1.

问：

从上周开始我忽然不想拜忏，从10个一下降到3个，降下来后，除了感觉越来越懒不想拜忏之外，没其他反应。可是我母亲却从我减忏开始身体不舒服，我母亲不信佛，我母亲的病和我减忏有关系吗？

答：

可能有关系，是你母亲的冤亲债主来听经得度，你感受到了业力，所以不想做功课。

1.

Q:

Since last week, all of a sudden, I didn’t want to prostrate anymore. Then my prostration reduced from 10 to 3. I didn’t feel anything unusual other than being too lazy to make full prostration. However, strangely enough, my mother stated to feel sick at the same time. My mother is not a Buddhist; but does her sickness have anything to do with my reducing prostration?

A:

Probably. It may be that your mother’s karmic creditors all came to you, expecting to be saved. And you probably felt the negative energy from them, so you didn’t want to prostrate.

2.

问：

打七回来后，第一个月坚持得比较顺利。现在第二个月，功课依然能够坚持，并且已经形成习惯，但是内心却起起伏伏，很是煎熬，突然产生了很多疑虑和不确定。总是在想，我到底是在干什么啊？我到底为什么要做这些啊？我的问题到底能不能解决啊？这些想法不受控制地往外冒，让我的心很疲惫。此外，最近多梦，却很少有好梦，这也让我情绪低落。还有身体上，右侧膝盖很难受，盘坐时右膝盖的后侧韧带牵拉很疼，腿没法盘，屈伸时都会有感觉。请问我这是怎么了？我该怎么办呢？

答：

现在是业障拉锯期，是修行的困难期，是爬坡费劲的阶段，坚持下去，消除业障，身心清净，慢慢就会感到修行的快乐。贵在坚持。

2.

Q:

After my Dizang-qi Retreat, I have been able to keep up my chanting and prostrating for a month. Now it is the second month. And I am still chanting and prostrating as well and it has gradually become a habit. However, sometimes I felt a bit uneasy and anxious. I still have a lot of doubts and questions. I can’t help thinking: what am I doing? Why am I doing all these? Can it really solve my problems? I was tired of having all these doubts, like I have no control over it whatsoever. And I am also having some bad dreams lately, which was very depressing. My body reacted negatively as well. I couldn’t sit in a lotus position because my right knee and hamstring hurt when I do that. I want to know why this happens to me. And what should I do?

A:

You are in a see-saw struggle, which is one of the difficult times in your practice. It is like climbing up a hill and you have to make huge effort to make it to the top. Therefore all you need to do is never giving up. Only then can you get rid of your karmic hindrances and purify your body. Gradually you will feel happier. The key is persistence.

3.

问：

我六月初开始拜忏，每天3忏2经。我看师兄们的日记或心得都说拜忏很轻松很欢喜，而我却拜得非常辛苦，尤其是连续拜的第二个忏，更是累得不行，两个忏下来腿都直哆嗦，膝盖也破了。这是怎么回事呀？

答：

业障就像一座山，爬山是要费劲的，这要有一个过程，坚持下去，克服了业障，身心逐渐清净，就会轻松的.

3.

Q:

I started prostrating in June; chanting two times and prostrations three times a day. I read some fellow practitioners’ diaries, and they mentioned they felt very happy and relaxed when they prostrate. But I feel very exhausted, especially when the second one right after the first one.  I felt so tired that my legs were trembling badly after two prostrations and my knee also bruised. Why?

A:

Eliminating your karmic hindrance is like climbing a mountain; you have to make a lot of effort to make it to the top. So before you do, you really have to commit yourself to it. After you get rid of your karmic hindrance, both you mind and body will be purified. Only then will you feel at peace and relaxed.

4.

问：

从昨天开始我在家打地藏七，昨天是七忏七经，加1万声佛号，感觉不错。可是今天的状况不太好，到现在已经完成6忏5经，2000多声佛号，心烦，有时听念佛机念佛都心烦，心里总是不踏实。请开示。

答：

这是自己的业障表现出来了，是自己的冤亲债主、历代宗亲来听经得度来了，所以有反应，这是正常的，坚持。

4.

Q:

From yesterday I started my Dizang-qi retreat at home. I prostrated seven times, chanted the Sutra 7 times and recited Namo Amita Buddha ten thousand times yesterday. I felt pretty good. However, today is a totally different story. I felt very uneasy after I finished 6 prostrations, 5 chanting and two thousand times Namo Amita Buddha. Sometime it was even worse where I felt upset just by listening to the recording of Namo Amita Buddha. Please enlighten me.

A:

That is because your karmic hindrance is overpowering you. Your karmic creditors, relatives and the successive generations of ancestors and kinfolks in lifer after life were there listening to you. So your reaction was a not uncommon at all.  Just keep on what you are doing.

5.

问：

早上拜忏后心里很舒服，中午因为工作上的事情压力太大，突然变得烦乱，午饭也没吃。我自学佛以来，打过两次七，心情一直很好，很平静，没什么烦恼心。中午的情绪异常让我觉得很不应该，我为自己生起烦恼心而自责，不过当时真的控制不了。后来慢慢地，经过自我反省，突然间我的心情又豁然平静了。请问我这样的情况正常吗？

答：

这种过程，每个人都有，非常正常，我们累生累世积累的业障无量无边，修行消除业障，克服烦恼习气，是不容易的，只要我们坚持功课，坚持学习，坚持行善实践，时时观照自己，慢慢地就会进步。

5.

Q:

I felt very good after I prostrated in the morning. At noon, however, I was having problems at work. I so was stressed out and messed in my head that I didn’t even have lunch. After I my practice, I have been to the Dizang-qi Retreat twice. I have been feeling pretty good about it. I was calm and at peace. I shouldn’t have been upset by such little things and I blamed myself for that. But at that moment, I felt powerless and no control over my mood. After some serious after thought and self- reflection, I felt at ease again. Is this unusual?

A:

This is a process that we all have to go through. This is very common. We have accumulated countless karmic hindrance from previous lives and it is not easy to eliminate all our karmic hindrance all of a sudden and overcome our bad habits and anxieties. However, as long as we are persistent, continue on chanting and prostrating, listen to UC lectures, keep up our good deeds, reflect ourselves from time to time, we will gradually make good progress.

6.

问：

我这阵子郁闷透了，无论梦境还是冤亲债主都提醒我要精进，前天拜了十个忏，读了三部经，很轻松地完成，而且身心愉悦。昨天只拜了六个，读了三部经，完成得很吃力。今天就更别提了，到现在什么都没做，状态很不好：浑身没劲儿、老爱饿、有时还恶心。我工作时间可以自己掌握，又是单身，有自己的房子，经济条件允许，父母家人支持，总之最具备修行条件、最应该精进修行了，但功课却做成这样，状态还不稳定，真是烦透了。为什么这样呢？是业障太重了吗？

答：

不要紧，这是我们业障重，通过修行，身心内的业障表现出来了，感觉难受。坚持功课，坚持学习，坚持行善实践，长期修行，慢慢会消除业障，身心清净，会感受到法喜的。

6.

Q:

I have been very depressed these days. Both my dreams and karmic creditors hinted me to be more dedicated. The day before yesterday, I prostrated 10 times and chanted 3 times. That was easy and I felt relaxed afterwards. Yesterday, however, I only prostrated 6 times and chanted 3 times. But it was difficult. And today it was even worse, because I haven’t done any of the above. I was in no mood to do it and felt very tired already. I was hungry all the time and sometimes even felt nauseated. In all fairness, I have the perfect environment to practice. I have flexible working hours; I am single with my own house. I am financially independent and my parents are very supportive of me on this. I should have been more dedicated and persistent. On the contrary, I couldn’t keep up with my practice, having one good day and one bad day the next, which is very upsetting. What was the reason? Was it because my karmic hindrance is too strong?

A:

Just don’t worry too much about it. Every one of us has countless karmic hindrance and you are not alone. As you progress in your practice, you will feel your karmic hindrance coming out, and that is why you feel uncomfortable.  To obtain eternal rejoice, we have to eliminate all our karmic hindrance by purifying our mind and body. To reach that goal, you have to keep up your prostration, chanting, and learning, as well as doing good things and treat your practice as a life time routine.

7.

问：

我自修行以来老像背着一个大包袱，整天觉得自己业障深重，业力巨大，整天想的都是冤亲债主，如果某天没有完成功课，就会特别有罪恶感，都说快乐修行，我怎么越修越痛苦、越修越难过呢？是我修偏了，还是说这只是修行路上的一个阶段呢？

答：

这是一个阶段，不要想业障，明白了就好，关键是想佛忆佛念佛，用佛的光明，消除业障。每天看看太阳，就知道黑暗自然就消失了。

7.

Q:

Ever since I started practicing, I felt like I have a big baggage on my back. I always think that I have too much karmic hindrance and huge sins. Every day I reminded myself how much I owe to my karmic creditors. And I would feel very guilty if I didn’t finish my daily practice. We usually say that we have to practice with rejoice. But why am I feeling more and more agonized and devastated? Was I on the wrong track or this is just a phrase I have to go through?

A:

Yes, this is only a phrase. Don’t dwell on the negative. The most important thing is to keep Buddha in your heart and chant Amitabha Buddha’s name. We have to use Buddha’s illumination to eliminate our karmic hindrance. It’s like when you look at the sun and feel its warmth, you will know the darkness will disappear one day.

8.

问：

我读经150多部，还是妄想非非，总想控制但却自自然然又走神，但专心念地藏王菩萨圣号时妄想却比较少，这是什么原因？

答：

妄想是正常的，都是我们累生累世的业力。读诵《地藏经》，不要管妄想，不必去控制，将注意力放在《地藏经》上就好，慢慢会将妄想减少的。

8

Q:

I have chanted Sutra of he Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva 150 times. However, I still have lots of wandering thoughts. I want to get them controlled but only to find that I get more easily distracted. But when I focused on chanting Earth Store Bodhisattva, I stopped having wandering thoughts. Why is that?

A:

It is very common to have wandering thoughts. That was the hindrance that has accumulated for many lives. When you chant the Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva, don’t pay attention to the thoughts or try to control it. Just focus yourself on the Sutra and you will see these thoughts gradually reduce.

9.

问：

我打过三次七。第一次很好。第二次从第3天开始诵经就诵不进去，全是妄念，一部经下来也就几句能进大脑，一直到最后一天才好点儿。第三次更惨，从第二天开始就诵不进去，一直到打七结束也没有改善，打得很失败。请问这是为什么呀？有办法对治吗？

答：

这是正常的，我们累生累世积累了无量无边的业障，身心内就像厕所里的粪尿淤积太多，已经往出冒了，所以诵经感觉妄念多。这种情况更要坚持功课，坚持学习，坚持行善实践，出离恶道。

9.

Q:

I have been to the Dizangqi Retreat 3 times. The first time everything went well. For the second time, I couldn’t chant from the third day onwards.  I was full of wandering thoughts. I was only able to chant a few lines of the whole Sutra. It only turned better on the last day. And it was much worse during the third time. I couldn’t chant form the second day onwards and it didn’t get better at all. I think I was such a failure. Please tell me why it happened? Is there any solution?

A:

This is very common. We have accumulated countless karmic hindrance through our lives. Our body was like a garbage bin where it contains all kinds of garbage. And it was so full that the garbage is starting to spill out. That is why you thoughts are all over the place because your mind is full of them. The solution is to keep up your prostration, chanting, and learning, as well as doing good things. Only then can you get out of the 3 lower realms.

10.

问：

最近一段时间，我不管在哪儿、不管什么时间，甚至只要脑子里想到男同志，就会联想到生殖器。我很苦恼，打过自己的脸，可是管不住。拜忏时想起我过去吃过众生的生殖器。那是十年前在一个野味店，有一盘凉菜是驴的生殖器，我贪嘴吃了。现在我非常悔恨，真的不能吃他们，求佛菩萨超拔他们！

答：

这是业力反应，不必烦恼，坚持拜忏诵经念佛，逐渐超度冤亲债主，消除业障，这种现象会减少消失的。

10.

Q:

Recently, I can’t stop thinking about men and their genitals. And this happens all the time and no matter where I am. It is very disturbing. I tried to slap myself but it didn’t work. I suddenly realized I have eaten some animal genitals before. It was 10 years ago. I was very gluttonous and ate a dish made of the donkey genitals in a local restaurant. Now I am very regretful about it. I shouldn’t have eaten that. I hope Buddha and Bodhisattvas saved them from hell!

A:

This is your reaction from feeling the karmic hindrance. Don’t be bothered by it. Just continue prostrating, chanting Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva and Earth Store Bodhisattva. Then your karmic creditors will be saved and you will be eliminating your karmic hindrance. And you won’t see it happen again.

11.

问：

我去年开始读《地藏经》，现在读了100多部，每次读经时杂念很多，有时候甚至起恶念，听说读经时不能起恶念，否则会造更重的业，但越害怕就越起，我不知该怎么办了。

答：

读诵《地藏经》，起杂念和妄念是正常的，这些都是我们过去的印象和各种毛病习气的反应，也有冤亲债主的仇恨念头表现出来，都是正常的，不必在意。念诵《地藏经》，就是要超度冤亲债主，消除业障，也包括了消除这些杂念和恶念。所以，不要紧，坚持读诵就好，将注意力放在读诵《地藏经》上，杂念和妄念不必管它。

11.

Q:

I started to chant the Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva last year. Up till now I have chanted it 100 times. However I still have a lot of messy thoughts. Sometime I even have evil thoughts. They said that you can’t have evil thoughts when you chant. Otherwise you are committing more sins. I am very worried and don’t know what to do.

A:

It is very common to have thoughts when you chant the Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva. This is a consequence of the seeds we sowed in the past and the result of our various bad habits. It can be also the hatred from our karmic creditors. Just don’t dwell on it. The very purpose of chanting chant the Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva is to help our karmic creditors get saved and eliminate our karmic hindrance. It also aims at getting rid of these messy bad thoughts. So just don’t worry about it. All you need to do is to put the messy thoughts and bad thoughts aside, keep on chanting and focus yourself on it.

12.

问：

妈妈在工地做饭，由于条件不允许，只能拜小忏。前几天妈妈看了常弘师兄的开示后，在一周内将7忏提到20忏，并不觉得累，反倒觉得一天都很轻松，人好像瘦了几十斤的感觉。可是这两天妈妈说，她在拜忏时有很多妄念、恶念，她求地藏王菩萨加持也不行，还是恶念很多（不拜了就没有了），这是怎么回事？

答：

恶念是精进修行，将内在的业障表现出来了，不必在意，坚持功课，坚持学习，坚持行善实践。慢慢化解，慢慢清凉。

12.

Q:

My mother can only do half prostration because she is working as a cook in the construction site. She increased her prostration from 7 times a day to 20 times a day within a week, after she watched ChangHong Sister’s lecture. And she didn’t feel tired from that at all. On the contrary, she felt relaxed and it also seemed like she lost a few dozens of pounds. However, she also said that she had many wandering thoughts and evil thoughts. She even begged Earth Store Bodhisattva for help. But it didn’t work. Strangely, she stopped having those thoughts when she stopped prostrating. Why is that?

A:

The evil thoughts are the result of your intense practice, because the karmic forces start to manifest themselves. Don’t dwell on it. Just carry on your chanting and prostration, listen to the lectures and do good deeds. The karmic forces will gradually be eliminated. And she will become calmer.

13.

问：

不知为什么我总是对一些路人在心里给出恶言，在念经时也有过这种状况。

答：

这是自己的恶业，是冤亲债主的反应。建议你坚持吃素、诵《地藏经》、忏悔、放生、行善、念佛。逐渐消除业障，身心清净了，各方面都会好起来的。

13.

Q:

I don’t know how come I always tend to say mean things to strangers I meet. And this also happens when I chant.

A:

This is the result of your karmic forces and reaction of your karmic creditors. I suggest you stop eating meat. Also, it is advisable to chant the Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva and make confession for the sins we have committed. It also helps if you rescue other creatures, do good deeds and chant Namo Amita Buddha. Then your karmic forces will be gradually eliminated. Everything will be better because you have purified yourself both physically and mentally.

14.

问：

我不知道自己为什么要坚持拜忏、诵经、念佛，但是我心里的恶念却压制不住。原因是我遇到阻碍，人为的阻碍，有直接的有间接的，我活得很痛苦。我也想得到佛菩萨的帮助，可是一点改善都没有，甚至连一丝希望都看不到。于是，我就产生了很恶毒很恶毒的念头，就是诅咒那些给我障碍的人去死。当我一觉得痛苦难受时，心里就会去诅咒，我不知道这样是否损我的福报，我只知道如果这些阻碍我的人死了，我目前的困境就解脱了。我知道您会对我说，继续修行。我会继续修行，但我无法停止自己内心的诅咒，就算损福报也要这样做，因为我煎熬了几年，实在是太痛苦、太愤恨了。再这样下去，我不死也会疯掉的。

答：

可以放松放松，找些自己喜欢的事情做做，转移注意力。

14.

Q:

I don’t know why I have to keep prostrating, chanting the Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva and chant Namo Amita Buddha. But I cannot control my evil thoughts. That was because I am facing lots of obstacles, man-made obstacles. Some of them are direct and some are indirect. And I am living in agony. I have begged for Buddha’s help and there has been no change at all. I can’t even see any hope. So I began to have some very evil thoughts. I wish all the people who stand in my way dead. I do that every time I felt upset and devastated. I don’t know whether that would hurt my blessings. All I know was if those people are dead, my situation will improve. I know you would suggest I be more dedicated in my practice. And I will do that. However, I cannot stop myself from cursing; because I kept doing it even if it would consume my blessings. I have been in this agony for a few years; and it was very upsetting and disturbing. I will either go crazy or die if the situation doesn’t change.

A:

You can relax a little bit. Do something that you really like, which will be some nice diversion.

15.

问：

我念《地藏经》有段时间了，每天诵经1-2部，拜3个大忏。可是今晚诵经时突然不想念了。拜忏时更想起了坐月子时和婆婆生气的事，导致连忏都拜不下去了，内心非常痛苦。我的双胞胎儿子现在都两岁多了，我也想孝敬婆婆，但是一想到那些事我就恨她。烦恼来时我也知道有可能是冤亲债主在作怪，可还是会生气，什么都干不下去。请开示。

答：

这是你的冤亲债主、历代宗亲来听经得度，你感受到了他们的负面磁场。不必在意，坚持功课，坚持学习，坚持行善实践，逐渐消除业障，慢慢变好。

15.

Q:

I have been chanting the Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva for some time now. I chant twice and make prostrations three times every day.  However, I suddenly wanted to stop chanting tonight. And I almost stopped prostrating when I thought of the unpleasant incident I had with my mother-in-law after I had my baby. I felt very upset. My twins are now more than two year old and I have been nice to my mother-in-law. However, whenever I thought about those unpleasant things, I will hate her again. I know those hatred was from my karmic creditors. But it doesn’t stop me from getting angry. And when that happens, I was in no mood to do anything. Please tell me what to do.

A:

Our karmic creditors came to listen to your chanting, hoping to be saved so that they can be reborn. And you have felt their negative influence. Don’t dwell on it. Just carry on your chanting and prostration, listen to the lectures and do good deeds. The karmic forces will gradually be eliminated. Everything will get better.

16.

问：

不知为什么我最近总发脾气，而且特想不开，总不想活了。今天和母亲吵了一架，而且还当着外人。我心里很难受，可就是压不住脾气，事后不但不后悔，而且还越想越生气。这种感觉真是太难受了，我该怎么办啊？

答：

这是内在的业障毒素发出来了，不要发脾气，忍耐一下，慢慢就过去了，养成念佛的习惯，依靠佛力，逐渐消除转变。

16.

Q:

I lose my temper easily lately. Sometime I am so upset that I don’t want to live anymore. I had a fight with my mother today when there were other people around. I was very depressed. But I just can’t control my temper. After what had happened, I didn’t regret about it at all. Rather, the more I think about it, the angrier I am. It was really disturbing. What should I do?

A:

These are the reflection of your karmic forces. Be patient and don’t lose temper. It is just a phrase and it will go away. You may want to get into the habit of chanting Namo Amita Buddha. With the help of Buddha, these forces will be gone and things will get better.

17.

问：

为什么打七回来后我更容易发怒了？一点小事就跟男朋友吵架，觉得他说什么都是错的，明知道是自己的心没有敞开，但还是控制不住要吵架。怎么才能控制住呢？

答：

这是我们的习气还没有转变过来，尽管通过打七，我们懂了因果道理，但是要真正做到，还有很大的差距，需要慢慢修行消除业障，扭转习性。以后遇到事情，首先躲一边去，想好了，再说再做。

17.

Q:

Why do I get angry even more easily after I finished my Dizang-qi Rereat? I fight with my boyfriend even for the most trivial things.  Everything he said is not right. I know that was because I have not fully opened up yet. But I just can’t help fighting with him.  How do I deal with my temper?

A:

Old habits die hard. Even though we have been exposed to many of the Buddhist ideas during Dizang-qi Retreat, actually putting those ideas into practice is another story. We need to gradually change our old habits little by little through our practice. When you feel like losing temper, give yourself some space and go somewhere else. Think it through and then make the decision as to how to deal with it.

18.

问：

我现在每天拜六个忏读三部经，这两天每到下午就想发无明火，不知怎么回事。

答：

冤亲债主的反应，可以适当减少诵经，增加拜忏。

18.

Q:

I prostrate 6 times and chant the Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva for 3 times a day now. However, every afternoon, my anger will just come from nowhere. I don’t know why.

A:

This is the reaction of your karmic creditors. You can reduce your chanting and increase your prostration.

19

问：

我一直坚持拜忏诵经，刚从五个忏增加到十个忏。因为时间有限只能诵两部经，然后念圣号一万多声，佛号几千声。但每次做完功课后，上班时就想发火，控制不住自己。每次我都知道这是不对的，但就是控制不住。晚上下班后就在菩萨像前忏悔，这样反反复复，我很懊恼。这是怎么回事？

答：

这是冤亲债主的干扰，不必自责。拜忏数量的增加要逐渐，不要增加太多。最好从5个到6个，适应一段时间，再增加一个，慢慢来。