IT IS BEST TO SET A TARGETED NUMBER OF LITTLE HOUSES TO BE OFFERED TO A SPECIFIC ANCESTOR DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: Master, the Ullambana Festival is fast approaching, generally how many Little Houses should a diligent Buddhist practitioner commit to offering to his karmic creditors? Please advise, Master. Master Jun Hong Lu: It […]
DO NOT HOLD WEDDINGS ON THE DRAGON BOAT, CHING MING, ULLAMBANA AND THE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVALS Question: A Buddhist practitioner’s son has selected 7th October for his wedding, only to find out that it is the Double Ninth Festival (Chong Yang Festival) on the lunar calendar. Unfortunately, the booking deposit for the hotel has been […]
START OFFERING 49 LITTLE HOUSES A MONTH PRIOR TO THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: Master has previously mentioned that one should offer 49 Little Houses during the Ullambana Festival. Should we start preparing a month before, starting from the 15th day of the 6th lunar month? Is it better to offer Little Houses earlier? Are Little […]
DO NOT CHANGE BEDS DURING THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH; EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN CALLING ONE’S SOUL BACK Question: Is it alright to change the bed that my spouse and I have been sleeping on during the 7th lunar month? Can we do the same to our son’s bed? Answer: It is not recommended to do so […]
WAYS TO HANDLE THE PORTRAIT OF A DECEASED AFTER THIRD DEATH ANNIVERSARY Question: Upon the passing of someone, is it a must to take out his memorial portrait on his death anniversary to pay respect to? Is there a time limit as to how long we can do this for? In the event that we […]
RECITE MORE LITTLE HOUSES AND THE GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: In light of the fast approaching Ullambana Festival, which Buddhist scripture should we recite more of? Answer: Recite more Little Houses. On top of this, increase the recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra. Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse (Question 11), […]
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO LODGE AN APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF NAME ON THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Is it advisable to lodge an application for Change of Name on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month? Master Jun Hong Lu: Why must you do so on the 15th day […]
TOOTH EXTRACTION DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: Is it alright to go for a tooth extraction one week before the Ullambana Festival? This is because my dental appointment is a few days prior to the festival. Answer: There are a lot more foreign spirits during the Ullambana Festival. If it’s not urgent, it would be […]
OFFER LITTLE HOUSES TO THE DECEASED ON THE 15TH DAY OF THE 7TH LUNAR MONTH Caller: Master, should we offer Little Houses on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month or at the tail-end of the 7th lunar month? Master Jun Hong Lu: You should offer Little Houses on a piecemeal basis throughout the […]
HOW MANY LITTLE HOUSES ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL? Caller: Master, the Ullambana Festival, which falls on the 15th Day of the 7th lunar month, is around the corner. If we pray to Bodhisattva to keep us safe and well during this period, what’s the minimum number of Little Houses […]
PERFORMING VIRTUOUS DEEDS ON BEHALF OF THE DECEASED AND THE RELATED PRAYER REQUEST FOR THE TRANSFER OF MERITS Caller: Is it alright to perform virtuous deeds such as releasing captive lives and donating for the purpose of printing the sutra booklets on behalf of the deceased? Master Jun Hong Lu: Definitely! Caller: How should we […]
THINGS TO BE AWARE OF DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: As the “Ghost Festival” is coming up next month, is there anything that we should be aware of? For instance, what should we take note of during the night or whenever we are performing recitations? Master Jun Hong Lu: Firstly, do not speak carelessly – […]
MASTER LU’S GUIDANCE ON THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: Hi Master, in light of the upcoming Ullambana Festival, it’d be good if you could say a word or two about this festival. Master Jun Hong Lu: By offering the Little Houses, we are helping the spirits. In actual fact, we are also helping our deceased relatives. […]
WOULD THE BURNING OF JOSS PAPERS BY OTHERS AFFECT THE LITTLE HOUSES OFFERED TO THE DECEASED? Caller: In the past, during the Ullambana Festival, I had always offered joss papers to my parents and in-laws. These days, I only offer Little Houses to them, but some people continue to offer joss papers. Would it affect […]
THE ISSUE OF CATCHING A COLD OR FEVER BEFORE THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Caller: Master, some Buddhist friends have reported catching a cold or fever before the Ullambana Festival. Is this considered an elimination of karmic obstacles or overcoming a karmic pass? Master Jun Hong Lu: In times of an imminent predestined calamity, one is likely […]
ADJUSTMENT TO THE RECITATION OF BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES DURING THE ULLAMBANA FESTIVAL Question: How should we adjust our recitation of the Buddhist scriptures before and after the Ullambana Festival? In this regard, how many days before and after would the adjustment apply to? And, do we need to avoid reciting the Heart Sutra and the Amitabha […]
GIVING IS WISDOM AND RECEIVING IS THE RESULT OF KARMA Master Jun Hong Lu: Today I would like to tell everyone that, the word ‘equanimity’ from the Four Boundless States of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity is very important for Buddhist practitioners. While it is easy to practise loving-kindness, to be compassionate and to […]
THE STRENGTH OF ONE’S MINDSET Master Jun Hong Lu: Even cancer cells will be intimidated by someone who has a heart of joy. Do you think these bad cancer cells will be afraid when they see Bodhisattvas? This is for sure. On one hand, the cancer cells will be frightened when one’s mind is as […]
THE FOUR BOUNDLESS STATES Master Jun Hong Lu: We always think that mind cultivation is difficult. In fact, it can be very simple too, that is, by practising the Four Boundless States of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity. You have to control yourself well with the Four Boundless States. You have to be kind […]
THE INGENIOUS APPLICATION OF THE HEART SUTRA Master Jun Hong Lu: The ingenious secret of the Heart Sutra lies in using the mind to overcome the impurities and unwholesomeness within. Many people say, “My heart has been so deeply wounded and there is no way that anyone can soothe my broken heart”. In reality, the […]
DESIRE IS THE ROOT OF ALL SUFFERING Master Jun Hong Lu: The Buddha once said that human life is fraught with suffering, but do you know the root cause of human suffering? The Buddha says, “Desire is the root of all suffering”. Where is suffering if there is no desire? On that note, covetousness is […]
CANCER PATIENTS SHOULD RECITE MORE OF THE HEART SUTRA Caller: How many times of the Great Compassion Mantra should cancer patients recite daily? Master Jun Hong Lu: They should recite a maximum of 49 times of the Great Compassion Mantra. Some of them recite desperately for 78 times or even up to 108 times daily. […]
THE ROAD TO LIBERATION Master Jun Hong Lu: If a particular sect is constantly accusing others of being improper, distorting their words, slandering them and misusing various Buddhist teachings so as to suppress people or matters, it only goes to show that it is not an upright dharma. To date, Master has never ever uttered […]
WHAT IS RIGHT LIVELIHOOD? Question: May I know what is Right Livelihood? Master Jun Hong Lu: Right Livelihood is about being an upright person in this world. You are someone who accords with conditions, you go where your fate and destiny lead you and never go against them. If you insist on going against what […]
FREE FROM GREED IS WHEN ONE IS NOT COVETOUS OF SMALL GAINS Master Jun Hong Lu: To be free from greed is when we are not covetous of small gains. We get what we deserve in life. Predestined affinity will grant us what is rightfully ours while insisting on having something that is not meant […]
THE HEART SUTRA IS A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE DIAMOND SUTRA Master Jun Hong Lu: Buddhist practitioners should recite more of the Heart Sutra as a means to regulate their body and mind, and to ‘illuminate and see the emptiness of the Five Aggregates’. The Heart Sutra is essentially a condensed version of the Diamond […]
THE POWER OF CONCENTRATION Master Jun Hong Lu: What is the power of concentration? When one encounters difficulties, one must be able to stay composed, keep to the moral precepts and be steady. Nowadays, there are many people, when something unforeseen happens to them or their family, they become distraught. How does the Power of […]
CRITERIA TO ASCERTAIN A PROPER DHARMA DOOR Master Jun Hong Lu: Using Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door as an example, we may use the following three benchmarks to determine whether Guan Yin Citta is a proper Dharma Door. No. 1 – Does Guan Yin Citta encourage everyone to be kind at all times? No. 2 […]
HOW DO WE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TRUE BELIEF AND DELUSIONAL BELIEF? Master Jun Hong Lu: All of you must bear in mind of the following key characteristics of true belief: No. 1 – it should guide us to be inclined to kindness. No. 2 – its aim in cultivation is to uncover our true nature (innate […]
BE DISCIPLINED IN ORDER TO GAIN WISDOM AND THE POWER OF CONCENTRATION Master Jun Hong Lu: In order to gain wisdom and the power of concentration, one must be disciplined. In fact, the level of wisdom that one gains is in proportion to their strictness on discipline. Lacking in discipline makes the attainment of wisdom […]
