QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RECITATION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE EVE AND FIRST DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR Caller: Master, I understand that we can recite up to 87 times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) over these two days. I started doing so yesterday and I was a bit wary, and […]
QUESTIONS REGARDING THE RECITATION OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE EVE AND FIRST DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR Caller: How many times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) can we recite on the eve and first day of Lunar New Year? Master Jun Hong Lu: 87 times. Caller: Is it right to […]
WHY PLAYING CARD GAMES AND MAHJONG ARE INADVISABLE Caller: In one of the past radio programs, Master mentioned that playing cards is an activity of the Underworld. Can Master elaborate about the inappropriateness of playing cards? After all, it is such a popular game in China and many people are fond of playing cards. Master […]
WE CAN PUT FORTH A PRAYER REQUEST TARGETING AT OUR ILL HEALTH WHEN RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE EVE AND FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Caller: Hi Master, is it alright to put forth a targeted prayer request to repent for the sicknesses we are suffering from given that we can […]
THE CUSTOM OF NOT SWEEPING THE FLOOR ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Caller: We have been advised by old folks not to sweep or dispose of rubbish on the first day of Lunar New Year. As Buddhist practitioners, is this something we should pay attention to? Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s indeed […]
NO PARTICULAR AUSPICIOUS DATES TO OBSERVE FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS OR WORK DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR Caller: Master, what are the auspicious dates for the commencement of business or work during Chinese New Year? Is there any particular practice to observe from the metaphysical point of view? Master Jun Hong Lu: Not really. Source: […]
WHICH ASPECT OF OUR KARMIC OBSTACLES SHOULD WE SEEK REPENTANCE ON WHEN RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR? Caller: Hi Master, we can recite up to 87 times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance on first day of Chinese New Year*. In this regard, which aspect of […]
ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR, DO NOT FOCUS ON RECITING A SPECIFIC BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE; IT IS BENEFICIAL TO RECITE ALL OF THEM Caller: Hi Master, you recommend us to perform more recitation on the first day and the eve of Lunar New Year. As the supreme light will radiate from above, and […]
IT IS BEST TO PERFORM MORE RECITATION FOR ONESELF ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR AS THE ENERGY DERIVED FROM YOUR RECITATION IS THREE TIMES MORE POWERFUL Caller: Hi Master, my entire family and I are planning to visit Mount Putuo on Chinese New Year’s Eve to offer the First Incense. May I […]
PRE-CHINESE NEW YEAR ETIQUETTES Master Jun Hong Lu: As Chinese New Year approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the pre-Chinese New Year etiquettes. Generally speaking, one should tidy up his desk and sweep the floor before Chinese New Year. As we embrace the New Year with a […]
THE CHINESE CHARACTER 福 (FU) SHOULD NOT BE PASTED UPSIDE DOWN Caller: As Lunar New Year approaches, many people paste the Chinese character 福 (‘fu’ which means blessings or fortune) and Spring Festival couplets as a tradition. Is there anything to note in particular? Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. The Chinese character 福 (fu) should […]
RECITE MORE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE (LIFO) AND OTHER SCRIPTURES BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS AS IT IS ABLE TO ELIMINATE SUBSTANTIAL KARMIC OBSTACLES; THINGS TO OBSERVE ON THE FIRST DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR Master Jun Hong Lu: Lunar New Year is just around the corner. It is my wish that all of you practise […]
TIDYING AND CLEANING UP SHOULD BE PERFORMED BEFORE THE EVE OF LUNAR NEW YEAR; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO HAVING A HAIRCUT Question: Can one open his hairdressing shop on the first day of New Year? Answer: That’s absolutely fine as it is not the first day of Lunar New Year. Also, please note that one […]
THE ABILITY TO MANAGE ONE’S TIME IS A FORM OF WEALTH AND WISDOM Master Jun Hong Lu: The ability to manage one’s time is in itself a form of wealth and wisdom. You may not understand this. Don’t you think a person who makes good use of their time reciting Buddhist scriptures and performing good […]
YOU ARE STILL WHO YOU ARE. IT WAS ONLY YOUR PERTURBED MIND Master Jun Hong Lu: All these bickering in this human realm has only to do with one thing, and that is your mind. You feel unhappy today, sad tomorrow, broken-hearted the day after tomorrow and emotionally moved the day after. You are made […]
CONTEMPLATE DEATH Master Jun Hong Lu: To Contemplate Death. This may not sound too pleasant to many people. No one would even entertain negative thoughts like, “Gosh, I am going to die!” as they are deemed to bring bad luck. However, if you are constantly contemplating the impermanence of life, don’t you think you are […]
HOW TO PRAY TO GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA TO ELIMINATE THOUGHTS RELATING TO SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Caller: Is there a way to pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva to help me eliminate the thoughts relating to sexual misconduct? How do I state my prayer? Master Jun Hong Lu: ”May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva […]
OBSERVE THE TEN KIND DEEDS TO TRANSCEND WORLDLINESS Master Jun Hong Lu: Misfortune befalls those who take what is not given. Practise frugality, loyalty and never take what is not yours. If you refrain from taking what is not yours, doesn’t this make you a righteous person; one who is free from self-interest? Don’t you […]
MAKING GREAT VOWS WILL HELP ELIMINATE KARMIC OBSTACLES AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF RETRIBUTION Caller: Some Buddhist practitioners are about to face with their ‘3,6,9’ predestined karmic passes, as well as clashes with Tai Sui Bodhisattva. Master mentioned that making great vows will help eliminate karmic obstacles. What if they make a vow to […]
KNOW THE WORLD THROUGH UNDERSTANDING ONE’S INHERENT NATURE Master Jun Hong Lu: We need to understand the reality of impermanence and recognise that our desires are ever fluctuating. Think about it – did you stick to what you set forth to accomplish? You opt for this today and that the next day; you think this […]
CONTEMPLATE THE BODY AS IMPURE Caller: Master Lu, please enlighten us on the various methods of meditation that can help us to effectively calm our mind. Thank you. Master Jun Hong Lu: Meditation methods include counting of breaths. The other method is “Contemplation of the Body as Impure”. The world that we live in is […]
NIPPING OUR BAD HABITS IN THE BUD Master Jun Hong Lu: Once, there was a boy and in his very first attempted theft, he got away with a needle. Thinking that it was just an insignificant loot, his mother brushed it aside and failed to reprimand the boy. This motivated him to continue with his […]
THE HEART SUTRA IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE IN RESOLVING ONE’S INNER CONFLICTS Caller: Master once said that the recitation of the Heart Sutra generates the greatest meritorious blessings. Is it because the Heart Sutra that we usually perform is able to help sentient beings around us? Master Jun Hong Lu: The recitation of both the […]
WAYS TO ELIMINATE LUSTFUL THOUGHTS OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Caller: How are you, Master? I’d like to ask about the precepts on abstaining from sexual misconduct. Strictly speaking, having lustful thoughts is considered a form of sexual misconduct, right? Master Jun Hong Lu: Absolutely correct! Caller: Realistically speaking, this is the hardest precept to keep. In […]
TAKING THINGS FROM THE GUAN YIN HALL WITHOUT PERMISSION CONSTITUTES THEFT Master Jun Hong Lu: There are guidelines to follow when making offerings to Bodhisattvas: One must never consume the fruits that have been set aside for offering. When offering some apples to Bodhisattvas, you may think of consuming one of them to quench your […]
AN OVERVIEW OF THE SIX PARAMITAS Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me explain to you what the “Six Paramitas” is. If you wish 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 be a Buddha. The […]
CAN THE HEART SUTRA BE RECITED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR LITTLE HOUSES? Caller: Recently, a few fellow practitioners have been fully occupied performing volunteer work and thus, they recite only the daily homework without reciting any Little Houses. In such cases, if we dream of our karmic creditor, can we recite the Heart Sutra for […]
VARIOUS FORMS OF THEFT Master Jun Hong Lu: The second precept is abstaining from stealing, which includes seizing things by force. This is because everything in this world involves a transfer of sovereignty under its terms. Hence, making an untrue claim to gain benefit is considered an act of stealing. This includes demanding monetary reward […]
FUNCTIONS OF WATER Master Jun Hong Lu: Disciples should take note that, when you offer water to Bodhisattvas, do not place empty cups on your Buddhist altar before filling with water. Instead, the cups must be filled with some water beforehand. Water cleanses away greed. When making offerings to Bodhisattvas, you must do so wholeheartedly […]
DAILY REPETITION OF VOWS TO BODHISATTVA WILL INCREASE MERITS Question: In the recent public talk in Kuala Lumpur, Master said, “If you have vowed to be a full vegetarian, you may confide to Guan Yin Bodhisattva every day by saying, ‘I, <full name>, am already a full vegetarian’. By repeating it daily, you will accumulate […]
