Time : Saturday 2pm-4.00pm
Platform : ZOOM Cloud Meeting
Topic of Discussion : LITTLE HOUSE – THE FOUNDATION OF GUAN YIN CITTA PRACTICE
Singapore’s Guan Yin Citta Dharma conducted its first online English Group Study for the year on 9 January 2021. In the session, an in-depth guidance on Little House, which forms the foundation of Guan Yin Citta practice, was presented.
At the outset, the participants were reminded that one’s meritorious deeds will amount to nothing very quickly if one does not recite Little Houses. A more dire situation would be one may end up having to repay one’s karmic dues through other means such as physical and/or mental sufferings. Keeping our karmic creditors waiting for their karmic dues may also have disastrous consequences such as having to recite double the number of Little Houses.
Some of the key takeaways are:
1. Little House has immense power and is capable of resolving deep-seated karmic obstacles; its power supersedes that of the act of performing life liberation;
2. Helping others recite Little House constitutes an act of Giving and is a meritorious deed;
3. Reciting Little House with sincerity and a sense of gratitude will enhance the quality of the Little House;
4. Studying Buddhism in Plain Terms will increase the reciter’s spiritual energy which in turn can help reduce the quantity of Little House that one needs to recite; and
5. One can pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to infuse the energy of the scriptures that one has recited into the Little Houses before dotting.
A Buddhist friend illustrated through her awe-inspiring testimony, the immense power of Little Houses in curing the incurable.
In the upcoming session – scheduled on 16 January – the participants will get to learn about the workings of Little House.
Let us now look at some comments from participants:
I am so thankful for this session as I get to understand the objective of Little House and how they can be used more effectively. Thank you so much!
I learnt several ways to enhance the quality of Little House and I am pleasantly surprised to learn that reading Buddhism in Plain Terms is one of them! I will surely join this session more in the future.
?Join us in our next session
Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information
⏰ Date and time:
Saturday 16 Jan 2021 (2.oopm – 4.00pm)
Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:
Summary Slides_Little House_Part 1
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?
< LITTLE HOUSE – THE FOUNDATION OF GUAN YIN CITTA PRACTICE >
The Little House is a combination of four classic Buddhist scriptures:
- The Great Compassion Mantra (Da Bei Zhou, or Ta Pei Chou in Chinese), 27 times;
- The Heart Sutra (Xin Jing, or Hsin Ching in Chinese), 49 times;
- The Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra (Wang Sheng Zhou or Wang Sheng Chou in Chinese), 84 times;
- The Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan (or Chi Fo Mieh Tsui Chen Yan), 87 times.
The Little House can be used for several purposes, including helping the deceased ascend to a higher spiritual realm, resolving karmic conflicts with others, and eliminating karmic obstacles. In consequence, it helps us improve our lives and resolve calamities. Once we pay off our karmic debts in the human realm, we will be able to transcend the cycle of rebirth, ascend to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, or the Four Sagely Realms when we pass away.
Click here for more Information for Beginners.
< The Importance of Little House >
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 220) 12 April 2018
RECITATION OF LITTLE HOUSE IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR PRACTICE
Question: A fellow Buddhist friend has been practising Guan Yin Citta for some time. He has stopped performing recitation of daily homework and Little House despite him being proficient in reciting Buddhist scriptures. However, he is enthusiastic in organising life liberation activities for others, attending dharma conventions, volunteering and managing WeChat groups to share dharma teachings. How should we advise such a Buddhist friend?
Answer: Everyone bears their own karmic obstacles.Without the practice of reciting Little Houses, one’s meritorious deeds will amount to nothing very quickly. Little Houses are the foundation. As such, for a Buddhist practitioner to fall short on this practice is akin to a brick without cement, it cannot be laid to build.
Wenda20200223 01:02:52 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOUR SCRIPTURES CONTAINED IN THE LITTLE HOUSE
Caller: Regarding the Great Compassion Mantra, Heart Sutra, Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra and Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan in the Little House, is there any significance of the amount of recitation for each of the scriptures? Or is there any other significance in terms of Buddhism study? Please enlighten us, Master.
Master Jun Hong Lu: There is significance to note indeed. It is essential to recite the Heart Sutra and Great Compassion Mantra.
The recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra boosts the spiritual energy of your body, allowing your Buddha Wisdom to be unleashed. The recitation of the Heart Sutra resolves your karmic conflicts, afflictions and the worldly obstacles that are detrimental to your wisdom, helping you get over your problems, and gain understanding and joy.
Then, in this process of resolving the above-mentioned problems, don’t you have to recite the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra? Don’t the negative karmas that you have committed in your past lifetimes have to be eliminated? Even your negative karma arising from the act of killing, and your karmic conflict with others can be eliminated with the recitation of the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra.
Through the recitation of this mantra, you will be able to repay your karmic debts to others and subsequently, shouldn’t you recite the Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan? As you have already realised your wrongdoings, shouldn’t you eliminate them (Mie Zui 灭罪)?
Caller : Yes.
Wenda20140815 05:56 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE CONSEQUENCES OF DELAYING THE RECITATION OF LITTLE HOUSE DESPITE KNOWING THE EXISTENCE OF KARMIC CREDITORS
Caller: If a Buddhist friend is aware of the existence of his karmic creditor when being pinned down by foreign spirit (压身) or through his dream, but keeps delaying the recitation of Little House, or performs the recitation at a very slow pace, the karmic creditor will be annoyed. In such a case, besides requiring even more Little Houses, what other serious consequences might arise?
Master Jun Hong Lu: There will be disastrous consequences.
Firstly, the number of Little Houses required will be redoubled.
Secondly, if the foreign spirit becomes infuriated especially when you are heavily karmically indebted to him, he will drag you to the underworld. You will hence experience cramp or be seriously ill.
I see. Because recently there is a Buddhist friend who is aware of the existence of his karmic creditor, but he keeps holding off the recitation, by giving excuses that he is busy or whatsoever. I got it now, thank you Master Lu.
Wenda20200202 44:12 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
IN THE ABSENCE OF KARMIC CREDITORS, WHERE DO THE OFFERED LITTLE HOUSE AND SELF CULTIVATION RECORD FORM GO?
Caller: When a person has neither karmic creditors nor foreign spirits on his body, where would his offered Little House and Self Cultivation Record Form go?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That will become the energy he stores up. Let me give you an example, if you don’t owe any debts, where goes the money that you have earned? Don’t you save them up?
Caller: Yes, as bank deposit.
Master Jun Hong Lu: The same goes here, the energy will be deposited for yourself.
Will Recitation of the Little House Attract Foreign Spirits?
If we do not repay our karmic debts by reciting the Little House, the repayment will still need to be made through other means when the time of retribution comes ─ the karmic obstacles would have been activated
Zongshu20160209 44:54 (Excerpt of Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
LITTLE HOUSE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN PERFORMING LIFE LIBERATION
Master Jun Hong Lu: All of you must remember this. The inherent power of Little Houses is immense. Besides repayment of karmic debts and untie karmic knots, it can also ward off calamities and enable us to take refuge from misfortunes.
What about performing life liberation? It is in fact an act to pray for blessings. Unless the act is treated as a meritorious deed, if not, you are indeed praying for blessings.
What are the benefits of performing life liberation then? It will help your kids to perform well at school; it can help those who suffer from illnesses to recover; it can also resolves many difficulties you encounter, regardless of at home or at work place.
Any adverse situations can be turned around when you perform life liberation. And the merits yield from the act will enable you to reap many benefits in this lifetime. Do you understand?
However, performing life liberation is unable to help you ward off, say calamity or accident or major mishap that you have to put through as pre-destined by karma. It is difficult to depend on the act to resolve such misfortunes. Do you understand?
Wenda20130421A 28:47 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MERITS DERIVED FROM PERFORMING RECITATION AND HELPING OTHERS TO AWAKEN SPIRITUALLY (度人)
Caller: Performing recitation will help accumulate merits. In that case, apart from the difference in amount, is it essentially the same as the merits derived from propagating dharma and helping others to awaken spiritually?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Both are meritorious deeds, but the merits generated from helping others to awaken spiritually is probably greater than that from performing recitation.
Caller: Is it because it is a type of Dharma Giving, so it is more meritorious?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Exactly! In fact, performing recitation is also a form of Dana (a Buddhist practice of giving). Why is it so?
Because such an act enables us to gain enlightenment and achieve a state of tranquillity, so that we can improve ourselves before being able to help sentient beings.
To put this into perspective, if the merit gained is 20% for each recitation, then it will be 50% for helping others to awaken spiritually. In other words, both are kind deeds, although the latter is a much greater deed. Ultimately, both deeds can help accumulate merits, albeit to different extents.
Caller: So it is an act of Giving if we help others to recite Little House?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.
Shuohua20141114 02:42 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE (LIFO) AND LITTLE HOUSE IN ELIMINATING NEGATIVE KARMA
Caller: Both LIFO and Little House are able to eliminate negative karma. Is there any difference between these two methods?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Little House is more powerful. Lumps of karmic obstacles resulted from our wrongdoings in past lives and major karmic obstacles require the recitation of Little Houses.
What about LIFO? For example, you have just said something wrong, you may recite this scripture once.
If you have just had a passing evil thought that you eventually did not act upon, in that case, you will need to recite this scripture several times.
Say you just did something wrong but feel that it would not lead to serious consequences or accumulate karmic debts because of this, you would have to quickly take the opportunity to eliminate it through the recitation of LIFO, which is used to repent your wrongdoings and prevent karmic debts from generating.
What about Little Houses? They can gradually help you to eliminate the karmic debts accumulated from your wrongdoings in the past, which are more serious in nature. This is how it works.
Caller: That means LIFO is used to eliminate less serious karmic obstacles, whereas Little House is to resolve deep-seated karmic obstacles.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. However, should you wish to eliminate deep-seated karmic obstacles, it is essential to first recite LIFO, as LIFO is to profess your repentance, subsequently you may recite Little Houses.
Wenda20160605B 30:21 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
MAKING OF A VOW OF LITTLE HOUSERECITATION
Caller: Master Lu, may I know whether, under normal circumstances where one does not suspect that they have any karmic creditors, it is necessary for them to make a vow as to how many Little House they will offer per batch?
What is the difference when one makes a vow of offering seven Little Houses weekly compared to offering the Little House in the absence of a vow, where they do the offering at the appropriate time?
Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a difference. A vow made means that the Little Houses are offered to achieve a certain objective, hence the vow comes with a figure, i.e., number of Little Houses specified. It normally denotes that there is some degree of urgency to it. On the other hand, without a vow made, the number to be offered is all up to you. The nature of these Little Houses serves as an accumulation, like a saving. Do you understand?
Caller: Under normal circumstances where a person does not suspect that he has any karmic creditors, then there is no need to intentionally make any vow as to the number of Little Houses to be offered?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. You only make a vow when there is some “matter to be resolved”. Otherwise, you do not have to make such a vow.
How to make vows of Little House recitation for those who are critically ill?
Guide to Making Vows for Critically Ill Patients
1. To be a full vegetarian your whole life
2. To refrain from the act of killing for your whole life
3. To perform the liberation of captives (more than 10,000)
4. To offer 1,000 Little Houses to repay karmic debts
5. To share testimony to save other sentient beings upon recovery
< Methods to Improve the Quality of Little House >
Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting (Question 18) 11 January 2015
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LITTLE HOUSES
Question: Master Lu, you used to instruct us that each aborted child required 21 Little Houses. However, these days you often advise that 49 are needed. May I know why there’s such a change?
Answer: The quality of Little Houses is deteriorating. The offering of 21 Little Houses would no longer be enough to help the spirit go to a higher spiritual realm, which is why I advised some people to recite 49 Little House safter I performed Totem readings for them.
Some could achieve the same result with 21 Little Houses. However, as soon as I’m connected to the energy field of some practitioners, I’m certain that 21 will not be sufficient.
Recitations done hastily and the lack of sincerity in repenting are the main factors that impact the quality of Little Houses. However, the exact number of Little Houses required will still vary case by case.
Wenda20200621 39:00 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
RECITE LITTLE HOUSE WITH SINCERITY AND AN ENDEAVOUR TO UPHOLD THE DHARMA
Caller: In the latest episode of Buddhism in Plain Terms, Master advised us that the recitation of Little House is not merely about the speed and quantity. It will only be efficacious when we recite it with sincerity and an endeavour to uphold the Dharma. Master, what does it really mean?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Well, does Little House belong to the Buddha?
Caller: Yes.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Do the four scriptures in Little House belong to Bodhisattva?
Caller: Yes.
Master Jun Hong Lu: So when you are reciting the scriptures, do you consider yourself upholding the Dharma? Do you have to be solemn and respectful?
Caller: Yes.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Do you think you are upholding the Dharma when you perform the recitation casually as if you are singing folk songs?
Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a significant difference when you recite the Little House in a solemn and respectful manner compared to recitation in a flippant tone. You would also want to use such a solemn and respectful tone when you speak to your superior.
Caller: I got it now. In the past radio programs, you advised some Buddhist practitioners to avoid harbouring resentment while reciting Little House. Does it mean that the mindset while reciting Little House also plays a significant role in determining its quality, especially with a sense of gratitude?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It is extremely important. If you recite it with gratitude, the quality of the Little House will be good. For example, when you think, “Deepest gratitude to Bodhisattva for blessing my family! Gratitude for helping my deceased family member to ascend to a higher spiritual realm, and helping me to eliminate my afflictions and karmic obstacles.”
With such a sense of gratitude, the quality of the Little House will be extremely good, just like garnishing a dish with a drizzle of sesame oil will greatly enhance its aroma.
Caller: I understand now.
Wenda20180722A 27:53 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THE ENERGY OF LITTLE HOUSES RECITED WILL BE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY IF WE DO NOT REPENT FOR OUR WRONGDOINGS
Caller: Master Lu, in the case where we have finished reciting the scriptures of Little Houses outside, but have yet to dot them, if we did something wrong or improper, will the energy of these Little Houses be reduced significantly as a result?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The energy will remain intact if the wrongdoing was not committed at the point of recitation. However, if the wrongdoing was committed at that said point in time and has yet to be repented, the quality of the Little Houses will be greatly compromised.
Caller: I understand now.
Wenda20181216B 26:09 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
QUANTITY OF LITTLE HOUSES FOR ONE’S KARMIC CREDITORS CAN BE REDUCED TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AFTER STUDYING BUDDHISM IN PLAIN TERMS
Caller: According to a recent discourse, Master mentioned that after studying Buddhism in Plain Terms, the number of Little Houses that we recite for our own karmic creditors can be reduced to a certain extent, and we will receive blessings and be in good health.
Caller: In that case, a Buddhist practitioner would like to know, since the Little House is used to repay karmic debts to our karmic creditors, does it mean that the number of Little Houses is reduced because our karmic creditors will also gain the spiritual energy from Buddhism in Plain Terms while we are studying it?
Master Jun Hong Lu: No. It is the reciter who has the spiritual energy. For example, if you are supposed to recite 100 Little Houses, you have to complete this amount when your spiritual energy isn’t sufficient. However, when you gain sufficient energy after studying Buddhism in Plain Terms, the energy of 10 Little Houses that you recited will be as good as that of 100 Little Houses. In other words, it is the real thing that your karmic creditor will receive. Do you understand?
Caller: Yes.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me give you a simple example. A piece of compressed biscuit is equivalent to 10 pieces of normal biscuits. So, won’t the energy derived be the same for both?
Caller: I understand now.
Wenda20200103 24:26 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
MAKING A GREAT VOW TO HONOUR THE MASTER AND REVERE HIS TEACHINGS CAN HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LITTLE HOUSES REQUIRED
Caller: A Buddhist practitioner dreamt that he was penalised over USD1,000 for speeding. He thought it could be the number of Little Houses required. Before he could make a vow of the Little House recitation, he had another similar dream but this time was a speeding ticket of USD2,250. May I ask if these dreams imply the number of Little Houses required?
Master Jun Hong Lu: No, it means he has not recited enough Little Houses. When the recitation of Little Houses is insufficient time and again, the number will just add up.
Caller: Got it. During the New Year period, the same Buddhist practitioner was in Sydney. When Master led the prayers during the First Incense offering on 1 January, this Buddhist practitioner made the vow to honour Master and revere Master’s teachings.
That very night, he dreamt that he would need to submit additional documents and pay USD818 for his visa application for attending Master’s Public Talk. Has the making of this great vow helped to reduce the number of Little Houses required from 2,500 to 818 accordingly?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It is likely so. When one vows to honour the master and revere his teachings, they will receive enormous blessings, which will in turn help them eliminate a lot of karmic obstacles.
Caller: Yes, we heard a lot about it in recent discourses and many Buddhist practitioners have also made this great vow thereafter.
Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s really awesome! In fact, this vow should be made compulsory as it is considered a great vow yet it is easily accomplished.
Caller: Yes, indeed, thank you Master!
Wenda20200731 01:11:42 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
LITTLE HOUSE OFFERED CAN BE CONVERTED INTO WORLDLY BLESSINGS OR SPIRITUAL ENERGY – DEPENDING ON ONE’S WISHES
Caller: Hello, Master. In a recent discourse, you have interpreted a Buddhist practitioner’s dream, where you advised that the Little Houses that he offered have been converted into worldly blessings in the lower realms.
At the same time, you also mentioned that it is most ideal for Little House to transform into spiritual energy, which can ward off calamities and misfortunes in the human realm, and eliminate karmic obstacles. In this regard, may I know under what circumstances will Little House be transformed into worldly blessings or spiritual energy, respectively?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It depends on who the receiver of the Little House is. If the Little House is dedicated for your karmic creditors, when you happen to encounter a calamity, then the Little House offered will be converted into spiritual energy to help you dispel the calamity. Conversely, if you are praying for a particular matter, for example, to be successful in purchasing a house, in this case the Little House that you offered will be transformed into worldly blessings.
Caller: Does it mean that it hinges on one’s wish?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, indeed. It depends on what you are praying for. The Little House that you offer will help to fulfill your wishes. It works either way.
Caller: I understand now, Master. For someone with much lesser karmic debts and free from worldly desires, what will the Little Houses transform into?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That will be great! It will transform into meritorious blessings. Basically, when a Little House is being offered, it will first be converted into meritorious blessings, and then into worldly blessings only when you pray for it.
In general, Little House is usually transformed into meritorious blessings because the recitation of sutras and mantras is itself a meritorious deed.
Q&A 157. Order to recite scriptures contained in a Little House\
Q&A 157. Order to recite scriptures contained in a Little House
Wenda20171124 01:70:25 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC WAY TO RECITE LITTLE HOUSES. ONE SHOULD RECITE THEM NATURALLY, AND WITH NO PRESSURE
Caller: Master Lu, in your previous discourse you mentioned we should apply a ‘wrap-around method’ (包围法) when reciting Little Houses so as to empower each type of prayer with the Great Compassion Mantra.
Caller: A fellow Buddhist friend would like to ask, if he is reciting 5 or 3 Little Houses at the same time, is it suitable for him to perform several hundred recitations of a particular type of sutra, for example, a few hundred times of the Heart Sutra, and then move on to several hundred times of the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra? Which method is better?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The best way is not to put yourself under pressure when performing recitations. Otherwise, the quality of recitation will be compromised.
Caller: So, we may adopt the method we find most comfortable, as long as we are behaving naturally?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Exactly.
Caller: Alright, thank you Master Lu.
Wenda20180902B 31:11 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
HOW TO PRAY FOR BETTER INFUSION OF ENERGY INTO LITTLE HOUSE WHILE DOTTING THE CIRCLE?
Caller: Master Lu, I came across this question from ‘Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse’. A fellow practitioner, who is more susceptible to spiritual sense of connection, would not be able to feel the infusion of energy into Little House for the scriptures that he recited if he did not dot the Little House immediately after recitation.
Caller: However, if he prays to Bodhisattva in his heart that,
“May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva be my witness. I, XXX (full name), the disciple, am now dotting the circles of Little House. May Guan Yin Bodhisattva bless me, XXX, to infuse the energy of the scriptures that I recited into these Little Houses.”
He would repeat the prayer twice before dotting the circles, and would feel that a lot of energy is being injected into the red dots. May I ask Master, is this applicable on a case-by-case basis or a general basis?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It is applicable on a general basis.
Wenda20191227 01:13:05 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
CAN WE PRAY TO BODHISATTVA TO HELP CONVERT THE EXTRA NUMBERS OF SUTRA/MANTRA RECITED FOR LITTLE HOUSE INTO DAILY RECITATION?
Caller: Master Lu, I would like to seek Master’s advice on the appropriateness of an approach to prayer. If it is appropriate, other practitioners may follow suit. Let me explain. Before I recite or dot on the Little House, I would say a prayer,
‘May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva have compassion on me. For the four mantras which I have recited, namely the Great Compassion Mantra, Heart Sutra, Wang Sheng Zhou and Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan, please help and bless me by counting the better quality ones for the Little House and the excess to be treated as part of my daily recitation.’
Is this an acceptable method?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The problem is, you wouldn’t be able to tell the good from the bad ones, would you?
Caller: I will always recite extra numbers of the Great Compassion Mantra, Heart Sutra, Wang Sheng Zhou and Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Then you may say so provided you have recited extra numbers. Let’s say, if you recite 27 or 49 times, you may say to bless and count the better quality ones for the Little House and the excess are to be treated as your daily recitation. This is fine. In fact, a person who adopts this method is wiser.
Caller: Thank you Master. After I state such prayer, I feel that the quality of the Little House is ensured.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure.
Caller: Thank you Master for your advice.
< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享
