Gear up for a journey of empowerment! 🚀
Dive into the secrets of mastering your mindset in the face of life’s twists and turns! 🌪️
The ‘3, 6, 9 Predestined Calamities’ (Part 3) is on the horizon, bringing you the wisdom to not just face but conquer predestined calamities. 🌈
Let’s embark together on this adventure of resilience:
🧘♂️ Stay Resilient: Ride the waves of mindfulness in turbulent times.
💡 Have Faith in Bodhisattva and Yourself: Unleash the power of faith and self-belief.
🙏 Embrace Pure Kindness: Beam compassion for positive vibes all around.
🚀 Elevate Your State of Mind: Soar above adversity for personal and spiritual growth.
🤔 Calamities as the Path to Enlightenment: Find insights as challenges pave the way to enlightenment.
🌟 Equip yourself to soar above predestined calamities with wisdom! 💪
WHEN ENTANGLED IN A MESS DURING THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’ PERIOD, HOW SHOULD WE FINE-TUNE OUR DAILY RECITATION
Question: Some Buddhist practitioners notice that during their zodiac year of birth (Ben Ming Nian in Chinese) or the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ period, for some reason, they will find themselves stuck in a quagmire where they seem to lose momentum in their spiritual cultivation, hardly able to recite any Little House, and they lack self-confidence. In this regard, I would like to seek Master’s guidance as to how we can snap back from this condition?
Answer: Recite more Great Compassion Mantra because it helps strengthen willpower. They can also recite more Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) to eliminate their karmic obstacles. These are the primary Buddhist scriptures to recite. Having said that, they can supplement their recitation with the Heart Sutra because it can help regulate their mindset.
For inner peace, recite more Heart Sutra. When you are apprehensive or feel like losing all sense of security, step up on your recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra. On the other hand, if you are constantly beset by a sense of remorse or guilt, you may recite more LIFO. When you complete the recitation of all these sutras/mantras, you will feel much better.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting (Q&A Session), Brisbane, Australia, 8 June 2019
FEAR NOT ABOUT KARMIC PASS; THE KEY LIES IN TRANSFORMING ONESELF
Question: Some new Buddhist practitioners fret over metaphysics concepts such as foreign spirits, the predestined karmic pass at the age ending 3, 6 or 9 (三六九劫), zodiac year of birth (本命年) and karmic grievances (冤结).
In fear of imminent calamities befalling them, every now and then, they have had bouts of apprehension, so much so that they suffer mental stress and dejection. They are worried about making mistakes and its retributive punishment.
On top of this, they are concerned about the day of reckoning for family members who are still consuming meat but unfortunately their concern has annoyed them and hence, affected their Buddhist practice. I’d like to seek Master’s advice as to how we should provide guidance to such Buddhist friends.
Answer: You must tell them to be kind to every sentient being and calmly embrace the harsh reality. What else can you do other than face it head on? No one is spared from predestined calamities (灾劫). As such, why should you be overwhelmed by it?
After all, we all eventually have to die and you may as well face it head on. It’s just that some people live a purposeful life while others live an absolute meaningless (轻如鸿毛) and self-centred life. When you live your life for the sake of sentient beings, you are as solid as a rock (重如泰山). What else is there to fear?
After all, you will have the blessings of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. Just be diligent in reciting the Great Compassion Mantra and you will be alright. Tell me is there anyone who is free from karmic obstacles? It’s only through transforming ourselves that we can resolve our negative karma. No one is spared from suffering in life. The key is to bounce back and move on!
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting (Q&A Session), Sydney, Australia, 10 January 2020
DILIGENCE IS KEY TO ELIMINATING KARMIC OBSTACLES; KARMIC PASS IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THOSE WHOSE AGES END WITH ‘3, 6, 9’
Master Jun Hong Lu: Keep in mind that a person who is diligent in his practice is able to eliminate many karmic passes and repay karmic debts. As a simple example, there is a man whom everyone abhors as a thief. One day, a child falls into the water but no one is brave enough to jump into the water. Undaunted, this man jumped in to rescue the child. Would others still regard him as a thief? In fact, he will be regarded as a hero! Do you now understand?
This is what it means by “One act of kindness will disperse a multitude of calamities” (一善解百灾)! Similarly, one who is steadfast in his Buddhist practice would be able to eliminate a lot of his karmic obstacles.
Caller: Is it true that karmic passes can happen any time, not just at ages ending with ‘3, 6, 9’? For example, a karmic pass may occur at the age of 30?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. Under any circumstances, karmic passes may come early. Just like many people who were supposed to pass away at the age of 69 but their death was brought forward to the age of 68. This is because their good fortune and longevity had been exhausted (消福消寿).
Source: Wenda20161028 01:10:53, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
THE RIGHT MINDSET WHEN PERFORMING MERITORIOUS DEEDS TO RESOLVE CALAMITIES
Caller: Master, there’s a question that some Buddhist friends are struggling with. Please enlighten us.
You once shared a story about a revered monk forewarning two brothers of an impending calamity that would occur in four years. The only remedy suggested was to do more good deeds and accumulate merits to ward off the calamity.
The elder brother, in the village, built bridges, roads, cared for the elderly, and assisted the young without expecting anything in return. The younger sibling, following suit, planted crops and fruit trees, from which the harvest would be used to support the destitute.
Despite the elder brother’s benevolent endeavours aimed at averting the calamity, misfortune still befell him. The younger brother, on the other hand, having single-mindedly performed kind deeds, had completely forgotten about the impending calamity.
To perform kind deeds solely for the purpose of averting a calamity is not an outright benevolence. True benevolence is when one does good without any consideration to resolve an impending disaster (为行善而忘劫乃大善也). In the dharma realm, it is said that a purposeful act of kindness is not pure benevolence. In fact, genuine kindness is selfless, untainted by expectations or rewards.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right.
Caller: Some Buddhist friends wonder, in the face of the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ or premonition dreams, it is common for us to respond by performing recitation, making vows, or performing life liberation to counteract the calamity. Master, how should we approach this with the right mindset?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Serve the people wholeheartedly with pure kindness. If you can perform a kind deed without any ulterior motive whatsoever, this is called “pure kindness”, and it will surely yield significant merits.
Caller: Master, when countering calamity, is it alright to think this way: after overcoming the calamity, I will be more dedicated to serve the people and I will go the extra mile to benefit sentient beings?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that’s correct. Your thoughts (意念) have the power to elevate your spiritual energy. In fact, this is what many people do. Humans, being the highest form of animals, are very unique because they are capable of gaining power through their thoughts.
Caller: Does the “thought” here refer to mind power?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct. It refers to mind power. When you think, “I will surely be well, definitely be well,” and you will indeed be well.
Caller: Got it.
Source: Wenda20200119 40:27, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
‘COPE WITH ALL MOTIONS BY REMAINING MOTIONLESS’ (以静制动) WHEN KARMIC CONDITIONS ARE NOT IN YOUR FAVOUR, OR WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH THE ‘3, 6, 9 PREDESTINED CALAMITIES’ OR OTHER KARMIC ADVERSITIES
Caller: Master, I’ve been seeking guidance from Bodhisattva for career direction. Soon after, I had a dream and in the dream, the image of my current boss at the financial outfit emerged. I am unsure whether I should continue working here.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Continue with your current work for the time being.
Caller: Alright.
Master Jun Hong Lu: This dream is a clear indication that you should stay put at your current job. For you to dream about the image of this particular person tells you that you still have karmic affinity with him.
Caller: Alright. I’ll stay there for the time being. It so happens that I am in conflict with Tai Sui Bodhisattva (冲太岁) this year. Furthermore, during a totem reading, Master mentioned that I was being cast under a spell (下降头). It seems like everything’s happening all at once.
Master Jun Hong Lu: One important consideration is in times when there is inadequate karmic conditions (缘分不足) or it so happens that you are confronting your ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ or other karmic adversities, the best thing that you can do is to stay put, that is, to ‘cope with all motions by remaining motionless’ (以静制动).
Caller: I see.
Source: Wenda20191025 57:57, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN THE MIND OVER THINKS IN TROUBLED TIMES
Caller: Master, in the face of illness or when encountering challenging situations, you and other revered monks seem to be able to keep your mind still. Others, on the other hand, view it as, you have shouldered too much karmic burden of sentient beings.
As for us, when faced with such situations, our minds will churn out all sorts of random thoughts such as:
“Have I created new negative karma?”
“Have I done anything that is in conflict with the Buddhist teachings or is it that my karmic obstacles have come to fruition?” (是不是哪里不如理不如法了)
“Have I not been diligent enough in my Buddhist practice such that I have yet to eliminate my karmic obstacles?”
Master, are these considered deluded thoughts (妄念)? How can we quell them?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Indeed, they are deluded thoughts. Let me illustrate with a simple example. Imagine a person notices a small growth on his body. Someone without any deluded thoughts will think, “I should clean this growth, which tells me that this body part hasn’t been washed for a long time, and hence, this lump”.
On the contrary, someone with a deluded mind will immediately think, “Oh no! Could this lead to cancer or something else? Is it possible that I have been cursed by someone?” Their mind will go into an overdrive, randomly churning out all sorts of deluded thoughts and this is when their mind becomes deranged (就颠倒了) and troubled. Many a time, this is how hatred comes about and he will start to think, “It must be him, trying to mess around with me”.
How can this be quelled?
First and foremost, cultivate right mindfulness (正念). What does this entail? It means abstaining from unnecessary speculation in daily situations, and even when troubles come knocking at your door. You must always cast others in a positive light. By doing so, you will not be deluded when situations arise.
Assuming you trip and fall as you are heading out from home and it so happens that you come across a stone that immediately sets you thinking, “Gosh, how careless of me! How could this stone end up here? I must remove it so that it does not cause others to trip and fall too”. In addition, you may think, “Lesson learned. It may well mean that a karmic calamity has come to pass”.
In this case, you are looking at things from a positive standpoint. Conversely, a negative thought would be, “You see, it must have been the neighbour trying to harm me”.
Caller: Neither may apply in my case. Instead, I will feel, “Has it got to do with the fact that something is still lacking in our spiritual cultivation? Where have I erred?”
Master Jun Hong Lu: The same principle applies. It’s alright to look inside yourself, but you should not be too hard on yourself (不能挖得太深). Because if you do so, you will go into a state of unnecessary obsessions (执着).
It’s alright to contemplate on areas that you have erred as long as you make an effort to correct yourself. That said, if you go overboard, you will end up hurting yourself. What about if it so happens to be a karmic pass rather than a particular aspect that you have done wrong? Don’t you think it will backfire on you?
Caller: I got it now.
Source: Wenda20140316A 33:55, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
IF OUR BODIES EXPERIENCE KARMIC RETRIBUTIONS, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR MINDS ARE NOT MANIPULATED BY THE EVIL CONSEQUENCES (恶果)
Caller: When one comes across ‘3, 6, 9 predetermined calamity’, the “little black dots” on his/her body will erupt as sudden bad luck, and negative affinities and consequences will cause a kind and happy person to suffer from intense pain and misfortunes.
Is it true that one is most vulnerable when karmic obstacles erupt, because it presents an easy access for evil thoughts to penetrate? Despite knowing the landmines ahead, one will still walk into the traps due to the lack of self-awareness, which lays the conditions for new negative karmic debts to be created unceasingly.
Under such circumstances, not only is the karmic debt uneliminated, the person’s negative karma will keep proliferating in a vicious cycle, entrapping the person in the web of karma. If our bodies receive karmic retributions, how can we steer our minds away from being manipulated by the evil karmic consequences?
Master Jun Hong Lu: This will depend on your level of cultivation. Such problems will be resolved when your cultivation reaches a certain level, such as that of a Bodhisattva. Why is it so? At a high spiritual level, your mind will be free from any unwholesome words and thoughts because you are perfectly calm and peaceful. In this regard, how is it possible for you to have any retribution? What is there to be had when the negative karma has been eliminated? It’s gone.
Caller: I see. When negative karma comes to fruition, non-Buddhist practitioners will complain and become resentful. But, Buddhist practitioners, who have cultivated for some years and studied Master’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, are more likely to get over such situations – because Master has repeatedly taught us to treat adverse situations as means of repaying retribution.
Once the karmic debts are paid off, the karma is removed. When we can view this as a way for us to eliminate negative karma and let the adversity to sail through, chances are we will not create new karma. This is covered in your Buddhism In Plain Terms. Thank you, Master.
Source: Wenda20161216 26:30, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
OBSTRUCTIONS ARE STEPPING STONES AND PATHS TO BUDDHAHOOD
Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s crucial to recognise that life is fraught with tribulations, difficulties, and bitterness (人生多劫，人生多难，人生真苦). Simply being a human being in this world is never a walk in the park, not to mention the trials of one’s fate. I have oftentimes talked about the complexity of life, the difficulty of being a human, and the existential challenges that come with it (做人难，难做人，人难做).
This underscores the importance of rising above and eliminating your ego (克制自我), as only by doing so, can you slowly change the course of our destiny. If you turn a blind eye to your shortcomings and your karmic obstacles, would it be possible that you will have a smooth-sailing life in this world?
The same goes to Bodhisattvas who descend to the human realm. They would have to go through a multitude of karmic challenges too. This lays the groundwork for Their profound understanding and Their eventual spiritual accomplishment which highlights the importance of having great aspirations.
Please bear in mind that to cultivate well, the crux lies in cultivating the mind. The objective of Buddhist practice is to help us overcome every obstruction that comes our way so that we can claim victory in this life journey of ours.
Suffering is inevitable, and this applies to both Buddhist practitioners or a Bodhisattva, who is in the human realm to fulfil Their vows.
A caller once asked, “Since a Bodhisattva, who descends to the human realm to save people, will undoubtedly receive the blessings of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, why will He still have to suffer and fall ill?”
Let me share this with you: It’s universally known that Tang Seng (Note: the central character in the Chinese novel entitled ‘Journey to the West’) had already attained Buddhahood, and even with the continuous protection of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, He still had to shoulder the numerous trials and tribulations that came His way. Why is that so?
The rationale behind this principle mirrors that of worldly wisdom: “Only those who endure the hardest hardship will be the best spiritual cultivator” (吃得苦中苦，方为修心人). Only by clearing all karmic debts and karmic obstacles, and enduring trials and tribulations, can one attain true spiritual fruition (证得正果). Just like in the human realm, in the face of numerous difficulties, it is only through perseverance that progress and success can be achieved. The underlying principle is extremely similar.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Radio Program), Volume 1 Chapter 20
< A Poolside Experiment: What is True Benevolence? >
< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享
