THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE JADE EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY WHICH FALLS ON THE NINTH DAY OF THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH
Caller: Hi Master, tomorrow is the ninth day of the first lunar month and it is widely deemed to be the birthday of the Heavenly Grandfather or the Jade Emperor. Who exactly is the Jade Emperor as per the Buddhist records? Is the Jade Emperor the so-called Sakra?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right. The Jade Emperor is in charge of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three (Trayastrimsa Heaven), which encompasses 33 heavenly kingdoms, and all of which are part of the Desire Realm. They are all under the supervision of the Jade Emperor.
As a matter of fact, the Jade Emperor is also a Bodhisattva who descends from heaven to undertake the position. The human realm also comes within His purview. He has the boundless kindness of an emperor.
Caller: Is the Jade Emperor a Bodhisattva or a Buddha?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The Jade Emperor is a position. If not mistaken, it was either Shakyamuni Buddha or Guan Yin Bodhisattva who held this position in the past. I believe it was the latter. Check it out yourself.
Caller: Is Sakra also the Jade Emperor?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right.
Caller: Are they the same heavenly being?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The Jade Emperor is a position – just like a president in the human world. Do you understand now?
Caller: Yes, I do. Are Sakra and the Jade Emperor the same person? Some explanations on the Internet say that they are the same person, while some say otherwise.
Master Jun Hong Lu: By name, they are roughly similar. Both Sakra and the Jade Emperor are very much the same in terms of what we call them.
Caller: Are they the same person?
Master Jun Hong Lu: For example, someone is addressed as a researcher in a research institute but, essentially, he is a professor.
Caller: I see. I got it now. I’d like to ask whether the ninth day of the first lunar month is a day of universal celebration in heaven and the human realm when countless numbers of Bodhisattvas will visit us? Are there any particular things that we should observe?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Is tomorrow the ninth day of the first lunar month?
Caller: Yes, it is.
Master Jun Hong Lu: There is a belief that it is the birthday of one of the Tai Sui Bodhisattvas or a special day for Tai Sui Bodhisattva. For that, we should pay homage to Tai Sui Bodhisattva. On this day, you can make more offerings or pray more to Tai Sui Bodhisattva, especially those whose zodiacs are in conflict with Tai Sui Bodhisattva.
In Guan Yin Citta, we worship Tai Sui Bodhisattva which is not common in many other dharma doors. In fact, many people frequent our Practice Centres to pray and make offerings to Tai Sui Bodhisattva. How remarkable!
Caller: Master, is it alright for us to recite more Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance on this day?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Logically speaking, you can do so during festive periods and those special days of Bodhisattvas.
Caller: Is it alright to offer the grand incense on the ninth day of the first lunar month?
Master Jun Hong Lu: You can offer the grand incense to Tai Sui Bodhisattva.
Caller: I see.
Source: Wenda20180223 18:48, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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