*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, so it is not a surprise that their life turns out to be 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! Wouldn’t you think that 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. Therefore, 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: Therefore, 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_
*PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE LISTENER'S SHOES WHEN SPEAKING*
Master Jun Hong Lu:
Let me share with you something that will appeal to young people. Young individuals are full of energy and vitality. Why do many older people struggle in terms of forging a good relationship with their children? It's often because they fail to understand the young ones, and this is how the generation gap arises.
You must know that *if you do not speak from young people’s perspective, they will never be able to accept the wisdom of the older generation.* In fact, the wise will put themselves in the listener’s shoes during a conversation. Say for example, you are 25 years old, when I speak to you, I will make myself as if I am your peer.
This is why *when Bodhisattvas go about helping sentient beings to become spiritually awakened, They will be very targeted in Their quest and will take on whatever form that is necessary for Them to share the dharma.* This is like having something in hand that matches exactly with what the other party needs .
_Source: Master Jun Hong Lu's Discourse to Young Buddhist Friends, 6 February 2012_
*VOLUNTEERING IS ABOUT SPREADING POSITIVITY*
Master Jun Hong Lu:
*The positive energy that you exude can be highly contagious and can make you the role-model that others tend to want to emulate.*
The moment someone says, "I want to do this kind deed," those around him will be inspired and immediately jump in, "I also want to learn to give (布施), I also want to perform meritorious deeds. If you're doing volunteer work, count me in too". This is how the volunteer team will grow.
It is this person’s projection of positivity that effectuates a kind of reciprocation from you. It has a contagion effect and this is also the power of influence. I would like to remind all of you that, just as good things can be quickly emulated, so too are the negative ones. As Buddhist practitioners, I hope, all of you will harness the power of positive energy.
_Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Episode 26, 29 May 2020_
🪷 *GREAT COMPASSION ARISES IN THE ABSENCE OF THE NOTION OF ‘SELF’*
Master Jun Hong Lu: *Without the notion of ‘self’ (无我), one stands to reap all virtuous rewards (无我就会生出一切善果).* If you are able to completely do away with the notion of ‘self’, you will not contend with others, hate others or commit foolish acts.
As Buddhist practitioners, especially those who wish to emulate the Bodhisattva, you must *aspire to cultivate all virtues (要生出一切的善的) and the basis for achieving this is having no notion of ‘self’.*
For example, if you aspire to be extremely compassionate and grateful towards others, it is in the spirit where your notion of ‘self’ is absent, that you give rise to a Bodhi mind (菩提心).
How do you become compassionate? When you are able to feel the suffering and trouble of others and you feel pity for them.
How are you capable of this emotion? It is because your mind is not thinking about yourself, you have totally forgotten about yourself, which allows you to feel for that person. Hence, *it is in the absence of the notion of ‘self’ that compassion arises.*
_Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 9 Chapter 26_
When we allow the virtue of gratitude to permeate us, there will be no hatred in our heart. When we live a life of gratitude, our life will be filled with more and more blessings.
Master Jun Hong Lu’s
World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting
Amsterdam, Netherlands
9 Sep 2019
Master Jun Hong Lu: Buddhism teaches us that we must maintain peace and serenity within our minds. As seen from the Buddhist saying, ‘cultivate your mind and wisdom with calmness’, a tranquil person will surely be wise. Take a look around – you will find many leaders and officers who always appear calm and they are the wise ones.
Master Jun Hong Lu's
World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting
Brisbane, Australia
8 Jun 2019
Cherish what you have now and tame your sensual desires. Tomorrow belongs to those who cherish today.
珍惜现在所拥有的,不要把欲望看得太重,
能够拥有今天的人才能拥有明天。
– Master Jun Hong Lu, Words of Wisdom Volume 3
Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk
Sydney, Australia
14 March 2010
*MONEY SHOULD BE KEPT HIDDEN*
Master Jun Hong Lu: All things in the world can be differentiated by their ‘Yin’ (negative) or ‘Yang’ (positive) attributes. Things that can be shown to others have a ‘Yang’ attribute, while those that should be put out of sight have a ‘Yin’ attribute.
Money should be kept hidden as it has the ‘Yin’ attribute. As soon as your money is being exposed, you would encounter bad luck in which, for example, you could be robbed or cheated by others. So bear this in mind: Things with the ‘Yin’ attribute, like children’s diapers and shorts, should be kept discreetly out of sight whenever possible.
⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️
*WISDOM IS FOUND THROUGH CALMNESS*
Master Jun Hong Lu: When you are calm, wisdom arises (静能生慧). Only in calmness do you realise the movement of your mind and what is in your thoughts.
_Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Episode 100, 4 July 2020_
https://youtu.be/AoKIYUeeRvg
*WAYS TO AVOID MAJOR MARITAL CONFLICTS*
Master Jun Hong Lu: From the Buddhism perspective, forbearance is the key to maintaining family harmony. Let me share with everyone several ways to avoid major marital breakdown.
Firstly, when a couple is having a row, do not criticise your spouse’s parents or someone he/she respects, as it could easily hurt your spouse’s feelings.
Secondly, after the quarrel, do not give each other the silent treatment, as it may worsen the situation.
Thirdly, try not to discuss your family situations with mutual friends, because it will further escalate the tension when it reaches the ears of your spouse.
My point here is to tell you the way to resolve your negative karmic affinities, while maintaining the positive ones. For those of you who have started practising Buddhism, it is important to recite the _Mantra to Untie Karmic Knots_ because it was the negative karmic affinities and fate that brought a couple together. With these in mind, we can keep advancing in our Buddhist practice.
Ultimately, the purpose of practising Buddhism is to change our lives and destiny, which all comes down to mind cultivation.
_Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Boston, USA, 2012_