*A Buddhist Friend Rises Above Her Womb Cancer Through Her Unwavering Faith In Guan Yin Bodhisattva, and Diligent Application of the Five Golden Buddhist Practices*
Had you known the pain that you have to undergo, you would not even toy with the notion of committing any negative karma. After all, *karma makes no mistakes,* and retribution, which is like a shadow following all of us, will be served unfailingly the moment it ripens.
The things that unfolded in the chemotherapy room were eye-opening to me. Never before had I witnessed so much desperation, misery and suffering in the world.
In between my rounds of chemotherapy, I once dreamed of myself escaping hell. As I was about to wake up from my dream, suddenly a foreign spirit got out of my body. I screamed and shouted at the foreign spirit, “Who are you and why are you here?” My shriek was so loud that it shook up the entire household.
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*STAY STEADFAST IN YOUR BUDDHIST PRACTICE*
Master Jun Hong Lu: Guan Yin Bodhisattva has always been showering us with blessings. Put in your best effort to perform recitation and practise mind cultivation. Being safe and well is a blessing.
Time is running out. I hope all of you do not waste your time. You must be strict with yourself and keep up the pace in your spiritual practice. Never squander your life because the change that you make every minute of your life foretells future transformation that lies ahead of you.
Many people fail to mend their ways throughout their lives as they simply lack affinity with Buddhism. Now that you have encountered Buddhism, it now boils down to how you walk the cultivation path.
I hope everyone of you will be diligent in your spiritual cultivation. Be sincere in repenting of your past. Take a moment to let your mind settle and enter a state of serenity. Do not let greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance and doubts stand in your way towards a better future.
Pray more to Bodhisattva, for yourself and your family. If you are accomplished in your practice, you are able to protect your family and vice versa. Last but not least, stay steadfast in your Buddhist practice.
_Source: Master Jun Hong Lu's Discourse (Question 363), 15 February 2020_
*THE SAYING ABOUT “DO NOT HAVE HAIR CUT IN THE FIRST LUNAR MONTH”*
Caller: Master, there’s a saying, “Do not cut hair in the first lunar month, as it may cause the death of one’s maternal uncle”. Is this true from the metaphysical perspective?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. “Do not cut hair in the first lunar month" doesn't mean you should not do so throughout the entire month. It’s best not to cut hair on the 1st and 15th days of the first lunar month. These two days are broadly referred to as the whole lunar month. Just avoid these two days, and you can do it on other days.
_Source: Wenda20200119 46:33, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program_
When you can only see the shortcomings of other people, you will fail to see their strengths. When you can see the strength of others, you will fail to see their shortcomings.
Master Jun Hong Lu
Words of Wisdom Vol. 4
*SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT IS THE KEY TO EARNING MERITS*
Master Jun Hong Lu: If a person casually talks about Buddhas and Bodhisattvas without truly understanding and putting Buddhism into practice, his merits would be reduced to almost nothing.
If a person lacks an in-depth understanding of basic Buddhist teachings and fails to put them into practice, he would have no merits at all.
When your state of spirituality is elevated, your attainment from the things you do will correspondingly be elevated.
If you do something from your heart, you will be blessed with a reward of spiritual nature.
Conversely, if you do something superficially, what you receive will be nothing more than a superficial reward.
_Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 3 Chapter 22_
*TACTFUL SPEECH LEADS TO LESS CREATION OF KARMA*
Caller: Hi Master, you once mentioned, “A person who is tactful in his speech will be less likely to create negative karma or suffer from retribution”. So, does it mean that being tactful reduces the chances of creating negative karma?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Being tactful with words is actually not a bad thing. From the perspective of the human world, firstly, he will not offend others. Secondly, his tactful speech will not harm others and in this regard, would you agree that no negative karma is created?
Instead, if this person says, "I am a straightforward person" and there he goes, offending everyone around him. Would you consider him forthright? The fact is he is creating negative karma!
When he steps on others’ toes, fights with them, and stirring up a lot of unhappiness, isn't he creating negative karma? This is an important issue and it explains why tactfulness is a virtue.
That said, if what you say is not what you think, you will still create negative karma in your heart, and this is when you ‘lack Yin virtue’. On the other hand, if you are forthright and utter things that create negative karma, you ’lack Yang virtue’. Both of these virtues are indispensable.
_Source: Wenda20131117A 01:21, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program_
*FORMLESS GIVING*
“Formless Giving”, means after the act of giving, you neither revisit the deed nor keep it in your mind. After you have given someone something or treated them well, just leave behind you.
Our practice of giving should surpass the worldly benevolence. When you expect nothing in return, and you continue to do what is virtuous, treat others well, be kind, empathise with them and hope that you will be able to help them, this is how you will amass meritorious blessings.
Therefore, without the wisdom of emptiness, your deed can only be regarded as a kind act.
In contrast, if your good deed involves the propagation of the dharma to benefit sentient beings, then you have surely accumulated the meritorious blessing.
_Source : Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Audio) Episode 29 (An Excerpt)_
*TALKING BEHIND OTHERS’ BACKS IS A SERIOUS KARMA OF SPEECH*
Caller: Master, you mentioned, “One is halfway to achieving Buddhahood when he is able to guard against creating the karma of speech”. May I ask if the karma of speech includes talking behind others’ backs?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s for sure.
Caller: So, it means, regardless of whether the other party is in the right or wrong, we shouldn’t judge them, is that right?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Unless your intention is to help them, only then can you make a comment about them. Otherwise, you are generating negative energy. If your intention is to help him and you talk to him face-to-face, this is positive energy, and as such, it is not considered creating negative karma of speech.
For example, I am ready to help a person today. How is it even possible for me not to comment about him? Would you regard this as a negative karma of speech? This is clearly not.
On the other hand, if I am not with the person concerned today but I make some curt remarks and talk behind his back, it is a negative karma of speech.
_Source: Wenda20160605A 46:24, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program_
*A RIGHTEOUS, LOUD AND CLEAR VOICE CAN CHANGE YOUR DESTINY*
Caller: Master, is there any significance to a person’s voice?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Your voice foretells your life. Many people have weird voices, and their life is unpleasant.
Caller: So, we should project a loud and clear voice so that we can alter our fate and destiny?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Of course! Would you say Bodhisattva’s voice is loud and clear? Take a look at some men. They sound neither like a man nor a woman. What do you think?
Caller: I see. So it is not good to sound peculiar.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Once you sound weird, you will not be able to garner the positive energy, and good things will evade you.
Caller: So in the future, during interviews and when talking to others, does it mean we should make an effort to be loud, clear and righteous?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, not only must you sound righteous, you must also look at others in their eyes. This is an expression of self-confidence.
_Source: Wenda20190517 38:07, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program_
NEVER HOLD ON TO ONLY ONE PERSPECTIVE
Master Jun Hong Lu: Buddhist practitioners should not insist on a single perspective regarding any issue. We should never hold onto our own views stubbornly; otherwise, it is considered as ‘attachment’ and this inflexibility will lead us to ignorance.
When you say, “He is so detestable, I just don’t like him”, “This job is too boring and I hate it” or “I want my son to make it into the elite school, no matter what.”, these are all examples of attachments.
Many people become highly opinionated after gaining some degree of Buddhist knowledge to the extent that they cannot accept what I teach anymore.
To this, the Buddha says, “A person who stubbornly holds onto his opinion and becomes disdainful towards differing views is ‘despicable’.”
This is because you are unwilling to listen to others’ opinions and you think you are always right. In reality, you are ‘bound’ by your views and you will never be able to give rise to wisdom.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Discourse, Guan Yin Hall, Sydney, Australia, 20 March 2020