Guan Yin Citta & Master Lu

[Curiousparty]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Buddhism in Plain Terms
Volume 11 Chapter 45
(An Excerpt)

*WHAT KIND OF HAPPINESS DOES BODHISATTVA WANT US TO HAVE?*

Knowing that there is no eternal happiness in this world, you must begin to learn to truly understand the attributes of happiness based on the Buddha’s teachings.

In Buddhism, it is said that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas want us to be happy. What should be our understanding of happiness? Where can happiness be? 

For example, we find happiness after we have a good shower and probably a good sleep. The same goes with having a good meal.

But after we wake up, we feel tired again; after the shower we are dirty again; when someone offers to buy you dinner, you make it a point not to eat all day, so that you can have a big meal for dinner - you are also very happy.
So, what’s next? All is gone tomorrow!

Hence, give this some thought. Just what kind of happiness does Bodhisattva want us to have? It is the happiness that we feel from our heart.

[Curiousparty]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting
Holland, The Netherlands
11 September 2019

*A STATE-OF-THOUGHTLESSNESS*

Master Jun Hong Lu: Buddha once said, “Neither suffering nor happiness is real, it is only a transient thought that we hold on to”. When there is clinging to the thought of “I am very happy now” - we shall be happy. Conversely, if we feel that we are suffering, we too, will be trapped by that thought. That is why the sutra says that we should let go and purify our thoughts as it is through this way the state-of-pure mind thrives in us.

[Curiousparty]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Buddhism in Plain Terms
Volume 11 Chapter 45
(An Excerpt)

*WHERE DOES HAPPINESS COME FROM?*

The Bodhisattva says: _”When you help others, you will be very happy.”_ Well, when you do just that, you continue to feel the happiness. Then, when others are grateful and hold respect towards you for helping them, won’t you be even happier?

And where does this happiness come from? It is from your innate nature. It is not something that goes away after one or two days. Those who have helped others will be remembered for a long time.

Conversely, if the only thing you care about is how to help yourself, the happiness that you gain tends to disappear very quickly.

[Curiousparty]

Dear Dharma Friends,

Below are the links to the videos that we shared during the Online English Group Study on 31 July 2021.

*Topic: The Greatest Field of Blessings in the World - Filial Piety* 孝道

*A Truly Filial Person | 真正的大孝子*
https://youtu.be/2YILMR5IowM

*My Beloved Master | 我敬爱的师父*
https://youtu.be/zx4Z-wsgsYo

*The Unconditional Love of Mothers | 伟大的母爱*
https://youtu.be/ZhWf7-trFuU


Do share these videos with your family and friends and share the dharma bliss.

*If you would like to revisit our past session notes, please click the link below:*
https://orientalradio.com.sg/category/en...ain-terms/

*For more information about the Online Group Study*
Please contact Loh sx (96978356) or Woan Yi sx (82182248).

[Curiousparty]

Dear Dharma Friends,

Below are the links to the videos that we shared during the Online English Group Study on 31 July 2021.

*Topic: The Greatest Field of Blessings in the World - Filial Piety* 孝道

*A Truly Filial Person | 真正的大孝子*
https://youtu.be/2YILMR5IowM

*My Beloved Master | 我敬爱的师父*
https://youtu.be/zx4Z-wsgsYo

*The Unconditional Love of Mothers | 伟大的母爱*
https://youtu.be/ZhWf7-trFuU


Do share these videos with your family and friends and share the dharma bliss.

*If you would like to revisit our past session notes, please click the link below:*
https://orientalradio.com.sg/category/en...ain-terms/

*For more information about the Online Group Study*
Please contact Loh sx (96978356) or Woan Yi sx (82182248).

[Curiousparty]

*“If we wish to have blessings, we must fulfil our filial duties.”*

On 31 July 2021, Guan Yin Citta, Singapore, held an online English sharing session on the *“The Greatest Field of Blessings - Filial Piety”,* which is the basic qualification to pray to the Bodhisattva and a foundation in Buddhism practice.

In a poignant story of how a mother sacrificed her life to relieve the financial burden on her children, *Master Lu reminded that we must place filial piety above everything else and regard compassion as a foundation*. Present-life karmic retributions will befall those who are unfilial to their parents or in-laws.

The participants learned that:
🌻 *Filial piety goes beyond just being filial to our own parents, we should be good to our master and all elders*.
🌻 Performing recitation and relieve our parents from suffering is far better than being by their side, tending to their needs.

The participants were given some advice on how to manage relationships with the elders by having compassion and pity on them, and *always contemplate how hard it has been for your parents to raise you*. We must understand that everything arises from a combination of causes and conditions.

In a touching testimony, a Buddhist friend shared how her unwavering resolve and filial piety help liberate her late father from the six realms of existence.

In the second part of the session, the concept of honouring the Master and revering his teachings was covered. *Master is the one who saves our souls and our lives by leading us on the path towards Buddhahood*.

All disciples should vow to honour the master and revere his teachings, regard the master as a Buddha, and accept the master’s criticisms with gratitude.

In a poignant closing video, Master Lu said, *”As Buddhist practitioners, we should rely on our spiritual cultivation, to help our deceased loved ones to gain liberation, besides helping many others to abandon suffering and gain happiness. This is the essence of filial piety.”*

The upcoming session – scheduled on 7 August – we will delve into *the Ullambana Festival*.


 
*Please click here to download the Summary Slides shared during the Group Study:*
https://bit.ly/3zODQGm

[Curiousparty]

Wenda20200719 23:59
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

*PERFORMING RECITATION, LIFE LIBERATION AND PRAYING TO NANJING BODHISATTVA HELP CURE SKIN DISORDER*

Caller: Master, I would like to help one Buddhist friend share a short testimony. This happened sometime last year, when purplish round and itchy patches started to develop on both his calf and shin.

Medical ointment did not work at all. When he heard the testimony by a Buddhist friend who recovered from his skin problem, this fellow Buddhist friend made a vow to recite the following Buddhist scriptures in addition to his daily recitation:
- 49 times of the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra,
- 108 times of Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots, and
- 49 times of Xiao Zai Ji Xiang Shen Zhou.

And, he also prayed to Nanjing Bodhisattva to cure his skin disease. This went on for three consecutive months. During this period, he supplemented his practice with Little Houses and life liberation.

Miraculously, these strange patches started to disappear in less than three months and by now he is practically healed from his skin disease. He wanted his personal encounter to reach out to as many Buddhist friends as possible. Deepest gratitude to Bodhisattva and Master.

Master Jun Hong Lu: These are all blessings from Bodhisattva and this Buddhist friend is what I refer to as “a person who is spiritually awakened”.

Caller: I hope Master can shower him and his entire family with blessings. They are followers of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and are all truthful and steadfast in their spiritual cultivation. It’d be great if Master could shower them with blessings.

Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s great. That’s the whole idea of practising Buddhism - one must be truthful and pure at all times.

Caller: Understood, Master.

[Curiousparty]

Wenda20141026A 06:45
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)

*REGARDLESS OF REPAYING OR CLAIMING KARMIC DEBTS, FILIAL PIETY TOWARDS PARENTS IS A WAY TO ACCUMULATE MERITS*

Caller: Master, I noticed that people who are particularly filial would receive lots of blessings from Bodhisattvas.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course, and it comes with meritorious rewards as well. On the other hand, many people are lacked of merits nowadays because they are not being filial enough to their parents.

Caller: Actually filial piety is a way to accumulate merits for ourselves.

Master Jun Hong Lu: Exactly! Think about it, even if your parents are here to repay karmic debts owing to you, but if you do not claim them, you will in turn accrue merits for yourself. Conversely, if you owe them karmic debts and you repay them with your blessings, aren’t you repaying your debts?

Regardless of the perspective, they are both favourable. As long as you are filial to your parents, be it repaying karmic debts or refusal in claiming karmic debts from them, you will be blessed!

[Curiousparty]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Buddhism in Plain Terms
Volume 4, Chapter 38
(An Excerpt)

*LIBERATION FROM SUFFERINGS IS THE OBJECTIVE OF BUDDHISM PRACTICE*

Master Jun Hong Lu: Tell me, is there anyone here who is free from attachment? You are either attached to your child, yourself, money or fame. Every one of us has our own set of attachments.

For all things that you fail to let go, it is referred to as an attachment and it is demonising. When you continue to be attached for a long time, demons will invade and occupy your mind. You will start to lose a lot of things in life. You will grow very frustrated.

A person who is attached, will tend to regret their every action; while a person who is free from attachment will find bliss in all they do. This is because for a person who attaches to nothing, he will not be influenced by any negative external factors in the things he does.

For example, you are someone who loves cake. You know that your diabetic condition does not allow you to indulge in sweet stuff, but you insist on eating. Because of that, your diabetic condition worsens.

As for someone who is detached, they will think, _“I’m diabetic, I can’t eat cakes. I’d settle for some bread.”_ Then you will not suffer from the repercussion of food craving.

[Curiousparty]

Master Jun Hong Lu’s
World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting
Milan, Italy
25 September 2017

*THE EIGHT SUFFERINGS*

The Buddha thought us about *the Eight Sufferings in life.* Birth, Aging, Sickness and Death are the first four sufferings.

*1. Birth (生)*
Isn’t it painful when a child is born? The suffering already begins even before birth, as the child is able to feel the physical sensation in the womb. When a mother drinks hot soup, the foetus will find it unbearably warm. When a mother eats ice cream, the foetus will find it similarly uncomfortable. Isn’t being born painful? This is the truth of birth.

*2. Ageing (老)*
Isn’t ageing uncomfortable? You might wish to head out, but your legs fail you. You might wish to eat something, but your teeth fail you. Isn’t growing older a form of suffering? You are unable to do anything you wish to do.

*3. Sickness (病)*
It is needless to say that sickness is a form of pain and suffering.

*4. Death (死)*
Death is something that everyone is afraid of and involves even more suffering. Regardless of how much wealth and fame that you possess, no one can escape birth, ageing, sickness and death. It is very fair and that is why they are known as the four sufferings.

*5. Having to leave the one you love (爱别离苦)*
When you love someone deeply but you are forced to leave the person, isn’t that miserable? Just take a look at the train stations and airports. They are the prime examples for places of farewells; “Good bye, when will you come back?”

*6. Unattainable wish (求不得苦)*
The sixth suffering is being unable to get what you wish for. If you pray very hard for something in vain, isn’t that painful? This is the most painful experience. If your prayers are always unanswered, won’t you be suffering?

*7. Being with the ones you detest (怨憎会苦)*
The next suffering is hatred and resentment. If you are forced to interact daily with someone you dislike at work, wouldn’t you be upset? Resentment is a form of karmic grievance while hatred can be understood in context as having to see a person you loathe everyday. There is a traditional Chinese idiom that says, “The road of enemies is narrow”.

*8. Ills of the Five Yin (五阴炽盛)*
Finally, there is the suffering of The Five Yin. There are five things that are Yin in nature. It is an invisible working of the mind involving form, feeling, perception, volition and consciousness. What goes on in the mind is unknown to others, including your desires, love and hate towards others. When these are blazing within you, they will burn just like a fire, causing you much suffering!