8.9  Questions Regarding Helping Others Set Up an Altar

 

Questions regarding helping others set up an altar.

Wenda 20160318 06:52
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt

Question: You mentioned before that when we help others set up an altar, we may bear the burden of karma for them. You said bearing the burden of karma is certain, but it wouldn’t be very harmful. Does that mean we should help others set up altars as much as we can?

Answer: You will have merits and virtues rather than negative karma if you do a good job at setting up the altar, while you may bear the burden of some karma if you don’t. Do you think a doctor should be credited if he cured a patient? Would he take the blame if he failed? Some patients die of medical malpractice; will the doctor not suffer the bad consequences?

 

How to help practitioners set up altars in a proper way.

Wenda 20150906B 42:56
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt

Master Lu: We need to perform good deeds and setting up altars is deemed as a greatly virtuous deed. But you should bear in mind that setting up altars for others is not like promoting something. Suppose they do not actively want to set up an altar and you help them set it up. You may bear the burden of their karma if they stop praying to Bodhisattvas, or even dismantling the altar or doing other disrespectful things to the altar. Do you understand this?

Caller: Yes, Master.

Master Lu: Thus, it’s better if you help others set up altars or donate some Buddhist instruments or Bodhisattvas’ images for the altar at their request. You can’t delude others into thinking Bodhisattvas have visited their places so that they would set up an altar, it’s not appropriate. If they are deceived by these tricks and set up an altar, they would immediately remove the altar because they feel that their prayers are not being answered, and they would develop bad karma by doing so. I have been spreading the Dharma for many years and I never force others to set up altars. If it’s not the time, you shouldn’t forcefully make others set up altars. Once they commit karma of speech or bodily action, you will be affected. Is that clear?

 

Notes on vowing to set up altars for practitioners.

Wenda 20151227B 28:47
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt

Caller: Master, is there any requirement for those who want to set up altars for new practitioners?

Master Lu: They must be very sincere and mustn’t charge even a cent. Second, they must sincerely wash their hands, be respectful, and mustn’t think of any parts of their body. They should empty and purify themselves when setting up the altar. Do you understand?

Caller: Yes, thank you Master.

 

Setting up altars for others can help you eliminate a lot of negative karma.

Wenda 20160124A 32:36
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
An Excerpt

Caller: You mentioned that setting up altars for others is great merit and virtues. How much negative karma can be eliminated by sincerely and carefully setting up an altar for others once?

Master Lu: A lot of negative karma can be eliminated if you can sincerely and carefully set up an altar for others. At least as much as half a Buddhist pagoda’s height.

Caller: What is the percentage then?

Master Lu: That depends on how much negative karma you have.