Time : Saturday 2pm-4.15pm
Platform : ZOOM Cloud Meeting
Topic of Discussion : The Significance Of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Renunciation Day & Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday
On 13 March 2021, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore held another online English Group Study. The session provided insights into the significance of the Shakyamuni Buddha’s Renunciation Day and Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday in commemoration of the upcoming special days.
The session started off with an account of the incredible life story of the Buddha that never loses its appeal in captivating the hearts of the devotees.
The facilitator presented a refresher revision on the following core teachings of the Buddha:
1️⃣ The truth of suffering,
2️⃣ Emptiness and impermanence, and
3️⃣ Roots of human suffering (desire, ignorance, attachment and impermanence).
In a crystal clear message, Shakyamuni Buddha said, “The sentient beings of the six realms of rebirth will fall into the cycle of reincarnation due to ignorance. The karmic causes and consequences are so dreadful that all sentient beings should not take them lightly.
Echoing this, Master Lu once said, “Since everything is an illusion, including this body of mine, where nothing belongs to me and everything is just on loan to me for a brief moment, why do I still covet this short-lived and illusory enjoyment?”.
Both messages highlight the importance of practising Buddhism because regardless of what we do in this world, we will eventually face the impermanence of life and death and all will reach the state of cessation.
In the second part of the session, the facilitator presented the significance of Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s birthday, which falls on 31 March 2021. The participants were recommended to perform more recitations, make more vows, perform more life liberations, make more prostrations, and accumulate more merits and virtues on this day.
The participants were advised to recite the Heart Sutra of Guan Yin Bodhisattva when prostrating or putting across their prayer requests. The Heart Sutra is akin to a secret code that allows you to be connected to Bodhisattva.
In the upcoming session – scheduled on 3 April – find out how Dharma practice can help you develop skillful mind states that are free from Anger and Hatred (the second Poison in Buddhism teaching).
Let us now look at some comments from participants:
Today’s session was such a motivating one. I learnt the many troubles and obstacles the Buddha had to go through even though He has attained such profound enlightenment. I learnt that no one escapes karma, even our world honoured Lord Buddha. The only way we can be free from this illusionary world is through the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma.
Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s great compassion and mercy is our role model to survive in this Saha world. This session has motivated me to be more steadfast in my cultivation.
Join us in our next session
Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information
⏰ Date and time:
Saturday 3 Apr 2021 (2.oopm – 4.00pm)
Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY?
< Story of Gautama Buddha >
Shakyamuni Buddha was born in the Human Realm, raised in the Human Realm and attained Buddhahood in the Human Realm. The Buddha was simply a human being and he claimed no inspiration from any God. He attributed all his realisation, attainments and achievements to human endeavour and intelligence. A man and only a man can become a Buddha. Every man has within himself the potential of becoming a Buddha if he has the will power and works at it.
Lord Buddha went through various stages of growth, monasticism, and spiritual pursuit. He endured and overcame many trials and hardship and comprehended the truth of the empty-nature behind the beginning of affinities. He attained enlightenment and perfected the power of wisdom, compassion and fearlessness.
The Four Important Days to commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha:
Birthday (圣诞日) – 8th day of 4th lunar month
Renunciation day (出家日) – 8th day of 2nd lunar month
Enlightenment day (成道日) – 8th day of 12th lunar month
Nirvana day (涅槃日) – 15th day of 2nd lunar month
< Master Lu’s discourse on Buddha’s Renunciation Day >
Read English translated text at this link: Master Lu’s discourse on the Buddha’s Renunciation Day | Buddhism in Plain Terms
< Why did the Buddha Renounce the world? >
Master Lu’s discourse on Buddha’s Renunciation Day – An excerpt
The definition of “Renunciation” means “giving up the world and leading a holy life” or “freedom from lust, craving and desires”.
When Prince Siddhartha Gautama was 19 years old, He was jolted out of his idleness by the “Four Signs”: he saw in succession an old man, a sick person, a corpse being carried to cremation, and a monk in meditation beneath a tree. From this, He realised the sufferings arising from birth, old age, sickness and death.
Seeing how living beings are trapped in this vicious circle of suffering, and realising that only a fully enlightened Buddha has the wisdom and the power to help all living being, He decided to renounce his life of luxury and set on the path in search of the Truth to free humanity of suffering.
< What is Suffering in Buddhism Context? >
Buddhism in Plain Terms
Vol 11, Chapter 45
Birth, old age, sickness and death are inevitable. Suffering starts at birth and it goes on to old age. The suffering from ill health is unspeakable; and death is agonising. Nobody can escape these four types of suffering, regardless if you are a millionaire, or however great or lowly you are.
So, as Buddhists, how can we escape from these four sufferings and to be truly happy? Please remember, spiritual cultivation is to transform you to be a happy person where the radiant light of the Buddha flows right from your inherent nature.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting, Italy Milan, 25 Sept 2017
There are Eight Sufferings in life. Birth, old age, sickness and death are the Four Sufferings.
1. Birth (生) – Isn’t it painful when a child is born? The suffering already begins before birth as one is already able to feel sensations in the womb. When a mother drinks hot soup, the foetus will find it unbearably warm. When a mother eats ice cream, the foetus will find it similarly uncomfortable. Isn’t being born painful? This is the truth of birth.
2. Ageing (老) – Isn’t ageing uncomfortable? You might wish to head out, but your legs fail you. You might wish to eat something, but your teeth fail you. Isn’t growing older a form of suffering? You are unable to do anything you want to do.
3. Sickness (病) – It is needless to say thatsickness is a form of pain and suffering.
4. Death (死) – It is something that everyone is afraid of.
It involves even more suffering. Regardless of how much wealth and fame you posses, no one can escape birth, ageing, sickness and death. It is very fair and that is why they are known as the four sufferings.
< The Four Noble Truths（四圣谛）Are The Way to Liberation >
Buddhism In Plain Terms Episode 45 – an excerpt
In looking at the Truth of Suffering, think about it, the suffering of humankind is birth, old age, illness, and death. No one can escape them. As rich as you are today, as famous and as highly reputed as you are, you cannot escape from birth, old age, illness, and death. No one can. This is the truth.
Would you say that rich men do not die? Would you say that people with great health will not die? Sometimes, death is very painful. When you grow old, even if you want to do something you do not have the energy for it. When you are born, it is painful too. When a baby is born, the baby cannot eat anything because it has no teeth. It gets too cold or too hot, but the baby cannot speak, the baby can only cry. When people grow old, you can see how much they suffer. Hence, the Bodhisattva tells us that the first truth is suffering. No one can escape birth, old age, illness and death.
The Second Noble Truth is the cause of suffering. Why are you having hardships? It is because all sentient beings, since beginningless time, have been troubled by afflictions, resulting from greed, hatred, and ignorance. Your greed, hatred, and ignorance from your previous lives are brought forth into this life. You need to find out the reasons for your suffering.
In this life, we continue to receive the rewards or undergo the retribution. We reap what we sow. Good begets good and evil begets evil. We will continue to face retribution from our karmic debts which have not been settled in previous lives.
The Third Noble Truth is the cessation of suffering. This means that any human or objects in this world will eventually come to an end. There will come a day when they will end. What comes to life will come to an end, to say it in an unpleasant manner, if a place is on fire, the fire will be extinguished sooner or later.
The same goes with human life. After you are born, no matter how healthy your body is, how much you have enjoyed a good life, someday you will have to leave this world. This is to let you know the truth of this world, whether your mind is confused or clear, eventually your confusion will end. And if you have great intellectual abilities, no matter what you gain, they will all come to an end.
So, we must understand that such is the nature of the world. Someday your suffering will end, your happiness will end, so why don’t you try to realise your enlightenment sooner, so that you can be freed from your worldly suffering, be freed from the pain of life and death? This is the Third Noble Truth.
Within the Fourth Noble Truth, there lies the path. This means that when you have found this path, like when we are driving, if we lose our direction and don’t know where to go, once you have finally found this path, after going round and round the road, you have found your way home.
As long as you continue to drive along the path, that you have found, you would find the truth. As you continue to bravely forge ahead until you attain liberation, you will totally comprehend the true meaning of this human life, thus achieving nirvana. You finally understand that this world is nothing more than what is highlighted by the Four Noble Truths.
These profound teachings are what Buddhism seeks to teach us, to let us know that no matter what you do, you will eventually face the impermanence of life and death, you will eventually experience birth, old age, illness, and death. All will reach the state of cessation.
Hence, do not compete with others in this human world, because all will eventually come to an end. This is the Noble Truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering.
< DESIRE, IGNORANCE, ATTACHMENT AND IMPERMANENCE ARETHE ROOTS OF SUFFERING >
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 23 December 2016
DESIRE WILL ONLY LEAD US TO SUFFERING
Master Jun Hong Lu: We must understand that our desires should never be taken for our hopes in life. There are many who have yearnings all their lives: “I want a television, I want a car, I want a house, I want….”. These are alldesires which should never be taken as goals in life, because unfulfilled desires will lead us to sufferings.
When a person has incessant desires in life and fails to attain what he has been longing for, he will experience extreme sufferings. That is when all hopes are lost in life.
Buddhism in Plain Terms Episode 11. Illuminating and Seeing the Emptiness of the Five Aggregates – An excerpt
In fact, life is never bitter originally, our endless desires are what makes it bitter. Take a look: we want this today and that tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, we need something else. Your heart grows weary with your reluctance to let go of too many things.
Our life is not meant to be bitter, it is our heart that is infected with bitterness from our pursuit of the material desires in this world. Our life is reduced to a pursuit of these desires, it becomes a process of constantly increasing and reducing our desires.
When your desire in this world increases, so does your vexations and distress. Conversely, when we slowly let go of these desires, we will gradually realise the truth of life – that is suffering, emptiness and impermanence.
Wenda20200926 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program] –an excerpt
Master Jun Hong Lu: “The world is an illusion that is elusive and transient. Knowing this, why must you be so obsessed with temporary enjoyment? Why don’t you be diligent in Dharma practice and spiritual cultivation? Why can’t you control your cravings for food and drinks and even sleep.
Since everything is an illusion, including this body of mine, where nothing belongs to me and everything is just on loan to me for a brief moment, why do I still covet this short-lived and illusory enjoyment?
Why don’t I make an effort to practise the wisdom and virtues of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and unleash my Buddha nature?
7 June 2020 – A Visit to Guan Yin Citta Pure Land
Shakyamuni Buddha: “Everyone possesses the Buddha-nature, which means, everyone has the inherent quality of kindness and compassion. It is just that the living beings are influenced by the matters called “Gunas” (attribute of nature). These five “gunas” are wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. They are the attributes that compel people to disregard their kind nature.”
Sentient beings will fall into the cycle of reincarnation due to IGNORANCE
20 August 2020 – A Visit to Guan Yin Citta Pure Land
Shakyamuni Buddha: “The sentient beings of the six realms of rebirth will fall into the cycle of reincarnation due to ignorance. The karmic causes and consequences are so dreadful that all sentient beings should not take them lightly.
An extreme evildoer, who commits all the evil deeds in the human realm, such as eating meat of sentient beings (chickens, ducks, cows, sheep and so on), indulging in promiscuous acts, and engaging in drug trafficking that brings harms to others, would descend into Hell after his passing.
He would have to experience the suffering in Hell, before being thrown into the cauldron of boiling oil, where his soul would be completely dispersed and reincarnated as an insect, such as an ant or a mosquito.
After his reincarnation as an insect, he would then be eaten by sentient beings such as chickens, ducks, birds and so on.
These animals were humans in their previous lives. However, as they did not accumulate sufficient amount of blessings during their lifetime as humans, they ended up falling into the evil realms.
This is what it means in Buddhism context that “for every bite of meat you consume, you are taking literally countless lives of sentient beings”.
Buddhism In Plain Terms Episode 54 – an excerpt
ATTACHMENT LEADS TO SUFFERING
Everyone has their own causes and conditions,and they enjoy different kinds of karmic rewards in life. One thing for sure, whatever you cling on to will be the thing that will cause you harm. If you cling on to your child, expecting him to excel in his studies; when he fails you, you get yourself hurt. When you hanker after money, insisting that you should earn more, you will end up not only without money but lots of unhappiness.
Whoever you cling to will hurt you for the reason there cannot be perfection in all things in life. In fact, “Everything is like a dream, illusion, bubble and shadow; it’s like the dew and a flash of lightning”. We need to let go of all our delusions.
When we desire things that we shouldn’t even think about, that is when you get yourself hurt. You should let go. However, by letting go, I don’t mean that you should “give up” (不是放弃).
Whatever you need to achieve in this world, you still need to pursue them. In fact, you need to do it with all your heart and make sure you do it well.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse to Disciples Worldwide – An excerpt
Wisdom is the key to liberation from suffering. A person who is able to eradicate suffering, is one who does not put himself in the midst of the suffering. Without a “self” you are liberated from sufferings.
Instead, if you feel, “Why didn’t I get a share of this?”
“Why didn’t I get a raise?
“Why wasn’t I informed about this?” etc.
The notion of self is the source of all your sufferings!
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk Auckland, New Zealand, December 3, 2017
SUFFERING IS PREVALENT, HOW CAN WE BE LIBERATED?
Master Jun Hong Lu, “Do not lose our bearings in the midst of our worries in the hustle and bustle of this mortal world.
We are haunted by worries every single day; unhappy over something that happened today, dissatisfied over what we may hear the next day and dispirited for the bad treatment we may receive from our boss the following day. As much as suffering is prevalent, how can we be liberated?
Our Buddhist practices: performing recitation, making vows and life liberation may seem like suffering to us. However, it is the mean that grant us liberation in the end; while for a non-Buddhist practitioner, their suffering is for life.
A person who gives thought to how he wishes to live his advancing years while safeguarding his spiritual wound from going through further torments is a true Buddhist cultivator who is loyal to the reality of life.”
Wenda20130804B 27:16 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program] – an excerpt
DHARMA PRACTICE IS THE WAY TO END SUFFERING
Spiritual relief can only be achieved when one is free from suffering. When a person starts cultivating through practice of Dharma, they will be able to overcome their suffering gradually and will begin to feel that they are progressing consistently with incremental elimination of karmic debts over time.
By maintaining such a positive mindset, they will be able to progress in their cultivation for sure.
The wonder of practising Buddhism is that it helps to stop you from re-visiting the painful past and prevents you from dwelling on those troubles indefinitely.
Most importantly, it frees you from suffering. By taking the first step, you have already relieved yourself partially from suffering and progressed in your state of mind. When two people are engulfed in an argument, they lose their sense of rationality. You are only able to analyse the situation objectively if you are not involved in the argument. As an independent third party who finds the argument uncalled for, you should try to pacify them.
At this juncture, Master would like to share some words of wisdom with you. To liberate yourself from worries, you have to understand the true meaning of life and learn to let go of all undesirable things and people around you.
Once you are able to let go, you will be able to discard the burden that weighs you down forever.
Today, you will attain immeasurable Dharma joy if you understand the true meaning of life, cultivate your mind through practice of Dharma, performing life liberations and making vows.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 424)
Shakyamuni Buddha:
“All phenomena in their own-being are empty”. The same goes for both the positive and negative karmic affinities, which are also empty ultimately. That is life. It is impossible for one to pursue eternal happiness in this illusory world.”
Master Jun Hong Lu: “In the human world, no matter how luxurious life you enjoy, how much fame and wealth you have, how successful your career is, how high your status may be, and how enviable you are, which realm do you think you would go to after your passing? Would you be ascending to the higher realms or descending to the lower realms?
On the contrary, when you started practising Dharma and performing recitation, you sacrifice the time you spend earning money to help all sentient beings. You sacrifice the time you spend for your family and career to help others awaken spiritually, and perform volunteer work. These are precisely the most meaningful endeavours in life.
No matter how perfect your life is in this world, how many people would still remember you after you leave this world ? People, you are spending your years in vain. In the end, you are just being busy for nothing. You must understand that the nature of everything is emptiness.”
< The Middle Way: What the Buddha taught (中庸之道) >
Wenda20200221 44:20 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program] – an excerpt
LEARN TO WALK THE MIDDLE PATH; ATTACHMENTS WILL ONLY BRING HARM UPON ONESELF
Caller: Master, would you be able to give me some advice please? I feel honoured to be able to get through your line today. I really miss you, Master.
Master Jun Hong Lu: You must not think too much as you can’t afford a depression relapse. You have had bouts of depression in the past and you must not let it recur. Do you understand?
Caller: Yes, I do, Master.
Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a metaphor that says, “Ants on the ground are beyond your sight from a high vantage point, but the moment you squat down, they all appear right before you in large quantity”.
There is a beginning and ending to everything in this world. Tomorrow will come to mark a new beginning. Things are constantly evolving as nothing is permanent in nature. Today may be a bad day but it may turn out to be a good one.
On the flip side, a good day may end up being a bad one. As such, it is important to learn to take the middle path in life. Do you understand me?
Caller: Yes, Master. I will mend my ways. In addition, I also have a strong sense of attachment.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Attachment can only bring affliction upon oneself. It has no benefit whatsoever.
Caller: Thank you, Master.
< THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA’S BIRTHDAY >
Master Lu’s discourse on Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday – 3rd March 2020
The full name of Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva is:
The Greatly Merciful, Greatly Compassionate, the Saviour of Sufferings and Disasters, the Greatly Inspirational Guan Yin Bodhisattva Mahasattva.
Great Mercy（大慈）means the ability to render happiness to all sentient beings. Great Compassion（大悲）means being able to relieve the sufferings of sentient beings.
Buddhism: Your Questions Answered – Q&A 54. Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday – an excerpt
Question: Dear Master Lu and the Secretariat: Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s birthday is approaching, as lay Buddhist practitioners, what should we do to commemorate the day? How should we do it?
Answer: The Birthday, Enlightenment Day, and Renunciation Day of Guan Yin Bodhisattva are all very important dates. It is recommended that you perform more recitations, make more vows, perform more life liberations, make more prostrations, and accumulate more merits and virtues on these dates.
You can wake up earlier on these dates, take a shower and then offer incense. It would be best to recite the Great Compassion Mantra 49 times, and the Heart Sutra 49 times. Your merits and virtues will then be perfected.
If conditions allow, you may offer grand incense at home: After you light the oil lamps and make incense offerings at the Buddhist altar, you can then light a piece of sandalwood using an oil lamp on the altar.
Sandalwood can be found at most Buddhist stores. After you extinguish the flame on the sandalwood, the smoke that comes out is considered grand incense, the fragrance of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Note that you must not extinguish the flame on the sandalwood by blowing with your mouth. You can perform the offering of grand incense three times, then say your prayers, make prostrations, and perform your recitations.
You can also offer extra oil lamps, fruit and fresh flowers. Overall, the rationale behind the aforementioned practice is that you are putting in extra effort into making offerings that differ from your usual routine.
If conditions do not allow you to offer the grand incense at home, you can offer extra incense instead. For example, if you normally offer one incense stick, then on these special occasions, you can choose to offer three incense sticks.
Most importantly, be sincere when communicating with Guan Yin Bodhisattva. It would be best to pray for a safe and peaceful life.
In addition, avoid intimate acts on these days.
The Three Special Days to commemorate Guan Yin Bodhisattva:
The most popular times to visit Guan Yin temples are 1st and 15th of each lunar month and also three special dates relating to Guan Yin Bodhisattva. Many devotees turn vegetarian for at least a day as an act of devotion and compassion.
Wenda20160325 55:00 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]
MASTER JUN HONG LU’S DISCOURSE ON THE COMMEMORATION OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA’S BIRTHDAY
Caller: Master Jun Hong Lu, this coming Sunday will be the commemoration of Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s birthday. Please give us a few words about this day.
Master Jun Hong Lu: This Sunday is Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s birthday. The compassionate heavenly mother of ours has given us so much. We could never possibly repay what she has given us in this very lifetime.
The only thing we can do is to never let our beloved Mother down. Let us promote her spirit of compassion. For me personally, my goal is to promote traditional Chinese culture, wisdom and the compassionate spirit of Guan Yin Bodhisattva to every corner of the world. May there be more compassion and less hatred in this world.
The world today is in a state of turmoil. I read a news report this morning that there was only one day in March with no bloodshed due to terrorist attacks. Since the New Year’s Day in 2016, there were only 9 days that the world was spared from calamities. News like this is truly chilling. We are all the inhabitants of Planet Earth. Why are we killing each other?
We must use the compassion of Guan Yin Bodhisattva to save more sentient beings, allowing more to be emancipated spiritually, be freed from suffering and gain happiness. Their feelings of hatred, resentment and selfishness have not only harmed themselves but also the kind-hearted people on earth.
Let us wish for world peace and may the birthday of Guan Yin Bodhisattva motivate us to have more compassion towards all sentient beings and to help more predestined sentient beings in this world. Our ultimate goal is for sentient beings to be freed from suffering, to gain happiness and to be liberated from the Six Realms of Rebirth.
Caller: Indeed. Thank you Master for your teachings. May we fill the world with the love of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that is very important.
Master Lu’s discourse on 20171107 – an excerpt
THE MOST SUPERIOR FORM OF OFFERING
As pious Buddhists, we often put our palms together in veneration of Guan Yin Bodhisattva and in admiration of the virtue. I have told you before and I hope you will listen attentively.
Before we perform our prostrations, we should gaze at Guan Yin Bodhisattva, as if we are keeping Bodhisattva in our heart, this is referred to as “admiring the virtue of the Buddha”; this is when our conduct is based on the awareness of the Buddha.
To put it simply, when we perform prostrations today, our every conduct is that of the Bodhisattva, so is our line of thought and speech. When we perform prostration with this notion, this, in itself is the most superior form of offering.
Hence, the most superior form of offering is not about you offering some fruits on your Buddhist altar but rather, it is when your heart and the intention of the Buddha is one and the same.
Hence, in the past, it was said:
Our clasped palms symbolise a flower;
Our body symbolises the offering items;
Our kindness symbolises the incense;
And our admiration for the Buddha symbolises the fragrant smoke.
Let me tell you what this means.
When we prostrate, our body is like a plate; our joined palms, is like a lotus flower on the plate and our rounded physique, symbolises a reunion, tolerance and harmony.
When we put our palms together, we are as if holding a lotus flower. The proper way of performing this gesture is not to have our fingers entirely pressed together – they will have to be slightly rounded, just like a flower.
The budding flower represents “cultivation on the causal ground” whereby we are able topractise in accordance with the methods established by the Bodhisattvas through their spiritual cultivation; and when our effort bearsfruits, Bodhi is gained.
Wenda20160205 01:19:45 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program] – an excerpt
Caller: Master, the Oriental Radio’s Bodhisattva is another manifestation (化身) of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, is that correct?
Master Lu: It should be said that Guan Yin Bodhisattva is actually a Buddha in heaven, and she has her own appearance (脸相). Actually, out of the incarnations, all manifested portrayals in the world are Her embodiments (在人间的一切都是化身).
Master Jun Hong Lu: And in fact, the Oriental Radio’s Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s status is supremely high and is the largest primordial spirit (元身) of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. In fact, I can now see the OrientalRadio’s Guan Yin Bodhisattva belongs to the solemn Buddha Pure Land (庄严佛净土), this is absolutely incredibly high, understand?
Caller: Thank you, Master.
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 shows 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 included Ananda and Mahakasyapa.
In fact, the Bodhisattva’s vow of “all prayers will be answered” is fuelled by 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.
Wenda20160115 01:19:28 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]
Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned about performing prostrations, is there anything else we should do?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Besides performing prostrations, you should recite the Heart Sutra of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. Guan Yin Bodhisattva will be aware each time you perform the recitation of this sutra. The Heart Sutra is akin to a secret code within your mind or a phone number. When you dial this number, Bodhisattva will be connected to you. Hence, a smart person will always recite scriptures before praying for their wishes to be fulfilled. Conversely, an ignorant person will only make their wishes in the temple, without even stating their name.
As such, for increased efficacy, it is best for you to recite 1x of the Great Compassion Mantra and the 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 Discourse (Question 205), 1 February 2018
RECITATION OF THE SACRED NAME OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA
Question: Master, during one of your discourses over the radio program, it was mentioned that we might make a vow to recite the sacred name of Guan Yin Bodhisattva for 100,000 times to enhance our affinity with Bodhisattva. May I know how I should pray before the recitation?
Master Jun Hong Lu: By reciting “The Greatly Merciful, Greatly Compassionate, the Saviour of Sufferings and Disasters, the Greatly Inspirational Guan Yin Bodhisattva”, is a prayer itself. It entails the prayer for the great mercy, great compassion and the divine afflatus of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, and to savage those who are suffering.
When we have made a vow to recite the sacred name of Guan Yin Bodhisattva for 100,000 times, now and then we wish to seek guidance from Bodhisattva, it will be easier for us to get an answer through our dreams. Bodhisattva may not be present but will provide us with reminders by letting us see some discernible occurrences.
Wenda20180121A 18:37 (Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
QUESTION ON MAKING THE VOW TO RECITE 100,000 TIMES OF THE SACRED NAME OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA
Caller: Master once said to a cancer practitioner that he would need to make a vow to recite 100,000 times of Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s sacred name. Master, is this a general case? Under what circumstances can we make such a vow?
Master Jun Hong Lu: If you feel that Bodhisattva is far away from you, Bodhisattva is not by your side and does not appear in your dreams, then it means that your affinity with Bodhisattva is weak.
In this case, you can make a vow to recite 100,000 times of Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s sacred name and do it diligently.
< Master Lu’s Discourse on Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Birthday >
Guan Yin Bodhisattva will be touched by our sincerity and diligence.
Guan Yin Bodhisattva always smiles at us like a mother, but deep in Her heart, She is worried about the ignorance of sentient beings.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk at Indonesia, Jakarta – 11thMarch 2017
Like a mother, Guan Yin Bodhisattva helps mend our spiritual wound and salvage our troubled souls with her darning needle, one stitch at a time. Her unconditional love assures us that all our prayers will be answered. Guan Yin Bodhisattva is also like the bright light in the middle of the ocean, guiding us to the right path when we go astray.
< Buddhism in Plain Terms < 白话佛法共修分享