Q: Dear Master Lu, my son has fallen into bad company and become addicted to drugs. We’ve tried everything but to no avail. Is this caused by karmic obstacles or spirits? Would following the Three Golden Buddhist Practices of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door be able to help him to quit drugs?
A:
- Drug addiction is usually caused by falling into bad company, karmic conflicts accumulated from past lives, one’s own karma, and foreign spirits. In addition, when a child is led astray, it is partly due to poor or inadequate parenting. When parents fail to live up to their responsibilities and quarrel frequently, the child will feel helpless in a family environment that lacks warmth and love.
- First, you must give the child guidance to help him get out of his current predicament and avoid any connection with his previous environment.
- You can do more recitations of the Heart Sutra for the child to help him grow in wisdom. Generally, the sutra should be recited at least 21 times. Also do more recitations of the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots to resolve karmic conflicts. Recite this mantra 108 times.
- If he has become addicted to drugs, then it means his karmic obstacles have been activated. Recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance between 5 to 7 times per day to help the child repent and eliminate his karmic obstacles.
- The parents must persist in cultivating their minds and performing recitations. The Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance should be recited 5 to 7 times as part of their daily recitations.
- You can make a vow to recite 87 Little Houses for the first batch, followed by 21 Little Houses for each subsequent batch. Address the Little Houses to the karmic creditor of <the full name of your child>.
- Sincerely perform recitations, make vows and perform life liberations. Pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to protect and bless your child. When the time is right, pray to Dharma Protectors to give the child a sudden spiritual awakening.
- There have been many cases where people have successfully overcome drug addiction by following the instruction of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door to practise Buddhism and perform recitations.