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FEATURES | EASTERN HORIZON 33

Knowing what Buddhism

is not – overcoming Pseudo-

Buddhist Cults

By Tham Ah Fun

Tham was the initiator of the Malaysian Dharma-Stream Forums, 2017 & 2018,
and a Committee member of the Malaysian Buddhist Kulapati Association.
He has been a Dharma speaker at various National Service camps, as well
as at many temples and Buddhist associations. He has also served in various
capacities in the Malaysian civil service, including the National Unity Board,
(1977-1980) and Economic Planning Unit (1981-1993), and has worked as a
consultant at various private sector corporations. Thum holds a B. Econs from
the University of Malaya, and M. Economics from the University of Canterbury,
Kent, UK.

Introduction Australia who considers himself an incarnation of

Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. Lu has produced a number
Nowadays, we frequently hear people mention a lay of books on Buddhism for free distribution. The
person by the name of Lu Tai-Zhang. He claims to be original versions are in Chinese but some of them have
propagating Buddhism but unfortunately he is more a been translated into English. These books are freely
cult leader than a true Dharma master. His “Guan Yin available in many public places such as coffee shops and
Citta Dharma Door” has gained wide popularity over vegetarian restaurants. (The same is true of another
the years recently. As a master proponent of pseudo- pseudo-Buddhist group whose master, Jin Bodhi, is
Buddhism, Lu Tai-Zhang is not alone. The emergence stationed in Canada). Although at the moment Lu Tai-
of several pseudo-Buddhist cults in Malaysia and Zhang is aiming mainly at the Mandarin-speaking group,
Singapore is an issue which cannot be ignored. It is the English-speaking group will soon be his next target
unfortunate that some Buddhists in Malaysia regard if we are not careful.
the issue of pseudo-Buddhist cults as essentially a
Mahāyāna Buddhist problem. However, the “Guan Yin Lu’s followers admire him with great enthusiasm for
Citta” cult affects not only Mahāyāna Buddhists but two main reasons. Firstly, his “Little House” method is
also Buddhists from the Theravāda and Vajrayāna efficacious as far as they are concerned; and secondly,
traditions. This is because the cult’s teachings twisted he is seen as a dedicated and compassionate propagator
some core teachings of the Buddha which constitute of Buddhism. I will focus on these two aspects.
the foundation of Buddhism cherished by all the three
traditions. Therefore, all Buddhist traditions cannot What is the “Little House” method invented by Lu
afford not to be alert. Tai-Zhang?

In this paper I will examine the pseudo-Buddhist Lu instructs his followers to use a piece of yellow paper
teachings of Lu Tai-Zhang, a lay person stationed in on which a diagram of a “Little House” is drawn. Inside