Dear Buddhist Friends,
Our Master had painstakingly reminded us:
EMBEZZLEMENT IS THE TICKET TO HELL!
DO NOT TAKE OTHERS’ MONEY WHEN PERFORMING MERITS!
DO NOT INJECT ANY FUNDRAISING AGENDA IN YOUR DHARMA PROPAGATION ACTIVITIES!
If questions like the following ever crossed your mind:
😟″Why can’t I solicit funds from like-minded Buddhist practitioners for a good cause?” or
😟 “If charity is deemed to be a favourable act, why did our Master demand such a stern discipline from us in this aspect?”
then, it is time for you to gain an understanding on the basics of what is illicit gain from our Master’s perspective by digging deep into this pack which covers:
💡 What constitutes “fund raising” in our practice. Why is it strictly prohibited?
💡 Why it is said, “Any person who pockets money from donors will shoulder the donors’ karmic debts and it is the ticket to hell!”?
💡 If a fellow practitioner is enthusiastic and actively involved in charitable causes, would it be considered that he is accumulating his spiritual provisions (积累资粮)?
WHAT KIND OF CHARITY BRINGS ABOUT GREAT WHOLESOME REWARDS?
THE BUDDHA’S WORDS OF ADVICE ON CHARITY AND FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES
Shakyamuni Buddha says, “There are myriads of charity to collect donations in the Saha world. If performed with a charitable intention (慈善之本意) that is founded on a Bodhi mind, and if one goes about doing it selflessly, without regard for reputation or recognition and free from the urge to satisfy any of the five desires (wealth, lust, fame, food and sleep), one will amass an immense field of blessings (大福田), great wholesome rewards and boundless merits.
Conversely, those who are covetous of self-benefit, retribution of the animal realm and hell awaits. Once their worldly blessings and merits fall into decline, that is when they will experience the retributive effect. Over the past 3,000 years, innumerable sentient beings have been condemned to hell to atone for their sins of greed. Such cases are beyond count and this leaves me with little choice but to hereby forewarn all my disciples in the Saha world to exercise utmost caution”.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 413), 11 September 2020
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE PROVISIONS NEEDED ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH (积存资粮) BY BEING ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT CHARITABLE CAUSES?
IS BEING ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT CHARITABLE CAUSES A WAY TO ACCUMULATE PROVISIONS NEEDED ON THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION?
Question: Hi Master, Buddhism in Plain Terms says, “There are endless streams of good deeds that one can undertake, and having a benevolent heart is equivalent to performing all the good deeds there are”. On that note, there is a fellow practitioner, who is passionate about performing charity and wishes to set up a non-profit organisation. Is it necessary to obtain an approval from the Practice Group?
The fellow practitioner reasoned that Master mentioned in Buddhism in Plain Terms that, “All good and bad in this world are provisional. They are nothing more than the bases that we can leverage to pivot towards our chosen path”. In that sense, if a fellow practitioner is enthusiastic and actively involved in charitable causes, would it be considered that he is accumulating his spiritual provisions?
Answer: To accumulate spiritual provisions means to be conscientious in your mind cultivation and do it with an undivided mind and you do not think about anything else. Those who are spiritually accomplished will devote themselves to one (Buddhist) practice. In this context, ‘one practice’ is not referring to any specific matter or undertaking, it essentially means to be single-minded. The word ‘devote’ does not mean to desperately go about doing it, it actually means you need to put in the effort.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Hong Kong, China, 6 July 2016
IS IT ALRIGHT TO SOLICIT FUNDS TO SUPPORT DHARMA PROPAGATION?
MASTER LU CONDEMNS THE ACT OF RAISING FUNDS TO PERFORM MERITS
Caller: Hi Master, say, a Buddhist practitioner pledges to purchase dharma recorders or print Buddhism in Plain Terms and etc, he sets up an account, through which others can remit the funds for payment to the printing company or a third party…
Master Jun Hong Lu: Definitely not! This goes without saying. Never do this! When you find some people, say, two or three individuals, who are eager to do so, you must remind them that it is their own personal pledges and they should never mobilise everyone to follow them. By doing so, they are deemed to be soliciting funds or amassing wealth. This is a no-no. If some of you are interested in making such pledges, go ahead and take it up upon yourself. Once the items are done, you may then give them to others. You should never solicit funds. It’s an absolute no. Do you understand me?
Caller: Yes, I do.
Source: Wenda20141219 01:00:58, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
MONETARY DONATION SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY AND ACCORD WITH CONDITIONS; SOLICITATION OF FUND IS PROHIBITED
Caller: Before attending the 1 May dharma convention, I was somewhat more focused on ways to propagate Buddhism as well as the number of people that I could share the dharma with. However, after the dharma convention, I feel that I have experienced an elevation in my state of mind. Apart from deliberating over dharma-propagation issues, I will now ponder many other aspects such as ways to better protect and uphold this dharma door so that misunderstanding or erroneous views that others may have about our dharma door can be averted.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that is very important as well. Protecting the dharma is indeed crucial.
Caller: Master, I’d like to seek your advice about this issue that I now feel strongly about: Actually, some fellow practitioners around me, their dharma propagation efforts seem to have inadvertently intermixed with worldly elements.
Take the printing of sutra booklets as an example. In the past, we might have taken the initiative to approach others and say, “We are making plans to print some sutra booklets. Why don’t you fork out some money for this cause? You’ll garner meritorious blessings by doing so”.
Master Jun Hong Lu: No. This is a definite no-no! Always let nature take its course and accord with conditions when handling matters. Soliciting and raising funds are strictly prohibited.
Caller: Yes.
Master Jun Hong Lu: We are living in a world of rules and we have to obey and abide by them. On top of that, we must be respectful of others.
Caller: Understood.
Source: Wenda20120610B 16:43, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
DO NOT BROADCAST MESSAGES RELATED TO FUNDRAISING IN GROUP CHATS
Question: There are some Buddhist friends who are not from the dharma-propagation group but are very eager to support the dharma-propagation drive. Unfortunately, in the absence of a local practice centre, the dharma-propagation group is unable to accept any donations whatsoever, even though such funds will go very far in supporting future dharma-propagation activities.
May I ask, Master, if the dharma-propagation group has plans for a large-scale dharma-propagation campaign in the future, is it alright to disseminate to the members of the group chat the planned details and projected costs, so that those who wish to donate may directly pay or send a cheque to the relevant merchants? Is it appropriate to broadcast the dharma-propagation costs to the group chat members? Are we only allowed to share such details within the dharma-propagation group? Please enlighten us.
Answer: Such an announcement should never be broadcast to all group members. Once a person gets involved with money, he has deviated from the right path. This is a no-no. If everyone is doing so, this is counter to the dharma and path of rightness.
Question: Thank you, Master.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Los Angeles, USA, 6 October 2018
STAY AWAY FROM MONEY!
In no circumstances should you take other people’s donation into your own hands!
DO NOT INJECT ANY FUNDRAISING AGENDA IN YOUR DHARMA PROPAGATION ACTIVITIES
Caller: Hi Master, in this era, there is great potential to spread the dharma to countless people through the use of social media. Now that we are running some paid on-line advertisements, is it alright to solicit funds among like-minded practitioners to pay for the advertising fees?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Personal fundraising is not allowed! If you pay for the advertisements yourself, you will amass boundless merits, but raising funds is strictly prohibited. Do you understand?
Caller: Okay. What about when a fellow practitioner knows of me running advertisements on Guan Yin Citta and would like to chip in, is it alright for him to do so?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s fine. Each of you can settle your part of the payment individually and the amount can be pooled together after that. In no circumstances should you take other people’s money into your own hands. This is to say, the interested parties come face to face to proclaim their interests to sponsor the advertisement. In this regard, the contribution will be discretionary. This is a completely different approach. Do you understand?
Caller: Okay. Am I right to say we should not approach others to raise funds, but it is alright for them to join on their own accord?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s not what I meant. Say, you plan on publishing an advertisement to propagate the dharma, you may ask him, “Would you like to participate?”, but, you should never collect a single cent from him. If he is willing to chip in, and when it is time to make payment, this group, say, four or five of you, can go ahead and make the payment together. The problem will arise if you say, “Hand over your money to me, I will help you pay”, which is a definite no-no.
Caller: Does it mean that we should settle our share of the cost individually?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that is right.
Caller: Okay, I understand now.
Source: Shuohua20141010 03:35, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
DO NOT GET INVOLVED IN MONEY WHEN PERFORMING MERITORIOUS DEEDS AS A GROUP
Caller: As we are organising a group life liberation tomorrow, can Master help identify any areas for improvement? What should the organisers pay attention to? Apart from money-related matters, under what other circumstances could possibly generate karmic obstacles?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Seek more guidance from the Bodhisattvas. Let others know that this is not an organised event, rather, it’s a voluntary activity, a manifestation of everyone’s compassion. Activities like releasing captive lives and making vows are ways to regulate one’s emotions so that one’s compassion can be further developed.
Moreover, it is crucial not to be in direct contact with money. Each individual should make payment to the fishmonger directly for the fish ordered and the organiser should never do that on their behalf. Things will be uncorrupted this way. Otherwise, you run the risk of transgressing in the event that an unwholesome notion crops up in your mind. This is because interpersonal relationships are an interplay of energy fields which could be complicated by the desire for fame and fortune when too many people are involved. This will never be good for anyone. Imagine you are left to yourself, there would be no more concern over fame or fortune, would it? Hence, it is best for one to avoid things like these as much as possible.
Caller: I understand. Thank you, Master.
Source: Wenda20121228 01:05, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
DO NOT TAKE OTHERS’ MONEY WHEN PERFORMING MERITS
Caller: Master once cautioned us about making illicit gains on our path of our Buddhist practice, which includes making appeals for financial assistance through our chat groups, is that right?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Absolutely right. Illicit gains refer to being in possession of others’ money. For example, if you are willing to print books and you are keen to print them yourself, you should not tell others, “Handover your money and I will help you print the books”. Another example would be printing calendars. It is great if you could print and give some calendars away, be it wall or desk calendars. What you need to do is to get others to remit their cash directly to the printing company instead of you getting in touch with it. The same goes for life liberations.
Caller: Here in Shanghai, when performing life liberations, we pay directly to the fishmonger to avoid direct contact with any money.
Master Jun Hong Lu: As long as you are not in possession of any money, you will be fine. If the fishmonger makes any illicit gains, misfortune will soon befall him.
Caller: I understand, Master.
Source: Wenda20131108 01:04:34, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
WHY IS EMBEZZLEMENT THE TICKET TO HELL?
WHY IS EMBEZZLEMENT THE TICKET TO HELL? DOES PREVENTING OTHERS FROM MAKING ILLICIT GAIN GENERATE MERITS?
Caller: Why is embezzlement the ticket to hell?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s simple. This is because you are amassing illicit wealth in the name of Bodhisattva (出菩萨身上的血)! These days, there are many people who want to undertake the operations of temples, especially those business investors whose motive is to profiteer from the people. You must know that these donations come from people who are seeking divine blessings and all of their donations are tainted by their karmic obstacles.
These people make donations with the hope of gaining the blessing from Bodhisattva to resolve their family issues. Thus, whoever pockets such donations will have to shoulder the donors’ karmic debts. That is why this act is the ticket to hell. You are pocketing money that you shouldn’t, and you are not able to help them solve their problem. Tell me, doesn’t such an action deserve to be condemned to hell?
Caller: Yes, it does.
Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a saying, ‘When you take someone’s money, you must take care of their problems’ (拿人钱财与人消灾).
Caller: Understood. What about if we discover someone is making illicit gains and we do our best to stop him, will our action engender any merits?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, it will. At the very least, you are helping him. Let me ask you this: Say someone is unaware that he is walking on a broken bridge and is on the brink of falling into the water and you stop him from taking another step, don’t you think this will generate merits?
Caller: Yes. Is there a possibility that the demon in this person will harass me?
Master Jun Hong Lu: If his demon is out to kill him, it will definitely go after you. If there is no evil in him and it is purely a mistake on his part, you will gain merits. In the presence of evil in him, should you be willing to help, you must help remove the evil. How do you go about doing this? You must fall back on the three Golden Buddhist practices of Guan Yin Citta.
Caller: Yes.
Source: Wenda20140629B 41:33, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
THE KARMA OF DEFRAUDING MONEY MEANT FOR LIFE LIBERATION
SUDDEN DEATH AND FALLING INTO HELL: RETRIBUTION FOR USING DHARMA PROPAGATION AS A PRETEXT TO DEFRAUD FELLOW PRACTITIONERS’ MONEY MEANT FOR LIFE LIBERATION
The King of Hell pointed at a male offender on the left and said, “Confess honestly”.
The male offender said, “I was not from [country name] but was brought by the underworld enforcement officer to the underworld of this country which I only realised upon arrival. I practised Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door together with my wife but truth be said, I was not adhering to the Buddhist precepts”.
“I would visit brothels behind my wife’s back and I had been promiscuous. I also pocketed cash contributions from Buddhist friends. On the surface, I looked like a devout practitioner actively involved in dharma propagation but under this veil of deception, I was profiteering from money meant for life liberation. I knew that such acts are tantamount to ‘shedding the blood of the Buddha’ because I was making illicit gain”.
“When I was still alive, I thought the gains were nothing to shout about. After all, it was a paltry sum of money that I pocketed. I thought Bodhisattvas and dharma protectors would show leniency towards someone like me who had accumulated immense merits from active distribution of dharma reading materials to others, and given my unsound household financial condition. Hence, I did not take the matter seriously. I carried on with this misdeed for more than two years and out of the blue, one day, death struck me. My wife was clueless about my misconduct”.
“Upon death, the King of Hell revealed the entire record of my transgressions. The list reflected the money that I pocketed from Buddhist friends after each life liberation event. Everything was recorded in minute detail”.
“Upon death, my soul was sent to the Hell of Burning Flame to be punished. The searing inferno practically burnt through my lungs, intestines, heart and liver. The excruciating pain is not something that is conceivable. Guan Yin Bodhisattva, I now know I was so wrong”. (Wailing sound of the male offender)
The King of Hell glared at the offender and said, “You practised Buddhism, yet you consciously go against the law! It’s too late to repent now! Out of deep compassion for corrupt disciples like you who have been banished to hell and to prevent other disciples from committing similar mistakes, Guan Yin Bodhisattva has summoned this Heavenly Child to make multiple trips to the underworld so that she can write an account of the scenes in hell to serve as their moral compass”.
The King of Hell continued, “That’s enough! You can go back now. After this account has been shared, I will write a formal letter to the underworld court of [country name] such that the merits accrued from this can be used to reduce your punishment in hell”.
Please verify this, Master.
Answer: Do you all see it now? Never ever think that it is just a trivial misdeed because ‘many little drops make an ocean’. Typically, a minor wrongdoing will not amount to a major sin but it will all add up and eventually reach the point for one’s soul to be dragged off to hell. Generally, the fastest way for a person to be dragged down is when he encounters a car accident that deals a death blow.
This account is authentic and is not a laughing matter. Don’t wait till the day you die and experience the immense suffering only to realise the truth. Stop fooling around! Embezzlement is a definite no-no and you should not mess around with it.
Did you know that the number of people who are taking advantage of the successes of Guan Yin Citta Dharma to benefit illicitly? During the Tomb-Sweeping, Winter Solstice and Hungry Ghost Festivals, hordes of people will crowd the cemetery and there are people who will be touting for prospects to sell Little Houses at tens of yuan a piece. These touters will aim for those who are spotted to be wearing the pendant of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, knowing that they are followers of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. People who amass wealth illicitly in the name of Buddha will be banished to hell. I hope all of you will learn from this.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 271), 26 November 2018
