HOW TO BALANCE WORLDLY PURSUITS WITH DETACHMENT IN BUDDHISM? Caller: We live in a world where it is a norm to chase one’s dreams, aspire to get into the best school and find a good job, earn more money, etc. In fact, these ambitions help to propel us forward. Buddhism, on the other hand, teaches […]
BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS ARE ETERNALLY COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS ALL SENTIENT BEINGS Master Jun Hong Lu: The compassion that the Buddha has for all sentient beings is ever-present. As a Buddhist practitioner, bear in mind that as long as you pray to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, be it Guan Yin Bodhisattva, Shakyamuni Buddha, or any other Bodhisattvas, Their […]
DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS WITH EVIL KNOWLEDGE AND THOUGHTS As a true-blue Buddhist practitioner, we must learn to forgive. We must not judge others with our evil knowledge and thoughts because if our view is biased, we will misjudge people. If you can’t take control of your heart and fail to see others with a […]
YOUR ABILITY TO ELIMINATE YOUR KARMIC OBSTACLES REDUCES IF YOU KEEP REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE Master Jun Hong Lu: There are many people who have the misconception that “It’s alright for me to do some bad things today. I can recite a few times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO) to repent and all […]
SINCERELY REPENT TO AWAKEN YOUR TRUE SELF Master Jun Hong Lu: When someone apologises to you and you refuse to accept his apology, you are actually breaking the code of morality. Hence, when forgiveness is sought, you must grant it or else, you are deemed not a true Buddhist practitioner who has broken the precepts. […]
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REPENTANCE WITH FORM AND REPENTANCE WITHOUT FORM Master Jun Hong Lu: I would like to reiterate that we must perform repentance precisely because we are sentient beings, which make us susceptible to defilement and grasping at all sorts of things. This is the very reason we need to repent. Otherwise, there will […]
WHAT DOES “LETTING GO” MEAN TO A LAY BUDDHIST PRACTITIONER? Caller: Buddhism teaches “To see through the reality of things and let go”. What it means is that we should have no concern for any worldly matter, and we are supposed to let go and lead a life of asceticism. But, how about lay practitioners […]
HELPING NON-BUDDHIST FAMILY MEMBERS Question: I dreamed that one of my family members who is a non-Buddhist would be faced with calamities. I understand that we can help our family members by applying the Three Golden Buddhist Practices. However, according to some Buddhist practitioners, helping our family members would affect us negatively, and they may […]
DO NOT MOVE HOUSE BY UP TO A MONTH AFTER CHONG YANG FESTIVAL Caller: Master, may I ask about this statement, “Do not move house after Chong Yang Festival”? How long a period are we talking about here? Master Jun Hong Lu: Generally speaking, at the most, it is up to a month. Caller: Thank […]
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “HEIGHT ASCENDING” DURING THE CHONG YANG FESTIVAL Caller: Master, why must we ascend to higher places during the Chong Yang Festival? What is the significance of “height ascending”? Master Jun Hong Lu: There are two meanings to it. The first one being when you do so, it helps elevate your state of […]
VOWS THAT ONE CAN MAKE DURING THE CHONG YANG FESTIVAL Caller: Master, is Chong Yang Festival, the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, a day to show our respect and filial piety to our parents? Is it particularly effective to pray for the longevity of our parents if we perform life liberation on their […]
IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO HAVE RENOVATION ON CHONG YANG FESTIVAL Question: We are due to commence our renovation work in September. In this regard, should we start work on an odd or even date? Answer: Choose an even date if the house faces the south, otherwise odd date for north-facing houses. Question: Do we […]
IS IT ALRIGHT TO RECITE THE COMBINATION OF MANTRAS MEANT FOR CHONG YANG FESTIVAL ON NORMAL DAYS? Caller: Master, you once mentioned that on Chong Yang Festival, we can recite a special combination of mantras, comprising 3 times of the Great Compassion Mantra and 49 times of the Ru Yi Bao Lun Wang Tuo Luo […]
QUESTION PERTAINING TO THE RECITATION OF THE RU YI BAO LUN WANG TUO LUO NI AND THE GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA ON CHONG YANG FESTIVAL Caller: Master has previously said that on the day of Chong Yang Festival, we can recite 49 times of the Ru Yi Bao Lun Wang Tuo Luo Ni and 3 times […]
WHY ARE WE ALLOWED TO RECITE 63 TIMES OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE ON CHONG YANG FESTIVAL? Caller: On the eve and the first day of Chinese New Year, we are allowed to recite a total of 87 times of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance (LIFO). Why is it that we are allowed to […]
THE MEANING OF CHONG YANG FESTIVAL Master Jun Hong Lu: Chong Yang Festival is a very significant solar term in Chinese tradition. It is a day to promulgate traditional Chinese culture, to respect the elders, and last but not least, it’s also the time to promote the spirit of compassion as per the Buddhist teachings. […]
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHONG YANG FESTIVAL Master Jun Hong Lu: Chong Yang Festival, which falls on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, is a traditional Chinese festival. Many people know that the 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the Chong Yang Festival. As a matter of fact, Yi Jing, or the […]
DO NOT TAKE YOUR WRONGDOINGS LIGHTLY! Master Jun Hong Lu: If you have an opinion about everything in life, do you think it is possible for you to eliminate your karmic obstacles? Take for instance, someone highlights your shortcomings today and specifically raises an issue about your temperament. If you have yet to realise your […]
HOW DO WE EFFECTIVELY QUELL HATRED FROM OUR HEART? Caller: We have Buddhist friends who are diligent in their cultivation and have shown improvement in their behavioural conduct. However, the only hurdle which they have difficulty overcoming is managing the hatred that still harbours within them. Due to their karmic debts, the sense of hatred […]
FORGIVING OTHERS IS THE BEGINNING OF DEVELOPING COMPASSION Master Jun Hong Lu: To transcend an ordinary person into a sage is to transform ourselves into sages. An ordinary person will have endless worries and insatiable desires. It is a well-known fact that Confucius from China is a sage who taught Chinese Culture. The main characteristic […]
Every individual’s pursuit and interpretation of life can exhibit duality. The same scenario can be painted in a positive light, emphasising its beneficial aspects, or viewed negatively, accentuating its flaws. The key is where your mindset tends to lean. For instance, is aging good or bad? It can be argued that it’s good. The elderly […]
Today, I will discuss the concept of ’emptiness of nature.’ In this context, ‘nature’ signifies one’s inherent nature, and ’emptiness’ refers to absence. When a person’s nature is empty, they become receptive to the truth, subsequently attaining it. However, if the nature is not empty and is instead tainted by worldly defilements, consider what your […]
Witnessing Buddha-nature means that when you observe someone performing good deeds with a Buddha’s heart, you recognise them as a Buddha or a Bodhisattva. Witnessing involves seeing and confirming their status as a Bodhisattva. Realising Buddha-nature requires a person to use their true heart to comprehend and awaken to their inherent Buddha-nature. The combination of […]
Now, I will discuss the “Ultimate Extinction of Afflictions” from the Six Supranormal Powers. This refers to the state where one is no longer bound by the troubles of birth and death, having fully understood the nature of life and death, and possessing the ability to foresee the future and the end of one’s life. […]
Today, I want to discuss four “No’s” in Buddhist practice: 1. No Overjoy: Do not allow a sense of self-importance to arise in your heart. Arrogance occurs when you feel superior because of the good deeds you have done or the great merit and virtue you have accumulated. This can lead you to look down […]
It’s crucial to cultivate our nature and life at the same time. Many people know that in their later years or during times of disaster, protecting both one’s nature and life can be difficult. What does it mean to have difficulty protecting one’s nature and life? Life refers to your physical body, while nature pertains […]
Today, I will discuss the Buddha-dharma and the power of the Dharma. Many people are aware of the boundless power of the Buddha-dharma. However, some may wonder why, with such limitless power, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas don’t show their compassion and save people from the numerous natural and man-made disasters. Why don’t they prevent these catastrophes […]
Buddha’s virtue refers to possessing the moral character of Buddha. In our conduct, we should embody Buddha’s moral character, virtues, and inner nature. The fruition of Buddhahood involves attaining the fruits and the supreme status of Buddhahood. The fruit of non-self (anattā) is such that those who genuinely cultivate well see the fruit as empty. […]
Deepest Gratitude to Namo Shakyamuni Buddha! Deepest Gratitude to the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva! Deepest Gratitude to all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors! Deepest Gratitude to Master Jun Hong Lu! My life took an unexpected turn when one night, for unbeknown reason, my mother was screaming on top of her lungs […]
WE MUST HAVE THE IMPETUS TO MEND OUR WAYS Master Jun Hong Lu: If you are oblivious to the gravity of the eventual consequences when you sow the seeds of karma, you are literally living a life of ignorance. For this reason, you will not be able to recognise your spiritual roots and there is […]
