01.10.2017 THE ART OF APPLYING COMPREHENSIVE METAPHYSICS GRAND DHARMA FUNCTION, PARIS,GUAN YIN CITTA DHARMA DOOR

01.10.2017 THE ART OF APPLYING COMPREHENSIVE METAPHYSICS GRAND DHARMA FUNCTION, PARIS,GUAN YIN CITTA DHARMA DOOR

Date:
01.10.2017

Time:
13:30- 16:30

*Free Admission

Venue:

Paris Event Center

20 Avenue de la Porte de la Villette 75019 Paris

Metro: ligne 7, Porte de la Villette. Sortie 3

Reservation:

lxinlingfamenfrance@gmail.com

09 83 58 11 88 /

06 19 38 94 46

GUAN YIN CITTA DHARMA DOOR- THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT SHARING SESSION 22.10.2017, KALLANG THEATRE, SINGAPORE

GUAN YIN CITTA DHARMA DOOR- THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT SHARING SESSION 22.10.2017, KALLANG THEATRE, SINGAPORE

GUAN YIN CITTA DHARMA DOOR- THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT SHARING SESSION 

Date: 22.10.2017 (Sunday)

Time: 1.00pm- 5.00pm

Venue: KALLANG THEATRE (3rd Floor),

            1, Stadium Walk , SINGAPORE 397688

            Stadium MRT Exit A

KSITIGARBHA BODHISATTVA'S (DI ZHANG WANG PU SA) DISCOURSE IN A DREAM: DAILY CULTIVATION AND RECITATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT; LAGGING BEHIND IN DAILY HOMEWORK WILL NOT PRODUCE RESULTS IN THE FUTURE

Wenda20160501B 54:18 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller:  Two days ago, a Buddhist practitioner dreamt of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva giving her guidance:  Daily cultivation and recitations are very important and the accumulated energies are very large.  If we are not diligent, a day’s shortfall in our homework will not produce any result for catching up that day’s work in the future.  After that, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva gave her an idea about the law of conservation of energy, because the Buddhist practitioner had indeed procrastinated and accumulated her daily homework when she was tired and doing all the accumulated recitations incessantly in a day.  Sometimes, her thoughts wandered and she felt very irritable.  This time, she could feel Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva telling her that those improper thoughts were actually her previous life’s karma.  Master Lu, please enlighten us.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Firstly, this Buddhist practitioner has a very deep affinity with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.  Secondly, I can vouch for the fact that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had indeed said all those words, because while you were delivering your speech just now, I saw Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.  And thirdly, let me tell you, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has a very loving kindness towards mankind and he felt sad that sentient human beings are heading towards the realm of hell in their lifetimes.  This is due to the ignorance of the daily lifestyle to which each phase must pay attention.

Caller: Master Lu, is this to say that we must not lag behind in our daily homework?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  It is not good to lag behind in homework.  Shortfalls for one or two days are alright, but over prolonged periods they will become a retraction.  Let me ask you, if you are absent from school for one or two days, you can apply medical leaves because of a health issue.  However, if you did not attend school for a whole month, would you not retreat from schooling?

Caller: Yes, indeed.  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has been concerned all along with the Buddhist practitioner’s cultivation in Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door.  There was a time where she procrastinated reciting the daily Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance for a week and then did all the recitations incessantly over the weekend.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)

WHEN THERE IS PREDETERMINED CALAMITY, WE MAY MAKE VOW TO PERFORM LIFE LIBERATION OF 1200 FISH - THIS IS THE CARDINAL NUMBER THAT CAN CHANGE OUR FATE AND DESTINY

Shuohua20170818 19:22
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller:  Master Lu, how do you derive at the number of fish to be liberated during totem reading?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  The amount of fish to be liberated is a figure.

Caller:  Is this figure advised by Bodhisattva….?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  It could be a message from Bodhisattva or the person’s predestined affinity.  The amount of fish that ought to be liberated will appear.  For example, the figure that appears frequently is 1200; many people are required to liberate this amount of fish.

I reckon 1200 fish is a cardinal number.  For instance, when there is predetermined calamity, we should not worry but to liberate the fish gradually; when we reach 1,200 fish, our fate and destiny will start to transform immediately.

Caller:  You mentioned 1,200 is the cardinal number.  In that case, when a Buddhist friend encountered a calamity, he should make a vow to liberate 1,200 fish, am I right?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  That’s right.  When you are unable to call through the Totem enquiry hotline, make a vow based on 1200 fish.

Caller:  What’s the amount of fish on the next tier, after 1200?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  1800.

Caller:  What is the following amount?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  What comes next will be our perseverance in performing life liberation.  Let me reiterate, 1200 is the cardinal number.  It means that with this amount of fish liberated, we will be able to notice the changes taking place.  The main point is, when we follow Bodhisattva's advice of 1200 fish, we will start to see our fate and destiny taking a turn after fulfilling this amount.

Caller: I understand.  Once again you have divulged some information to everybody today!

Master Jun Hong Lu:  If you didn’t ask, how would others ever get to know?  There are many other things that I wish to tell all of you but I just couldn’t recall.  The moment you ask, I can then share with you!

Caller:  I understand.  Thank you, Master, for answering my question.

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
December 23, 2016

DESIRE WILL ONLY LEAD US TO SUFFERING

We must understand that our desires should never be taken for our hopes in life. There are many who have yearnings all their lives: “I want a television, I want a car, I want a house, I want….”.  These are all desires which should never be taken as goals in life, because unfulfilled desires will lead us to sufferings. When a person has incessant desires in life and fails to attain what he has been longing for, he will experience extreme sufferings. That is when all hopes are lost in life.

TO FORGIVE OTHERS IS TO BE KIND TO ONESELF

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk, Melbourne, Australia
November 20, 2016

TO FORGIVE OTHERS IS TO BE KIND TO ONESELF

Master Jun Hong Lu: “If you wish to receive help from others, you must first offer help to others; if you wish to be loved by others, you must first love others; if you wish to gain benefits, you must first let others gain benefits from you; a tolerant person is able to transform a foe to a friend.
There are two things that you must learn to endure in life - one is to learn to endure hardships, and the other, which is more important, is to learn to take the short end of the stick.”

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)

HEALTH EFFECTS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

Wenda20161030A 31:40
(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program)

Caller:  Master Lu, after becoming a vegetarian, I have noticed that many products are labelled as containing “genetically modified soybeans” or “Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian”. Would the health of Buddhist practitioners be affected by consuming such products over a long period of time?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, in fact, the issues of genetics are very complicated. And I have sought advice from Bodhisattva. Generally, it's safe to eat. However, prolonged consumption may lead to producing certain hormones which can be harmful.

Caller: So shall we try not to consume genetically modified foods?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s best to avoid. Nevertheless, don’t be scared if you consume a small quantity. For example, a small amount found in a piece of cake should be all right. Should you eat genetically modified foods every day, your genes will be altered eventually. However, minimal consumption has a negligible impact on your health.

MERITS WILL BE USED WHEN MAKING PRAYER REQUEST DURING RECITATION; DREAMING ABOUT BUYING FOOD SYMBOLISES MERITS HAVE BEEN EXPENDED IN EXCHANGE FOR THE FRUITS OF MERITORIOUS DEEDS

Wenda20161021 21:24
(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu mentioned previously that dreaming about buying vegetarian food, fruits, ice cream and so forth is an indication that merits have been expended in exchange for the fruits of meritorious deeds. Does this mean only a portion of merits has been converted into blessings?

Master Jun Hong Lu: This is possible. If the quality of your recitation is good, when you pray for something, your merits will be immediately expended. For example, the previous guy who performed recitation and prayed for the successful opening of his shop, once his prayer has been answered, the merits accumulated from his recitation will be depleted straightaway.

Caller: That’s right. Bodhisattva was really merciful to him. You requested Guan Yin Bodhisattva and the Dharma Protectors to help him and things went extremely smoothly for him. Initially, he found a shop priced at $140,000. Bodhisattva was compassionate and found him another shop with only $80,000 rent. It really saved him a lot of money.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Now you are aware of it.

PERFORMING RECITATION DURING POSTNATAL CARE

Caller:
Hi Master Lu, can we perform recitations during postnatal care? What should we be aware of for both the mother and the child? Can we perform recitations while breastfeeding?

Master Lu:
It is a Chinese tradition for a woman to have postnatal care which lasts approximately one month. Giving birth is considered to be one of the major Karmic Passes for a woman, therefore it is best to take time to rest and recover after giving birth.

During postnatal care, the mother can perform recitations, but it is best to recite without making any sounds. This is because her body may not have made a complete separation from foreign spirits.

During labour, it is possible that many foreign spirits would like to be reborn into the human realm. Therefore, even after the mother has given birth, many other foreign spirits may still be staying around to wait in line. If the mother performs an excessive amount of recitations, then it is possible that other minor foreign spirits would come and collect the merits from her recitations. 

As a result, the mother may suffer from headaches, discomfort throughout the body, or bleeding after labour.If the mother would like to perform Daily Recitation or recite Little Houses, it would be best to perform the recitations during day time. After the one month period of postnatal care has passed, conditions would gradually improve and she can perform recitations during night time as well.

According to Chinese tradition, the “Full Moon” ceremony is held one month after a baby is born, and parents would give out hard boiled eggs to visitors attending the ceremony. These eggs have the eggshells dyed in red colour. This also has special meanings.For infants less than one month old, their souls and spirits are usually not yet complete, and many surrounding foreign spirits may enter and exit from the infants’ bodies. 

In addition, when a newborn has incomplete souls and spirits, if a visitor has an aggressive facial expression or a visitor has foreign spirits occupying their body, the infant’s souls and spirits would be scared away. As a result, the infant would cry and become unsettled. This is the reason why it is not recommended to visit a newborn during the first month.

The mother can perform recitations during breastfeeding. Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors would understand that she is not properly dressed during this time. While breastfeeding, it is best to recite the Heart Sutra (Hsin Ching) as much as possible. This would be beneficial for the child.

ACCEPT PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE

*Sourced from @orientalradiosg

Excerpt of Public Talk by Master Jun Hong Lu
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Dec 23, 2016

Everyone deals with different levels of stress. Sometimes we wonder how practicing Buddhism can help us manage everyday problems. The solution is to gradually face our problems and accept them.

I always tell people that we must accept the problems and difficulties in life. Bearing the consequences of the karmic debts accumulated from past lives with positive attitude is actually a form of courage. The fact is, some people are able to accept while others will find life meaningless whenever they encounter hardships. However, once they are cheered up by something pleasant, they will feel as though the world was created for them.

As humans, we must learn to eliminate our karmic debts. Enduring hardships is one way to eliminate karmic debts. If you refuse to do so, why are you here in the Human Realm? The reason why you are here is to eliminate karmic debts by enduring hardships. Therefore, to eliminate karmic debts is to transform our state of mind and make us realize that in this very lifetime, we have to eliminate our karmic debts accumulated from previous lives, rather than carry them forward to the next lifetime.

As such, do not evade from any difficulties and the feeling of injustice, but to face them boldly. There are many individuals who accept adversities courageously and are able to get over them. On the contrary, those who are unable or refuse to take a bold face would end up with more sufferings.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

AVOID BEING JUDGEMENTAL ON FOUR ASPECTS

*Sourced from @orientalradiosg

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk, Los Angeles, USA
September 11, 2016

Master Jun Hong Lu: “I want you to learn that in our Buddhist practice and everyday life, there are 4 things that we should not pass judgement on:

Firstly,
do not judge the good or bad of others, as it does not have any effect on your life.

Secondly,
do not judge the morality and the conduct of others, as you are not necessarily nobler than them.

Thirdly,
do not judge other’s family, as it will affect your equanimity.

Fourthly,
do not judge those whom you look down upon, not even those whom you despised the most, as you will become haughty and arrogant; consequently turning you into a disgusting person."

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE AFFINITY WITH BUDDHISM BUT ARE NOT DILIGENT

*Sourced from @orientalradiosg

Wenda20161125 35:50
(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, last week, you mentioned that people who have affinity with Buddhism may not have the diligence to cultivate. In the course of helping other people, sometimes, we come across those who have strong affinity with Buddhism. However, at the same time, they are not eager to practice. How can we encourage them to forge ahead?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It is very simple. Inspire his Buddha nature. If that does not work, the timing may not be right and he is considered as a sentient being who lacks affinity as of now. We cannot help people with no affinity. Thus, when you meet arrogant people who do not listen, do not pursue them any further. I am not saying that people who lack affinity with Buddhism shall remain as such forever. When the timing is right, for example, when they suffer from setbacks in life and are motivated to practice Buddhism, they may develop affinity with Buddhism.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

WORK HARD, STAY HUMBLE, PAY NO ATTENTION TO COMPLIMENTS OR INSULTS.

Wenda20160325 25:09
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, you gave a teaching in Indonesia and asked us to “Work hard, stay humble, pay no attention to compliments or insults, and guard against arrogance and impatience”. Could you please elaborate on how to be considered as “Working hard and stay humble”？

Master Jun Hong Lu: “Work hard” means to work with seriousness and to give your best. Do I need to elaborate on “stay humble”? Being humble means to give without expecting anything in return and not fight for fame or gains. Pay no attention to compliments or insults is to preserve equanimity under any circumstances. Treat everything in life as the best arrangement made by Bodhisattva. When you are experiencing hardships, treat them as tests to you to make you stronger. When you are having enjoyments in life, you should learn to cherish and never take them for granted.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

HOW TO CULTIVATE RENUNCIATION; GREED IS THE CAUSE FOR ONE TO BE DECEIVED AND CHEATED

*Sourced from @orientalradiosg

Wenda20170115A 11:30
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned before that we will be chained down by whatever we love, causing us to descend, making us victims of our circumstances. We would need to have samadhi/determination, so as not to be baffled by material attractions. We should be captivated by nothing, to be attached to nothing and nothing should matter. May I ask, Master Lu, in this way, will it be easier for us to cultivate renunciation?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. To cultivate renunciation is to let go. You are liberated if nothing could control you. You would have to constantly remind yourself that you desire nothing. With that in mind you will succeed! On the contrary, should you be fantasizing constantly about having more material things, you will definitely be bound by your desires.

Caller: We shall not be obsessed with anything. Master Lu, do people get deceived by fraud because of a little bit of their own greed, generally speaking?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Not “a little bit” but "a lot". It is caused by a considerable amount of greed. All those who get tricked by fraudsters due to their own greed.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR AND NERVOUSNESS IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY

* Sourced from @orientalradiosg

Wenda20170212A 48:16
(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, we endeavour to apply what we have learned from ‘Buddhism in Plain Terms’ into our daily life but we still get overwhelmed by fear when faced with challenges. I would like to overcome such fear.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Recite the Heart Sutra (Xin Jing). A wise man is not afraid of anything. Why am I not afraid of anything? Because I have wisdom. Just like a little boy who tells his mother, “Mommy, mommy, something has gone wrong…” He is scared stiff because he does not know how to deal with a particular situation. Conversely, when you have wisdom, you will be able to handle everything.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

UNDERSTANDING “STUBBORNNESS LEADS YOU NOWHERE AND GAINS YOU NOTHING IN LIFE”

* Sourced from @orientalradiosg

Wenda20161118 13:10
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned in your previous discourse that “Being stubborn in life will gain us nothing ultimately”. How do we comprehend this statement?

Master Jun Hong Lu: A stubborn person will gain nothing. “I must have it”; insisting on having something will result in losing it inadvertently and if you don’t get it, all the more you will end up with nothing. “I must have it”, when you did not acquire it, isn’t it nothing? Even when you manage to gain it, it will quickly be taken away from you. This is because things obtained through your stubbornness cannot be kept for long. It will be dissipated very quickly.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

IS IT PROPER TO PERFORM RECITATION IN SILENCE, WITH ONLY MINOR MOUTH AND THROAT MOVEMENTS

Wenda20160722 59:04 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller: Master Lu, a fellow Buddhist friend always feels pain in the throat while performing his daily recitation. Thus, can he perform recitation in silence with only minor movement of the mouth and throat? Is this proper?

Master Jun Hong Lu: That is totally fine.

Do not Have a False Sense of Self-Consciousness

Master Lu hopes that we will not have a false sense of self-consciousness as this will be deceiving ourselves.

Many people deceive themselves by looking for justification when they know that they have committed wrongs, “everyone is doing it, I should not be considered to be going overboard.”  

Many people live their lives thinking that they are always right. Why? They refused to admit that they had committed a wrong and felt that other people are doing worse than them.  

In this way, they will never improve themselves. 

As Buddhist practitioners, we must be able to see our own faults and be brave enough to forget our own shortcomings. Because, when we are able to forget our own shortfalls, we are able to embrace our good traits. Our good traits will not accumulate if our souls are dwelling on sorrows and shortcomings every day.  

Therefore, we must be clean. When the heart is clean, we will be able to attain calmness. Purity of the heart will enable us to have a calm heart. When there is “calmness” we will be able to achieve “precepts”.  

Hence, a person who abides by the precepts will be able to calm down easily and attain wisdom in the process.

HOW TO CULTIVATE RENUNCIATION; GREED IS THE CAUSE FOR ONE TO BE DECEIVED AND CHEATED

Wenda20170115A 11:30
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, you mentioned before that we will be chained down by whatever we love, causing us to descend, making us victims of our circumstances. We would need to have samadhi/determination, so as not to be baffled by material attractions. We should be captivated by nothing, to be attached to nothing and nothing should matter. May I ask, Master Lu, in this way, will it be easier for us to cultivate renunciation?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. To cultivate renunciation is to let go. You are liberated if nothing could control you. You would have to constantly remind yourself that you desire nothing. With that in mind you will succeed! On the contrary, should you be fantasizing constantly about having more material things, you will definitely be bound by your desires.  

Caller: We shall not be obsessed with anything. Master Lu, do people get deceived by fraud because of a little bit of their own greed, generally speaking?  

Master Jun Hong Lu: Not “a little bit” but "a lot". It is caused by a considerable amount of greed. All those who get tricked by fraudsters due to their own greed.

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat 

SCRIPTURES MAY BE PLACED ON THE PRAYING MAT ON THE SPOT WHERE YOUR FOREHEAD MAKES CONTACT WITH DURING PROSTRATION; DO NOT SIT ON PRAYING MAT

Wenda20170101A 02:14
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Are we allowed to place scriptures on the praying mat?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You may do so, as that is where our forehead touches during prostration. That is why praying mat is not to be sat on. There are some places where praying mat are placed on a hard wooden bench. In some instances, some will sit on the spot where others perform prostration. Do you know that anything below the navel on a human body is considered as - what we called the three lower realms which is considered filthy. Having said so, do you think you should sit on the praying mat? How can we place our buttocks on the front part of the cushion? When you are doing prostration, you may place the scriptures on the front part of the praying mat, as the front part is where your forehead makes contact with. Do you understand?

Caller: Yes, I understand.

"The Great Compassion Mantra" (Da Bei Zhou) 大悲咒

Ten merits and benefit of reciting 
"The Great Compassion Mantra" (Da Bei Zhou) 
(for all sentient beings): 

(1) to attain peace and happiness. 
(2) to get rid of all illnesses. 
(3) to obtain longevity . 
(4) to obtain wealth. 
(5) to extinguish all evil karma and weighty sins. 
(6) to be kept away from hindrances and disasters. 
(7) to increase the merits of all virtuous deeds. 
(8) to overcome all of their fears. 
(9) to mature their virtuous roots 
(10) to go to any Buddha lands following their wish when approach the end of their life 

Master Lu’s talk in Sydney Guan Yin Temple on Aug 5, 2017 

MASTER LU JUN HONG

Master Lu Jun Hong:

“I ask nothing of you. I only want you to live a better life! I want your life to be better now!”

“Help more people…We need to help more people by encouraging them to practice Buddhism throughout their lives, not just to recite Buddhist scriptures for a few months!”

2OR Australia Oriental Radio, Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, Guan Yin Bodhisattva

Master Jun Hong Lu was born in 1959. He is the President and Director of 2OR Australia Oriental Radio (2OR). Over the past ten years, with extraordinary dedication and compassion, he has been using Buddhist teachings to help listeners around the world.

Master Jun Hong Lu has been hosting the following weekly radio programs: ‘The Art of Applying Comprehensive Metaphysics’ (3 hours per week), ‘Metaphysics Q&A’ (2 hours per week), ‘Say it as You Wish’ (half an hour per week), and ‘Buddhism in Plain Terms’ (half an hour per week).

His Chinese website has attracted over 3 million visitors within two years. In 2012, the total visitors of the website reached 18 million.

Inspirational story about Master Lu:
Master Lu used to live a very prosperous life. However, to help more people learn Buddhism and understand the Law of Cause and Effect, he sold his house and used the money to start his own radio station— the Australia Oriental Radio.

At the early stage, Master Lu had no helper because the labour costs were very high in Australia.  Master Lu had to do everything on his own; he even wrapped the electronic wire by himself. Later on, after seeing Master Lu working so hard, several people decided to help him out.

Master Lu and his family live in a two-bedroom unit, which is smaller than a hundred square metres. Many of us have a living place much bigger than Master Lu’s.

Master Lu has been using his spiritual power to help people for decades, but this has a great impact on his health: Many spirits occupy Master Lu’s body and cause serious damage to his organs. As a result, Master Lu has little appetite and only eats very simple food such as vegetables and noodles.

Do you notice that Master Lu has lost a lot of weight?

Do you notice that Master Lu wears the same type of black suit every day?

Have you ever heard that Master Lu’s shoes were worn out and had holes in the soles?

Have you ever heard that Master Lu sold his house to start his own radio station?

Do you know that Master Lu spend all his income on promoting Buddhism?

Do you know that Master Lu declines the offer from his followers in France to pay for the venue for his dharma talk?

Do you also notice that Master Lu never accept any offerings from us?

Master Lu once said,

“I ask nothing of you. I only want you to live a better life! I want your life to be better now!”

“Help more people…We need to help more people by encouraging them to practice Buddhism throughout their lives, not just to recite Buddhist scriptures for a few months!”

No matter how hard we try to propagate Buddhism, we will never be able to repay the kindness of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Master Lu. I couldn’t help crying whenever I think about Master Lu. There is no reason for me not to recite scriptures and practice Buddhism diligently. Only by becoming one of the thousand arms and thousand eyes of Guan Yin Bodhisattva and introducing Buddhism to more people can we live up to Master Lu’s expectations. All the efforts that we’ve made and the disrespect we’ve experienced are in no way comparable to the hardship that Master Lu has been through.

Source: http://guanyincitta.com/en/inspirational-stories-108-about-master-lu-junhong/

Reason and Benefits of Practicing Buddhism

Reason and benefits of practicing Buddhism: 
A world of peace and harmony is possible. We must begin with ourselves.

Bodhisattva ideal is a central aspect of Mahayana Buddhist tradition and lays special emphasis on harmony and compassion.

Mahayana is Buddhism teachings available to laypersons from all walks of life to embark on the path of Bodhisattvas, who have become enlightened but unselfishly delay nirvana to help others attain it as well. It’s a deep wish for all sentient beings to be free from suffering. 

And learning Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door is to study Mahayana Buddhism as well as traditional Chinese culture. Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door encourages lay Buddhists to practice Mahayana Buddhism in daily life following the Noble Eightfold Path. It makes the practice easy and simple that you cannot imagine. The Noble Eightfold Path is the essential principals in Buddhism and provides guidance to overcome suffering 

REASON FOR HAVING TOO MUCH DISTRACTING THOUGHTS DURING RECITATION

Wenda20150424  18:25  [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller: When carrying out certain tasks, why we often feel particularly anxious, as though we wish to accomplish several tasks at once? When we perform scripture recitations hastily, our minds are perpetually thinking of other things. Master Lu, is this due to the greed in us?
​
Master Jun Hong Lu: Those who have too many distracting thoughts and who take the world of human too seriously, will tend to fail in performing good recitations. On the contrary, those who are truly able to transcend worldliness, are able to let go of everything in this world as they are indifferent to it all. These are the people who could cultivate well.

Caller: I see. Thank you Master Lu for answering my question.

CAN WE TAKE PICTURES OF FOOD?

Shuohua20130830 23:35 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller: One of our Buddhist friends would like to know whether we are allowed to take pictures of food that we consume.

Master Jun Hong Lu: There is no issue if the food is vegetarian. However, it is best not to take pictures of food containing animals. For example, if you take pictures of dishes like roast suckling pig or duck platter, the foreign spirits will be captured and will tag along with you.

Caller: That is to say, we can only take picture of vegetarian food?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You may as long as it’s vegetarian food. For non-vegetarian food, you cannot do so. It is good that you raised this question. Otherwise, I will not mention it as it is likely to slip my mind. If you have observed, there are many ignorant people who keep snapping pictures of non-vegetarian dishes served at wedding banquets. When they returned home, these people would quarrel and would be down on their luck. This is because the images captured in the photos have spirits in them.

Caller: Is this similar to the concept of having images of animals on our clothing.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.

A CONTENTED MIND IS A PERPETUAL FEAST

In this world, we would have to carry the weight of what we have gained. It is because, for all that we have gained, it is inevitable that we will have to bear the misery of losing it one day. Just like a coin has two sides, there is a positive and negative side to everything in life. Wherever there is a cause, there will be an effect. Everything we do has consequences.
As humans, we should not “pursue suffering”. When we fail to gain what we pursue, suffering will set in. Buddhist practitioners should understand that “a contented mind is a perpetual feast."

Master Jun Hong Lu’s 
Public Talk in Toronto, USA

September 5, 2016

Translated by Oriental Radio Practice Centre (Singapore)
Proofread by 2OR Secretariat

NOT PRAYING FOR ANYTHING WHEN DOING RECITATIONS IS ACCUMULATING MERITS

Wenda20151004A 05:33  [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller:  Master Lu, you once said that we would generate the most merits if we don’t ask for anything specific before we perform scripture recitations. Some Buddhist practitioners will wake up in the morning and start doing their recitations without mentioning their names or making any wishes
Is this appropriate?

Master Jun Hong Lu: When you perform recitations without seeking anything in return but merely to fulfill your daily recitation commitment, you will gain great merits.  If, for example, you are doing your recitation because of your upcoming exam, you are merely using the merits for a good exam result. When you do your daily recitation not seeking for anything, you would be accumulating merits.  You would still easily pass the exam if your daily recitation is of high quality.

You will be compromising on the quality of your recitations if you keep pondering on the unfulfilled wishes.  If you are not seeking for anything, it means you are free from desire.  Otherwise you won’t set your mind at ease if you keep thinking “I have to solve this issue, I have to achieve this.” I will give you a simple example. It’s easier to become close friends with someone when you have no hidden agenda.  When you encounter a problem and need his help one day, he will help you without hesitation.  Isn’t it right?

Caller:  Yes, that is right.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  If you harbour selfish thoughts when you enter a friendship and try ways to win his favour by treating him to lunches and so on, he will naturally feel the pressure from you and will face the dilemma of whether to help you, right?  

When you view from the above analogy, accumulation of merit is derived from non-seeking, which will be transmuted into merits eventually.  This explains why we frequently refer to merits as an accumulation of virtuous deeds.  When you are seeking something in return in the course of doing virtuous deeds, effectively you are converting merits into material blessings.  Am I right?

Caller: Oh, I understand now.  Thank you for answering my question, Master Lu.