SHOULD WE GIVE TO THOSE BOGUS BEGGARS? Caller: I have one more question on “Compassion”. We are taught that we need to have the same compassion for all beings. Unfortunately, in this day and age, there are many fake street beggars, who just want to make a quick buck. If we give without knowing whether […]
GIVE, EVEN IF NO ONE KNOWS Master Jun Hong Lu: Once, there was a small business owner in the USA who had repeatedly failed in his quest to strike a business collaboration with the owner of a big corporation. One day, as he was walking out from another failed business pitch, he passed by a […]
AN EXPEDIENT MEAN IS ABOUT PLAYING TO ONE’S STRENGTHS WHEN PROPAGATING BUDDHISM TO OTHERS Caller: Every Bodhisattva has His own strengths in terms of dharma propagation. As for us, while practising, we apprehend the truth. In this aspect, I’d like to seek Master’s advice on whether it is appropriate to pray for Bodhisattva’s blessings on […]
TO MAKE DHARMA PROPAGATION MORE PERSUASIVE, LEARN FROM MASTER’S APPROACH OF USING EXAMPLES Caller: Master often uses examples to explain and answer questions from Buddhist practitioners. Should we also use more examples when sharing the dharma with others? This is especially relevant to questions that cannot be directly answered but can be better explained through […]
WITH A CALM MIND, EVERYTHING WILL NATURALLY GO SMOOTHLY Master Jun Hong Lu: First question: I asked Bodhisattva in my mind, “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, nowadays many people often ask me this question: Why does my prayer go unanswered?” Guan Yin Bodhisattva said, “With a calm mind, all prayers will naturally come true”. Are you able […]
GIVING WITHOUT PERCEPTION Master Jun Hong Lu: It is essential for the practice of giving not to be attached to any perception. If you become attached, you will be caught up in the scenario where you are fixated on the act of giving. Do you understand? What this means is you anticipate an reward every […]
SEVEN TYPES OF GIVING IN BUDDHISM THAT DON’T COST MONEY A man once went to the Buddha and cried, “I am such a loser; I fail in everything I do”. The Buddha told him, “That’s because you didn’t practise giving”. This person said, “Buddha, I am a poor man. How am I supposed to practise […]
WHAT YOU GIVE IS WHAT YOU GET Master Jun Hong Lu: Once, there lived two brothers. One of them focused on reciting Buddhist scriptures and he did it diligently, but he never performed any kind deeds nor practised the perfection of giving to cultivate good fortune. The other brother, on the other hand, was fond […]
WEALTH IS DERIVED FROM THE GIVING OF WEALTH Caller: Is wealth only derived from the giving of wealth? Can we also derive wealth from the giving of dharma or fearlessness? Master Jun Hong Lu: Generally, it is from the giving of wealth that one derives wealth. Why is it that prayer for wealth tends to […]
SAFEGUARD YOUR BLESSINGS BY EMBRACING A HEART OF GRATITUDE Caller: Master has said that the great virtue of someone who wholeheartedly propagates Buddhism with a noble intention of wanting to benefit all sentient beings, will result in an increase in his worldly blessings. I’d like to ask Master as to how we should handle such […]
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO USE GRAPHICS THAT EVOKE FANTASIES Question: In an effort to spread the dharma, some fellow practitioners will match Master’s teachings with a caricature of a beautiful girl. Is this appropriate? Answer: It’s never ideal to use anything that evokes fantasies. This explains why you should always go for a decent […]
USE THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE WHEN RECITING THE AMITABHA PURE LAND REBIRTH MANTRA (WANG SHENG ZHOU) Guan Yin Bodhisattva said, “My dear disciple, the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra (Wang Sheng Zhou) is also known as “Ba Yi Qie Ye Zhang Gen Ben De Sheng Jing Tu Tuo Luo Ni” (拔一切业障根本得生净土陀罗尼). Do you know the […]
THE IMMENSE WILLPOWER AND GREAT FILIAL PIETY OF KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA Master Jun Hong Lu: As Buddhist practitioners, we must know how to practise filial piety. In Buddhism, we have this saying. “The fortunate live in a fortunate land; a fortunate land has fortunate people living in it”. In relation to this, there is a Buddhist […]
GIVING IS THE KEY TO WEALTH Master Jun Hong Lu: After learning about the karma of giving, a man eagerly told the Zen Master, “When I strike it rich in the future, I will definitely cultivate generosity and make a career out of helping others”. The Zen master answered, “If you are only willing to […]
THE PRACTICE OF GIVING: THE THREE TYPES OF GIVING Master Jun Hong Lu: First, let’s talk about the perfection of giving. What does it mean? When you see all the sufferings of life, you develop compassion in your heart, and you channel all your energy into helping others so that all deluded beings are able […]
WITH STRONG WILLPOWER, COMES GREAT EFFORTS Caller: Master, you have previously mentioned that we should often enhance our mental strength. For those who are lacking in this aspect, is there any method that can help? Master Jun Hong Lu: Willpower is the key. With strong willpower, the mental strength you have will be greater – […]
HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE PHYSICAL, KARMIC, AND FOREIGN SPIRITS-RELATED ILLNESSES? Caller: I heard that some fellow practitioners have questions regarding the differences between physical illnesses and illnesses caused by foreign spirits. Am I right to say that both types of illnesses are illnesses due to karma? Master Jun Hong Lu: That is right. Be it physical […]
WHAT IS THE OTHER SHORE? Master Jun Hong Lu: What is the other shore? It is the other side of a pure and untainted world. From the perspective of Mahayana Buddhism, “the other shore” means to be awakened to the truth where there is purity of mind and when one discovers an eternal balanced spiritual […]
EVEN VOWS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FULFILLED HAVE KARMIC REWARDS Master Jun Hong Lu: One must understand the importance of the power of vows. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has once vowed, “To not become a Buddha until all hells are emptied”. Although hells have not been emptied, the power of His vows has helped Him accomplish His […]
THE POWER OF VOWS IS THE ENGINE THAT SETS OUR INHERENT NATURE INTO MOTION Master Jun Hong Lu: Remember, regardless of your endeavour, it must be geared towards fulfilling the needs of sentient beings, enhancing your wisdom and ultimately benefiting all sentient beings. When troubles of life and death are cast away, the foundation for […]
IT IS MOST EFFECTIVE TO OFFER 78 LITTLE HOUSES TO THE DECEASED ON THE BIRTHDAY OF KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA IN ONE SITTING Question: Master has previously mentioned that offering 78 Little Houses to the deceased on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s birthday can help them ascend to a higher spiritual realm. If we were to break the offering of […]
THE SIX PARAMITAS – THE SIX CODES OF CONDUCT Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me explain what the “Six Paramitas” are. If you aspire to be a Tathagata, Bodhisattva, or attain nirvana, the six paramitas are what you ought to practise. The same goes with all of the Bodhisattvas who aspire to become Buddhas. What […]
ALLOCATION OF LITTLE HOUSES FOR THE DECEASED ON THE BIRTHDAY OF KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA Question: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s birthday is just around the corner. Based on Master Lu’s guidance, we can offer 49 or 78 Little Houses to the deceased, who have descended to the underworld. As we have only a limited number of Little Houses, can […]
CONSISTENT DAILY RECITATION OF SHORT BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES IS A MUST Caller: Master, how should I perform recitation if someone is jealous of me? Which Buddhist scripture should I recite? Master Jun Hong Lu: Recite the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots. “Wo Jin Wei Ru Jie Jin Za, Zhong Bu Wei Ru Jie Jin Za” (我今为汝解金匝，终不为汝结金匝). […]
THE SIX PARAMITAS – SIX METHODS TO BECOME A BODHISATTVA Master Jun Hong Lu: All of you know about the practice of giving. All of you also know that you should practise morality – you should not tell lies. How would you feel when your child lied to you? You felt sad, didn’t you? This […]
IMAGES OF BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS USED FOR ONLINE DHARMA SHARING SHOULD HAVE A SOLEMN APPEARANCE Question: In their effort to propagate the dharma online, some Buddhist practitioners will modify the images or appearances of Amitabha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva to be human-like. Is this appropriate? Answer: Such actions are disrespectful and sacrilegious towards the Bodhisattvas, […]
REFRAIN FROM KILLING, LIVE A SMOOTH LIFE Tai Sui Bodhisattva for 2020 – General Lu Mi: “The acts of killing and sexual misconduct are the most damaging to one’s fortune. They are the gravest sin committed by sentient beings in this Age of Dharma Decline. If any of you can strictly adhere to the Buddhist […]
THE SIX PARAMITAS Master Jun Hong Lu: Please remember, how do you make it to heaven? Those who manage to make their way up cultivate the Ten Good Deeds. Separately, there are six other methods to liberate oneself from the cycle of rebirth. As long as you can specialise in one of these six methods, […]
MASTER LU’S DISCOURSE ON THE CUNDI DHARANI Caller: Master, I dreamt that you asked me if I knew why the Cundi Dharani was so efficacious. I had a notion that this has to do with the Great Compassion Mantra and the Heart Sutra. Master Lu, can you please explain to us? Master Jun Hong Lu: […]
MAHASTHAMAPRAPTA BODHISATTVA: WHEN LOVE TURNS INTO HATRED, KARMIC CAUSES TO THE THREE LOWER REALMS ARE SOWN Master Jun Hong Lu: Just like many other Bodhisattvas, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva (Great Strength Bodhisattva) is most concerned about a particular type of love, that is, the desire for interpersonal affection. This is not solely confined to the romantic love […]
