Question:

I received the Five precepts but often violated the Deviant Sex and Not Taking Intoxicants Precepts.am 24 years old. Initially, after a night of partying, it feels normal and satisfying.
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However, after I learned about Buddhism I realized that I was creating offenses. Ever since then, every time I go out, I feel a little sad inside and also would feel guilty, especially whenever I look at the Buddha statues. 

Question:

Ah also, I’m very interested to know if there is a teacher at Lu Mountain Temple who has opened his (or her) spiritual eye. ​

I think I mentioned this in the long message I left. This is important to me because I hear it’s a very rare thing to actually achieve, so I’m interested in hearing about anyone’s personal experience on that topic.

Many thanks,
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Paul

Question:

Ven. Master!

I am a lay Buddhist disciple.

I encountered the Great Compassion Mantra and became enamored with it. Thus I vowed to the Buddha and Guan Yin Bodhisattva that I would maintain the Mantra in order to dedicate the merit and virtue from such recitations to my past creditors.

I also hoped that my family would become vegetarian. However, recently my workload has increased so much that I could not recite the Mantra regularly anymore. This makes me feel very guilty.

I hope that you will teach me the proper recitation method so that I can properly repent for my failure to keep my vow to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Gods because it was never my intention to make false promises to them. This failure makes me very worried and scared.

Please kindly teach me. I hope to hear from you soon.
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LA

Question:

Emituofo,

I would really appreciate your kind guidance.

I realize that I have a lot of greedy desires and therefore I resolved to recite the Shurangama Mantra [not clear…]. ​​

However, after each time that I recite the Mantra I often have unwholesome thoughts whereas when I do not recite the Mantra, my mind would be normal: not that it is free from greedy desires but rather it is not as heavy and uncomfortable as when I recite.

Please teach me what to do. Thank you.
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HD

Question:

Ven. Master,
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I read your instructions on maintaining the Great Compassion Mantra and now realize that it is more effective to receive transmission before practicing it. Also, it is my understanding that if we had conditions with Great Master Xuan Hua, we should go to his temples or seek out his students to make the request for transmission.

Question:

Ven. Master,
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I most fortunately came across the Sutra regarding The Great Compassion Mantra which helped me cope with my unbearable suffering. I later learned that if I sincerely recite this Mantra 12,000 times and print the Sutra 1,200 times, I will be able to get whatever I wish.

Question:

Ven. Master:

I would like to recite the Great Compassion Mantra. How do I get started? I researched on the internet and found many conflicting instructions. I worry that if I do it improperly, it would make it difficult to concentrate on my recitation. The truth is, I am ill. How should I pray for help? Please kindly instruct me.
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TD

Question:

There is a Tibetan sect called Mystic Universe. Are they in line with Mahayana teachings? Should I join them?

Please spend time to look into it and tell me what you think of them.
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Amituofo

​Question:

Dear Venerable Ones,
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I was reading the Kāraṇḍavyūhaḥ sutra or the Buddha speaks of Mahayana Sublime Treasure King sutra as it is known in English and come across the part where a Bodhisattva was requesting the Buddha to teach him the Six Words Great Enlightening Dharani (Om Mani Padme Hum). 

Question:
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The Master indicated that reciting the Great Compassion Mantra without practicing the Hands & Eyes Dharma is not beneficial. Furthermore, the Hands & Eyes Dharma is transmitted only to those with potential. In that case, those who maintain the Great Compassion Mantra under your guidance would obtain what benefit? Please kindly instruct us. 

​Question:

Ven. Master:

I have a nine year old son who is autistic. I have been reciting the Great Compassion mantra and the Buddha’s name. Please kindly teach me how recite them properly. I currently live in Houston, TX and heard about the Great Compassion mantra Dharma from listening to a Dharma Talk from Great Master Xuan Hua.
​
BN

Question:

(The original question was in Vietnamese. It was translated as follows: )
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1. Before reciting the Buddha’s name, I used to recite the Great Compassion mantra every day. Occasionally, when I would not be able to recite the Mantra for a few days in a row because I could not find the time to recite, I would dream that I was reciting it. About eight months ago, I started switching to reciting the Buddha’s name and stopped reciting the Great Compassion Mantra. Recently, I started dreaming that I was reciting the Mantra again. Does it mean that I have good affinity with the Mantra? If so, what should I do? If I recite both the Mantra and the Buddha’s name, would it make it difficult to be single-minded?