God of Prosperity – Lu Xing

Fu, Lu, and Shou are the three "gods", which are sometimes called as the "Three Stars." Separately, they may be called Fu Xing, also known as, God of Happiness, Lu Xing, also known as, God of Prosperity, and lastly Shou Xing, also known as, God of Longevity. "Xing" mean "star." Some people have identified them with the three stars of Orion's belt.

Fu, Lu and Shou are deities which symbolize happiness, wealth and longevity. They are represented and depictured together since they provide symbolism as a unity and they enhance each one of their powers by this union. They work as a trinity and attract their three benefits altogether; you might hardly see them being sold by their own, and actually you shouldn’t wish to buy them separately since most of each one of their powers depend on their unity.

Almost every folk (non-Buddhist and not specifically Taoist) temple that has a representation of the Fu Lu Shou somewhere. You can see it often on overhead banners before the offering table, or on decorations on the outside of the building - places often decorated with images of the Ba Xian, which are also known as Eight Immortals. In addition, there are statues of the three appearing among the crowds on side tables or main altar. And occasionally, they are also seen on frescoes inside the hall. Look for three men with the respective characteristics; one with an enormous forehead, and another holding a child; occasionally there will be a woman in the group.

You can place pewter Fu Lu Show at any specific or strategic spot in any environment you wish and attract the benefits they bring. They can be placed at any house, working space or even the car and help you being happy, wealthy and having a long life. They are very auspicious elements which can be seen in many oriental homes and businesses as well as in many other places in which feng shui guidelines are followed. According to feng shui, the best place for a pewter Fu, Lu and Shou to be is at the house entrance or hall as well as near the office's door. Ideally, they should be placed facing their owner's Sheng Chi direction since this would highly enhance the attraction of happiness, wealth and longevity to his life.

Benefits/Merits of Building a Monastery (Temple)

It is said in one sutra: “Establish hope (having texts of all Buddha’s teachings), then continue food offering to the Sangha, providing rooms and bedding—all the needs of the Sangha.” This is said in the sutra by Buddha. It is said that providing these things is a great way to collect merit. The great Mongolian Lama, Zahi Pandita said, “Among causal phenomena, the virtue of establishing monasteries is the greatest. There is no greater than that.” Lama Atisha told the same to Dromtonpa.

In the sutra, Mindfulness, Buddha’s teaching, it is mentioned that making statues, temples and places for Sangha, with bedding and other needs, makes one’s life go from happiness to happiness. All the future lives will be always in happiness, going from virtue to virtue, always positive; not just being born human and having ordinary pleasures, not just that—virtue
to virtue means having a virtuous life. Even for 1000 ten million eons the virtue collected by having provided these things will never get lost; so you see, it is unbelievable merit.

As Buddha advised King Sangyal regarding the benefits of building monasteries. “Any human being building Buddha’s temple, even while still in samsara, in future lives will always have incredible wealth, like radiating palaces, like the king of devas.” That includes power and so forth. “In all the lives you will have happiness, will get good rebirth, and will create good karma in the next lives. While experiencing the result for ten millions of eons, all the time you will enjoy your life, with joyful mind, with no sorrow, and in the end will achieve the state of peace, the cessation of suffering and its causes.”

Then also in the sutra it says, showing the ripening aspect result of the karma, “Anybody who builds a temple, without doubt in the future lives will become king. You will do the work for many transmigratory beings, many sentient beings.” Then, “You are harmonious with all sentient beings,” everybody is harmonious with you, they like you. If everybody is harmonious with you, you can benefit them, bring them to enlightenment.

Now, there's a chance for you to contribute to "Singapore True Buddha Shi Cheng Temple" expansion. For more details, please visit the temple or call or email.

Singapore True Buddha Shi Cheng Temple
117,Sims Ave, Singapore 387441
Tel: (65) 6741-3438
Fax: (65) 6741-7436
Website: http://www.shicheng.org

Opening Hours:
1.00pm-8.30pm ( Tue to Fri)
10.00am-5.00pm ( Sat & Sun)

For Activities, Please email:dharma@shicheng.org

Also, the great Indian yogi, Nagden Pawo said, “To establish a temple for the mighty aryan beings (Sangha) of Shakyamuni Buddha, soothing somebody with the words, ‘please help to build,’ ‘please donate,’ ‘please give a hand with the work’…”—any group of people who help to build a monastery, even during sleep, while standing up, eating, whatever they do, the merit of building the temple continuously increases, immeasurably.

Another Indian pundit, whose name I am not sure of, mentioned, “Even the insects that get killed under the feet, under the rocks or whatever, during the building of a temple, because the temple is the hall of the Buddha, will never get reborn in lower realms, they will be reborn in higher realms, such as the devas. Why? Because they died for the work of a temple of Buddha.” This is mainly due to the power of Buddha having ceased all the gross and subtle defilements and having completed all the realizations, due to Buddha’s inconceivable qualities. It is said that even the negative karma of anyone who is touched by the smoke from food being cooked for the workers gets purified. Again, it is the power of Buddha.

So it is extremely worthwhile to build a monastery. Here it is not just a temple but a place for sentient beings, especially monks, to do practices to purify the mind, collect merit and actualize the path. As well, it is providing for the needs of the monks, rooms and so forth. Helping physically or in whatever way one can offers unbelievable merit and purification.

Reference: http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=219

Lu Xing - God of Prosperity

The chinese character "Lu" means official's salary in imperial China. Thus representing a position in the civil service, which is one of the most desired jobs in the olden days of China. The Confucian system of study followed by examination and placement holds sway in all Chinese-based cultures to this day, including Japan. It was certainly seen as a key to the path of prosperity. Lu Xing was said to be the first star of the Big Dipper, an auspicious star blessing ancient intellectuals with a position in the civil service. In the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Lu Xing became another name for Scholar Star.

This word originates from feudal China to represent 'success in government', where the highest post in life was considered an appointment as a government official. Learned men would study for ten long years just to qualify for the post, the honour and a sense of fulfillment that followed was considered the ultimate success. Although the literal translation of this character is 'government official', over the years it has come to represent satisfaction and happiness through achievement. So it is widely known that the God of Prosperity will bring ultimate success and fulfillment.

The God of Prosperity was merged with the personality of Zhang Xian a god of the Shu dynasty. Zhang Xian not only gave office and wealth but also had the powers to bestow children on the common folk. Thus he was immensely popular.

The legend of Zhang Xian is related to the Emperor of the Late Shu dynasty, Meng Chang. It is stated in history that, Meng Chang and his beloved concubine, Lady Huarui were deeply in love and their happiness brought joy to the people of Shu. As a gift to Lady Huarui, Meng Chang drew a picture of himself as an archer and presented it to her.

However, their happiness did not last long. Eventually, in 965A.D. Ren Zong of the Song Dynasty attacked the Shu Dynasty. Meng Cheng had no choice but to surrendered to Ren Zong and was conferred the title of Lord Qin. However, one week later, Lord Qin passed away with no obvious cause. After Lord Qin passed away, Emperor Ren Zong keep Lady Huarui as his concubine.

In remembrance of Meng Chang, Lady Huarui hung her painting of Meng Chang as an archer and prayed before it everyday. As a result, Emperor Renzong was suspicious of the man Lady Huarui was praying to. Lady Huarui replied that the archer was Zhang Xian, a god who is worshipped by the people of Shu. She said that he would answer the prayers of those who asked for a son. Emperor Renzong was exhilarated that Lady Huarui was praying for a son and therefore asked her to continue praying to Zhang Xian.

Lady Huarui was horror-stricken at what she had done. Yet, the story that Zhang Xian would grant sons to those who prayed, began to spread around the palace. Soon the whole Imperial Family began to worship him.

Then one day, Emperor Renzong had a dream of a breaded man holding a bow and a stone pellet in his hands. The bearded man spoke to Emperor Renzong saying that he was Zhang Xian. The majesty was told by this strange man that he had no children because the Heavenly Dog was guarding the city gate. However, with his bow and pellets he would be able to scare the heavenly dog away. To the people of the Shu Dynasty, it was believed that the Heavenly Dog would one day hide the Sun and the Moon and that when darkness fell, he would come down and devour the children on Earth.

Thus, on waking up from the dream, Emperor Renzong ordered that the portrait of Zhang Xian be drawn and pasted all over the city. Thus, as the years passed, even the common folk began worship Zhang Xian.

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