GIVING OF DHARMA | 5 DEC 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 : GIVING OF DHARMA

 

Did you know that the Giving of Dharma is the greatest form of giving, superseding even the Giving of Wealth and Fearlessness?

On 5 December 2020, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore held another online English Group study. Today’s session centred around the Perfection of Giving, and focused on the Giving of Dharma.

Through this highly practical session, Buddhist friends learnt more about the ways to practise the Giving of Dharma. Interestingly, it is not limited to distributing dharma books as participants learnt that life liberation, testimony sharing, encouraging others to do good, and participating actively in group study sessions are also great methods!

Regardless of the scale of one’s impact, the most important thing is to wholeheartedly practise the Giving of Dharma with utmost sincerity and the best of intentions.

In addition, with aid from interactive quizzes and vibrant discussion, practitioners gained some tips to better their practice in Giving of Dharma. For instance, one can pray to Bodhisattva for a smooth-sailing experience.

As discussed during the session, the internet serves as an ingenious platform with a wide outreach in our modern times, and is frequently used for the Giving of Dharma by many Buddhist friends with great success. Nevertheless, Buddhist practitioners also noted that it is paramount for our sharing to be upright and proper to prevent the formation of karmic obstacles.

 

Let us now look at some comments from participants:

“What touched me from the session is that Buddhist practitioners should have a fearless spirit. What is fearless spirit? It’s the willingness to give our time, our effort and money, no matter how meagre it is. It also includes the Giving of Dharma, Wealth, as well as Fearlessness.”

“My biggest takeaway would be when a fellow practitioner shared a personal anecdote about how she has recently used a prayer to Bodhisattva to categorise our merits. Today, I’ve learnt a lot about the proper ways to pray to Bodhisattva before sharing online.”

 

?Join us in our next session 

Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information

 

 ⏰ Date and time:
Saturday 12 Dec 2020 (2.oopm – 4.00pm)

 

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

   Summary Slides_Dharma Dana_05122020

 

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WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?

Because when you see the Bodhisattvas, your faith in learning Buddhism arises, and so does your willpower. When you see the Bodhisattvas, you feel touched and thus, you will turn your resolution into action. This is precisely the largest seed of kindness.

 

<The Definition: What is the Giving of Dharma (ii)>

Wenda20180909B  14:46 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHAT ARE CONSIDERED THE ACTS OF DHARMA GIVING?

Caller: Master has always told us to perform the Giving of Dharma, could you please elaborate on the types of Dharma Giving and the idea behind it?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Isn’t helping others to awaken spiritually a form of Dharma Giving? When others see you performing good deeds, isn’t that a Giving of Dharma too? 

Master Jun Hong Lu: When people see a Buddhist monk cultivating, it will inspire many others to think that, “I shall practise Buddhism too, I want to be liberated from the sufferings.” Isn’t this a way of Dharma Giving?  When you show others that you are on a vegetarian diet, it is also an act of Dharma Giving.

Caller: As long as we perform good deeds, help others and always put ourselves in others’ shoes, all these are considered acts of Dharma Giving?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, it is generally so.

 

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< Why should we practise the Giving of Dharma>

 

<The Importance of the Giving Of Dharma (i)>

Wenda20130405  05:41 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
MERITS FROM GIVING THE TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA (DHARMA DANA)

Caller: I wish to better my self-cultivation and to dedicate myself to progress.  Though I do not perform much life liberation, I do my utmost to help others awaken spiritually, and with every person I helped, I will tell him to “refrain from the act of killing, not to consume live creatures and to be a vegetarian on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar calendar months”.

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right.

Caller: Does this measure up to the merits from performing life liberation? Or…?

Master Jun Hong Lu: The merits are even greater!  This is because the Dharma Dana is the greatest among the three types of Dana; the other two being Wealth Dana and Fearlessness Dana.

 

<The Importance of the Giving Of Dharma (ii)>

Buddhism in Plain Terms Episode 33 (An Excerpt)
ONE WILL GAIN WISDOM THROUGH THE GIVING OF DHARMA

If you sow the seed of Dharma Giving and help others to awaken spiritually, you will reap the fruit of wisdom. Why are some people so smart and wise? It is owing to the Giving of Dharma that he has performed. Just think about it, when you help others or perform the Giving of Dharma, won’t your wisdom develop accordingly?

When a person has the ability to help others, don’t you think he is a wise man? How could he help others if he does not have wisdom? How does one gain wisdom? It is through one’s constant efforts in helping others that they accumulate many insights and experiences, which ultimately benefit themselves and help them gain a lot of wisdom. This in turn enables them to help even more people.

 

<The Importance of the Giving Of Dharma (iii)>

Buddhism in Plain Terms Episode 47 (An Excerpt)
OVERCOME GREED THROUGH THE GIVING OF DHARMA

Let me tell you what it means to make offerings of the Dharma (法供养). It is to be sincerely kind to others and make offerings to others wholeheartedly. By virtue of such offerings, you will not hanker for worldly blessings, not even wisdom. However, when you desire nothing of these, will you be able to gain it? All of you know the answer.

So the moral of the story is, as long as you are not greedy for anything, you will be blessed with boundless merits and blessings, as well as wisdom. For every offering that you make, if you put your heart and soul into it, you will definitely attain Buddhahood.

 

<The Importance of the Giving Of Dharma (iv)>

Excerpt from Master Lu’s Q&A (269), 30 November 2018 Journey to Heaven C17.
ADVICE FROM THE BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS AT THE HALL OF GUAN DI BODHISATTVA; WATCHING THE TRIAL OF AN OFFENDER WHO COMMITTED VERBAL MISDEEDS AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (普贤菩萨):

“Buddhists of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door should resolve to be compassionate, practising the Giving of Dharma to benefit sentient beings and spreading Buddhism far and wide to help predestined people become spiritually awakened. Then, the Buddha and Dharma Protectors will constantly bless them, keeping them safe and well.”

 

<The Importance of the Giving Of Dharma (v)>

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 307) 2 May 2019
SUCCESSFUL SHARING OF THE BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS IS EQUIVALENT TO HAVING LIBERATED A HUGE AMOUNT OF FISH

Question: I saw the following statement on the official account platform which goes like this, “Every sharing of the Buddha’s teachings online is equivalent to the merits of liberating a fish.”

Is this statement appropriate?

Answer: The more accurate way of saying it should be,

“Every sharing of the Buddha’s teachings is equivalent to the immeasurable merits derive from liberating captive lives.”

There may be successful or unsuccessful sharing of the Buddha’s teachings, thus a successful one is as good as having liberated a lot of fish.

 

<The Importance of the Giving Of Dharma (vi)>

Wenda20180831  13:51 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

• What is most important in performing life liberation is the thoughts you have at the point of performing the act.
• Life liberation is about the cultivation and the development of compassion in us.

 

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<How do I gain merits when participating in the group study?>  

 

<The Importance of the Giving Of Dharma (vii)>

Excerpt from Master Jun Hong Lu’s discourse (Question 381) 6 May 2020 Journey to Heaven

	Karmic Debts	Wisdom
Prostrating oneself before Buddhas and Bodhisattvas	-1
Reciting Great Compassion Mantra with sincerity for Master Jun Hong Lu	-1
Reading Buddhism in Plain Terms	-2
Sharing Words of Wisdom	-2	+1
Benefiting others with the sharing of Words of Wisdom / successful personal experience in cultivation	-5	+3
Actively participating in Q&A sessions, that resulted the recollections being registered in the Eighth Consciousness		+2 to +3
Participation of sharing session in a proper and orderly manner		One merit to be recorded, and their lotus flower will bloom a little more.

 

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<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma>

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (i)>

Wenda20160304 01:03:37 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE INTERNET IS THE BEST PLATFORM BESTOWED UPON US BY BODHISATTVA TO PERFORM THE GIVING OF DHARMA

Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned previously in one of the radio programs that, the merits gained from the Giving of Dharma is the greatest among the three types of Giving, which ranks above the Giving of Wealth and the Giving of Fearlessness.

Caller: For example, if you distribute a couple of Buddhist books to others, the merits you gain will be immeasurable when they read the books, such that if there are seven people who read the books, the merits gained are as much as seven towers of seven-storey Buddhist pagodas (七个七层宝塔).

Caller: In that case, if there are seven people who start practising Buddhism because of our online Giving of Dharma, will our merits also equate to that of the seven-storey Buddhist pagodas?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s not exactly so. 

Instead, it should be put in another way: As long as there is one among the seven people reading the shared material and showing repentance, it is considered one life saved by you, which is a great meritorious deed that is analogous to building a seven-storey pagoda.

A seven-storey pagoda is likened to a person’s life. As the saying goes, “Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-storey pagoda” (救人一命胜造七级浮屠), which means the act of saving life generates boundless merits.

Caller: Master, if someone practises Dharma because of our online Giving of Dharma, the merits we gain will also be as much as having built a seven-storey pagoda. Is that right?

Master : That is perfectly right.

Caller : In fact, the online Giving of Dharma is very effective.

Master : It’s terrific! Currently, the Internet is the best platform for the Giving of Dharma, as it is bestowed upon us by Bodhisattva.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (ii)>

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 365) 24 February 2020
SETTING UP BUDDHIST ALTARS FOR OTHERS WILL ACCUMULATE ENORMOUS MERITS

Question: Setting up Buddhist altars for others can accumulate significant meritorious blessings; does it encompass the Giving of Wealth, Dharma and Fearlessness?

Answer:

If you make monetary contribution towards the costs, it is considered a Giving of Wealth.

Helping others to set up Buddhist altars at their homes is considered an act of Dharma Giving, as altar is considered a Dharma item.

If you physically go to others’ homes to help them set up the altars, it is a Giving of Fearlessness. 

However, if the costs are borne by others, it is then lacking in the Giving of Wealth.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (iii)>

Wenda20200216  54:08 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
WHAT IS CONSIDERED A ‘TESTIMONY SHARING’?

Caller: If we make a vow to share our testimony, does it refer to the posting on Master’s blog, or does it also include the sharing among our circle of friends or on other social media platforms?

Master Jun Hong Lu: A testimony sharing shall include those in the form of writing and speech. As long as you share your true feelings and experience, it is considered a testimony sharing.

Caller: I understand now. Thank you for answering my question, Master Lu.

 

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (iv)>

Wenda20150426B  35:36 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
FOLLOWING UP WITH BUDDHIST PRACTITIONERS BY SHARING THE BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS WITH THEM IS ALSO AN ACT OF HELPING OTHERS TO AWAKEN SPIRITUALLY

Caller: When we talk about helping others to awaken spiritually, it usually means to introduce Buddhism and Guan Yin Citta to new Buddhist friends and teach them to recite Buddhist scriptures.

However, if we follow up with existing Buddhist practitioners by sharing the Buddha’s teachings with them to boost their confidence in learning Buddhism, is it generally considered as helping others to awaken spiritually?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s the same. As long as we manage to help others and persuade them to start learning Buddhism, cultivate spiritually and perform recitation, these are all considered helping others to awaken spiritually.

Caller: In other words, when we help someone who have already got to know Guan Yin CittaDharma Door, that is also considered helping others to awaken spiritually?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course it is.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (v)>

An Excerpt from Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting
Paris, France 5 September 2019 (Question 24)
CONTRIBUTING LITTLE HOUSES TO THE PRACTICE CENTRE IS A GIVING OF DHARMA

Question: Is contributing Little Houses to the Practice Centre a type of giving?

There are different views among Buddhist practitioners – whether it is a Giving of Dharma, a Giving of Wealth, or a Giving of Fearlessness?

Answer: It’s a Giving of Dharma. To put it simply, the Practice Centre is a place for cultivation. When many people come here to perform recitation, learn Buddhism, cultivate spiritually, and make vows, do you think there will be merits? (Yes)

Then, when you protect this Practice Centre, will you have merit? (Yes) So, is this a Giving of Dharma? (Thank you Master, I understand now.)

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (vi)>

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 365) 24 February 2020
DO NOT COMPARE BETWEEN MERITORIOUS DEEDS

Question: Similar to setting up of Buddhist altars for others, performing life liberation also encompasses the three forms of Dana (the practice of giving).  What then are the differences in merits accumulated from both deeds?

Answer: Do not make such a comparison.  With so many Bodhisattvas in heaven, which one do you think has the greatest merit? Performing life liberation and setting up Buddhist altars for others can both accumulate significant meritorious blessings; it only depends on how much you do. 

If you have performed a large amount of life liberation, then the merits accumulated are greater than that of setting up a Buddhist altar.

Conversely, if you have set up 100 Buddhist altars, but have only released 100 fish, obviously the setting up of Buddhist altars in this instance accumulates greater meritorious blessings.  It is the idea that ‘quantity generates value’（量变到质变）.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (vii)>

Wenda20190804  42:58 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
TESTIMONY SHARING: EYE BAGS DISAPPEARED AFTER PERFORMING THE GIVING OF DHARMA ON REFRAINING FROM SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND PRAYER TO ELIMINATE RELEVANT KARMIC OBSTACLES

Caller: I would like to share my testimony.

Not long ago, I have performed the Giving of Dharma on refraining from sexual misconduct. I have prayed to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to help me utilise my merits gained thereof, to eliminate my karmic obstacles and unwholesome thoughts in relation to sexual misconduct.

Caller: I have also prayed to utilise a small portion of the merits gained from my participation in one of Master’s Public Talks for this purpose.

Upon my return from the Public Talk, my eyebags disappeared miraculously even though I still stay up late every night. It was really amazing! Gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva!

Caller: Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage our fellow practitioners, who would like to eliminate karmic obstacles arising from sexual misconduct, to perform more Giving of Dharma on this topic, as well as participate in more Public Talks to perform meritorious deeds.

Gratitude to Master! Gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva!

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that’s absolutely right.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (viii)>

Wenda20120325B  48:32 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
MERITS WILL BE DERIVED FROM PRINTING OF DHARMA BOOKS EVEN IF THE DISTRIBUTION ARE DONE BY OTHERS

Caller: I managed to propagate Dharma to a few of my friends when they were at my place. They then passed me some funds for the printing of Dharma books. After printing the books, I passed them to others for distribution instead of joining in their efforts. In that case, is it true that I will not have any merits for doing so?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Who told you that?

Caller: Well, I passed on the task of distribution to others……

Master Jun Hong Lu: When you have the Dharma books printed and got others to help distribute, do you reckon you have no merits? How could there be no merits?

Master Jun Hong Lu: The books were funded and printed by you, think about it, since those who help to distribute these books will gain merits, this is all the more the case for you who printed these books. Do you think Bodhisattva will be unaware of your efforts?

You have already derived merits by getting these Dharma books printed, which is considered the Giving of Wealth; while those who help to distribute the books will gain merits too, as it is an act of the Giving of Dharma.

If you also distribute these books that you have printed, then you would be deemed to have performed both the Giving of Wealth and Dharma.

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

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (ix)>

Wenda20160327A  34:59 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) (An Excerpt)
ADVERTISING CONTENTS RELATED TO DHARMA PROPAGATION IS AN ACT OF THE THREE TYPES OF GIVING

Caller: Master Lu, some people perform the Giving of Wealth by advertising contents that aim to help people awaken spiritually. Such advertisements usually generate more than 100,000 clicks. Is this merely an act of the Giving of Wealth, or is it also considered as the Giving of Dharma?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It encompasses the three types of Giving, namely the Giving of Wealth, Dharma and Fearlessness, as it is considered an act of saving others.

Caller: In fact, the contents that he advertised are Master’s discourses. So, he is effectively performing the Giving of Dharma. Is that right, Master?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, definitely. As long as someone turns over a new leaf after reading the advertised contents, or thinks that, “I am not a good person. I want to learn Buddhism”, then it will accumulate merits for the person who does the advertising.

Caller: For example, a person has prepared and shared a consolidated material related to the propagation of Dharma, and many people have read it. Every time it is read by someone, merits will be recorded automatically in his Book of Merits (功德簿).

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (x)>

An Excerpt from Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting,
Melbourne, Australia 6 December 2019
REQUESTING OTHERS TO PERFORM LIFE LIBERATION ON OUR BEHALF

Question: Master Lu, due to certain constraints, some overseas practitioners often request fellow practitioners in China to perform life liberation on their behalf. Therefore, it mainly encompasses the Giving of Wealth among the three types of Giving.

May I know, besides performing recitation, is there any other way for the overseas practitioners to gain perfect merits from the act of life liberation?

Answer: Who told you that it only encompasses the Giving of Wealth? Performing life liberation is an act of the Giving of Wealth, Dharma and Fearlessness. Isn’t it a type of Giving of Wealth when you buy fish? (Yes.)

When you show by example that you are performing good deeds and influence others to do the same, isn’t that the Giving of Dharma? (Yes.) When you perform the life liberation in person, isn’t that the Giving of Fearlessness? (Yes.)

Answer: Ok. (Sorry for being ignorant. Is it the same when we ask others to perform life liberation on our behalf?) Yes. Although the Giving of Fearlessness might be lesser, you may introduce Buddhism to more people and help others more. The idea behind it is the same.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (xi)>

Wenda20200228  47:08 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
AMOUNT OF VIEWS ON SHARED POSTS OF DHARMA-RELATED CONTENTS

Caller: When we perform the Giving of Dharma online by sharing Master’s Words of Wisdom, if the amount of views keep increasing, does it also mean that the number of people that we help to awaken spiritually is also increasing?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that’s considered as helping others to awaken spiritually. Every view of the post translates to an additional person that you help to awaken spiritually.

Caller: It started off with 50 and increased to 80 and subsequently 100 people…

Master Jun Hong Lu: That means you have helped this many people.

Caller: The number of views keeps increasing.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that’s very good.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (xii)>

Wenda20200209 13:43 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
CAN ONE STILL ACCUMULATE MERITS THROUGH DHARMA DANA (SHARING OF THE BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS) EVEN IF NO ONE SEES THE CONTENT SHARED?

Caller: When one performs Dharma Dana by sharing Master’s Words of Wisdom, can he still accumulate merits even if the content shared is not seen by anyone?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. Bodhisattvas will note it down for you the moment you perform Dharma Dana.

 

<Ways to Perform the Giving of Dharma (xiii)>

Wenda20131129 01:21:58 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
STRIKE A BALANCE AMONG PERFORMING RECITATION, PROMOTING BUDDHISM AND PERFORMING LIFE LIBERATION

Caller: There is a fellow practitioner who goes out to promote Buddhism and performs life liberations almost every day.  Would he be able to eliminate his karmic debts faster this way?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  What do you think?  If he also performs recitation of scriptures at the same time, that would be even better.  There is no doubt about it.

Caller: He goes out to promote Buddhism even at night.  As such, he doesn’t have much time for doing daily recitation and Little Houses. Would this be considered slacking off?

Master Jun Hong Lu: We need to be diligent in both areas and strike a balance between them. Reciting scriptures is for self-cultivation. Promoting Buddhism and performing life liberations are about helping others, enabling us to accumulate merits. He will achieve better effect if he could practise both simultaneously.

Master Jun Hong Lu: It is hoped that he can strike a balance between the two. In a way, reciting scriptures is similar to practisingTheravada Buddhism (小乘佛法) while promoting Buddhism and performing life liberations are similar to practising Mahayana Buddhism (大乘佛法). For those practising Mahayana Buddhism, it is still essential to have Theravada Buddhism as a solid foundation. Therefore, both are important.

Caller: Understood.

 

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< Wholehearted Dedication is the Key in Volunteering >

Shuohua20161202 02:00 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

• Bodhisattvas will be pleased as long as public talk volunteers show wholehearted dedication, regardless of their roles.
• When you carry yourself in a dignified manner, this is also considered as helping others, because it will create a positive impression of the volunteers of this Dharma Door, and others will look up to you and aspire to practise Dharma as a result.
  
  
• Virtues will only be gained when one performs recitation during volunteering.

 

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<The Scriptures/Prayers Relating to the Giving of Dharma>

 

Wenda20150628B 43:15 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) (An Excerpt)
PRAY TO GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA BEFORE SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY

Caller: Hi Master Lu, one of our dharma friends recovered from illness after practising your Buddhist practice.  When asked about his health condition, he’d answer honestly, “I am much better now than before.”

When sharing his testimony to inspire people to learn Buddhism, he would say, “By following this Buddhist practice diligently, my health has greatly improved.” However, he experienced bad luck shortly after saying so.  Is there any reason behind it?

Master Jun Hong Lu: 

It’s very simple.  He needs to include a few more words in his prayer to Guan Yin Bodhisattva before sharing his testimony. Otherwise, he is just showing off, and revealing the divine secrets (泄露天机).  This will only serve to invite spirits to hold him back. 

However, most people don’t understand this. That is why you hear people warn against bragging about having a successful career or improved health conditions.  In fact, many people get sick soon after they brag about their health, because doing so attracts jealous spirits to put a spanner in the works.

Master Jun Hong Lu: 

Therefore, before sharing your personal story, you have to include a few words in your prayer to Guan Yin Bodhisattva:

“May Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me. Today I share my testimony to inspire people to learn Buddhism. I am doing this for the benefit of sentient beings; I want to learn compassion from Guan Yin Bodhisattva and to help sentient beings. May Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless me and help transform my good deeds into merits.”

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Once you say the prayer, everything will be fine.  So, make sure you do so before sharing your inspirational story. 

Caller: Now I understand! Thank you, Master Lu!

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 306) 28 April 2019
PRAY TO BODHISATTVA IN ALL OUR UNDERTAKINGS

Question: A Buddhist practitioner would specifically recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentanceonce every day and make the following prayer, “May Bodhisattva forgive and help me to eliminate karmic obstacles from any imperfection and inappropriateness in my sharing of the Buddha’s teachings.”  Is this proper?

Answer: Yes, it is alright.  As flaws are inevitable in our sharing of the Buddha’s teachings, it is good if we pray to Bodhisattvas for blessings.  After all, to give prior notice about something as opposed to no notice at all, makes a big difference. This is certainly the case when we pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva.

 

Wenda20141003 10:02 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
RECITE GONG DE BAO SHAN SHEN ZHOU FOR PERFORMING THE GIVING OF DHARMA ONLINE

Caller: Hello, Master Lu! Nowadays, most of our Buddhist practitioners perform the Giving of Dharma online, by sharing Master’s discourses on social media sites like WeChat, QQ, Weibo and so on.

Can they recite Gong De Bao Shan Shen Zhou (功德宝山神咒) for such Giving of Dharma?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.

Caller: Oh, then how should we state our prayer request to Guan Yin Bodhisattva?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You may state your prayer request as follows,

“I am now performing the Giving of Dharma to all sentient beings, so that they can be freed from sufferings and gain happiness. May Guan Yin Bodhisattva have mercy on me and grant my compassionate wish. I will now recite XX times of Gong De Bao Shan Shen Zhou so that my deeds can be transformed into merits, to eliminate my karmic obstacles or increase my spiritual energy…”

You may then add on your other prayer requests accordingly.

Caller: Ok, thank you, Master Lu.

 

Wenda20151220B  24:49 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) (An Excerpt)
PRAY TO BODHISATTVA TO CATEGORISE OUR MERITS INTO TWO PURPOSES – FOR KEEPING IN RESERVE AND ELIMINATION OF KARMIC OBSTACLES

Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned previously in one of your radio programs that, after performing meritorious or kind deeds, we may state our prayer to Guan Yin Bodhisattva that,

“May Guan Yin Bodhisattva have mercy on me, with all the kind and meritorious deeds that I have performed today, please bless me so that I am able to cultivate diligently while paying off my outstanding karmic debts.”

Caller: Master, does that mean after stating such prayer, Guan Yin Bodhisattva will automatically help us to retain a portion of our merits in reserve and utilise the remaining portion to eliminate our karmic obstacles?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.

Caller: Master, can we repeat this prayer every day to Guan Yin Bodhisattva if we are performing kind and meritorious deeds daily?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course. In fact, it will help to categorise your merits gained into two purposes: one for keeping in reserve and the other one for elimination of karmic obstacles or helping others.

Caller: I understand now. Thank you Master Lu for your advice.

 

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Understanding the Needs of Others

• It is important to understand the needs of others first before helping them ─ otherwise, not only it is a futile attempt but will cause harm to oneself
  
  
• We need to be happy and diligent in learning Buddhism
  
  
• Being alive is a blessing ─ we owe it to the many people who have helped us
  
  
• Be grateful and repay others for their kindness 

 

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< Tips for Successful Giving of Dharma >

 

Shuohua20170127  01:04 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program) (An Excerpt)
PERFORMING DHARMA DANA (OFFERING THE KNOWLEDGE OF DHARMA)

Caller: Nowadays, there are many Buddhist friends who upon learning from Master that the virtues derived from Dharma Dana are immeasurable, so they go all out to disseminate various discourses, videos, recordings, and so on, of which they had never seriously listened to, or read. 

Caller: They assumed that they would gain virtuous achievements and perfect wisdom by doing so. Master, please enlighten us, what will be the retribution from this action?

Master Jun Hong Lu: The retribution is not good and what will that be?  It will not only result in the failure to help others but also cause harm to the other party’s spiritual life (害人家慧命).

For example, there is a normal person, if I were the one who helped him, I may succeed with ease. However, as your wisdom is imperfect and your cultivation is not up to the mark, coupled with a lot of bad habits. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: When you approach this person under such circumstances, you assume that you have performed Dharma Dana and helped him, but in actual fact, the other party is observing you and thinking, “such a person is learning Buddhism?”. 

This will deter him from learning.  The next time, should I approach him, he will not even listen to me anymore. In this scenario, do you not think that you have harmed that person’s spiritual life? And do you know what retribution is in store for that?  You will descend to the animal realm.  Do you understand?

 

Wenda20130414A 04:15 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
BE CAUTIOUS WHEN SHARING POSTS ONLINE, ONE WILL BEAR KARMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR MISLEADING OTHERS

Caller: Sometimes, our Buddhist practitioners did not cite the sources of the posts that they shared online, which might mislead others into thinking that those are Master’s discourses. In fact, we later realise that some of the contents are actually based on their personal insights.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes! This is a serious issue.

Caller: So I urge everyone to cite the sources when sharing Master’s discourses, for example, the time and date of which radio program. This is to prevent misinformation from spreading.

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right! In many instances, I have never said those words. They are personal insights of individuals. Some added my words to theirs, while some even mimicked my style of speech. So, it will mislead others, do you understand?

Master Jun Hong Lu: If you share a post with an unknown source, it would not pose a problem if it is something good. However, if the content is unwholesome, you would definitely shoulder karmic debts. That is very risky!

Sometimes, just a few words can be easily misleading, therefore we have to be extra cautious in this regard.

If you have unintentionally shared any contents with an unknown source, you should recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance immediately, and avoid sharing such contents in the future.

 

Excerpt from Master Lu’s Q&A (267), 23 November 2018, Journey to Heaven
C9. My Visit to the Hall of Guan Di Bodhisattva; Watching the Trial of a Disciple Who Committed Sexual Misconduct

Guan Di Bodhisattva:

“When you disciples in the Human Realm share the teachings you receive from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, it’s best that you first send them to the Secretariat of Guan Yin CittaDharma Door for verification.”

“As you are still ordinary people, you disciples do not possess your Master’s wisdom-eye. For some of you, other spiritual beings and demons may even occupy your body. You must understand that, sometimes, the messages did not come from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Therefore, if you share them recklessly and misguide other sentient beings, that will result in karmic obstacles.”

“It is also best that you send the messages and depictions of the mental scenes of Hell and Heaven to the Secretariat for verification, because some people concoct the Hell scenes they supposedly imagined.

You must know that if you continue your spiritual practice like this, you will eventually deviate. And if the Buddha is not within you, it will be the demon that is interfering.”

“For how many years have you disciples been practising? You have yet to completely eliminate your selfishness and distracting thoughts, nor can you maintain correct intentions at all times. So how could the Buddha and Bodhisattvas be consistently within you to share their words of wisdom?”

 

Wenda20170407  01:12:45 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
HOW TO AVOID BEING A KNOW-IT-ALL (好为人师) WHEN SHARING PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING OF BUDDHISM?

Caller: Master Lu, some Buddhist practitioners may have developed some personal insights during the process of their spiritual cultivation, which they think are good and would like to share them with others.  Can they do so?  Is that considered being a know-it-all?  How to define ‘being a know-it-all’?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s very simple.  Being a know-it-all means that you think very highly of yourself; it arises from your ego, understand?  A know-it-all feels very good about himself, and keeps preaching without listening to others.  If you are not a know-it-all, you will listen to others’ opinions while sharing yours.  This is called a ‘communication exchange’, understand?

Caller: I see.  Thank you, Master Lu.

 

Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Singapore 10 May 2019 (An Excerpt)
THE GIVING OF DHARMA WITHIN NON-BUDDHISM CHAT GROUPS SHOULD BE DONE IN MODERATION AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONDITIONS

Question: Master mentioned previously that, we will be faced with karmic obstacles for stopping others from performing the Giving of Dharma. In that case, if we ask our fellow practitioners to reduce the frequencies of posting in the non-Buddhism chat groups, will that lead to the forming of karmic obstacles?

Answer: It is not considered as ‘forming karmic obstacles’. You may tell all Buddhist practitioners that,

“You have to perform the Giving of Dharma in an appropriate manner. Do not do it excessively, as it will create karmic obstacles if you cause unnecessary stress to others.”

In that case, you are not stopping them from performing the Giving of Dharma. Instead, you are teaching them an ingenious way of doing so.

 

Wenda20170409B 01:06:54 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
ONCE YOU RECEIVE MONEY FOR THE BOOKS GIVEN TO OTHERS, IT IS CONSIDERED AS SOLICITING ILLICIT GAIN IN THE NAME OF BUDDHISM (敛财)

Caller: During the process of helping others, one of our fellow practitioners was distributing Dharma books and ritual implements to others for free of charge.  Some people did not want to take things for free and insisted on paying for the books and ritual implements.  As such, they have given most of the money to him and he will be using it for printing books or…

Master Jun Hong Lu: This is already considered as soliciting illicit gain in the name of Buddhism. One should never, ever receive money that he isn’t supposed to receive!  This is called soliciting illicit gain in the name of Buddhism if he receives the money eventually.

 

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Letting go in the Buddhist sense is not to give up everything

• Letting go is not to give up everything – it is about what do we want and how much do we want.
  
  
• Too many pursuits and fantasies will only increase the burden on our life.
  
  
• Let go of excessive desires and demands.
  
  
• Let go of any fixations and return to a peaceful and quiet life. 

 

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