METAPHYSICS- CHANGING NAMES

Metaphysics Q&A 002 – Changing names

Q002: Do we burn the Application for Name Change (Kai Ming Sheng Wen) after we pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva and ask for protection? What is the best time and location, and how should we perform the ritual? I just downloaded the application form and I would like to make name changes for my child and myself. Please advise.

A002:

Your name represents your souls and spirits. When your name is called, your souls and spirits follow your name. When a person is born, the name written on the birth certificate is also recorded in the spiritual realms, including the heavens and underworld. If you have changed your name for over one year, your new name may also have dynamic spiritual effects. However, if you have changed your name, it is best to lodge the Application for Name Change. If you have not lodged the application, it is best to use your original name on your birth certificate to perform recitations and to address your Little Houses (Hsiao Fang Tzu).

When you lodge the Application for Name Change, you are also updating your new name with Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, officers who are in charge of name changes in the heavens and the underworld, and all other spiritual beings.
You can download the Application for Name Change form from <www.GuanYinCitta.com>. Print the application form on a piece of A4 sized, yellow paper. [See Appendix C: Application for Name Change].

Fill in your original name and your new name. On the application form, fill in your original name where it says, “Devotee’s original full name”, and fill in your changed name where it says, “Now changed to” and “Devotee’s full name”. If you are completing the application form for your child, please also write the date of birth of your child, e.g. 2001/12/31 (according to the Gregorian calendar).

Please fill in your current location on the form (e.g. “Beijing, China” or “Sydney, Australia”). Please also fill in the date that you burn the form.

It is best to burn the application form on a sunny day. The best times are 8AM, 10AM and 4PM.
You can also hand write the form on a piece of A4 sized, yellow paper.

If there is an altar at home, then you need to offer incense and oil lamp(s) to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Read out the text on your application form in front of the altar (you may kneel down). Recite the Heart Sutra (Hsin Ching) 7 times and the Great Compassion Mantra (Ta Pei Chou) 7 times, and then you can burn the application form (burn from top to bottom).

If there is no altar at home, then you need to go to a temple to lodge your application. Make a full prostration to every Buddha and Bodhisattva in the temple, and then read out the text on your application form in the shrine where Guan Yin Bodhisattva is worshiped, “I, <your full name>, come to, <name of the temple>, today to pay my respects to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I sincerely ask the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva to witness and verify that my original name was <old name> and now my name has changed to <new name>. I sincerely invite all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in this temple to be my witnesses.” Recite the Heart Sutra (Hsin Ching) 7 times and Great Compassion Mantra (Ta Pei Chou) 7 times, and then you can burn the application form in the urn where the incense sticks are burnt (burn from top to bottom).

You only need to lodge your application once. If you feel that your name change has not been successful, you can lodge your application multiple times until it is successful.
It is best if you can lodge the Application for Name Change yourself. If a child is too young and is unable to lodge the application, parents or other family members can also lodge the application on behalf of the child.

You do not need to lodge the application for a deceased person. You can address the Little Houses to the full name of the deceased that was used before the deceased passed away.
If you are unsure of your original name, for example, if you were adopted, then you can lodge the Application for True Name[1]. You can download the Application for True Name form from <www.GuanYinCitta.com>.

To determine whether the Application for Name Change has been successful, you can recite Little Houses to the “Karmic Creditor of <your new full name>”. After you recite and burn the Little Houses, observe if you are still suffering from headaches, bad temper, or nightmares. You can judge whether your application has been successful by the resulting effects of the Little House. If the effects are positive, then it indicates that your Application for Name Change has been successful. Please refer to Q&A 081 “Regarding how to determine if the Application for Name Change is successful”.

WHAT TO DO WITH BONE CHINA TABLEWARE; AND AVOID PLACING EMPTY OBJECTS IN YOUR HOME

Wenda20171022B 22:31
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s Call-In Radio Program)

Caller:  Master Lu, not long ago I purchased some bone china bowls and plates, after which I learnt bone china is made of animal bones. What should I do?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  It doesn’t matter as the composition of the tableware only contains a very small amount of actual bone.  More importantly is that, they do not come in a particular shape or image.

Caller:  They are white, with no design whatsoever.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  What a strange person you are.  Why would you want to buy bowls? Empty bowls are generally not good.  Do not place any empty objects in your house.  In the past, when a Feng Shui master saw an empty flower jar at the entrance to a person’s home, it implied the person had nothing in their possession, and subsequently would fail in attaining whatever they pursued.  Do you understand?

Caller:  Do not place any empty objects in my home. Is that correct?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  You can’t have anything like that.  Many people purchase big vases for display and leave them empty.  That’s not the right thing to do. 

Caller:  Should I at least fill it up with water? 

Master Jun Hong Lu:  That’s right.  You may use it to raise fish, as an umbrella holder, or you can place artificial flowers inside of it.

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

ANGER MANAGEMENT

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk in Madrid, Spain
May 14, 2016

ANGER MANAGEMENT

There are many parents who frequently lose their temper.  Their faces are very unsightly and they experience health problems. 

One day, there was a girl who told her mother, “Mommy, you look very pretty today”. 
The mother said, “Why?”
“Because mommy did not get angry today”.

A person must keep his mood and temperament under control.  With that, in time, he will ultimately be able to 

THE EFFECT OF RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE SUTRA DEPENDS ON YOUR OWN HEART; RECITING AND MOVING IN CIRCULAR MOTIONS AROUND BODHISATTVA IN A CLOCKWISE DIRECTION

Wenda 20170409B  01:08:13
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller:  When we recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance Sutra, is there any difference in effect between nodding our heads quickly and not nodding our heads when we are kneeling?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It all depends on your heart.  Be it kneeling down, or nodding your head while standing, they are both ineffectual if you do not put your heart into it.

Caller: If we worry that we may feel drowsy while reciting the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance Sutra, can we move around the house as though we are circumambulating the statues of Buddha in a clock-wise direction?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Yes you can, but do it in a clock-wise direction.

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

HOW TO ENSURE THAT OUR ALTAR INVITES BODHISATTVA AND NOT FOREIGN SPIRITS?

Wenda20161028  54:53 
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, how can we ensure not to invite foreign spirits to our altar at home? How do we invite Bodhisattva to come more often?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Pray and perform recitations daily in front of the altar to prevent attracting foreign spirits.

Caller: That is to continuously pray and offer incense every day, right?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You cannot break the continuity. Once you stopped praying and offering incense for a day or two, foreign spirits can enter the Bodhisattva figurine.

Caller: If there is discontinuity for a few days, do we have to recite 7 times of the Great Compassion Mantra, 7 times of the Heart Sutra and 7 times of the Eight-eight Buddhas Great Repentance to repent?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It should not be a problem if you have positive energies and Bodhisattva has been visiting your altar; the foreign spirits would not dare to appear. However, if Bodhisattva hardly visits and you stop praying and reciting for a few days or a week, foreign spirits will go onto the altar.

Caller: How can we ensure that our home altar invite Bodhisattva to come more often?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Simple! Sincerity will make your wish come true. When you sincerely and earnestly change water and fruits on the altar, offer prayer and incense to Bodhisattva respectfully Bodhisattva will present when she hears your passionate prayers.

Caller: Also to maintain cleanliness in the house, right?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course, that is a must.

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

HOW TO GAUGE ONE’S PROGRESS IN SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION

Wenda20151127 26:51 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

HOW TO GAUGE ONE’S PROGRESS IN SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION

Caller: Master Lu, you always emphasize the importance of spiritual cultivation, as our mental states will determine our conduct.  Could Master enlighten us on the guidelines and traits which we can reflect upon to gauge our progression?   

Master Jun Hong Lu: A person who has progressed well in their spiritual cultivation: 
1. Will not quarrel;
2. Will not scold others;
3. Will not gaze at ladies seductively;
4. ​Are refined, they let others speak first, they will only tell the truth, will not sow discord. 

The above are visible traits of a well cultivated Buddhist practitioner.  Thus, to be successful, one must emulate Buddha in his behavioral conduct before others are able to perceive them like a successful practitioner. If a person does not behave like a Buddha, how do you expect them to progress in their spiritual cultivation?

Caller:  I understand.  Thank you Master.

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

NEGATIVE KARMA WILL BE ELIMINATED WHEN THE MIND AND BODHISATTVA CONNECTS DURING RECITATION

Wenda20170430A 27:18
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s Call-In Radio Program)

Caller:  In Buddhism in Plain Terms, you mentioned “recitation can eliminate negative karma”. Hence, in the process of doing recitations and eliminating negative karma, how do we combine the compassionate vows embodied in the mantras with the state of our actions, speeches and thoughts from recitations, so that they can operate together to achieve the goal of enlightening sentient beings in addition to the elimination of negative karma?  Please advise us, Master Lu.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  It is through the ’unification of our mind with that of Buddha’.  When your thoughts are occupied with Buddha, Buddha will be in your heart.  When your life is guided by the cognitive thoughts of Buddha, it is known as ‘unification of mind with that of Buddha’.  As long as you are able to unify your heart with Buddha, you will have attained this unification.

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

DRAWING CONCLUSIONS FROM MATTERS WE DO NOT HAVE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF IS CONSIDERED TO BE ‘CREATING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING’, AND HAS HEAVY KARMIC RAMIFICATIONS

Shuohua20170602  26:59
(Master Jun Hong Lu's Call-In Radio Program)

Caller:  As a Buddhist practitioner, how do we avoid drawing conclusions or stereotyping someone or some issue that we do not have a thorough understanding of?  Is discussion involving another person’s past or private life considered to be an act of ‘creating something out of nothing’, and thus creating bad karma of speech?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Exactly!  Karmic ramifications are equally serious for ‘creating something out of nothing’, bad karma of speech, and participating in the defamation of others.

Caller:  When we are uncertain of other’s family matters and pasts, yet pass judgement that such people are good or bad, will this become…?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  This is a form of attachment.

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

DISCOURSE BY GUAN DI BODHISATTVA : NO ONE SHOULD PLEA FOR LENIENCY FOR ANYONE WHO MADE ILL-GOTTEN GAINS IN THE NAME OF BUDDHA AND BODHISATTVA, DAMAGES OR SLANDERS BUDDHISM; TRANSGRESSORS SHALL FALL INTO THE RELENTLESS HELL WITH NO CHANCE OF REINCARNATION

Wenda20160925B 11:52
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

DISCOURSE BY GUAN DI BODHISATTVA : 
NO ONE SHOULD PLEA FOR LENIENCY FOR ANYONE WHO MADE ILL-GOTTEN GAINS IN THE NAME OF BUDDHA AND BODHISATTVA, DAMAGES OR SLANDERS BUDDHISM;
TRANSGRESSORS SHALL FALL INTO THE RELENTLESS HELL WITH NO CHANCE OF REINCARNATION

Guan Di Bodhisattva’s discourse: “To make ill-gotten gains in the name of Buddha and Bodhisattvas, to slander or damage Buddha’s doctrine and regulations shall be severely punished–no one is to plead for leniency for the transgressors”.

Those who make ill-gotten gains in the name of Buddha, destroy Dharma, hold Buddhist regulations in contempt, despise Buddhist monastics, or deceive the kindness and sincerity of Buddhists are all regarded as evil-doers.  They are guilty of an evil act so unpardonable that their descending to hell is considered lenient.  Those who are guilty are regarded to have committed a heinous offence, an offence so unpardonable that they will be banished to the relentless hell and barred from reincarnation eternally.

On the contrary, those who uphold and transmit Dharma, as well as those who pass on the positive energy of Dharma, shall be protected by all Buddhas and Dharma Protectors.

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

Words of Wisdom (vol. 3)

Words of Wisdom (vol. 3)

A true Buddhist practitioner is a person of few words, who is mindful of their demeanor, and who practices what they preach.

DISCOVER OUR ABILITY

Excerpt from Master Jun Hong Lu's
Public Talk, Macau, China
February 26, 2017

DISCOVER OUR ABILITY

Many people realized their potential in a hard way.  Human's ability is like a diamond, hidden deep underneath the ground waiting to be uncovered.  That’s why many people can only unleash their potential under difficult situations. Thus, you may never be able to discover your true self if you remain in your comfort zone and the diamond lies within your heart may lose the luster.  You need to give yourself a push to achieve a breakthrough.  DO NOT keep telling yourself that you can't make it or it is impossible for you to achieve.  By doing so, you will regain confidence and create miracles.

I’d like to tell you: The direction of a tree growth is determined by the wind, whereas, our heart determines the direction of personal growth!  Thus, be a good person and practice Buddhism diligently.  Have faith in ourselves.  Many people are putting pressure and worries upon themselves. If you do not allow yourself to worry, no one is able to make you worry!

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

METAPHYSICS- THE PRAYER BEFORE RECITING LITTLE HOUSES

Metaphysics Q&A 008 – The prayer before reciting Little Houses

Q008: Master Lu, how should we pray to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas before we recite Little Houses (Hsiao Fang Tzu)? How do we sincerely ask protection and blessings from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas?

A008:

Before you recite Little Houses, you can say the following prayer, “May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva help me, <your full name>, to offer the Little Houses to <full name of the merit receiver> (can be your Karmic Creditor, a deceased relative or friend, a Karmic Creditor of your house, or a child that was aborted or miscarried).” 
Please keep your prayer short and simple, but it is also alright even if you do not say anything. As soon as our thoughts arise, the thoughts are precisely recorded in the spiritual world.

You can write the above prayer down, and recite your prayer once each time before you recite Little Houses. Gradually, you will be able to remember your prayer.

Some foreign spirits in the underworld or Asura realm tend to refuse to proceed to a higher level in the realms. Instead, they transfer the merits from Little Houses into their currency or energy and spend it all. Sometimes no matter how many Little Houses we recite for them, the transferring of merits would not be successful. It is best to ask Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to protect and bless them so that they can transform the merits into energy and help them to proceed to a better place.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE SMALL WORMS IN OUR RICE?

Shuohua20170714   18:33
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s Call-In Radio Program)

Caller:  Master, how do we deal with the small worms in our rice?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  If you find small worms in your rice, do a few recitations of the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra (Wang Sheng Zhou).

Caller:  If I pick them out and flush them down the drain, will this be regarded as life liberation?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  You should pick them up, wrap them up in a small paper bag, and then throw the bag away.  In this way, it is considered to be performing life liberation, as you are letting the worms fend for their own survival. On the other hand, if you flush them away in water, don’t you think you’d be drowning them?

Caller:  I understand.

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

METAPHYSICS- LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS OF WATER AND MOUNTAINS

Metaphysics Q&A 007 – Landscape paintings of water and mountains

Q007: Dear Master Lu, we would like to ask for your advice regarding landscape paintings of water and mountains. What are the requirements for these paintings as home decorations? Do we need to place the paintings behind the statues or images of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas? Can we place these paintings in other rooms in the house? What are the meanings behind the contents of these paintings, especially the requirements for the water? According to Feng-Shui, waterfalls are not a good choice for paintings. In addition, what about the direction of the water flow? Is it true that the water should flow inwards instead of outwards? Ocean waves and huge tides are also not very good according to Feng-Shui. Could you please let us know if there are other requirements? Please advise. Thank you very much.

A007:

There are many places that you can place landscape paintings of water and mountains:
Behind statues or images of Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, or behind the altar to block negative energies.

Above the bathroom door on the outside (not on the door. If the space between the door and the celling is too small, you can also place it on the wall on either side of the bathroom door) to prevent the negative energies from coming out (it is as if there is a mountain above the bathroom door and there is water flowing underneath; your bathroom door is just a small hole underneath the mountain, so the negative energies cannot escape).

Above the bedroom door to prevent negative energies from entering the bedroom.
If the doors of two rooms are facing each other, you can also place the paintings above the doors.

Certain locations are unsuitable for large paintings, such as above the bed, since it would be as if a mountain is pressing down on your head. Generally, small paintings would be alright.

The best landscape paintings have a large mountain sitting above still water, with valleys and hills in the far background, but the mountains should not have sharp peaks (water itself is always flowing, including still water). A waterfall in the landscape painting is alright as well, as long as the waterfall is not overly aggressive.
The painting must be blessed to activate the water and mountain for the painting to take effect.

The painting can be an oil painting, a water painting, or a printed image, as long as it does not appear to be too unnatural.
It is best not to use paintings of deceased artists, as these paintings tend to attract foreign spirits. The painting should not have large figures of people or animals, as these figures also tend to attract foreign spirits.

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

Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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.

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

ARE WE ALLOWED TO SIT ON OUR HEELS WHILE KNEELING ON THE PRAYING MAT?

Wenda20170101A 00:50
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller: Master Lu, there are some Buddhist practitioners who sit on their heels while kneeling on the praying mat. Is this alright?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It is alright. No problem at all. 

Caller: It is like they rest entirely on the praying mat and their feet are not touching the ground at all, they are entirely on the praying mat. 

Master Jun Hong Lu: It is no problem at all for them to sit on their own heels. After you have performed prayer, you may sit on your heels. That’s totally fine.

Caller: Alright.

Master Jun Hong Lu: However, on the first prostration it is best to straighten their back while they are on the praying mat. They may only sit on their heels on the subsequent rounds. Generally, only people who are tired will do this, or those that have issues with their back or their health. Bodhisattva would not mind. Do you understand?

Caller: That’s right. Thank you Master Lu for your compassionate guidance.

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

METAPHYSICS- SUFFERING FROM HEADACHES WHEN PERFORMING RECITATIONS

Metaphysics Q&A 009 – Suffering from headaches when performing recitations

Q009: Master Lu, I have started to recite the Little House (Hsiao Fang Tzu) for the two babies that I aborted. I just finished the first Little House and I have been suffering from headaches for two days. What is going on? What should I do? Please advise!

A009:

Generally, if you suffer from headaches when you perform recitations, this is a signal given by foreign spirits asking you to speed up your progress in reciting Little Houses.
It may be your deceased children or other Karmic Creditors who are giving you these signals. You must be persistent and continue to recite.

Now that you can recite Little Houses, your Karmic Creditors would come and ask you to repay your karmic debts.
Some people might say, “Then it would be better for me to not recite, so I won’t have to suffer from headaches.” This is not true. It is better to use Little Houses to repay your karmic debts now. If you don’t recite now, you will repay your karmic debts in other forms later, such as suffering from illness, experiencing misfortune, or being involved in car accidents.

For the recitation of Little Houses to be effective, you must perform your Daily Recitation as the foundation. Most importantly, you should mindfully and respectfully recite the Great Compassion Mantra(Ta Pei Chou) to increase your spiritual power, and you will become better at reciting Little Houses.

HOW SOON WILL BAD KARMA BE NOTED AND HOW TO ELIMINATE NEGATIVE KARMA IMMEDIATELY THROUGH REPENTANCE

Wenda20160624  01:04:31 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller:  Master Lu, is there a point when Dharma protectors will start recording the karma residing in our cognitive world?  Do they do it at daily at regular intervals?  What about the officials from the underworld?  How frequently do they update their records?  Please enlighten us.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  No physical recording by Dharma protectors is required as you have all the records stored within your mind.  The way Dharma protectors record is by sight. For example, if you turn on the recording mode of your mobile phone 24 hours a day, all your conversations throughout the day will be recorded.,

Caller: Yes.  That’s right.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Where the need arises, you may refer to the recorder to verify the contents again.  Thus, you are the one who captures records of all your own doings.  It is not necessary for Dharma protectors to do the recording.  There is no escape. When the time is due, Dharma protectors will go through entire records to sort out the respective karmas you have created – both good and bad.

Caller:  I understand.  Master Lu, is there any way we could repent and remove the bad karma before Dharma protectors and officials from underworld conduct their investigations on us?  How many of the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance do we have to recite?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  As I have mentioned before, for every single mistake made, you have to repent as soon as possible, ideally within five minutes.  And within one hour, head down to our centre to recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance seven times before Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Caller:  What about the Sapta Atitabuddha Karasaniya Dharani Sutra (Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yen)?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  You may recite the sutra when you are heading home from the scene.  For example, if you got into a fight and out of concern for your safety, you could recite Sapta Atitabuddha Karasaniya Dharani on your way home.  Once you reach home, offer your prayer to Bodhisattva with incense and start reciting your Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance.  We used to have a Buddhist friend who got into a heated argument with her husband and was on the verge of divorce.  But when her husband saw her repenting to Bodhisattva before their altar, he simmered down and eventually forgave her.  Soon, they made up and are as loving as before. 

Caller:  Thank you, Master Lu, for your compassionate sharing.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU ARE REPENTING FOR A PREVIOUS LIFE OR THIS LIFE, IT IS MORE EFFECTIVE TO ADD ON LITTLE HOUSES

Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
Shuohua20160506  07:02  [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller: “Buddhism In Plain Terms” mentioned that we repent continuously and recite Little Houses to eliminate our karmic debts.  However, when we have dreams of a previous life’s karma, do we confess and repent to Bodhisattva on that matter directly or recite our repentance as usual?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  You may repent single-mindedly on that issue since you have dreams about it.  Basically, this dream is to warn you of your forth-coming problems. Regardless of whether it is your previous life’s karma that has passed, or this life’s karma or future karmic eruptions, you can do your repentance.   However, you must pair the repentance with the Little Houses because repentance without Little Houses will not have much effect.

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

FOR RECITATION, WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE NOT BOUND BY THE TIME OF DAY, AND CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE "SPIRITUAL ENERGY"

Wenda20170430A  28:05
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

Caller:  Master, you mentioned before that a person who possesses considerable spiritual energy may perform recitation with “no time restriction.”  Nowadays, there are Buddhist friends who continue to perform recitation late at night without any problems.  Master, may I know where such spiritual energy, in this context, is derived from. 

Master Jun Hong Lu:  They are the ones who constantly perform recitation of scripture, harbor no evil thoughts and have very minimal yin energy. 

Caller:  You mean people who recite constantly and help sentient beings through learning Buddhism and cultivation, will get enlightened constantly.  As a result, it will give rise to a type of spiritual energy in him.  Is this how it is, Master?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  That’s right.  As long as one has faith, he will possess spiritual energy due to the chain effect of Faith, Vow and Practice.  Faith leads to the generation of vow, which will subsequently boost your confidence.  With the power of faith, spiritual energy will be formed in the person.

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

OFFERING HEART INCENSE TO BODHISATTVA ENSHRINED AT HOME WHILE WHOLE FAMILY IS AWAY

Shuohua20111202  11:07 
(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program)

Caller:  How do you do Master Lu?  A Buddhist friend would like to know, what they should do with their altar at home when they go away to temple for prayer on the first day of lunar month.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  He still has to offer incense at home.

Caller:  What if there is no one at home?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  What do you mean by that?

Caller:  That is, the whole family has gone to a temple in another city for prayer.

Master Jun Hong Lu:  I see.  He still has to offer heart incense then.

Caller:  To offer heart incense, do they need to bring along a picture of their altar with them?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  If you use a picture, you will need an incense burner.  Without the picture, you may simply offer heart incense.

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

MERITS GAINED BY GIVING TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA (DHARMA DANA)

Wenda20130405  05:41
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s Call-In Radio Program)

Caller:  I wish to improve my level of self-cultivation and to dedicate myself to progressing towards this goal.  Though I do not perform much life liberation, I do my utmost to help others spiritually awaken, and with every person I have helped, I tell him to, ‘refrain from the act of killing, not to consume live creatures, and to be a vegetarian on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar calendar month’. 

Master Jun Hong Lu:  That’s correct. 

Caller:  Does these actions measure up to the merits of performing life liberation? Or…?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  These merits are even greater!  This is because Dharma Dana is the highest form of the three types of Dana, with the other two being ‘Wealth Dana’ and ‘Fearlessness Dana’.

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

AIM TO ATTAIN SELFLESSNESS

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk, Hong Kong 2014

AIM TO ATTAIN SELFLESSNESS

Master Lu, “The ultimate objective of cultivation is to attain selflessness.  Facing hardships in life, Buddhist cultivators should aim at leaving sufferings and embracing happiness”.  People won't cultivate if there was no hardship.  In cultivation, we should aim to attain a state of emptiness.  In doing so, you will be a carefree Buddha in the human realm.  I hope that you have less distracting thoughts, less greed and less hatred; only then, can ignorance be curtailed.”

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

METAPHYSICS- WALKING UNDER TREES AT NIGHT

Metaphysics Q&A 014 – Walking under trees at night

Q014: Master Lu, when I walk home at night I often walk under trees. Recently, I have been feeling scared so I started to recite the Great Compassion Mantra (Ta Pei Chou) while walking. I don’t know why.

A014:

Trees have “Yin” energies rather than “Yang” energies. In Chinese, there is a saying, “green trees connect together to form “Yin” energies”. When the heat from the sun is strong, people go under trees to avoid the sun. What they are actually doing is avoiding “Yang” energies by hiding under a “Yin” object. It is alright to be under trees while the sun is out during the day.
At night, it is best not to be under trees, since night time is already full of “Yin” energies.
Generally, people who are cultivating and performing recitations would not be too affected by this situation.
When you walk under trees at night, you can recite the Great Compassion Mantra. It is best to avoid reciting aloud, as it may attract unnecessary trouble.

PUTTING ON UNSIGHTLY CLOTHES IN A DREAM INDICATES KARMA IS HEAVY

Wenda20160612B 45:23 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller: A fellow practitioner dreamt that other people told him that the clothes he wore looked awful.  What does this mean?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  If other people dreamt of his clothes looking ugly on him; that means that his karma is heavy.  The clothes worn in the dream are used to represent his karmic debts.  Being well-dressed indicates that our karma is light, whereas unsightly outfits, like lifestyle habits, will leave a bad impression on others.  Is this not your karma?  People will love you when you display good habits, “Gosh, your outfit is so nice, I love your attire”.  Is this not a good lifestyle habit and is this not showing that you have lighter karma?

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

METAPHYSICS- THE PURPOSE OF RECITING THE EIGHTY-EIGHT BUDDHAS GREAT REPENTANCE

Metaphysics Q&A 023 – The purpose of reciting the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance

Q023: Master Lu, my friend and I are following your Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and we are performing recitations. After reciting the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance (Li Fo Ta Chan Hui Wen), my friend dreamt of people asking for sutras and Little Houses (Hsiao Fang Tzu). My friend is too scared to continue performing recitations. Could you please explain the purpose of reciting the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance?

A023:

When a person steals something, kills a dog or a person, or commits any wrongdoings, a cloud or a patch of black energy is generated in this person’s souls and spirits, which then will occupy this person’s body. These black clouds of energies are karmic obstacles due to negative karma. When Master Lu says someone has a lot of heavy black energies on the Totem, it means that this person has committed many wrongdoings, both in the past lives and in the present life. The more black energies accumulated within the body, the more likely it is that this person will suffer from health, career and relationship problems.

Suppose explosives represent karmic obstacles due to negative karma. When a person has a lot of negative karma stored in the body, it is similar to having a lot of explosives stored in the body. When this person has committed numerous wrongdoings and the storage of explosives reaches its full capacity, then as soon as a spirit becomes activated, the time will come and this person’s causality will take effect. All the stored explosives would explode, and this person would be “blown into pieces”. This may be the time that a person is diagnosed with a terminal illness such as cancer, or is involved in a fatal automobile accident.

It is very rare for Master Lu to see a Totem that is very clean and bright. Everyone carries a lot of karmic obstacles due to negative karma. The main reason is that humans often have too many unwholesome thoughts and the desire to take advantage of others, are reluctant to give, and do not know how to treat others well. Therefore, the body, speech, and mind are not pure. As a result, negative karma continuously accumulate from past lives and the present life.

It is very important to carry less negative karma and to stay pure. The best way to eliminate karmic obstacles due to negative karma is to recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance and eliminate the black energies accumulated here and there. It is like reducing the amount of explosives on the body. The more that the explosives are reduced, the less likely you are to be seriously injured when an “explosion” occurs during old age, even if you still have some explosives left at that time.

These days, the listeners of the radio program are very clever. They ask Master Lu about the amount of negative karma that they carry and the specific locations on the body. This will help to eliminate karmic obstacles on one part of the body at a time. 

Before you recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance, you can say, “May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>, help me to repent and eliminate karmic obstacles due to negative karmas in <the part of the body that has karmic obstacles>”. Generally, for each part of the body, you can recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance 3 times per day for 2 months, or 7 times per day for 1 month. 
Certain parts of the body may have more karmic obstacles and require a longer period of time. If you only say, “eliminate karmic obstacles due to negative karma on my body”, it is very difficult to eliminate all of the karmic obstacles, because there are too many of them all over the body.

Many illnesses may have a spiritual cause, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, brain thrombosis, coronary heart disease, skin disease, epilepsy, Ménière’s disease, and psychosis, etc.

Back to your question, sometimes when you recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance, you may dream of someone asking you for sutras, or the part of the body from which you wish to eliminate karmic obstacles starts to ache – that means your karmic obstacles have been activated and transformed into foreign spirits. You should recite 4 to 7 Little Houses as soon as possible. Then if you are still not feeling well, you should continue to recite more Little Houses until you fully recover. The karmic obstacles on this particular part of the body will then be basically eliminated, and later on in your old age it is less likely that you will suffer from an illness on that part of the body. However, if you leave it until you reach old age, then when the negative karma ripen, you may not be able to completely recover even if you recite several dozens or over a hundred Little Houses.

Early activation of karmic obstacles due to negative karma is a good thing. The spiritual power of these foreign spirits would be less and the number of Little Houses that you need to recite would be fewer, compared to if you activate the negative karma later or wait until they ripen by themselves. It is like getting treatment at an early stage of an illness.

In the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance where it says, “for all the sins I have committed in the past (Wo Hsi So Tsao Chu O Yeh)… I now repent them all (Yi Chieh Wo Chin Chieh Chan Hui)”, it is best for you to make a full prostration after reciting this line. For the rest of the sutra where it indicates that you should make full prostrations, you can visualize that you are performing the prostrations in your mind, or just nod your head instead. The last line which says, “Namo Great Conduct Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Na Mo Da Heng Pu Hsien Pu Sa)” – you must recite in the name of the Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Pu Hsien Pu Sa) 3 times and then stand up. If you are reciting whilst kneeling down, you should also recite this line 3 times and then stand up.
It is alright to perform recitations at a fast speed, provided that you do not miss any words.

METAPHYSICS- BURNING LITTLE HOUSES IN BUDDHIST TEMPLES

Metaphysics Q&A 019 – Burning Little Houses in Buddhist temples

Q019: Hi Master Lu, after we finish reciting Little Houses (Hsiao Fang Tzu), can we bring them to Buddhist temples to burn them?

A019:

It is best not to burn Little Houses in Buddhist temples.
If you do not have an altar at home, you can burn the Little Houses on your balcony, near the window in your living room, or in the backyard.

You should offer the Heart Incense[1] and then sincerely invite Guan Yin Bodhisattva by saying the following three times, “Sincerely invite the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, saviour of suffering and disasters.” You can then recite the Great Compassion Mantra (Ta Pei Chou) once and the Heart Sutra (Hsin Ching) once.

Raise the Little Houses slightly above your head, and then bow to the sky three times, or visualize yourself making full prostrations, and say the following prayer: “May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>, help me to offer the Little Houses to <name of the merit receiver; can be your Karmic Creditor, name of a deceased person, a child that was aborted or miscarried, or the Karmic Creditor of someone’s house>.”

When you are burning Little Houses (it is best to burn from top to bottom, starting from the upper right hand corner where it says “Offer To”), you can say the following prayer, “May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>, with your compassion.” You can then light the Little Houses using a lighter of matches. While you are burning Little Houses, please do not recite or say anything extra. You should only say the prayer, “May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>, with your compassion.”

After you finish burning Little Houses, you can say the following, “With my sincere prostration, I hereby express my deepest gratitude to the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva for protecting and blessing me, <your full name>, so that I can have good health, and a safe and fortunate life. Please help me to offer the Little Houses to <name of the merit receiver>. Deepest gratitude to the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva.” You can then make a prostration.

Please note: Before you burn the Little Houses, you can recite the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance (Li Fo Ta Chan Hui Wen) once, and this would enhance the effectiveness of the transferring of merits. This is particularly helpful if you are burning Little Houses that were recited by someone else for you.

Recitation of the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance would compensate for the fact that you did not recite these Little Houses yourself and would help to express your thoughts of repentance and sincere respect. You can say the following prayer, “May the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva protect and bless me, <your full name>, help me to repent and eliminate karmic obstacles due to negative karmas.” Please note that recitation of the Eighty-eight Buddhas Great Repentance before burning Little Houses is optional.

Ensure that the entire piece of paper is thoroughly burnt. You can use metal tweezers to hold the Little House while you burn it.
The best times to burn Little Houses are 8AM, 10AM and 4PM. Any other time during day time on a sunny day would also be alright. Generally, the period between 6AM and sunset is suitable for burning Little Houses if the weather is good. For more details please refer to Important Information about Little Houses.

THE SEQUENCE FOR PERFORMING DAILY RECITATIONS

Shuohua20170915 13:58
(Master Jun Hong Lu's Call-In Radio Program)

Caller:  Master Lu, in regards to the set of scriptures in our daily recitations, is there any sequence we should observe when reciting them?  For example, after completing the Great Compassion Mantra, should we continue to recite the Heart Sutra or the Cundi Dharani etc.?  Is there a specific sequence to observe, or a method of pairing scriptures to make them more effective?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  Certainly!   You will need to begin with the Great Compassion Mantra, followed by the Heart Sutra, and then the ten short mantras.  As for the recitation of Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance, you may do it either at the end or at the very beginning.  Generally, our recitation should start with the Great Compassion Mantra and the Heart Sutra.

Caller:  I understand now.

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

RECITE HEART SUTRA 7 TIMES DAILY TO GAIN WISDOM; AND USING THIS WISDOM TO EDUCATE CHILDREN

Wenda20170903A 57:54
(Master Jun Hong Lu's Call-In Radio Program)

Caller:  Nowadays many mothers are perturbed by the challenge of how to educate their children. They do not know how to do so, and feel that they are lacking in the required wisdom it takes to do it successfully.  Master, can we recite Heart Sutra 7 times daily and pray for Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s compassion in helping us to attain wisdom to be able to educate our children well?  Is it appropriate to say such a prayer in this situation?

Master Jun Hong Lu:  It’s absolutely fine to do so.

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

HOW TO CHANGE OUR FIXED KARMA CREATED FROM OUR GOOD AND BAD KARMIC DEEDS

Wenda20160605  55:20  [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program]

Caller:  Master, please enlighten us:  Is fixed karma referring to our bad karmic debts?

Master Jun Hong Lu:   No, it is not.  Fixed karma arises from both our good and bad karmic deeds.   The good and bad deeds created by you in the past will form the fixed karma in your present life, thus the karma is fixed.  

Therefore, the Dharma we are practicing presently will change our fixed karmic debts and eliminate them.  Fixed karma can also be changed when you have accumulated merits from a lot of good deeds you performed every year.  The merits gained will gradually help to change your fixed karmic emergence.  For example, if you are a bad person, you will have to do good deeds every day to make others aware that you are changing for the better and gradually accept you as a good person.

Caller:  When the fixed karmic debts are transformed into good karma, will the fixed karma be changed completely?  Will some fixed karmic debts be left behind to turn into retribution effects?

Master Jun Hong Lu:   All if possible, if not, it will take its effect eventually.

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