The Buddhist Hour Radio Broadcast Archives
The Buddhist Hour
Radio Broadcast for Sunday 27 July 2003
Hillside Radio 88.0
FM
Broadcast Script 287
Today's script is entitled:
"Master Ru-Sun's visit to John D. Hughes
on 23
July 2003 at 33 Brooking Street, Upwey"
On 23 July 2003, The Most Venerable Master Ru-Sun,
Abbot of Yun Yang Temple in Narre Warren, Victoria, visited
John D. Hughes and his wife Anita Hughes to offer assistance with his
recovery to stable good health. Master Ru-Sun was accompanied by his
attendant Jason Thigh and Jason's wife Katy.
John D. Hughes
wrote his explanations and remarks on paper and Anita Hughes read
them out. Master Ru-Sun spoke Chinese and Jason Thigh interpreted his
words into English.
Master Ru-Sun said that through meditation
he had checked the rupa, or material body, of John, and that there is
one good solution for putting a stop to the unstable state of John's
health.
Master Ru-Sun said that he would like to organise a
special Dharma Ceremony and transfer the merit of that ceremony to
all the "spirits" responsible for the fluctuations in
John's health.
Anita Hughes said to Master Ru-Sun "Sadhu,
Sadhu, Sadhu."
John D. Hughes replied, "Yes, I have
had contact with sickness "spirits" such as pus-eating
ghosts when I have healed sick people this life. I have also had
contact with the "ghosts" of sick persons.
I have
healed many persons by talking to the ghosts and "sending"
the ghosts to their next and better birth. This was done by merit
transfer, which is a form of giving blessings.
From time to
time the ghosts come back seeking more blessings. If a ghost touches
me, illness comes on the breath - on the breathing; because it is by
the breath that I control the transfer of my merit to the ghosts.
I
cannot tell you how many I healed but among their number were sick
dragons, or nagas, in both the human and heaven realms.
The
Dragon King thanks me and the Prince of the Hungry Ghosts thanks me
too. But the bad spirits are many and cause much sickness by coming
near healthy people.
A big puja transferring merit for
millions of sickness producing ghosts and hungry ghosts would help
me. Then those beings would desist from requesting a big puja from
me.
Master Ru-Sun then confirmed correctness of John D.
Hughes' analysis.
John D. Hughes said that he does not
currently have the energy to do a big puja himself.
Master
Ru-Sun responded by offering to perform the puja himself, saying: "If
Venerable John likes, I can do it."
John D. Hughes went
on to say: "If I do this (referring to a large puja) and
transfer the big merit I will become sicker.
The Master must
not get sick.
Master Ru-Sun said: "I will become more
healthy."
Jason said: "Because the Master is helping
you."
John D. Hughes responded: "The Master must
promise me he will not get sick."
Master Ru-Sun: "Those
spirits or ghosts will help me become more healthy if we transfer the
merit to them.
If we can invite many Monks and Nuns to come
and help that will be even better. We can do a big puja."
John
D. Hughes expressed his gratitude to Master Ru-Sun: "Thank you
Master. You have the correct and the safe view."
Thus
was made the decision to hold a puja for the stable good health of
John D. Hughes.
We intend to invite other Venerable Monks,
Nuns and the heavenly Sangha to come, as well as many students of
Master Ru-sun and all of the students at our Centre.
John D.
Hughes said that apart from Anita and Julie, none of his students are
strong enough to help without getting sick.
Master Ru-Sun
said: "Once we have the wish sincerely, strong or not strong
enough we can help."
Anita Hughes said: "Good, it's
the correct view" That's why (John) doesn't ask his other
students, because they have to be very strong.
Master Ru-Sun
said ask all John's disciple students to come to the puja. The mind
power will be very strong.
Anita Hughes said with combined
minds, then the Venerable Masters can guide. OK.
Jason said
"Yes"
John D. Hughes wrote "The other approach
is for the Master to make my students strong enough to do the
puja."
Master Ru-sun: "No problem. Once we conduct
the puja, every one of them will become very powerful, very
strong."
John D. Hughes: "They need more confidence
that they can do it."
"I am happy to rest for a
while because the world's beings come here to be healed. We must
continue to heal those who are not able to heal themselves."
Master
Ru-Sun said: "There are three requirements for all the
participants for the puja. The first one. They try to be at least one
week vegetarian. They cannot eat meat for one week.
"Second
thing, they come with some offerings. For the puja ceremony we need
to prepare offerings. Those offerings also should be vegetarian.
Without any meat. After the puja they can take the offerings
home.
"The third one must be based on their ability. They
should donate some money for this Centre (according to their means).
They can make the offering for building the Temple or do anything
that is good generosity.
"By doing that they will
generate merit for themselves, and also can transfer the merit to all
the deceased, all the spirits.
These are the three basic
requirements."
John D. Hughes said: "That is the
correct way for Buddha followers to do."
Master Ru-Sun
said: "The puja will be meant for all sentient beings with no
limitation which kind of religion they are following. To transfer
merit to beings of all the 9 different Dharma realms."
John
D. Hughes said: "The puja will be successful and safe to
do."
Master Ru-Sun said he is sure it will be successful
and safe.
John D. Hughes said: "I thank the
Master".
Master Ru-Sun said: "We have been
conducting many, many pujas in Australia, Malaysia and Taiwan; we are
very experienced."
John D. Hughes: "We thank the
Master for hearing our prayers and we thank the Master for the puja
he has just done. He is Master of puja."
Master Ru-Sun
said: "Normally a person who finishes a puja becomes very tired.
I am different, I feel more good energy."
John D. Hughes
thanked Master Ru-Sun in Chinese, saying "Sheishei, sheishei,
sheishei".
Jason said: "Master Ru-Sun is going to
Malaysia and we are doing puja for three days then Master has to go
back to Taiwan to do three pujas. So we will come back here on the
20th August. After that we can arrange the puja."
Anita
Hughes said that the day of the puja should be arranged to suit the
Master.
Master Ru-Sun suggested a Saturday or Sunday as
suitable So Saturday 30 August 2003.
John D. Hughes said: "I
will send my mind to follow the Master around the world to get full
Blessings."
Master Ru-Sun: "When John's physical
condition is very good he is certain ... but when John becomes sick,
he always, his mind is always with John."
John D. Hughes:
"I walk with you, Master, in many lives."
Master
Ru-Sun: "I never say I would like to conduct a puja for another
Temple. This is the first time so we have very close affinity, very
close relationship."
Anita Hughes: "When John first
died I asked Buddha for help and Master Ru-Sun's face came to mind
immediately."
John D. Hughes: "Buddha sends Master
Ru-Sun to heal me. I praise the Buddha, Namo Buddha."
Master
Ru-Sun said: "As we need to decorate, prepare this puja, the
whole environment, maybe, we can use Saturday to organise the place
properly and second day, the Sunday, we doing the puja
ceremony."
Anita Hughes said: "John says yes"
and indicated to Member Frank Carter that this is what we will
do.
Master Ru-Sun asked: "Do we need to notify, or to ask
approval from the city council because we have some banner,
instruments, affects the neighbours?"
Anita Hughes said:
"We can check. Check with the Council for the 31 August. We will
be using some instruments and chanting."
John D. Hughes
then offered a bunch of daffodils to Master Ru-Sun saying he offers
the flowers for 10 Blessings.
Jason then told Frank Carter to
inform the council that the puja will start around 9.00am right
through to around 7.30 to 8.00 in the evening, with chanting and
Dharma instruments.
Master Ru-Sun: "All the participants
can put their name in so that during the lunch offering Master can
recite all their names for the Blessing."
John D. Hughes:
"Our friends prosper; our Temples stand a long time, and are
suitable for Buddha Dharma practice."
Jason: "There
are two ways. The participants can put their names in. The Master
will recite their names for the Blessing. Also they can put their
deceased family names in to share the offering."
Master
Ru-Sun: "The puja should be on (Sunday) 31 August, then we can
do the preparations on Saturday 30 August.
We chant one Sutra
first, then after that we do the Grand Offering to Buddha and from
3.00 pm - 7.30 pm we do the puja for the sentient beings."
Anita
Hughes said: "Good. We will write a program and invite other
Temples to come."
Jason: "Yes, the Monks,
disciples."
Anita Hughes: "We will write a program
and send it to Jason to have it checked."
Jason said: "I
will check with the Master which Sutra we are going to recite."
John
D. Hughes: "I am feeling better and success is certain."
Master
Ru-Sun in answer to Jason's question about which sutra will be
recited, said:
"The most suitable Sutra will be the Earth
Treasure Bodhisattva Sutra (Ksitigarbha). It's quite long, normally
it's around 4 or 5 hours. We will do 2 1/2 hours on Saturday
afternoon and the last volumes will be completed on Sunday morning.
"We will start on Saturday at 3.00 pm with Volume 1 &
2 then Volume 3 on Sunday morning at 9.30 am."
John D.
Hughes said: "Success is certain. I have advised The Dragon King
and Prince of Hungry Ghosts of what we wish for. The Earth Store
Bodhisattva said he would come.
A good day's work for the
Master."
Master Ru-Sun said, "Let the Council know
we are doing the puja on Sunday - on Saturday we will do it inside
the Shrine to minimise the chanting level".
John D.
Hughes, "We have a new fence so it stops the noise for the
neighbours. A good day's work. Thank you Master for your
wisdom."
Anita Hughes thanked Master Ru-Sun.
Jason
then said that Master Ru-Sun would like to walk around the Temple
ground to inspect the site.
After walking around the site
Master Ru-Sun and Jason then returned to talk with John.
Jason
said that after walking around, they had something they would like to
discuss with John.
"Normally on (day of) the big puja
many, many people come (and) we need (a) big space, also we need to
cook a lot of dishes, prepare a lot of papers and altars; so maybe
it's an idea to do (it) in our Temple and can more easily can save a
lot of problem with the preparation.
Then John can come (to
our Temple) or he can stay (here), it's up to you".
John
D. Hughes said: "Yes, I can come."
Master Ru-Sun was
delighted that John will go to the puja. He clasped John's hand and
both Masters were very happy.
Anita Hughes then thanked the
Master and Jason.
Master Ru-Sun and his attendants then said
good-bye and left shortly after.
Jason said he would keep in
contact with our Centre about the puja plans.
We thank Master
Ru-Sun for helping Our Teacher John D. Hughes.
We thank Jason
Thigh for interpreting, and his wife Katy.
May all beings be
well and happy.
This script was written and edited by John
D. Hughes, Frank Carter, Leanne Eames and Pennie
White.
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Flesch Reading
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Flesch Kincaid Score: 6.5
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