Avoid using cool white lighting or having a chandelier above the image of Bodhisattvas
Excerpt from Wenda20130818B 59:18
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Female caller:
Master, please take a look at my altar.
Master Lu:
It’s pretty good, but the overall colour is too white. (Why?) It’s not good if the colour is too white. It attracts spirits easily. You should change to a yellow tablecloth. (It is yellow.) How come it looks white to me?
Caller:
There’s a problem. The altar looks too dim even though it’s by the window. I placed a lamp on the altar to brighten it up.
Master Lu:
Is it a cool white light, like a fluorescent lamp? (Yes, it is cool white.) That’s no good. Change it to warm white. No-wonder the altar looks white to me, like snowy white.
Caller:
There’s a chandelier above the altar, too.
Master Lu:
Don’t place a chandelier above the images or statues of Bodhisattvas. The lighting should only come from the front.
Caller:
Is everything else okay?
Master Lu:
Yes, the rest is fine. Be cautious of the decorations. Change the cool white light as soon as you can or else it will attract spirits. Cool white light is also called Yin light, and warm white light is called Yang light.
The lamps on an altar can’t be on 24 hours a day
Excerpt from Wenda20120629 56:10
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Can the lamps on the altar be on 24 hours a day?
Master Lu:
The lights in the Buddhist hall in your house can be, but not the lotus lamps on the altar.
The lighting around the altar should be brighter at night-time
Excerpt from Wenda20130526A 52:50
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Female caller:
Hello Master, is my altar okay? I’m a bit concerned.
Master Lu:
Not very good. You should adjust it.
Caller:
What should I do?
Master Lu:
Make it brighter.
Caller:
My apartment is the brightest in the whole building.
Master Lu:
Alright, but it’s not bright enough. There’s no sunlight at night. The lighting around the altar needs to be bright.
The lotus lamps should be switched off when incense isn’t burning
Excerpt from Wenda20140105A 28:27
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Can the lotus lamps on the altar be switched on when incense isn’t burning?
Master Lu:
No. Once the lotus lamps are on, you need to light up the incense. Once the incense is finished burning, the lamps should be switched off straightaway. Lotus lamps are used to invite Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Caller:
If that’s the case, can the lights in the Buddhist hall remain switched on?
Master Lu:
Yes.