Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk
Sydney, Australia
5 September 2010
When paying respect to the Buddhas, offering flowers will improve your appearance, and offering oil is good for our eyesight and for gaining wisdom. Some wise people suggest children spend their pocket money in buying a bottle of oil as an offering to the Bodhisattva and to pray for more wisdom. Offering water can ease and calm our mind while also helping us eliminate greed as water doesn’t cost anything. Many people are even attached to the offerings made to Bodhisattva. A novice Buddhist practitioner will feel secure once they offer water to Bodhisattvas. Their mind will be as pure as water. Therefore, if one prays for a sense of security, it’s best to offer water. The water offered on the altar needs to be changed every day. Furthermore, offering fruit can help you to achieve what you wish at a sooner time if you pray for something specific. For example, if you pray for a smooth career path or job security, offering fruit such as oranges and apples could speed things up, so you’ll get the outcome sooner. Offering fruit makes the wishes of a kind-hearted person come true sooner. For evil people, even though they make fruit offerings, karmic retributions come due earlier, too. The severity of the karmic retributions would be reduced if they take place earlier, which is better than suffering harsh retributions at a later stage. This is the law of cause and effect.
5.7 About Incense
Among the various types of incense, smoke-free and stick-free straight sandalwood incense is the best option. Do not use an incense coil, aromatic incense, incense cones, etc. This is because each type of incense will serve to invite different Bodhisattvas. Note that you should consistently use the same type of incense unless you were using an improper type.
Offer sandalwood incense to Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
Wenda 20121102 35:12
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
The incense you offer to Guan Yin Bodhisattva has to be sandalwood. The smoke-free ones are the best, otherwise your home will be very smoky. Some people may be sensitive to smoke and may cough. Smoke-free sandalwood incense has a light scent and smells elegant.
It’s better not to change the type of incense you offer.
Wenda20131013B 19:25
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: Master said that we should not keep changing the type of incense we offer. Although we only offer sandalwood incense to Bodhisattvas, the fragrance of different brands may be slightly different. Sometimes the brand we use may be out of stock, can we buy another type of sandalwood incense with a different fragrance?
Master Lu: It’s better if you can stick to the same incense because different types of incense invite different Bodhisattvas. Once a type of incense is accepted, Bodhisattvas become accustomed to it.
Caller: What if the incense we use is out of stock and we can’t find it?
Master Lu: Then you have to go for a substitute incense. You need to tell the Bodhisattvas, “This is another type of incense I bought, please accept this.”
Caller: So, we can temporarily use another type and change it back to the old one later?
Master Lu: Yes.
Do not use incense with bamboo sticks. You are offering the incense rather than the bamboo stick to Bodhisattvas.
Wenda 20110417 26:36
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: Some smoke-free sandalwood incense contains wood; can we offer these types of incense? Some incense has a stick on the bottom which is made of bamboo or wood. I was told that this incense is for the deceased rather than Bodhisattvas, can I offer it to Bodhisattvas?
Master Lu: You can only offer such incense when there’s no other option. It’s better not to use incense with sticks.
Caller: Smoke-free sandalwood incense doesn’t have sticks attached.
Master Lu: You can offer sandalwood incense, either smoke-free or not.
Can we divide the incense into two halves if it’s too long?
Wenda 20140420A 19:19
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: Some practitioners think the incense is too long, can they snap the incense into two halves?
Master Lu: It is suggested that you offer a whole stick of incense. But if you have to divide it into two halves, you must tell the Bodhisattvas first. You can use a pair of scissors to cut it rather than snapping it with your hands. The pair of scissors must not be used or have been used for other purposes, especially not to cut meat. The scissors should not have a pointy end, like the ones used by children for cutting paper. The end should be rounded rather than pointy.
The incense that is used in Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door is vertical sandalwood incense without sticks.
Wenda20131013B 19:25
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
In Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, we usually offer vertical incense instead of an incense coil. Incense coils are usually used in Tibetan Buddhism.
Do not use broken incense
Buddhism: Your Questions Answered Q96
(An excerpt)
Do not use any broken incense sticks.
Perform the complete ritual when continuing to offer incense
Wenda 20120916B 48:18
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: When we continue to offer incense, should we perform the complete ritual of offering incense? Should we perform prostration seven times, pray, and complete another seven prostrations?
Master Lu: Yes, you should. You need to perform the complete ritual when you continue to offer incense, otherwise, it will be disrespectful.
Do not point the incense at Bodhisattvas.
Wenda 20120511 01:19:04
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: When we offer incense to Bodhisattvas, should we hold the incense vertically or point at the Bodhisattvas with its end?
Master Lu: Vertically. You should not point at Bodhisattvas with the end of an incense stick. In some Dharma Doors, people place the incense between their fingers and then point the end at Bodhisattvas. But in Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, we hold the incense vertically.
<About Incense Ash>
If you don’t have incense ash for new incense burners, you can put some rice or millet in the incense burner and remove them with a sieve after you have accumulated enough incense ash. You may also ask for some extra incense ash from other practitioners.
You can fill the new incense burner with millet.
Wenda 20130517 17:05
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: Our Guan Yin Citta Centre is opening up, should we buy incense ash from stores to fill the incense burner or can we use millet instead?
Master Lu: You may use millet. If you are buying the ash from stores, then you have to ensure the purity of the ash. It is better if you use millet rather than using the ash from other incense burners.
Use an incense ash catcher on the incense burner to prevent the ash from falling on the altar.
Wenda 20130331 09:31
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: If the incense burner is small, the ash will fall on the altar when we offer incense. Do we need to replace it with a larger incense burner? I was told by other practitioners that incense ash represents wealth. If the ash falls on the altar too much, our wealth may be dispersed.
Master Lu: That’s not true. The falling of incense ash is a natural phenomenon. The higher your incense is, the more ash will fall out of the incense burner. You can either use a larger incense burner or add an ash catcher on the small incense burner. The catcher is a golden frame that circles the brim of the incense burner. It looks like a large hat on the incense burner that can prevent the ash from falling out.
Caller: I’ve already bought a small incense burner; can I buy the frame you just mentioned and add it on my incense burner?
Master Lu: Yes, that’s an incense ash catcher. Normally you can find them in a Buddhist store.
Incense may curl into various shapes, are there any special meaning?
Wenda 20160522A 54:43
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: If the incense curls when we offer incense to Bodhisattvas, it usually means that Dharma Protectors are there. Are there any special meanings regarding various types of curls?
Master Lu: Absolutely. The ash does not only curl in the presence of Dharma Protectors, but also the presence of Bodhisattvas. The curls can be very beautiful and different shapes may have different meanings. Sometimes the curl can form a loop and the incense pokes through the loop. This shape means that things will be achieved regardless of all obstructions.
Regarding curled incense and the oil lamp wick that forms the shape of a lotus
Wenda 20120520A 13:17
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: Our incense may curl, and the wick of the oil lamp may form the shape of a lotus. Do these signs associate with the frequency of the Bodhisattvas’ visits?
Master Lu: There’s no difference. For those who lack of faith or are not spiritually awakened yet, Bodhisattvas let them see the signs to enhance their Dharma joy and strengthen their faith. Although these signs indicate care from Bodhisattvas, a lack of such signs does not mean lack of care. For example, Bodhisattvas don’t have to show me the lotus shape of the oil lamp wick.
Caller: Does that mean there’s no need to compare which signs we see?
Master Lu: It is related to a person’s level of cultivation. The well-cultivated usually have Bodhisattvas visiting all the time and their incense curls very often. It’s a great Dharma joy. On the other hand, some people cultivate poorly. Bodhisattvas rarely visit them, and their incense is unlikely to curl. Of course, they shouldn’t deceive themselves that Bodhisattvas have visited.
Caller: My oil lamp wick forms the shape of a lotus every day. The size of the lotus is usually larger if I have been diligent and smaller if I’m a bit lazy.
Master Lu: Bodhisattvas are constantly present at your home, it’s very good.
Caller: When I was offering incense two days ago, the incense curled and formed the shape of a figure 8.
Master Lu: That’s a very good sign. Some people had their incense curled to a loop with the end poking through it. That indicates a high-ranking Bodhisattva’s presence as high-ranking Bodhisattvas are usually accompanied by Dharma Protectors. That is a sign formed by Dharma Protectors.
<Notes on Incense Burner>
What’s the difference between metal and porcelain incense burners?
Wenda 20120311B 39:14
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: What’s the difference between metal and porcelain incense burners?
Master Lu: Porcelain ones are better as metal belongs to Yin energy.
Incense burners should not have inscriptions of the Heart Sutra or images of auspicious creatures, nor should they have any letters on them.
Wenda 20120527B 54:21
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: Is it better not to use metal incense burners?
Master Lu: Try to avoid them. It is fine if the metal incense burner has no images on it. Be very careful with images on incense burners. Incense burners with images such as a tiger, lion or dog, or inscriptions of the Heart Sutra should not be used. Generally speaking, the porcelain ones are better. Bronze incense burners with characters such as 福 (fortune) or 寿 (longevity) are also acceptable.
Caller: Can I send my metal incense burner to local temples or give it to my friend?
Master Lu: Yes, you can. It’s better if you can discard it.
Position of incense burners
Incense burners are generally placed on the forefront of the altar, directly in front of each Bodhisattva. It’s acceptable if it’s slightly off-centre.
It’s better to place one incense burner in front of each Bodhisattva on the altar
ZongShu 20151010 58:32
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt
Caller: Master, could you please take a look at my altar? I was born in 1981, the year of the rooster.
Master Lu: It’s not bad. How many incense burners do you have?
Caller: One large one.
Master Lu: Can you offer a few smaller ones as well? You have other Bodhisattvas’ images to the side, why do you offer just one large incense burner?
Caller: I have been paying respect to five Bodhisattvas in total, and two of them are Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
Master Lu: Why do you have only one incense burner on the altar?
Caller: Because my altar is quite small.
Master Lu: Then you can place small incense burners on it.
Caller: Ok Master, I’ll place five small incense burners on it.
Master Lu: You can’t be neglectful. Many Buddhas have not visited because there’s only one incense burner.
Caller: Has Guan Yin Bodhisattva visited?
Master Lu: Once. She visited once when you first set up the altar and put the image of Guan Yin Citta’s Guan Yin Bodhisattva on the altar. She hasn’t visited since then.
Caller: Is it because of the incense burner?
Master Lu: Yes. You have not been respectful to the Bodhisattvas as there’s not enough incense burners, and Dharma Protectors are dissatisfied.