Question 1: Can I get the fortune that is destined for me earlier by praying to the Bodhisattva?

Q: Master gave a Dharma talk to a Buddhist friend who had decided to build a Buddhist altar. If he really did not earn money from his Buddhist friends, he would definitely have money in his later years. Master, please kindly enlighten me, is this blessing in the future converted from the merits of building a Buddhist altar? After some Buddhist friends learned Buddhism, their economic conditions gradually improved. Master, please kindly enlighten me, is this improvement in economic conditions a blessing converted from consuming merits?

A: It depends. If he is destined to be rich, he will be stimulated and activated, and he will have money. You think you can go to the temple and say, “Bodhisattva, I want some fortune.” “Oh, I really got fortune as soon as I prayed.” It is not something you prayed for. You were destined to be rich, but as soon as you prayed, the Bodhisattva gave it to you in advance. If you have money in the bank, you can withdraw it in advance.

 

Question 2: If I dreamed that my fellow practitioner was a bodhisattva who had returned to fulfill his vow, should I tell him about it?

Question: Fellow practitioners dreamed that some of their fellow practitioners in the group practice were bodhisattvas. In reality, these practitioners were not ostentatious, but they were all clear-minded, kind, and did not hurt others. Some of them were very able to let go and helped everyone in the group practice, while some had not yet left their families. Should fellow practitioners tell them that they dreamed that they were bodhisattvas?

A: What is there to say? If you tell some people about it, they will think they are Bodhisattvas, and they will still point fingers and act arrogantly. No matter who you are, you have come to the human world to save people, and you must understand the compassion of all beings, and understand that all beings are equal. So we all need to have an equal mind. Many of you present here have come back to fulfill your vows. Bodhisattvas are big and small. Do you understand? (Yes, I understand.) What’s so strange about that? So you have to understand. If you don’t need to tell them, don’t tell them. If you feel that they have regressed, you can remind them, “You were a Bodhisattva in the past. Someone dreamed that you were you. You cannot regress. You cannot be so lazy. You must work hard.” You can only tell them with a purpose to encourage and help them. Otherwise, your telling them will only cause them to be arrogant. (Okay, thank you Master for your compassionate guidance.)

 

Question 3: Will reciting the Great Repentance to Buddha activate my karma?

Question: Some practitioners feel that reciting the Great Repentance to Buddha in the daily practice only once, and reciting the Great Repentance to Buddha in the self-stored form 4 times, also has the feeling that karma is activated, which is different from reciting it only once without reciting the self-stored form. Does the recitation of the Great Repentance to Buddha in the self-stored form also have a part of the effect of repentance on the day? Will it weaken the effect of burning and sending these self-stored Great Repentance to Buddha scriptures?

A: No. Chanting the sutras is for chanting the sutras, and keeping oneself is for keeping oneself. Both are fine. There is no problem. (Thank you Master for your compassionate guidance)

 

Question 4: The incense ash is stuck straight in the incense burner without falling. Is there any explanation?

Question: A fellow practitioner was listening to Master’s teachings at home on January 8. He was reciting the sutras while shedding tears. He accidentally discovered that a large piece of incense ash had fallen down and was stuck straight in the incense burner without falling. The fellow practitioner wanted to ask Master, is there any particular meaning behind this?

A: Of course there are some things to pay attention to. There are two things to pay attention to. Because the incense ash is mixed with various ingredients, some ingredients are a little more, so it is relatively hard, and it will not fall down when it is inserted there; if it is all incense ash, it would have fallen down long ago. Do you understand? (I understand) I thought it was something big (The disciple thought it was a manifestation of the Bodhisattva, allowing this fellow practitioner to make progress in one thing and follow Master back home) It is possible. For example, it is different every day, and it falls down every day or something, and suddenly one day… (suddenly) That means that the Bodhisattva or the Dharma Protector has come, this is possible. If it is like this every day, it is a problem with the quality of the incense (Thank you Master for your wonderful answer)

 

Question 5: Can listening to Master’s teachings help me plant the seeds of Buddhahood?

Q: Master once said in the “Plain Language Buddha Dharma Radio Lectures” that Guanyin Bodhisattva actually hears the cries of the suffering and saves them. Many sentient beings who chant the Buddha’s name and are reborn in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha and attain Buddhahood are all called Wonderful Sound Tathagata. Wonderful Sound Tathagata is because you become Buddhas after hearing the Buddha’s voice. Master, if we often play Master’s “Plain Language Buddha Dharma” and teachings at home, then those who have not yet believed in Buddhism…

A: Do you know what “Tathagata” means? “Tathagata” is “Buddha” (Yes), just like father, daddy, father, they are all the same. “Tathagata” is “Buddha”, “Buddha” is “Tathagata”, so it is called “Tathagata Buddha” (Yes. We are very grateful to Master. We are now the soil in the hands of Guanyin Bodhisattva, but the fate of our husbands at home has not yet arrived. So when they listen to Master’s teachings – these wonderful teachings, can they also plant the seeds of Buddha and become enlightened and become Buddhas in the future?) Definitely, listen more and learn more. Of course, many people came from Bodhisattvas in the past, and many people who have made great achievements in their jobs, as long as they come here, they connect with the Buddha’s heart and become enlightened immediately. Although many people become enlightened late, they are very diligent. This is related to their previous life foundation. You see, those who can make some achievements now have a good foundation (Thank you Master for your compassionate teachings. We will go to the connection place to get the Buddha chanting machine, and play Master’s teachings when we go home)

 

Question 6: The Great Compassion Mantra increases energy, the Heart Sutra increases wisdom; helping others means giving back.

Question: Master, if I recite sutras for others but I don’t have enough ability myself, is it better to recite the daily scriptures or the Little Houses for them?

A: If they don’t have enough power, recite the Great Compassion Mantra for them to increase their energy. When you are afraid, you should recite the Great Compassion Mantra; when you are troubled and lack wisdom, you should recite the Heart Sutra. The Heart Sutra is the key to open your heart, and the Great Compassion Mantra increases your energy (if the other person is a Buddhist, will it have some impact?) What impact will it have if you recite some scriptures to him? You help others. Helping others is helping others, what impact does it have? You do good deeds yourself, you help others. But, what you mean is that if he has a lot of yin energy, will it affect you? Helping others always requires sacrifice. What kind of job do you say a person has? Helping others, doesn’t it cost you something? Everyone pays.

 

Question 7: Will chanting sutras for children help them develop a affinity with Buddhism?

Question: If I chant sutras for my own child or someone else’s child, will this child have a predestined relationship with Buddhism in the future? Even if the child’s parents do not learn Buddhism or chant sutras, if fellow practitioners chant sutras for their children, will this child have a predestined relationship with Buddhism?

A: Of course, that’s for sure (Thank you Master for your compassionate guidance)

 

Question 8 How to encourage seriously ill newcomers to recite Buddhist scriptures and learn Buddhism

Q: When we are saving people, if we encounter someone who is already seriously ill or a newcomer who is suffering from the karmic retribution and wants to learn Buddhism but has no faith and is not firm, how should we help them recite the sutras and learn Buddhism? Because many people are not willing to recite the Little Houses, is it okay?

A: If he is not willing to recite Little Houses, then let him listen to other people’s cases and show them to others, just like the practitioners who spoke earlier. Show and listen to those cases to him, and then he will believe. “If you believe, it exists; if you don’t believe, it doesn’t exist.” Do you understand? (Thank you, Master)

 

Question 9 How to encourage children to attend the Guanyin Hall Buddhist class

Question: How can the Guanyin Hall Buddhist Study Class effectively encourage children to actively come to Guanyin Hall to study?

A: For example, if the parents like the child but there is no one to take care of him, you can let them drop the child off here to study on Sundays and come back to pick him up. His parents can go out to buy some things or go shopping. It’s all right, right? This is for people who don’t study Buddhism. If a Buddhist is enlightened, you can tell him, “We will educate the child for you in the future. The child will be very sensible and understand Chinese traditional culture, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and trustworthiness…” You can say that. You can’t say that? “It’s always good to have the child here. It’s good for the child. The child will be filial to you in the future and will not send you to a nursing home.” It’s that simple. “You will not be sent to a nursing home. Otherwise, you should prepare to live in a nursing home.” Do you understand? (I understand)

 

Question 10: How to encourage more volunteers to do good deeds at the Guanyin Hall?

Question: There are many volunteers in Guanyin Hall. How can we encourage more volunteers to take up duty and participate in more Dharma propagation activities?

A: You should encourage others. Use the same method that others use to encourage you. How to encourage? Give them more hope, help them more, let them take care of more things, and do more good deeds. If some international students come to the Netherlands and have no place to live, you can give them a place to live, such as next to the Guanyin Hall, and let them work on duty. Or if everyone in the Guanyin Hall recognizes that this child works very hard, you can give him some living expenses. If a child is willing to do good deeds, burns incense in the Guanyin Hall every day, and works very hard, and everyone agrees that he is very good in a meeting, then you can let him work on duty there, isn’t that good?

 

Question 11 I dreamed that my master gave me a cup of water.

Question: A fellow practitioner dreamed that Master wanted to give him a water cup. Master, please kindly enlighten me, what does it mean to give a water cup?

A: What does the cup contain? It can be filled with water from a pure bottle or glass water to bless him (Thank you, Master)

 

Question 12: What should I do if my volunteer uniform is worn out?

Question: Some fellow practitioners have worn their volunteer uniforms for many years, and they have faded or become torn. Please kindly enlighten us, Master, on how we should properly handle these uniforms?

A: If you have a bag, just throw it away. What does it have to do with clothes? When worn, it has energy. If it is not worn, the energy is gone. If it is too old and torn, just apply for a new one.

 

Question 13: The Guanyin Hall was formerly a meat restaurant. Is it necessary to burn the mantra for self-study?

Q: If the Guanyin Hall was previously a restaurant that sold non-vegetarian food, including hotpot and mutton stew, there may be many small spirits in the house. In addition to burning small houses for the requestors of the Guanyin Hall, can we also burn the self-study scriptures and the Pure Land Mantra? If so, how should we fill in the dedication section?

A: Don’t think too much. If you dream of spirits, then go and burn them. If you don’t dream of them, why do you go and burn them? Will you provoke spirits? (Thank you Master for your compassionate advice)

 

Question 14: Spreading positive energy or persuading people to do good is saving people.

Question: If I often use the positive words that Master has said when talking to my friends, and do not specifically mention or let the other person feel that I am mentioning the Dharma, does this also count as saving people?

A: Of course, even if you ask him to do some good deeds, it is called saving people. Do good deeds and avoid evil deeds (Is this also Dharma giving?) Of course, be kind to others (Thank you Master for your compassionate teachings)

 

Question 15 If one has the intention to stay and save others before dying, can one still escape from the cycle of reincarnation?

Question: A fellow practitioner dreamed that a voice told him that he had escaped from the cycle of reincarnation. In the dream, the fellow practitioner thought, “I can’t escape by myself, I have to lead more people to escape from the cycle of reincarnation,” and then woke up. Master, if one has such a thought before dying, will it lead to not being able to escape from the six realms of reincarnation?

A: Generally speaking, if you can really escape from the six realms of reincarnation, that is, if you have these good thoughts in your mind, you can still escape. Do you understand? It is not based on your thoughts at the time, but on your karma, your good karma and bad karma, or your lifelong practice of mind. The karma that enables you to ascend is very important. You say you don’t want to ascend, you want to save people, but the Bodhisattva still invites you to ascend. Do you understand? (Understood)

 

Question 16: Does whether one feels moved when making a wish have anything to do with whether the power of the wish comes from Buddha nature?

Question: When we make certain wishes, we don’t feel moved in our hearts. Does this mean that the power of this wish does not come from the Buddha nature? Sometimes, when we silently make wishes for sentient beings, we feel deeply moved in our hearts. Is this because our Buddha nature is touched?

A: If a person is moved, it is usually called conscience in human terms, and compassion in Bodhisattva terms. Compassion itself is in the eight consciousness fields, in his Alaya consciousness. The Buddha nature and original nature in your Alaya consciousness are already there, so when you are touched by a certain compassion, you will be moved. This is not certain. It does not necessarily mean that you do not have Buddha nature if you are not moved; nor does it necessarily mean that you have Buddha nature just because you are moved and cry.

 

Question 17: When the Dharma Protectors are protecting the Dharma Assembly, in which aspects do they allow everyone to do what they want and in which aspects do they strictly require everyone to do what they want.

Q: When the Dharma Protectors support the Dharma Assembly, in which aspects do they follow everyone’s lead and in which aspects do they strictly require everyone? I hope to learn from this when supporting the Guanyin Hall. Please kindly enlighten me, Master.

A: Dharma protectors protect positive energy. If you have righteous beliefs and righteous thoughts, Dharma protectors will help you. If you think in your mind, “Who am I going to help?”, then the Dharma protectors will help you. You say, “Who am I going to save?”, and as long as you call, the Dharma protectors will come to help you. But if you have bad thoughts, or small thoughts, “I will go out and do something today, I can make some money…”, “I see this girl is very pretty, I will take a closer look at her”, after the Dharma protectors see you, they know who you are, and they will tick your name. They know it very well, very clearly. All of you who study Buddhism have names. You are kidding. There are gods three feet above your head, do you understand? (I understand)

 

Question 18 Before reading “Buddhism in Plain Language”, can I also ask the Bodhisattva to bless the sentient beings who are predestined to listen to it?

Question: Master has taught that when we read Plain Language Buddhism, there will be sentient beings listening nearby. Master, after we ask the Bodhisattvas for blessings to help us become enlightened and wise before reading Plain Language Buddhism, can we also ask the Bodhisattvas to bless those sentient beings who have the predestined affinity to listen to us reading Plain Language Buddhism, so that they can also receive the blessings of Plain Language Buddhism, feel joy in their hearts, and thus plant the seeds of Bodhi?

A: Don’t tell them. If they are happy, they are happy. If they are not happy, they are not happy. Don’t tell them like that. If you tell them, they will come. Because when you are reading “Buddhism in Plain Language”, sometimes they come, sometimes they don’t. It’s not certain. You can’t pick up the book and read a few sentences. When you see that there is no one around, you think, “Maybe sentient beings will come.” You can’t do that. You will scare yourself. (I know. Thank you, Master.)

 

Question 19: If one does not achieve enlightenment, will the merits be used up easily and will the retribution for bad deeds take a long time?

Question: In the “Buddhist’s Journey into Heaven and Earth” there is an experience recorded which says, “Reciting the Buddha’s name and doing good deeds will bring you wealth and honor in this life, but doing evil deeds will lead you to be reborn as a pig for ten lifetimes.” Master, if we have not achieved enlightenment, will our blessings be easily consumed in the cycle of reincarnation as a human being, while the retribution for our evil deeds will take a long time?

A: Of course, that’s for sure. If you don’t go up, you will be rewarded with blessings in the human and heavenly realms. For example, if you cultivate for a lifetime… If a monk cultivates for a lifetime, but doesn’t go to heaven or escape the six realms, he will either receive blessings in heaven or reincarnate in the next life. If you reincarnate, you will be born into a very rich family. For example, in the family of a very wealthy man, you are a daughter or a son – the second generation of the rich, that’s it. After you use up your time, you will be reincarnated again, and you will be born into a poor family (good deeds and bad deeds are done in one lifetime, why is there such a big difference? Chanting Buddha and doing good deeds will make you rich in one lifetime, but doing bad deeds in one lifetime will make you fall into the body of a pig for ten lifetimes?) No, even if you go to hell, you can be reincarnated as an animal or a human again after you come out. After receiving retribution, hell is a place for you to receive retribution, not a place to live in for the rest of your life. After receiving retribution, you will return to the underworld and still be a ghost, but you will not be in hell forever. For example, the Avici Hell is the eighteen levels of hell, from which one cannot get out. In ordinary hells, after suffering, one can return to being a human being.

 

Question 20: The motivation for good deeds and meritorious deeds is different

Q: In “Buddhism in Plain Language”, it is mentioned that when doing good deeds, one must be able to see one’s own emptiness, otherwise it is just a reward and not merit. Now we are still practicing and have not yet attained enlightenment. Does it mean that all the good deeds we do, except for the merits we make by making vows before the Buddha, are all just good deeds and we need to recite the Mantra of the Treasure Mountain of Merit to convert them into merits?

A: It is not necessary. You are a Buddhist today, you recite the sutras, and you do every good deed, and the most important thing is to have a good intention. I have already told you that if an old lady wants to cross the road and a non-Buddhist says, “Old lady, let me help you,” and she crosses the road, it is a good deed. But if you are a Buddhist, when you help her cross the road, you are thinking, “We are Buddhists, we should respect the elderly and love the young, we should understand compassion, today we are learning from Guanyin Bodhisattva, we help the old lady across the road.” So which one do you think is merit and which one is a good deed? (I understand)

 

Question 21: Can I pour leftover soup into the toilet?

Question: Northern Europe has garbage sorting, and leftovers are stored in paper bags. Some leftover soup will wet the paper bags, so some people pour the leftover soup directly into the toilet. Is there anything wrong with this?

A: Of course it is not good. Why pour leftover soup into the toilet? You can’t pour it into the sink? You can’t pour it into the sink where you wash dishes? (Thank you Master for your compassionate advice)

 

Question 22: The little house must be printed on paper, not on plastic

Question: The paper material of the blank little house is mostly made of wood, and sometimes it may be made of plastic. It does not turn into ash after burning. I wonder if this affects the quality of the burning or the quality of the little house?

A: Paper, of course you use paper, how can you use plastic? Of course you use paper, not plastic. You can’t just pick some plastic as the material. You must use paper to burn it. Who told you to write on the plastic board? (Thank you Master for your compassionate guidance)

 

Question 23: How to treat low blood pressure after becoming a vegetarian? Mushrooms and cola can cause calcium loss

Question: Sometimes people experience low blood pressure after becoming a vegetarian. What else can I eat to balance it?

A: Vitamin C and vitamin D are both fine. They keep your stomach and intestines healthy. Vitamin D is the most important thing, which prevents colon cancer. Also, many people lose calcium quickly as they age. We vegetarians eat a lot of mushrooms, which can cause calcium loss. Also, eat less cola. If you eat more, nutritional supplements won’t do you much harm. To be honest, when these expert doctors say, “You need to take some nutritional supplements,” they think you won’t be too good or too bad. Anyway, for them, it doesn’t make any sense for you to eat them. But if you eat them for a long time, they still make some sense. Do you understand? (Thank you, Master, for your compassionate teachings)

 

Question 24: I wish to recite the mantra tens of thousands of times, but I should recite it according to my ability every day.

Question: Master has taught before that if you have made a vow to recite the sutras more than 10,000 times, you can recite them countless times every day. A fellow practitioner made a vow to recite the Seven Buddhas’ Mantras to Eliminate Sins 100,000 times within a year. He recited 500 times every day for a week. One morning, he felt weak all over and couldn’t get up. After he barely finished the morning incense and burning the Little Houses, he fainted in front of the Buddha altar. He then rested for three days, only reciting the Great Compassion Mantra and not reciting other sutras, before he recovered. Master, is this situation caused by his own lack of gong power?

A: Generally, it is like this. You can’t just recite it so hard, 500 times a day, that’s amazing. How can you rush for success? Your body has to be able to handle it, right? (You have to do it within your ability) Yes. You can’t become a fat man with one mouthful of food (I understand. Then if you vow to recite the Mantra of Eliminating Disasters and Auspiciousness, or the Mantra of Resolving Knots, the Mantra of Cundi, and the Mantra of Rebirth 100,000 times, can you also recite these small mantras without limit every day?) Yes. Recite when you can, but don’t recite until you pass out. I have low blood sugar. I eat little, but I don’t want to eat. I’m already a vegetarian. Vegetarians should eat more lecithin to nourish the brain (Be wise) Yes, be wise when eating vegetarian. When you are a vegetarian, sometimes you still have to eat some things, such as spirulina, which is a very good thing. You need to nourish your brain (I understand). People with a neutral constitution can eat some American ginseng, which is very good (Okay, thank you Master for your compassionate guidance)

 

Question 25: Regarding the issue of not having a concentrated outbreak of karma after making a wish to cultivate in one lifetime

Q: Master once said that after making the vow of “cultivating in one lifetime”, there may be a situation where karma bursts out in advance within a few years. I would like to ask, if some fellow practitioners have made this great vow and have not felt any troubles, illnesses, or obstacles, is it because their vow has not been fulfilled, or because they may not have seriously practiced the vow and therefore have not encountered any difficulties?

A: Is it good or bad to not encounter difficulties? (Of course it is good) You have answered your question. Just continue to practice well.

 

Question 26: Do people who were born and raised in foreign countries have a weaker affinity with Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door?

Question: Some fellow practitioners feel that the Guan Yin Method is easier to practice for people with a Chinese cultural foundation. Then, do people who were born in foreign countries and did not grow up with a Chinese cultural background have a weaker affinity with the Guan Yin Method?

A: Who told you that? Look at our master, he is French (right) Why is he a master? Many things in Chinese traditional culture can help people understand how to be a good person. There are noble people and low-class people in the West, and they exist in every country. Noble people can understand Chinese culture (everyone’s foundation is different). Yes, of course.

 

Question 27: Regarding vowing to do a few good deeds every day

Question: If a fellow practitioner vows to do a certain number of good deeds every day, can the deeds that he or she has already done before making the vow be included in the number of good deeds? For example, before making the vow, if one helps Guanyin Hall to eat vegetarian food, then after making the vow, can the vegetarian food that he or she helps to eat be counted in the number of deeds that he or she has vowed to do?

A: He was already doing good deeds before he made the vow. After he made the vow, he continued to do good deeds, and his merits were even greater. The same (Thank you, Master. If a fellow practitioner vows to release animals every day—and entrusts someone in China to do so, can the release of animals still be counted as part of the good deeds he made the vow for that day?) Yes, it can be counted (Thank you, Master)

 

Question 28: If your knees are not good, you can stand and worship Buddha; Bodhisattvas love all living beings

Question: Some senior brothers who are old and live by themselves cannot kneel down to worship because of knee pain or knee disease and wear. Master, can senior brothers like these kneel down and kowtow while standing after inserting the incense into the incense burner when offering morning and evening incense? Just like offering heart incense.

A: Yes. Just let him stand there and worship after lighting the incense. It’s okay. I tell you, Bodhisattvas know how to cherish all living beings, so you just need to worship with your heart, you don’t have to kneel down.

 

Question 29: Should I call Master?

Q: Now some practitioners have encountered problems in their practice or had difficult dreams. They ask Bodhisattvas for inspiration or dreams, telling them not to call Master because Master has too much karma and is too tired. Also, Master’s phone calls are for saving people. However, some practitioners think that they should ask Master when they encounter problems, otherwise they may go astray. Master, what should we do better?

A: If you can fight me, then fight me. Master doesn’t mind. Even if you don’t fight me, someone will fight me. If you have the ability, then fight me. If you fight me, I will save you. (Thank you, Master)

 

Question 30: Why do different people feel differently after making a vow to respect their teachers?

Question: Some people make the same vow to respect their teachers and respect the teachings, and they feel a strong sense of connection. Recently, a fellow practitioner also reported in a program that he made fewer Little Houses after making the vow, and that some masters became stricter with him, while some people did not feel anything obvious. Why is this?

A: Some people have obvious feelings, while others do not. This is because they have different understandings of the power of vows. If you respect your teachers and have a good understanding, you will feel very happy, “Master is here, Master is helping me! I respect my teachers, I follow my teachers”, and you will feel very happy and joyful in your heart. If you think that making a vow is one thing, and doing it is another, it is like a little classmate. The teacher says, “Be good to the teacher, respect the teacher, and uphold the dignity of the teacher”, but during class, he still eats melon seeds, reads books, and listens to headphones. Do you think this kind of child respects the teacher? (No) That’s fine. Be attentive. You must be attentive when making any vow. Only by being attentive can you succeed. Sincerity will make it work. Do you understand? (I understand. Thank you, Master)

 

Question 31 My neighbors are all sick, but I recite the sutras well and have a strong “immunity”, so I will not be affected.

Question: A fellow practitioner lives in a residential area due to limited living conditions. Several of his neighbors are in poor health. However, he has set up a Buddhist altar at home, and has landscape paintings on all four walls. He also has the Great Compassion Mantra hanging on the wall, and plays “One Hundred People Singing the Great Compassion Mantra” 24 hours a day. In this case, will he still be affected by the bad aura of his neighbors?

A: If you chant the sutras like this, it shouldn’t happen. You chant the sutras every day, praying “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to bless our family with good health”. You don’t need to talk about your neighbors, there will be no problem. You have strong abilities and strong resistance, so if they have a cold, you won’t be affected. Not everyone can get a cold. There is no other way, so move if you have the conditions. You can’t move just because your neighbor next door is sick, move to that house, that place, and then your neighbor next door gets sick again, and you move again… (Thank you Master for your compassionate teachings)

 

Question 32: Can the Great Compassion Mantra be hung on the wall behind the bed? Do not nail anything at home.

Q: Can the Great Compassion Mantra be hung on the wall? But behind the wall is the headboard of a bedroom bed.

A: Not very good. Because the Great Compassion Mantra will shine wherever it is hung, and it will be illuminated by the Buddha’s light. If you are a couple, then if you hang it up, what if you say something ambiguous, it will be disrespectful. If you are sleeping there alone, then there is no problem at all (Understood, Master. Since it is not convenient to nail on the wall, can I laminate the Great Compassion Mantra and stick it on the wall?) Of course you can. Nowadays, there are all kinds of things, such as stickers, and you don’t have to nail them (Thank you Master for your compassionate teachings) Master will tell you a Feng Shui problem. Don’t nail your home casually. Moreover, the Feng Shui of each person in your home is different. For example, if there is a direction in the east, south, west, and north that conflicts with you this year, and you use a nail to nail it, the heart of the owner of your home will be bad (Thank you Master for your compassionate teachings)

 

Question 33: How should I make a wish and recite Little Houses when I am seriously ill?

Question: A fellow practitioner got seriously ill and had a tumor. He received treatment and is now recovering. Can he make a wish to make 800 to 1,000 Little Houses this time, or would it be more effective to make them one by one?

A: Make 800 wishes first, then recite them 21 at a time. You will see after a while, the effect will come after you recite more than half of them, and your health will get better immediately. It is very effective (Do you also release them in batches when releasing them?) Pour them down bucket by bucket? It would be best if you can release them one by one.

 

Question 34: Will I incur karma if I pass by or stand in front of a fellow practitioner who is reciting the Great Repentance Sutra?

Question: When reciting the Great Repentance to Buddha in the Guanyin Hall, there are a lot of people. Everyone likes to stand at the back and recite the Great Repentance to Buddha. If a fellow practitioner passes by in front or stands opposite, will this bring upon them karma?

A: No, no matter where you chant, as long as your heart is sincere and your mind is focused, you will not forget it. Don’t pay attention to it. I have never seen the same (good) when you chant the sutra. Here you are chanting the name of the Bodhisattva, and someone walks by, “Here someone walks by”, how can you chant well? Don’t pay attention to it. I have never seen it. Just be single-minded. Lighting a stick of incense means being single-minded and making progress in one direction (Thank you, Master)

 

Question 35 If you have sexual thoughts or dreams, you can ask Guanyin Bodhisattva to help you eliminate them.

Question: Some fellow practitioners often have dreams about sexual misconduct. To address this problem, in order to completely eliminate the root of the problem, is there a set number of times they should recite the Great Repentance to Buddha and the Little Houses?

A: Yes, you can. You have to tell the Bodhisattva. If you have sexual misconduct, you should tell the Bodhisattva. Don’t be embarrassed. Just tell the Bodhisattva: “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, please help me get rid of the sexual misconduct. I am a mortal in the flesh. Please, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, be merciful. I will cultivate well.” You will see that after a period of time, you will really feel much better and you will not think about it anymore (Okay. Then wholeheartedly pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva for compassion and blessing). There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is your mother, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Mother. What is the relationship? You are human, and human beings are not perfect. This is very normal. When the seven emotions and six desires come, you have to use the precepts to get rid of them. Ask Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to bless you and eliminate many karmas. The Bodhisattva will see, “Good child.” You are also a good child if you ask Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to help you eliminate them (Thank you Master for your compassionate guidance)

 

Question 36: If you meet your past life lover, you can make a wish. The interpretation of the sutras; about “sentient beings”; we should learn from Bodhisattvas and have true love for everyone.

Question: During the practice, many brothers and sisters encounter their past life relationships. In addition to asking Guanyin Bodhisattva to help them transform their emotional relationships into Buddha relationships, can they also make a wish to recite a Great Repentance to Buddha or a certain number of Little Houses to resolve this emotional relationship?

A: Yes, it is possible (good) for relationships. There is no other way. Everyone living in this world has emotions, so Bodhisattvas call us “sentient beings”. If you don’t have emotions, how did you come to the human world? We are all sentient beings. Why is it difficult for some people to express their emotions? It is because they have not received love. If you have true love, you will have true emotions, so it is “true emotions, true love”. A person should be like a Bodhisattva, learn from Bodhisattvas, and have true love for everyone. People’s hearts are made of flesh. If you are really good to others, how can they be bad to you? Many people did not know Master before, “Who is this?” Once they came into contact with Master, they were very casual with others, but later they treated Master very well. Children like you also watched when you first learned, and only loved me when you saw that Master was really good to you (yes) (Yes) Is it that easy? (Thank you, Master)

 

Question 37: I vowed not to eat eggs. Can I still eat foods containing eggs?

Question: Master, many practitioners now have made the vow not to eat eggs. However, in modern foods, many breads and even semi-finished dumpling skins contain eggs. If practitioners vow not to eat eggs, does it mean that they cannot touch any food containing eggs?

A: Actually, I’m telling you that not eating eggs is about the yolk or the white. As long as an egg can hatch a chick, it is still considered meat. This is true. You see, if it is a stone, it has no life, or something, it has no life. A stone is there, and the weather outside changes, and it has no feeling of heat or cold. But if an egg is left there, once it gets hot, the white inside it will go bad, and the egg will go bad. This means that all the pores inside the eggshell will sense that there is a living organism inside, and it will produce another kind of change, a change in the molecular structure, so this shows that it still has active ingredients inside. You see, when you peel an egg, it smells a little bit. Why do Westerners like to put some ginger or vinegar in their eggs? They can smell the bad smell, too. Think about it this way, this is the reason. If you say that you put a little bit, for example, only 0.1% or 0.2% of the whole cake, or 0.01% or 0.05%, it is a very, very small ingredient, and if we go with the flow, we may not be too picky. Master means that you should not eat things that kill animals. For example, this has been mixed into this thing, a little bit… If you can be clean, it’s the best; sometimes you can’t be too clean outside, just go with the flow. After all, these are things with very few molecules (OK, thank you Master) Milk, Master tells you that you can still eat it, and cheese can also be eaten. Eggs, whole eggs, don’t eat them; if there are only a few ingredients in it… It’s like many people take medicine, there are some meat in it, such as turtle bones, ground into powder, very little, only a few tenths of a percent, and it is already a medicine, for your health, not for killing animals, so you can only go with the flow. Do you understand? (OK) If you can taste the fishy smell today, don’t eat it; if you can’t taste the fishy smell today – for example, fish oil, you feel sick when you eat it, that’s the fishy smell of fish – if you don’t have this fishy smell when you eat it, it means that the ingredients are very few, tell the Bodhisattva, “Avalokitesvara, I will go with the flow today.” Just tell the Bodhisattva about it (OK). You should tell the Bodhisattva about everything that happens. I tell the Bodhisattva about everything that happens (OK, learn from Master, thank Master for his compassion)

 

Question 38: After reading “Buddhism in Plain Language”, it is best to spend time thinking deeply about it.

Q: The first question is about “Buddhism in Plain Language”. There are many fellow practitioners who read “Buddhism in Plain Language” in different groups. If they spend some time thinking about it after reading it and deeply understand the true meaning of each article, will they receive greater blessings?

A: Of course. If you have time to spend it, that’s even better. (Thank you Master for your compassionate guidance)

 

Question 39: When reading “Buddhism in Plain Language”, you must understand the meaning in order to receive blessings. If you do not understand the language, you can find a translator.

Q: Children who grew up abroad have limited Chinese proficiency and can only read the pinyin version of “Buddhism in Plain Language”. Can they still receive blessings without understanding it? Will the effect be greatly discounted?

A: Of course, one must understand before receiving the blessing. For example, if you are in Germany, you can find a German and Chinese translator, one who is good at both Chinese and German, and ask him to teach the children, teach those who do not understand Chinese, and open a separate class for them. We all have English classes, the same. Only when he understands can he get the connotation; what is the use if he does not understand anything? (Thank you Master for your compassionate guidance. Some of our fellow practitioners are also very willing to translate this question into German paragraph by paragraph) Yes, very good, translate it quickly (Okay, thank you Master for your compassionate guidance)

 

Question 40: If the child’s bed is facing the Buddhist altar, his mind must be focused.

Question: If the child’s room faces west and the head of the bed also faces west, it seems that the child cannot concentrate, so I changed the direction and the head of the bed faces north. Master, please kindly enlighten me on the best direction for the head of the bed?

A: According to Feng Shui, the Feng Shui changes every year, so you can’t… you say which Feng Shui is good, and the position facing the Buddha altar has the best Feng Shui. Wherever you place the Buddha, you should face that position, and your child will definitely concentrate.

 

Question 41: Can I recite the Great Repentance to Buddha 21 times on the day I set up the altar?

Question: I can recite the Great Repentance to Buddha more often on the day I set up the Buddhist altar. Is there a limit to the number of times I can recite it?

A: If you have just set up a Buddhist altar, Bodhisattvas will usually come. If they come, as long as your oil lamp is not extinguished, Bodhisattvas will always be there; if the oil lamp is extinguished, then Bodhisattvas have left. If you keep the incense on, Bodhisattvas may not be there, but as long as you turn on the oil lamp, you are inviting Bodhisattvas to come. Do you understand? If you want Bodhisattvas to stay for a while longer and chant sutras, then you should keep chanting and turn on the oil lamp. If Bodhisattvas are there, your power will be very great. Do you understand? (Got it, Master. Is there a limit to how many times you can recite the Great Repentance to the Buddha?) Generally, within 21 times, on the same day (Got it, thank you Master)

 

Question 42: After marriage, the couple’s fate changes.

Q: First is fate, second is luck, and third is Feng Shui. Name is very important to a person. After a senior brother changed his name, different name-reading teachers said that this senior brother’s new name would break up his marriage and family. May I ask, is the new name the main reason for the breakup of the couple’s relationship, or is this fate actually in their destiny?

A: A couple has different destinies. The man has his own destiny, and the woman has her own destiny. When they were young, it was calculated that the man was so-and-so good, or so-and-so bad, but the woman’s destiny was not compatible with him. So after they became a couple, their horoscopes changed, and the couple’s destinies changed. Originally, the man was supposed to be very bad, but he met a woman who had good luck in helping her husband, and the man’s destiny changed. If the man was originally very bad, and the woman was good, then he would have good luck in helping her husband; if the man was originally very good, but after marrying the woman, the woman quarreled with him all day, and the man’s destiny became bad. This is called “matching the horoscopes.” When the horoscopes of two people are combined, the destiny changes, so the couple is no longer good (Thank you, Master)

 

Question 43: Name only accounts for 20% of your fortune; if your name is not good, you can still get a good fortune by reciting sutras and worshipping the Buddha.

Question: What proportion of people who study Buddhism have new names?

Answer: 20%. If your name is not good, you can still be good if you recite the sutras and worship the Buddha. A good name is the icing on the cake. Let me give you a simple example. For example, if 80% of your name is bad, even if you change 20% of your name, can you make 80% better? If 80% of your name is good today, and 20% of your name is also changed, then are you 100%? (I understand. Thank you, Master)

 

Question 44 Should lights be turned on inside and outside the house at night?

A: From the perspective of Feng Shui, Master has taught that when sleeping at night, at least one light should be on in the room, and it should not be too dark. I have also heard a totem program where Master said that practitioners should turn on lights outside the room when looking at totems. At night, is it best to turn on a light both inside and outside the room?

A: If there are few people at the door and it is a large garden house, you’d better have a light; if it is completely dark, this kind of land is easy to attract ghosts (understood) If you can afford to live in a big house, can’t you afford to turn on the light? The electricity bill is at most one dollar a night. It is very economical…walk in front and close the back, it is not economical. Sometimes, the light in the corridor is your “throat”, it must be bright, so the corridor must be wide and bright, so that your fortune will be good (Thank you Master)

 

Question 45 Will the hell law enforcement officers throw people into prison? One more day of saving people means one more day of merit.

Question: Is it possible for the prison guards enforcing the law in hell to be reincarnated as humans?

A: It is possible (They are punishing many people in hell. Will these experiences create bad karma for them?) Although they have created bad karma, they are law enforcement officers. They will continue to enforce the law after they come up (Thank you, Master. The Lyon group will sincerely repent, follow Master’s footsteps, study Buddhism diligently, and save ourselves and others. Thank you, Bodhisattva, and Master for your compassionate blessing for our new Guanyin Hall to be completed as soon as possible) Do it, do it well, hurry up, there is nothing to think about. One more day to save people is one more day to do good deeds and cultivate your mind (Yes, Master) Hurry up.

 

Question 46: Don’t recite the Great Repentance to Buddha together

Q: There is a question in the Buddhist class. Master said that we should not recite the Great Repentance to the Buddha together. If we teach everyone to recite the sutra in the Buddhist class, can we recite it together so that everyone is familiar with the words they don’t know?

A: No. Some people chant slowly, some people chant quickly. The sutras contain the names of Bodhisattvas. If you chant too quickly or incorrectly, it will be disrespectful to the Bodhisattvas. You can ask those who cannot chant to chant slowly. If you cannot chant, why should we chant together? (Okay, thank you Master)

 

Question 47: Paying off debts is a process, and it won’t be that quick at the beginning.

Question: A fellow practitioner started to write persuasion and enlightenment texts for her husband who did not believe in Buddhism in November last year. One month later, she had two dreams about her husband. In the first dream, her husband fell into an abyss, but later sat up again. In the second dream, her husband passed away, and his family began to introduce a boyfriend to her. After the two dreams, the fellow practitioner made a vow to recite Little Houses and release animals for her husband, and also transferred the merits of spreading the Dharma to her husband. In reality, her husband’s joints have started to ache recently, and he is not in good condition. Master, in this case, should she continue to write persuasion and enlightenment texts for her husband? What else does the fellow practitioner need to do to help her husband?

A: It should be like this at the beginning. It won’t be that fast at the beginning. The man has a lot of karma and he hasn’t cultivated. You are helping him to pay off his debts at the beginning. Won’t the spirits keep asking for it? For example, it’s like seeing a doctor. If you suddenly feel unwell, when you go to see a doctor, even if the doctor prescribes medicine or gives you an injection, you may not feel pain immediately. You will still feel pain for a while after you go back. The pain will only go away after the inflammation is gone (I understand. Thank you Master)