Guan Yin Citta & Master Lu

[Curiousparty]

(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program)

*HOW TO IMPROVE ONE’S EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING BUDDHISM?*

Caller: Master Lu, when you perform Totem readings, you could see that some of the dharma practitioners have accumulated lots of virtues, but some of them do not have a supportive family or comfortable job that enables them to spend most of their time pursuing Buddhism. Is there any other way to improve such a situation apart from reciting the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots (Jie Jie Zhou)?

Master Jun Hong Lu: For poor external environment, besides reciting the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots you can also recite the Heart Sutra (Xin Jing) and the Jvala Mahaugra Dharani (Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou). In fact, another feature of the Jvala Mahaugra Dharani is to prevent calamities, so as to improve your environment and help you achieve a smooth sailing life.

[Curiousparty]

Wenda20150719B 35:25
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

*HOW TO DEAL WITH VEXATIONS BROUGHT ABOUT IN THE COURSE OF PURSUING COMFORT IN LIFE*

Caller: In our pursuit of a comfortable life, we often have to work hard and deliberate on many issues, resulting in increasing vexations. How do we strike the balance between our life and troubles caused by the material world we are in? Hope Master Lu could enlighten us.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Do not succumb to greed. Always say to yourself: “I am happy with what I have. I do not need more, thank you.” By doing so, you will not be greedy. It is greed that intensifies your acquisitive drive and leads you to pursue endlessly. Eventually, you will have more vexations. The best way to avoid such vexations is to be content and let go of what you have been clinging on. A person who is pre-occupied with discontentment and unhappiness is in a way mentally unsound. Do you understand?

Caller: Yes, I do. Thank you for enlightening us, Master Lu.

[Curiousparty]

On 6 February 2021, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore held another *online English Group Study*. The session provided an extensive coverage on *Tai Sui Bodhisattva* and *the Bodhisattva of Wealth* as we herald the lunar new year. ??????

*Did you know this?*
There is a total of *60 Tai Sui Bodhisattvas who take turns to helm the sacred position of Tai Sui Bodhisattva in heaven on a yearly basis*. General Yang Xin will take over the position from General Lu Mi on the first day of 2021 Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox). ?

Clashes with Tai Sui Bodhisattva are a natural phenomenon and herein lies the importance of being aware of one’s conflict in order to ensure a peaceful and safe year ahead. *Those, who were born in the years of the ?ox, ?sheep, ?horse, ?dog and ?dragon, will be in conflict with Tai Sui Bodhisattva of 2021.*

While the degree of conflict varies, all *the five affected zodiacs will be subject to stringent surveillance* nevertheless. With every single move under scrutiny, *the risk of being hit by misfortune is high, particularly for those in their zodiac year of birth (Ben Ming Nian in Chinese)*.

While one can consider quelling the potential ill luck by adopting some Chinese customary practices such as wearing red, *the most effective way is none other than being steadfast in one’s spiritual cultivation and perform more meritorious deeds.*

The participants were advised to *offer at least 27 _Little Houses_ per month, to resolve the conflict with Tai Sui Bodhisattva*. Master Lu has offered these words of comfort to those who may be hard pressed to offer the recommended number of _Little Houses_, *“Based on my experience, one should not worry about the quantity of _Little House_ offered in the event of a karmic pass. Do your utmost to recite as many as possible and you will make it through your karmic pass.”*?

The facilitator also highlighted that *praying to Tai Sui Bodhisattva should not be isolated to the year when the conflict occurs*. We should always do so and pray for safety. The participants were advised to *put forth their prayer request to Tai Sui Bodhisattva on a monthly basis rather than yearly for it to be efficacious.*

? In the second half of the session, *the protocols to welcome the Bodhisattva of Wealth on the fifth day of the CNY were highlighted*. On that day, we should refrain from openly stating that our wish is to become wealthy. It is recommended to *recite 108 times of _Cundi Dharani_ and 21 times of the _Heart Sutra_ on that day*. To make one’s prayer more effective, one can vow to practise the giving of money and adopt a vegetarian diet on that day. ????

? *Some other interesting tips to increase one’s wealth luck are:*
1. Offering incense three times daily;
2. Wiping the incense burner;
3. Levelling of ashes in the incense burner; and
4.Cherishing one’s good fortune.

The online group study will take a two-week break in conjunction with the Chinese New Year and *regroup on 27 February 2021*. In the upcoming session, *a slew of topical and yet pertinent Buddhism issues will be presented*.

*Let us now look at some comments from participants:*
_I learnt that praying for worldly blessings is a reflection on one’s state of spiritual cultivation._

_I was reminded to grasp the opportunity to perform more recitation especially during the first few days of CNY._
 
?*Join us in our next session*
Please contact Loh SX (96978356) / Woan Yi SX (82182248) for more information
 
 ⏰ *Date and time:*
Saturday 27 Feb 2021 (2.00pm - 4.00pm)
 
*Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:*
https://bit.ly/3tww2GZ

[Curiousparty]

(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program)

*HOW TO IMPROVE ONE’S EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING BUDDHISM?*

Caller: Master Lu, when you perform Totem readings, you could see that some of the dharma practitioners have accumulated lots of virtues, but some of them do not have a supportive family or comfortable job that enables them to spend most of their time pursuing Buddhism. Is there any other way to improve such a situation apart from reciting the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots (Jie Jie Zhou)?

Master Jun Hong Lu: For poor external environment, besides reciting the Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots you can also recite the Heart Sutra (Xin Jing) and the Jvala Mahaugra Dharani (Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou). In fact, another feature of the Jvala Mahaugra Dharani is to prevent calamities, so as to improve your environment and help you achieve a smooth sailing life.

[Curiousparty]

Q: How do we welcome the Bodhisattva of Wealth? What sutras and mantras should we recite?

A: On the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, keep in mind that we should not openly state that our wish is to become wealthy.
Many people make incense offerings and pray for wealth on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year but are unable to have their wish fulfilled. It is because they have said their wishes out loud.

Many people like to talk about the good deeds that they have done. For example, “I have helped many poor people”, “I have donated such and such amount of money”, or “I have made such and such contributions”, etc. It is best to refrain from doing so.

On the fifth day of the Chinese New Year when the Bodhisattva of Wealth is visiting us, avoid saying things such as, “I want to get rich.” If you say this, then it is very likely that your wish to become rich would not be fulfilled.

Master Lu hopes that everyone will be truly well, I am not teaching you ways to get rich as ultimately, money cannot bring us happiness. Many people are very wealthy, but they are not happy. A truly wise person would pray for peace and safety. There is a Chinese saying: “Being safe and well itself is a blessing (平安就是福).”

We should not be greedy. Once a person becomes greedy, they will experience sorrow, poverty and suffering. As Buddhists, we should not be greedy.

Generally, during the daytime on the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, you can recite the Cundi Dharani 108 times and the Heart Sutra 21 times.

Before you recite, you can say the following prayer: “May the Greatly Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva and the Bodhisattva of Wealth protect and bless me, so that I will have a smooth career and improved financial situation.”
You can then recite the four types of sutras and mantras included in the Little House (namely, the Great Compassion Mantra, the Heart Sutra, the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra and the Qi Fo Mie Zui Zhen Yan). The number of recitations for each sutra and mantra can be the same as that of the Little House. But you do not have to fill out or burn the Little House.

However, as people attain different levels of spiritual practice, their wishes will also vary. If you are still praying for wealth, and blessings in the human and heaven realms, you could also recite and offer 7 to 21 Little Houses to the Bodhisattva of Wealth, and address them to the “Bodhisattva of Wealth”.

In addition, it is best if you can vow to practise the giving of money. This will help your prayers to the Bodhisattva of Wealth to be more effective.
- An excerpt from the book, Buddhism: Your Questions Answered Q131

[Curiousparty]

*IT IS BEST TO ADOPT A VEGETARIAN DIET ON THE FIFTH DAY OF THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH, THE DAY WHEN THE BODHISATTVA OF WEALTH BRINGS GOOD FORTUNE*

Caller: Dear Master Lu, it’s Chinese New Year now and we will absolutely adopt a full vegetarian diet on the first and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Due to the many gatherings of relatives and friends during this period, could you please let us know which days we should avoid eating meat?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Firstly, keep in mind that you need to adopt a vegetarian diet on the first and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Do you know why? It is because many Bodhisattvas come on these days. As you are not a vegetarian yet, after Chinese New Year’s day you may return to your normal diet on the second, third and fourth day. However, it is still best not to eat creatures that are slaughtered alive.

The fifth day is when the Bodhisattvas of Wealth brings us good fortune. People commonly pray for prosperity on this day, therefore do you think eating meat on this day will help?

- Wenda20130210 27:47 [Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program] – an excerpt

[Curiousparty]

Wenda20200124 58:11
(Master Jun Hong Lu's call-in radio program

*LEVELLING ASHES IN INCENSE BURNER WILL INCREASE WEALTH*

Caller: Is levelling of ashes in the incense burner a meritorious deed?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that’s very good.

Caller: How many times a day should we level the ashes in the incense burner? Is there any aspect that we need to pay attention to?

Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s up to you. If you feel you are financially tight or having some degree of financial difficulty recently, you may pray to Bodhisattva for improved financial conditions while levelling the ashes in the incense burner. Additionally, if you would like to further boost your financial luck, you may also declare to Bodhisattva, "I will perform more meritorious deeds, I will...” When your mind is filled with such positive energy coupled with the act of levelling the ashes in the incense burner, your prayer will be answered very soon. This is a form of meritorious deed.

Caller: Oh, the act of levelling the ashes in the incense burner also increases the fortune.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, it increases the fortune significantly.

Caller: Which scriptures should be recited when we do it?

Master Jun Hong Lu: Heart Sutra.

[Curiousparty]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk, Sydney, Australia
6 June 2010

*THE WEALTH CORNER OF A HOUSE*

Master Jun Hong Lu: I do not advocate praying for wealth; however, I will still share with you a few tips.

Firstly, those who wish to accumulate wealth must be kind people, as money will not find its way to bad people; harmony begets wealth and prosperity, and the act of giving and good feng shui will also bring you more wealth.

If you truly want to have good financial fortune, you really have to keep a fishtank in the home, with six fish. Of course, the prerequisite is that one must be kind to others. If a person is not kind towards others, he will not become rich even if he turns his home into a swimming pool.

[Curiousparty]

Shuohua20130118 09:00
(Master Lu’s call-in radio program)

*ALL PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED?*

Caller: It is said that Guan Yin Bodhisattva answers all prayers. However, if we are not destined to have certain things in life, will our prayers still be answered?

Master Jun Hong Lu: You are absolutely correct! Generally, if you do not sow the seed then there is no ‘cause’. Hence, no matter how you water the seed, give it sunlight and fertilizer, this plant will still not grow simply because there is no seed! That explains why there are many who go to the temple to pray desperately but they never get their prayers answered.

For such cases, one may pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva, “Bodhisattva, I shall now sow the seed.”

For example, you know that you did not practise the act of giving in your previous life, hence you are poor now. If you start practising the virtue of giving you will still be rewarded in this life. This is because Bodhisattva will expedite the karmic reward. So, with the seed you plant in this life, you are able to reap the reward speedily, this is what it means by “all prayers shall be answered”.

Caller: Yes, how do we tell if we are destined to have certain things in life?

Master Jun Hong Lu: One can definitely feel it. For example, whether you make it in your studies or not that will tell you if you are destined to have wisdom in this life. As for those who want to get rich desperately, but they keep failing and can only survive on a meagre income, they should know then if they are destined to be wealthy. The same goes with making friends.

Caller: Thank you, Master!

[Curiousparty]

Wenda20160415 54:33
(Master Lu’s call-in radio program)

*HOW DO WE PRACTISE DHARMA BEYOND THE HUMAN REALM IN THIS WORLDLY REALM*

Caller: Master, can you please enlighten us, how do we practise dharma beyond the human realm in this worldly realm?

Master Jun Hong Lu: ‘Dharma beyond the human realm’ means to let go of our attachments and to see through the nature of this human world as nothing but an illusion, there are empty and non-existent. When we die we will learn that all that we owned were “loaned” and to be returned to the Earth. That includes, our parents, children, house and wealth. We will be left with nothing eventually and leave this world empty handed on our own.

That is why I am trying to make you all see through all these, this is called a mind that practises the dharma beyond the human realm.

However, it is not right if you go, “now that I know, all things are unreal, I might as well end my life now”. Instead, you should take charge of this illusory world to practise true dharma.

Now that you are certain about your purpose of life, tell yourself that you will not remain as a student forever. You are in college for the purpose of preparing yourself for the outside world. Hence, you need to be serious with your studies. You know well that once you graduate, you will be a student no more.