on our website. A few days later, someone called into my radio program and confirmed the observations in the article. There was, indeed, a fellow Buddhist practitioner who passed away in the same way described in the post and the scenes resembled exactly what happened to him while he was alive. Practising Buddhism is no joking matter, nor is it easy. Don’t fool around; you must be true to your cultivation.

< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享