Wenda20160325 55:00
(Master Lu’s call-in radio program)
[emoji92]MASTER LU'S DISCOURSE ON THE COMMEMORATION OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA'S BIRTHDAY[emoji92]
Caller: Master Lu, this coming Sunday will be the commemoration of Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s birthday. Please give us a few words about this day.
Master Lu: This Sunday is Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s birthday. This compassionate heavenly mother of ours has given us so much. Even if we were to use our whole life to repay her, it will still not be sufficient. We can only do one thing, that is never to let this adorable mother of ours down. Let us propagate her spirit of compassion. On a personal level, my objective is to promote our unique Chinese culture, wisdom and the compassionate spirit of Guan Yin Bodhisattva to every corners of the world.
May every person have more compassion, so that there is less hatred. The world is in distress. I read a news this morning: Just within the month of March, there was only one day that was spared from terrorist incident. From the new year of 2016 till todate, only 9 days were spared from calamities. These news break your heart, don't they? We are all habitants of this planet earth. Why are we killing each other? We must use the compassion of Guan Yin Bodhisattva to save more sentient beings, to allow more to be emancipated spiritually, to enable them to be freed from suffering and gain happiness.
They have not only hurt themselves but also many other kind beings with their hatred, attachments, self-centredness, selfishness and narrow-mindedness. It is hoped that there will be peace in this world.
May the birthday of Guan Yin Bodhisattva motivate us to have more compassion towards sentient beings and to help more predestined sentient beings in this world. Our ultimate objective is for sentient beings to be spared from suffering, to gain happiness and to be liberated from the Six Realm of Rebirths.
Caller: Indeed. Thank you Master for answering my question. May we fill the world with the love of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.
Master Lu: Yes, that is very important.
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Wenda20131129 01:21:58
(Master Lu’s call-in
radio program)
[emoji92]STRIKE A BALANCE : PERFORMING RECITATION, HELPING OTHERS AND PERFORMING LIBERATION OF CAPTIVE LIVES[emoji92]
Caller: There is a Dharma friend who goes out to help others and performs liberation of captive lives every day. By doing it this way, will the elimination of negative karma takes on a speedier rate for him?
Master Lu: After helping others then perform liberation of captive lives, and if it goes on and on in this way, what do think? If he also performs recitation of scriptures at the same time, that would be even better. There is no doubt about it. Do you understand?
Caller: He goes out to help others even at night. As such, he falls short in his recitation of scriptures and Little House. Is this considered “slacking off”?
Master Lu: A person needs to be diligent in these 2 aspects. Recitation of scriptures is about helping oneself. Helping others on the other hand, is another form of diligence, an effort that can earn you virtue. That is why if one performs recitation of scriptures and followed by helping others, then it will be more advantageous. As such, it is hoped that he will strike a balance. That will do.
A person can neither go out to help others and neglect the importance of performing recitation of scriptures, nor can he perform recitation of scriptures and forsake the need to help others. Recitation of scriptures is Theravada Buddhism. Helping others is what you do in Mahayana Buddhism. If you practise Mahayana Buddhism but you do not have Theravada Buddhism as your foundation, it will not do.
Caller: I understand.
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CULTIVATE DHARMA IN A PRACTICAL WAY; HELP OTHERS AS WE PRACTISE ALONG. Wenda 20160327B 28:07 (Master Lu’s call-in radio program )
Caller: Master, we have been cultivating for a long time and wondering whether we could use our thousand days of cultivation in a momentary situation. Under normal circumstances when there are no problems, we seemed to understand all the values of cultivation. However, when a situation arises, we will discover that our cultivation is really not up to the mark and we even develop bad thoughts such as jealousy and so on. Master, please enlighten us, is this just a normal little test for us to gauge our cultivation level? How can we heal from the roots?
Master Lu: It is very simple. When a person does not cultivate thoroughly, although you feel that you understand the cultivation very well and able to deliver verbally just as well, but, in practice, this does not mean that you have fully understood it. Similarly, when we are abroad, you would need work experience even after you have graduated; in other words, your work experience is necessary. Just like university graduates working in the banks, will they be able to work immediately? They will still need to gain work experiences. Therefore, you need to be practical when cultivating Dharma. Today, you are practising Dharma and thinking that you know everything about it, “I want to be harmonious, I want to be tolerant….” When you are not in contact with people, you would not know what is being harmonious and tolerant. Then one day when you quarrelled with someone, your anger and hatred start to surface; you do not understand the meaning of harmony and tolerance. In reality, at this juncture you have failed your Dharma cultivation because you have not practised your Dharma cultivation practically. Therefore, while practising Dharma, you have to step out to offer your help and keep in touch with people and apply different levels of tolerance and harmony to different kinds of people. This is called practical cultivation.
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Wenda20160327B 24:04
(Master Lu’s call-in radio program)
[emoji92]WHICH METHOD IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN GAINING WISDOM: "PERFORMING RECITATION" OR THROUGH “OBSERVING PRECEPTS, SAMADHI AND WISDOM”?[emoji92]
Caller: We know that there are two approaches in gaining wisdom, i.e. through performing recitation and through “observing precepts, samadhi and wisdom”. Of these two approaches, which is more effective?
Master Lu: Of course, it is through “observing precepts, samadhi and wisdom”. Gaining wisdom through observing precepts and samadhi is quicker. As one is clear about the "Do's and Don'ts", he will achieve samadhi. That’s when he will gain wisdom.
Performing recitation, on the other hand, is depending on Bodhisattva to bless you with a little wisdom. However, if you do not observe the precepts, even though you are performing recitation, Bodhisattva will not be able to grant you wisdom. Do you understand?
Caller: I understand. So it means, for example, when we are troubled by something, recitation of Heart Sutra oftentimes will only help us to gain wisdom temporarily at that moment. Is that right?
Master Lu: That's right. Also, it may not even happen at that moment in time. For example, many people after reciting Heart Sutra, they will think, “Hey, I should take a listen to Master Lu’s “Buddhism in Plain Terms”. In this case, it is Bodhisattva who had guided him to listen to “Buddhism in Plain Terms” in order to help him gain wisdom. Recitation of scriptures may not be able to help you think things through immediately. It can only happen by connecting you to another avenue for solution to resolve the issue. It is like when we are ill and Guan Yin Bodhisattva helps us find a good doctor to help heal us.
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Wenda20140504B 50:18
[emoji92]HOW TO OVERCOME THE PRESSURE IN CULTIVATION[emoji92]
Caller: I have a friend from a small town who used to cultivate Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, but had given up in the end. I asked her what was the reason? According to her, though she feels that Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door is good, the daily recitation of Homework and Little House has taken up all of her time. On top of that, she still has to take care of her children. As such, she felt highly pressured by it. I asked her, “do you feel that there are positive changes when you cultivate this Dharma Door”. She agreed that there is. What advice shall I offer her?
Master Lu: It’s very simple. Let me ask you. Do the monks in the temple get stressed out by having to perform recitation of scriptures the whole day? A person who refuses to put in hard work will never be able to gain; a person who refuses to study hard will end up having to work on the streets. Without cultivation, how are you going to succeed? It is the same if you refuse to study how are you going to be successful? If you find that this minimal recitation of scriptures stressed you out, let me ask you “do you have what it takes to change yourself?”.
It takes a person on his deathbed to realise, “Oh! Bodhisattva, I promise I will perform recitation of scriptures diligently”. Do you think time will still be by his side, then?
There’s nothing much to say about this. It all boil down to a person’s affinity, the laziness in him, as well as human being’s deep-rooted bad habits. That’s all to it.
Caller: I understand.
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[emoji259]Tomorrow, 7th April 2016 (Thursday), is the 1st day of the 3rd Lunar Month. [emoji259]
[emoji271]Please perform more virtuous deeds and recitations, be a vegetarian, refrain from killing, free captive lives, do no evil and perform good deeds[emoji271]
[emoji120] You may recite up to [KEYCAP 1][KEYCAP 3] times "Eighty eight Buddhas Great Repentance" (Lifo), inclusive of the daily homework*. Pray to the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva to eliminate the negative karma on specific misdeeds that we have done in our "current life".
[emoji120] Deepest gratitude to the Great Merciful and Great Compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva, in giving us the opportunity to recite more Lifo to eliminate our negative karma.
Wishing all advancement in Buddhism practice, accumulation of meritorious blessings, wisdom and Dharma bliss.
* Note: 1) Except for pregnant ladies, all Dharma Friends (with or without altar at home) can recite the additional Lifo. Take this opportunity to eliminate negative karma.
2) Remember to prepare flowers and fruits for the day.
#Additional Notes:
A) Recitation of this additional Lifo is not compulsory. It would be good if you could do so. It is suggested that we match some Little Houses with it.
B) If you are unable to complete your intended number of additional Lifo, you may pray to Bodhisattva to allow you to complete the balance Lifo the next day (only 1 day postponement is allowed).
[emoji120][emoji120][emoji120][emoji4]
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Wenda20160403A 50:55
(Master Lu’s call-in radio program)
[emoji92]IS IT BETTER TO FOCUS ON ERADICATING NEGATIVE KARMA FIRST BEFORE APPLYING FOR DISCIPLESHIP?[emoji92]
Caller: Master Lu, for Dharma cultivator like us, is it better for us to first focus on our cultivation to eradicate our negative karma to a lower level before applying for Discipleship, or would it be better if we were to become disciple earlier?
Master Lu: Of course, the earlier the better. If you do it earlier you are able to rectify all the shortcomings in you, because through the blessings the eradication of negative karma is much faster. It is like I hand you a block of soap and a towel for you to take a shower, as compared to on your own, you don’t even have access to water supply. Which way do you think is much favorable?
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Shuohua20141128 08:23
[emoji92]PRECEPTS TO BE ADHERED TO BY LAY FOLLOWERS[emoji92]
Caller: Master Lu, when we, as lay followers, make a vow to have Bodhisattva and Dharma Protectors to watch over us, what are the precepts that we should adhere to? Do we really have to adhere to the precepts like the monks and nuns? As a lay follower of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door what are the precepts that we should observe?
Master Lu: The foundation for a lay follower is “Do no evil and perform good deeds”.
Caller: In which area in particular should we pay attention to?
Master Lu: Number 1, avoid sexual misconduct, abstain from taking what is not given, do not lie, abstain from killing and also intoxication. This is the basic Five Precepts that you should at least adhere to. It also includes abstain from bragging, as doing so will cause harm to oneself. Bragging is the precursor of misconduct. Often, before a person is involved in a misconduct, he will start by bragging. Do not steal, as a lay follower, will you go out to steal? Do not be involved in the act of killing, do not commit sexual misconduct, no casual sex, no telling lies, no intoxication, this applies to both men and women as an intoxicated person loses all his senses.
Look at Li Bai, he had been drinking all his life. Such a distinguished poet, take a look at the final stage of his life. It is a real pity it came to such an unfortunate end due to his addiction to alcohol.
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An Excerpt from Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk in Brisbane, 20 March 2016
No matter what mistakes we have made before, we have to live in the present moment. We have to be our own masters and not commit new offenses again in order to not suffer additional karmic consequences. While we have control of our lives, we have to train our hearts to always see the bright side and be optimistic. Because we can take control of our present, we can preserve the nature of Buddha in our hearts and see our bright futures.
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