Inner peace and the M.O.R.E.s of life

No 134 of Living Life Series 1

We have mentioned repeatively on the need for inner peace through having good grasp of inner truth. Inner truth is the common tread behind all religions and sects. True realisation brings about inner peace. Inner truth profound as it appears to be is simple and yet diifficult to perceive. Likewise, inner peace appears profound. It is also simple in principle but yet difficult to realise. No doubt we will face difficulty to put concept into words and to quantify or qualify what is inner peace. Two persons may speak of inner peace but they may perceive it and experience it somewhat differently. No two persons are alike not even twins. Nevertheless, let us try to qualify what it is. Sometimes, easier to say what it is not.

Let us refer to the M.O.R.E.s of life namely Mindfulness, Obsession, Rapture and Emptiness.  Let us dwell on when and how mindfulness will lead to inner peace and why it is not rapture, obsession, emptiness.

Mindfulness is not obsession. To be obsessed is to cling and to be tormented by the thought in a repeatitive way. There is that unmistakable restlessness and mental storm. There is no inner peace and calm. Person is swept in circles by his waves of obssession. To be mindful is to be aware of a thought, emotion, action or speech either of ourselves or of others. When mindfulness is well cultivated as abiding characteristics of person, inner peace will come about. When being mindful, person is not distancing or ignoring the thought, feeling, action or speech. He is also not clinging to them and not suffering as a consequence. He is not swept off his feet as a result. He is serenely aware and at peace.

With inner peace, awareness has that quality of equaninmity or divine balance, that quality of life which is inner peace. We sometimes call this mindfulness. But when this mindfulness is cultivated to be associated with serenity and restfulness of spirit and body, the person has inner peace which is heavenly.

Inner peace is beyond rapture and not rapture. In rapture or ecstasy, there is strong clinging to that wonderful feeling of being high with joy. There is obvious upheavel of spirit which will inevitably be followed by sense of being down, dejected and empty thereafter (something akin to drug withdrawal). With inner peace comes restfulness and quietness of spirit.

No void or emptiness and no clinging as well. Obsession described earlier has to do with clinging. Person does not feel empty. He is not burried by avalanche of preoccupations. Awareness is there with inner peace. Person has first hand experience but not clinging. No avoidance and no craving. Person feels light and not empty. He is at peace in body and in spirit - not empty and not rushed or crushed with heart rate near resting rate even when going about daily life. He is collected, calm, cool and in control of his life. He is clear headed and sees things as they are. He has clarity of vision with insight, foresight and hindsight.

No wonder Snr Bro Philip had this to tell us. "Only the wise seek the wisdom of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but yet difficult to perceive." We may add that "Only the wise seek the inner peace of the ancient sages. Yet the profound inner peace is simple but yet difficult to realise."

Perception of inner truth and realising inner peace are two separate milestones. Be aware of the MOREs of life. Then it would be easier for us to be on our way to having more of inner peace than the constant battle of huff and puff that we have to live with in world of yin and yang. Let us not stray wee bit too much into the brouhaha of life and handle truth as though it is an intellectual subject to be debated on. We should not just admire the raft and sing songs in its praise. Worse still, we should not compare whose raft is more superior or more majestic. We should use our rafts to cross the sea of life to reach the shore of inner peace.

We should do so here, now and in this very life and not day dream about having it in next life. Dreams and promises however good and grand will remain as dreams and promises. We must go for the realisation and reality in this very life. Better to do so today if we can than wait for tomorrow for there will always be another tomorrow. Today well loved and lived is better than tomorrow well dreamt. Taking care of today must however be done with view to taking care of tomorrow. Learn now from our life and not wait till next life. All these did the sages of religions and sects say. Lord Bo Tien as a heavenly messenger is here to remind us of the common beautitudes and values of religions so that one and all will see the inner truth and harvest the inner peace irrespective of our creed, and religious inclinations. He is definitely not the only messenger.

Brethren, it is important to grow the attribute of wanting to be at peace with life and let this inner peace be an ingrained characteristic of our personality or spirit. We will want to be at peace when we realise the true nature of life (the inner truth), that life is always a roller coaster of ups and downs at every turn or corner of life. We will realise that we have to live with the ups and downs, the coming and going, the too and fro, the passing and rising, the wax and wane and the high tides and low tides. There is no way we can run or hide from them. We do need to manage in a way that we will remain peaceful and not be pushed or pulled and not to be tossed all over the place . Habit of being peaceful comes in handy for us to ride the storms and value the calm seas of life. We will not be overtly reliant, dependent and expectant with our friends, blood and kin. We can cultivate our mind to be peaceful by training it to be calm in daily sessions such as meditation and prayer. This makes us even when not in training sessions to be automatically aware (what others refer to as subconsciously aware) of events and nature around us. We learn how to be calm and at peace with all situations even during sleep.. Some have shared that they become aware and somewhat alert with what goes around them even during sleep. Yet the sleep is restful and initially they might think they are not sleeping! This phase of experience in cultivation of inner peace may not be experienced by all who cultivate inner peace and you should not be upset if you do not undergo this phase.

Cheers and be on way to inner peace. Truely, many seek the wisdom of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is simple and yet difficult to perceive --- when we are sucked and blinded by the yin and yang of life. See the true nature of life, be aware that we can neither run or hide from it nor do we need to be carried away by it. Learn to love yourself and be steady and be at peace with yourself and the world you are in. Manage your world and not let world manage you. Just be at peace --- inner peace that is... You do not even need to belong to any religion or sect to do this. You can have this even with any religion or sect. Cheers once again and be at peace. This surely is the magnanimity of God (the Jade Emperor to the Chinese) and the heavenly saints.

 

Yet another extract from The Road to Inner Peace 
 

.

Create your own 'world' and let the world work for you

No 133 of Living Life Series 1

Go for your own life, and not try to live the life of others.

Create your own world and make the world you create work for you. This has to be a world of love, peace and joy where you are at peace and ease with mundance and supramundane. Let this be the world where those whom you cherish can be with you and for you. In this world of your life, others will be at peace and not at odds with you. They will be at peace with you even with their differing interest and views. Cherish and savour the times you can be together. Create this social, emotional and psychic world or space for yourself and all those who matter in your life.

By virtue of their vast merits and boundless love for sentient beings, saints and posats like Goddess Kuanyin do create world or paradise where those who cherish their guidance can be with them for spiritual development.

We may not be saints but we can create our own niche or semblance of paradise or heaven on earth. Give some thought to this. Do make it come true to life in your life.

Cheers but first you must love yourself and the life you have. You must accept yourself for all that you are and can be. You must be at peace with yourself and with life of yin and yang. Do rise above the trials and tribulations. Do be contented in the wise way. You should neither hanker for the roof nor go for ground zero.

Good to acquire more skills and know-how where feasible. Create new needs and try to meet needs. But do moderate in way that you are able to make progress without creating pain and hell for yourself by going for the sky. Liberate yourself. Be free from extremes of denial and mortification on one hand and bottomless appetite for yet more and more on the other. Give some thought to this correct way to live. Do make up your mind to have your own world and heaven on earth despite the yin and yang of life. You need, however, to cultivate mindfulness and equanimity. Learn to be peaceful, steadfast and balanced as depicted by lord saint's image.

Create your own 'world' and let the world work for you. This applies too to any state or country in the world. Any city or island state, however, small in size (e.g. little red dot on map) can be big by creating its own world and make this world work wonders. Religions and sects too can spin wondrous and blessed world for adherents by doing likewise. There is plenty of room and leeway for religions to spin their stuff. They can synergistically complement and augment one anothers' good works. All adherents of the various sects, religions and free thinkers are brothers under the same open sky of divinity.

Likewise, there is plenty of room for all of us to spin our own world and yet complement one anothers world. This is fine example of a beautitude (spiritual value / beautiful attitude) being equally effective for both spiritual and non-spiritual matters. This has been reiterated to us by all heavenly saints and Lord Bo Tien is one for sure.

Let us be like 'gods' in heavens. Let us create our own beautiful world with divine inner peace. Let us have a contented, balanced, peaceful and rewarding life by having mastery over yin and yang -- the storms and calm seas of life. We must have peace and progress in life, spiritually and otherwise. Do so by avoiding denial and craving, that is, by having good balance over elements of life. This is as depicted by image of Lord Bo Tien with feet balancing the elements.

Yet another extract from The Road to Inner Peace 
 

.

The changing axis for inner peace in life

No 132 of Living Life Series 1

Whilst going about life, do so with inner peace, that is, enduring peace that comes from within your better self. It must be borne of love for life. It must be in tune with divine peace of the holy spirit of the saints. Lets dwell on the way, that is on the "how to do so".

Do avoid human fallacies or failings. Do not be reckless and care less as though tomorrow will never come. Do not fear life by staying away from life. Do not rush head long into life, multi-tasking as though there is no tomorrow and as though you are ten in one. Moderate and find balance in your life.

Frankly, you live this life of yours but once. The next life never will be the same. Do be good to yourself and loved ones by treasuring this life. Whatever good that you need to do, do enjoy and relish them now in pleasantness and in peace. Go about life placcidly and in harmony. Eschew and value the many wonders you often take for granted due to ths hustle and bustle of yin yang life. This, brethren, is the moderated or balance approach.

But the point for reaping comfort and ease otherwise termed inner peace in life needs to be identified and appreciated. It is depicted by lord saint's image with both feet balancing and moderating elements. There is need for everyone to see, perceive and realise this for himself or herself. It is not something which can be told to an individual. It is not an item that can be served to him or her on a platter. It is unique. It is not static but varies* with time, with person and from person to person. It varies in the same individual with changing circumstances. It varies with age as well. Know thus the balance point so that we move forward without stepping on mine fields of life. We will avoid and avert the undue unwarranted self- accentuated difficulties of life. Tread wisely forward in life along the axis of balance or moderation to have that peace and tranquility. Effort for this is not exacting or demanding but within comfort limits. By treading along the axis of inner peace, we are more likely to be able to have more lasting peace. Otherwise, if we do not do so, we may be made mincemeat and be torn to peices by yin yang twists. We may possibly run the risk of finishing ourselves and resting in peace (pardon the pun and poor taste). Let us wise up please. Go for bliss here now and hereafter. Moderated and balance approach is the way. Be mindful and alert to go for the axis of balance for inner peace.

Here is simple illustration of changing balance point with advancing of age. The balance point for pragmatic, comfortable, peaceful and fruitful life for early education is 10 out of 10 for spelling. For secondary and high school, this would be untenable. The effective score would be 60 to 90 out of 100 for a test paper. In tertiary level, the expectation would be lower at 50 to 80 out of 100. Here is yet another illustration. If you are in prime of life, youthful and striking out in adult life, there is need to have more job but if you are old above 60, the need for this is less. The need also must be moderated for the young who have other concerns like health, or need to spend time for infirmed old parents or spend more time with growing up children For a country with no mass, no natural resources, no hinterland and dwindling birth rate and population, moderated approach for yielding comforts, peace and ease in all areas (be it economic, social, cultural or political) must shift to more productivity in work per individual and complemented by foreign manpower. The axis of balance for peaceful progress of that country is a range and not a fixed point. There is need to adjust and make changes with corrective actions to tweek policies to ensure peaceful and comfortable progress and continued success.

Health is the highest gain and must precede all else. Exercise is all important for that useful peace in life, free from health related hiccups. What is good may not be the same for all persons, for all ages and for all circumstances. Whilst exercise is good for all, it must be calibrated and tailor fitted for the individual - the young, the handicap, those with chronic illnesses, those who are old etc.The young may be able to run marathon, 5 km without problems but the old even walking the mile is good enough to produce the same aerobic cardiovascular benefits (target heart rate at 50%to 70% of maximum heart rate). Doing more such as climbing stairs may mean the body will protest through joint pains, breathing distress etc.

This moderated balanced approach is a principle for spiritual development but it applies too to our other areas of life. There is the divine advice of the heavenly saints that spiritual principles work for our non-spiritual life as well. This did Lord Bo Tien remind us. Therefore, balance your life. Balance too your country's needs. Balance your spiritual pursuits. Do remember too that the axis of balance for inner peace in spiritual life too changes with march of time as we develop spiritually.

Cheers and be blessed. Move on in life spiritually and otherwise along the changing axis of inner peace. We must be aware that the spiritual experiences of one person are not the same as another. For the same person, they may vary with differing situations. For persons or for situations, the axis of inner peace may not be identical though similar in ways. Culture too plays a part in modifying life's axis of inner peace. Thus the axis for inner peace varies with culture and there will always be need for a range of religions, sects and religious traditions. This reflects the width and depth of wisdom as well as the magnanimity of love of God and of the heavens.

Extract from The Road to Inner Peace 
 .

.

There are of course many ways and not just one way.

No 131 of Living Life Series 1




Many adherents of faiths are keen to share the passions of their beliefs with others. This is out of love and should be praiseworthy but at times can go overboard and be unpleasant, more so when the practitioners of the beliefs are not rooted correctly in their practices and principles.

Simply doing good is good enough for some but may be considered not good enough by others. Obviously this adds dimension to the saying that one man's meat is another man's poison. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder is one other saying.

Some say believe and you will be on your way. Others may say test what they tell you as gold is put to test by fire and do not believe in mere heresay. Both ways have their merits and useful to different people and during different stations of their lives.

There are many ways to have spiritual reflection. Simple prayer and spending quiet time is one way. Group prayer and adorations via hymns and even incantations are other ways. There is also meditation either alone or in groups. Objects of meditation can differ. Techniques may involve concentration or one pointedness on one hand and mindfulness cultivation on the other hand. Some even employ both in varying combinations.

The path to climb spiritually may involve merits accumulation on one hand and purity and inner peace cultivation on the other. Purity takes many forms either material or mental. The results may differ. Some experience supernatural phenomena. Others do not. Satisfaction comes in stages and in various forms. But ultimately, all ways and paths meet at zenith of enlightenment but along the way there may be episodes of bliss, rapture and visions either clarity of view of life or actual visions of angels or events to come. But they are just experiences along the way. Some cling and stagnate and do not climb further spiritually. Others just pass along and go further. Indeed, there are many ways to spiritual life and bliss. Some will experience miracles, develop psychic abilities but not all will have such and yet develop spiritually. Some back slide and others progress albeit at times in stop and go fashion. Be it worldly or spiritual life, there are many ways of going about them. This is the reality and will always be.

We have been told through Snr Bro P. Philip that the kingdom of Heaven is not built solely for man. Nature has for each and every kind a deity and a kingdom of their own. Likewise, the realisation of divine peace is not via only one path or way for all. Nature has for each and every being a guiding saint and an individualised path of his own (specifically tailor made for him). There are many ways to life and bliss. The path is somewhat different for various persons. It is individualised and unique for each being. You may say it is tailor made for him and will even vary for changing situations and focus in his life. Copy-cat path that works for John will not be as effective for Adam. The balance point for what brings inner peace to John cannot be identical for Adam. This way we can be at peace with life and tap into the bliss of nature.



Extract from The First Sermon --- The Inner Truth

Do click to access the full text.

.

Conversion and its real value

No 130 of Living Life Series 1

Conversion is often taken to mean change to a new faith. Though, this is personal and private matter, it may cause bad taste to others if there is oversell.

Conversion is not just change of label. Perhaps it has nothing to do with label.

Based on the guidance by lord saints and by even Lord Bo Tien, the most meaningful conversion embodies three aspects (a) change for the better, (b) change to be wiser in thoughts, words and deeds, (c) change to have more love for life, to have more life and not just live life and be dead to life.

It is better for one to be a better follower of religion A than to be converted to religion B but being a poor follower or practitioner.

The most meaningful conversion is conversion from *bad to good, from less good to more good, from darkness to light, from light to more light, from less cheerful life to more cheer and joyous life in our life.

PS The writer feels the use of word 'bad" is in bad taste and can be derogatory but for want of better word has no choice but to use it. So please, do read in context.

.

Storms do not last and will give way to calm seas of life

No 129 of Living Life Series 1




Storms do not last and will give way to calm seas of life. Do have faith to try to help yourself in storm of life. 

With divine shelter of heavenly saints, it would be easier to weather the storm. Issue however big will become small issues and big issues will be no issue.

But do remember that to come out of storm of life you need to help yourself as self effort is needed. God help those who help themselves.

Hell anywhere be it on earth or in actual hell is no real issue that way. Even life in hell below may be long but is not infinite. Take comfort that those in so-called eternity of Hell can exit from Hell and be enlightened if they know how. Storms of life in human world are  therefore much lesser hell so to speak.

Associate with the wise and not the unwise aspects of life and men and you will steer clear of storms (or hells on earth) better and get out of storms instead of being stucked in the eye of the hurricane.

Be a blessing to yourself that way. Get divine blessing and the blessings of good wise brethren as well. The trinity of love makes us blessed three fold.



.

The ultimate temple

No 128 of Living Life Series 1

Better to be far than to be near but not seeing eye to eye.

What is the point of being near when we cannot look at one another in the eye and be one at heart, and in words thoughts and deeds.

We are more worthy of a heavenly saint even when we may be far from one another but close to one another in words thoughts and deeds.

There are those who claim to be close to the heavenly saints and champion the Mission of Heaven to save souls but they can be far if they are blinded by the devil of the ego. They see not the saint in their fellow men but the devil in them. They cook up more than a pound of rivalry and find fault in one and all. This will keep them apart.

Better to be far but to have at least an ounce of harmony and co-operation. This is far better than to call one another brethren, be physically close but have a pound of rivalry and scorn. An ounce of co-operation is far better than a pound of rivalry. An ounce of goodness is better than a ton of devil of the ego.

We can be one at heart even when we do not meet, but we can be divided even when we are together under the same heavenly saint.

Lord Bo Tien advises us to see the good in our fellow men and not the devil of the ego. We will be worthy of any heavenly saint if we can be one in words, thoughts and deeds.

We should be like the elements of a concrete pillar, which will remain solid and strong wherever it may be moved. This can only be so if we can be bonded like the elements of the pillar.

Any temple of Heaven will be far from us if we are not one when we come to the lord saints, and are far from one another. The temple will be near if we can be one at heart even if we are miles apart. The real or ultimate temple is built not on bricks but on the hearts of men when there is oneness of heart.

The far can be near and the near can be far. This often has been said. This is true also of any temple. The real temple can be near if there is oneness, but it can be far if oneness eludes us, and we end up having a divided house, not a temple of the Lord. The Temple of the lord saints can be near and yet far. It can be near even if it is far from finality if we are one at heart.

The temple of the saints can be near and yet far, can be far and yet near.

.

Which way do you prefer to lead your life?

No 127 of Living Life Series 1

When we go we neither bring along our family nor our wealth. We bring along only our thoughts and the deeds, which we have done.

When we live we have friends and we have fellowship, but when we leave we leave alone.

When we live we see not the friends and mentors of the other world, but when we leave they are there for us if we are deserving enough.

When we are together, we think we can be so for eternity but the truth is that this cannot be so and our togetherness is no eternity.

Whosoever follows Lord Bo Tien practises the way He taught. This way helps us not only spiritually but also in worldly sense. We lead an amply fulfilling life in this world but yet carry on spiritual development as the main focus of life, so that when kingdom comes, we have spiritual fulfilment beyond the life we have on earth. While alive we have worldly joys. We also have our spiritual joy as the same way taught by the Lord helps us in both ways. Beyond this we continue to experience spiritual rapture.

There is no renunciation of the world but renunciation of the ego, which brings to us the woes of man.

Lead the worldly life with spiritual focus so that our worldly life will be a boon for spiritual fulfilment and not a bane for ourselves and for others.

Leading the worldly life in self-centred way of ego leads to more clinging and more ego.

Leading the worldly life with saintly deportment leads to freeing us from the devil of ego and joy of peace and calmness of mind.

What is the way, which requires us to be mindful of what stirs in our mind. There is the positive and the negative. Be neutral to be aware and be control of both, and not to be carried away by both.

In other words, do not be affected by the yin and yang of life while living in the world of yin and yang. Do not run from the worldly life but live the spiritual life within the worldly life. In other words, do not run from the yin and yang of life but live the life of yin and yang unaffected by both. Then you would have taken life on, and not run away from life. What is needed is to handle them, not to avoid them. We do not run away from worldly life. We tackle the spiritual life without giving up the worldly life, for the way which gives us spiritual fulfilment brings us worldly blessings to help us to more spiritual joys.

When kingdom comes we have a meaningful worldly life, but we also have rich spiritual life, which carries on in the life beyond.

This is the way of Lord Bo Tien. This way brings us both types of joy, worldly sufficiency enough to facilitate spiritual richness. This is the benefit of the spiritualists.

The way of the non-spiritualists brings only worldly indulgence, and clinging for more and more to try to satisfy the bottomless pit of ego and craving. At life’s end, they wallow in wanting and spiritual poverty, and go empty handed to life beyond.

Which way would you prefer to lead your life? Dear friend adopt the way explained by the Lord Bo Tien. Lead the spiritual life but carry on with the mundane world for the same spiritual modus operandi brings primary spiritual gains and secondary material benefits to facilitate more spiritual development. This is the way of the wise. Only those foolish enough not to see this light go for primary material gains thinking that they can live in eternal indulgence of the ego.

.

The worship of the Lord

No 126 of Living Life Series 1

(0)  This article is the perspective of the writer and not that of an organisation.

(1)   Brethren, all of us respect the image of Lord Bo Tien, and we honour the statue of Buddha. Is this tantamount to image worshippers? 

(2)   Depending on the level of practice, the image brings on different connotations to different people.

(3)   To the devotional, the image represents the presence of the Lord. They pray to the image as though the image is Him. But is this the case? Is it just a point of focus for devotion in a shrine?

(4)   To the psychic, who dabbles with craft, there is a force in the image. Is there a spirit in the image? May be so to that practising low level psychic. But the spirit, if present, in an image is not the Lord

(5)   To the disciple of the Lord, he remembers what the Lord said time and again. He who sees the image sees the doctrine represented and embodied in the image. He, who understands the Lord and the doctrine, is near to the Lord and sees the Lord even in the absence of an image to depict the Lord. He who does not see and practise the doctrine with the result that the doctrine is not part of his life sees the image as the Lord at the shrine but will never see the Lord, is far from the Lord though near the image. He is far though near. The good disciple may be far (from the image) but is near (to the Lord). The good disciple sees the Lord anywhere and everywhere. The other person merely sees the image but not the Lord.

(6)   The image is common point for focussing our respect for the Lord. We worship the Lord but not the image. The image is devotional focal point for one and all in our worship of the Lord. The Lord is not a piece of sculpture. He has attained enlightenment. He has not been known to have past rebirth in human form. He is pure beyond form, and exists beyond formless realms. How then could he be reduced to the form of an image? He is with God Almighty, the Jade Emperor who is usually depicted without form. Devotees face the sky when we worship God

“Eye opening” of the image is not to bring in the spirit of the Lord but to dedicate the image to His name. It is more ceremonial than ritualistic. He is not in the image. How can an unenlightened disciple  “enlighten” the image? How can the disciple open the eye of the Lord? The image is not Him but is dedicated to Him via dedication ceremony. We dedicate the image to the Lord but cannot open eye of our master the Lord. We respect Him beyond what can be depicted. The best respect and worship lies in practice, and in helping to save others in difficulties

.

Divine Presence makes the difference

No 125 of Living Life Series 1

 

The Lord Bo Tien has told us that God has made known to us the teachings of Heaven through the various world religions.

In every religion, there is the God principal, and His embodiment, the representatives, and to complete the trinity, there is the energy force or presence of God which makes Him omnipresent or present everywhere and at all times.

To put it in another way, there is the Jade Emperor, and his palace of enlightened and radiant beings who help Him to attend to the universe of dimensions. These beings have attained spiritual purity by basically one of two pathways. One path deals with the enhancement of purity through multiplication of merits such as helping others. The other deals with the purification of being by elimination of root causes of ego or attachment, but by whichever way, they come to be united with and be one with God or Ultimate Divinity in the finality of spiritual attainment.

They the radaint beings or saints represent the embodiment of God principal. They contribute to the universal or cosmos energy of Divinity. This Divine energy force is all pervasive, and operates at times almost independently. Every being interacts with this divine energy force and to be in harmony with this, beings must strive to be pure and close to God.

This Divine Energy Force is operative to help all beings to develop spiritually. Those who embrace the path of truth to be in tune with God will experience the divine presence of Divinity because of this omnipresent divine energy force.  Some will experience rapture and sense of immense peace during prayers especially group prayers, worship or meditation. Confidence and radiance exude from these devout followers of faiths, and they attract others who are awed by their radiance and charisma when they ‘see’ in them the divine light of Heaven.

At many temples or churches,  devotees multiply over the years. Let us take for illustration, Bo Tien Temple. Many become devotees and make periodic pilgrimages to temple to pray to Lord Bo Tien despite many knowing little in terms of doctrine and practices. They are bonded through personal experience of that special presence. Little do they realise that this is due to the omnipresence of the Divine Energy Force channelled to them by the Lord Saint.

This translates into faith and even inner peace for the devout that the Lord Saint walks with them and is with them in good and bad times.

The divine presence is the gift of Heaven to those who have faith in Heaven. At Bo Tien Temple, this divine presence is an experience many have taken for granted without knowing that this is due to the pervasive presence of divine force of God.

Let us, in whatever religions we are in, embrace ever more the omnipresence of Divinity and experience the omnipotence of God through His prophets and representatives.  Let us treasure the divine presence and thank Heaven for this.

.

Spiritual tools in our life

No 124 of  Living Life Series 1

We go about life in this world from morning to night, from week to week and from month to month, and from year to year ever caught up with the issues of the day.

Time and tide wait for no one and every precious moment in time just passes bye with less than a wink of the eye. We appear purposeful and directed in our worldly pursuits. But what bothers us at times is what all these will eventually lead us to? Where do we go from here? 

We are simply following set chosen patterns of life without in-depth mindful reflections. We are just going along with the mainstream and trying to be ahead as much as possible than many others.  Well that is life and we have to go on in life anyway or be left behind, or risk being tossed about or aside by the mainstream. 

Well, let us pause and think why we have to go with the mainstream of worldly life. What do we want?  What is the purpose of life? The apparent purposes are many, centred on pivot of our social and biological norms. But what more is there beyond these apparent ends? What is the real end in existence? Social and biological ends are not the ends in themselves but merely means to the real end. The rainbow recedes further every time if life is just about social and biological ends. 

While we are in worldly life, we must play our worldly part or else we will be not part of society, not part of family and not part of the world.  But do be mindful of life and nature of life. Do remember that we need to be in control. However, we must not just be in control of the apparent or conventional worldly matters or issues but also the matters and issues of our soul and of our Creator from where we originate and to where we must be reunited. Not to do so is avoidance of the reality of our mortality. The converse is as bad when we ignore and avoid worldly roles and life and live just to die and depart from this world. Many of us just cannot do this. 

All prophets / saints want us to have good balance, to attend to apparent and ultimate ends in life, as both are important. Lord Bo Tien reiterates this same orientation that we must have. Live the life of the mundane world not as the end in itself but live the spiritual life as well. The teachings in religion reiterated by our Lord Bo Tien are universal and can be applied to both spiritual and mundane life. There is no need to give up or renounce the physical all together. 

But what is helpful for most of us is to periodically curtail worldly indulgence or to impose daily some degree of self-control to minimise indulgence. For example, when we have a lot, we can give more to others. When we are wealthy, we can live a life of simplicity and cut off indulgence. 

Think carefully why there are precepts to be observed on certain months or days. Also why some fast on certain days or time of day. Why some avoid animal meat but take fish. Some observe vegetarianism. Some go on certain days into the forests for contemplation or meditation. Some just spend retreats in temples and places of worship. What are these spiritual tools for? Find out more but here is some explanation.

Brethren, remember that to realise and go towards spiritual purity requires us to exercise some controls, and very often, we need to be less self centred, less ego orientated, and to achieve selflessness and reduce wanting or attachment. To do this, conscious effort must be made. This should explain the practices mentioned earlier. 

They are just tools to help us to be less indulgent and to be in more receptive mode for going towards pureness of God. They help us to be closer with God.

Another way of looking at things is that self-penance or part denial of indulgence in worldly trappings allows for us not to waste away our life and merits in indulgence and in addition allows us to cultivate merits through cultivation of pure mind.

There are other explanations. We need to find out for ourselves.

Such spiritual tools also help in our worldly life. When we have a bad patch due to our so-called fate or past actions, we can change or moderate the outcome at times through such tools. This should be in addition to praying to the gods for blessings, but we must be worthy of blessings. Such tools as fasting, vegetarianism, retreats etc if practised correctly and with correct ultimate reasons do help but remember worldly blessings are not the end in themselves but just means to the ultimate end. What is this end?

By now you should have a good idea.  Each and everyone has to realise for himself.

There is no way we can really explain the taste of sugar other than telling a person enough to make him want to taste sugar. It is when sugar is tasted that someone knows what sweetness is.

We are grateful to Lord Bo Tien for his guidance and blessings, and we hope to share with others. There is no need to change one's allegiance to a particular religion when we need to receive the advice and help of prophets and saints like Him

.

Time and tide wait for no man. Be wary of sloth and torpor

No 123 of Living Life Series 1

 

It is not uncommon that we find it difficult to pull ourselves together to do what we need to do. This sluggishness is universal for everyone. We often give the lame excuse that we are tired and need to unwind. But more often the more we unwind, the more tired we seem to be and we may even sleep overtime for hours on weekends and after work. This may not help and we may feel worse off. To make things worse, all that we want to do and need to do pile up and we have less time to do them. This can be unsettling and we may end up stressed and decide to wait and put things off longer with the same excuse of wanting to rest and wait for better times when we can get things done. We never seem to find time and we get frustrated and down. This, brethren, is sloth and torpor.

My experience is that rest we must and sleep we must but often we do not seem to have enough of these. When that happens, do be mindful. Pluck ourselves up and get on to do some useful chores like house work or simple errands. Do not set lofty target or we may feel daunted by the volume of work we need to do. Do what we can and perhaps in instalments. While doing them, reflect and be mindful of how we want to be happy for the day, how to be calm and peaceful for the day and what little blessings we can have for the day. The housework or errand gets done. The body is energised and invigorated by activity. Endorphins are produced by our body to pep us up, and to better our mood. We have less time to be idle and to even think of unpleasnt issues. Keep sloth and torpor at bay even if not easy to eradicate them. Then, we will be much better off.

That is why heavenly saints add that we must strive on with deligence and make things work for us. But do not over indulge though, for that would be the opposite of sloth and torpor. This short breakfast article is written in the morning when I have to set out to work but too early to do so. I tried to rest by doing nothing but feel worse off . When this article was written and the thought that the values elucidated will help me to be mindful and help others as well, I become invigorated but I cannot over indulge and spend too much time on it. Otherwise, I will be late for work. Indeed, this is example of how we need to avoid the two extremes - sloth and torpor and over indulgence.

In life, there must be the balance and we must be steady and steadfast in doing so. This is depicted by the Lord Saint's image (left hand in salutation to remind us to be steady, steadfast and to stay on course and the two feet astride the elements to remind on need for suitable dyanmic appropriate balance). Cheers and be on the way to have the balance to harness the blessings of life here in this worldly life and also for our spiritual development and well being as well.  

.

The truth is that life is religion and religion is life

No 122 of Living Life Series

Life is religion and religion is about life -- to be exact... how to have peace and ease that may elude us now and then.

Though I adore the lord saint*, there is no need to for anyone who seek the inner truth of life to do so.

He is neither here to start something anew nor to champion the old ways, religions, sects and institutions. All are separate and distinct but yet playing complementary roles. Together, they are one whole. They are one in essence

He is one of the saints to bring us insight on life and life is religion.

The world is one big temple or church.

He is one of the divine messengers of Divinity and his ultimate temple is the world we live in. The roof is the sky and the heavens. The pillars supporting the roof are the religions of the world. All under the heavens are in the temple and its compound.

Simple and yet difficult to perceive is truth

Truth is so simple and yet difficult to perceive and even more difficult to put in words.

If you are somewhat perplexed after reading this posting and not in agreement, this can be expected. You can still be and are on the right path to peace and ease in your own way and at your own time and target.

May there be peace and ease in life despite the difficulties and dis-ease.

More important to make progress here and now and not yearn for the spiritual horizons in the life after and beyond

What is important is not when we arrive but that we make progress, that we pick ourselves up when we fall and move on.

But if blessed and guided by the lord saints, our problems will be less. Big issues will become small issues and small issues be no issues. But be mindful to work on life and move on for more peace and tranquility. Self effort is still the norm.

The world is one big temple or church.

He is one of the divine messengers of Divinity and his ultimate temple is the world we live in. The roof is the sky and the heavens. The pillars supporting the roof are the religions of the world. All under the heavens are in the temple and its compound.

Simple and yet difficult to perceive is truth.

Truth is so simple and yet difficult to perceive and even more difficult to put in words.

If you are somewhat perplexed after reading this posting and not in agreement, this can be expected. You can still be and are on the right path to peace and ease in your own way and at your own time and target.

May there be peace and ease in life despite the difficulties and dis-ease.

More important to make progress here and now and not yearn for the spiritual horizons in the life after and beyond

What is important is not when we arrive but that we make progress, that we pick ourselves up when we fall and move on.

But if blessed and guided by the lord saints, our problems will be less. Big issues will become small issues and small issues be no issues. But be mindful to work on life and move on for more peace and tranquility. Self effort is still the norm.

For more of the above, click and read the full main text

The Inner Truth

.

Spiritual focus not mere religious focus

No 121 of Living Life Series 1

1) Lord BoTien in His first sermon stated thus.

2) Prophets attempt to “help the masses” from two viewpoints “to lead better lives” here and now in this life as well as “to incline them towards God”

3) They do so by laying down and elaborating the written word, which is the starting basis for organised religions.

4) The written word tries to perpetuate the initial idealistic spirit and fervour, but with time, written precepts and doctrines become more elaborate and complex to extent that the idealistic spirit is submerged.

5) Religion as organisation or institution is bogged down and made complex by the written word, by rules and regulations. With the loss of initial founders spirit or fervour, religious practice replaces spiritual practice, and organisational concerns supersede personal relationship with God.

6) In short, religion replaces spiritualism. Group or mass identification with religion as institution replaces individual oneness or identification with God.

7) Salvation is to save the soul. Though this requires help from others (organised religion), it is basically unique and personal between the individual and God (spiritual experience or rapture)

8) Lord Bo Tien divines to kindle the spiritual drive of the individual regardless of his religious persuasion

9) Lord BoTien stated that He “shall run down no existing religion” nor will He “uphold any special one”

10) He wants to turn individual’s attention to the essence of spiritualism i.e. the essential truths rather than attention to institution of organised religions

11) The purpose of organised religions is to provide vehicles or institutions to pass on the essential truths, but often the means of institutions become the apparent ends. The real ends of spiritual rapport and purity with God (through His representatives) become obscured and more than often forgotten.

12) The primary focus in any temple or group should be to ensure that this will not happen, that members, devotees and well-wishers remain focus on spiritualism behind all religions rather than on religions.

“The motive is to save the soul and assist those who are in difficulties” quote from The Four Pillar or Inner Truth Message of Lord Bo Tien.

.

An outline of Divine Design

No 120 of Living Life Series 1

1) Rebirth is in the will of God.

2) It keeps the universe going

3) The Universe is not just made of planets but dimensions

4) Beings go on and on in life through rebirth.

5) All things in the universe tend towards change and to settle when forces are not in conflict but pure and in harmony

6) Beings too tend towards change because of forces of their thoughts and mind. As beings think, so will they act, and actions lead to consequences and rebirth is just one of these consequences.

7) God is omnipresent throughout the universe, and He is present in all the dimensions through the Divine Energy Force or Holy Spirit.

8) The divine force fulfils the will of God.

9) It enables beings to evolve in life and from life to life

10) Beings must settle to be with God and to achieve this they must purify themselves.

11) Beings purify themselves through rebirths

12) Everyone will succeed but choice and free will interplay with God's design and compassion. Everyone chooses the road he takes, be it long or short.

13) The Divine Energy Force allows us to do so (succeed).

14) Beings who are closer to God and pure help other beings to be pure and close to God through the Holy Spirit or Energy of God

15) There is neither eternal life in hell dimensions nor perpetuity in heavenly dimensions

16) What is eternal is divine purity and every being has that in him or her

17) Beings are both pure and impure, both close and far from God, and have to undergo purification in hellish and heavenly dimensions via rebirths.

18) The Holy Spirit or Divine Energy Force demonstrates the omnipotence, omnipresence and the fairness and compassion of God

19) All beings have the same chance to be with God when they are pure and no longer need to be reborn. Rebirth is due to interplay of pure and impure thoughts and actions.

.

Spiritual tenets emphasized by Lord Bo Tien

No 119 of Living Life Series 1

1) There is only one God principal  or Divinity.

2) He is assisted by his prophets and saints.

3) Each has his own speciality and own way of bringing beings to be closer to God.

4) The ways are varied in substance and presentation.

5) But the substance or flesh is built on the basic infrastructure of basic or inner Truth.

6) Beings are far from God  / Divinity and need to reconcile with God / Divinity.

7) They undergo rebirth.

8) Rebirth is determined by past  and present life force.

9) Lower forms of rebirth are borne out by desires and attachment to senses and self.

10) Higher forms result when the life force has more pure energy and less of passion or attachment to ego.

11) Purity arises when beings free themselves from ego needs and free their soul force to be more in harmony with God.

12) The saints and prophets assist God principal and through the Divine Energy Force provides the Trinity.

13) Divine Energy Force is pervasive and operative at all times to manifest God's omnipresence and omnipotence.

14) Life in a rebirth is partly fated and partly subject to change, fated because of past lives and what needs to be experienced and learnt in present life, and it is subject to free will and change to enable one the choice to improve or deteriorate.

15) Saints as effectors of God’s Will have the prerogative to intervene and make some alterations to the pattern of fate for deserving beings but some major things in life are pre-set.

16) Every being is reborn to life for specific purposes, and will receive guidance from Heaven often through proxy channels and event language.

17) Free will and effort i.e.inputs are determinants of outcome. Also the lessons of life are graduated. Those who learn fast are given bonus lessons.

18) When the purpose of life is achieved and all the predetermined lessons learnt, beings  may then exit to higher dimensions or continue in life for new or bonus purposes..

19) When beings fail to learn and deteriorate through indulgence and wastage of their good fate, they fail in the very purpose of being reborn and may end up in further rebirths as humans or lower realms.

20) No one is permanently condemned to lower realms as God is compassionate.

21) Beings in high dimensions have relatively eternal life but still finite. They have to do Gods Mission to help all beings.

22) Buddhas and enlightened beings attain the infinite state of no further rebirths as they attain purity to be united and merge with God principal.

.

Go for the sky in steps

No 118 of Living Life Series 1

Go for the sky in steps. Saints can help. But do make the first steps. This is the truth in life.

Go for life in steps. Go for one level at a time. The difference between one heaven and the next higher heaven is sky wide. Human world for example is one heaven above animal world. Go for the sky in your world. That will be heavenly for now.

In time you can move on and be in heaven above heaven. There is no stop to how far you can go. But you must take the first few steps. What matters is that first steps.

The rest will remain as fantasy if the initial steps are not made. Make the first steps and the rest will have chance to happen. You will be on your way.

Do not dream and depend on luck and fantasy. Luck itself is luck's own star. What can mere stars achieve? Thus said one western philosopher.

Take first steps to learn to walk. No amount of wishful thinking by parents will enable the infant to walk.

Likewise, the saints may wish us well but we must walk the first few steps ourselves before that can have chance to happen and be reality.

The saints can help to pick us up if we stumble along the way. But the first steps must be made by us. No doubt we will not stumble if first steps not made and the saints will not even have the opportunity to help us. We will not be able to move on if we do not make the first steps.

God and saints help those who help themselves. Truth often is as simple as that. But when we are swept by worldliness, we are not perceptive to see things as they are. We may think it is too profound and beyond us.

Few are clear minded, settled, crystal clear and at peace mentally to realise the simplicity of truth. Some regard this clear-mindedness as the mind eye - the third eye. But this will only put many off as third eye concept appears too mystical and beyond reach of the many.

Writer's opinion is not to depict truth as profound for this would not be correct and truthful. There is need to emphasize on its simplicity and that it is within the reach of the many.

It is because of dusts in one's 'eyes' that one's vision is affected and one does not see things as they are and as they should be.

Only the wise seek the fulfillment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but difficult to perceive. Thus have we been reminded by the lord saints through Senior Bro. Philip.

Go for the sky in steps - level by level. God and saints as well as world religions can help. But the first steps must be undertaken by ourselves. This truth is simple but somehow too profound to many and often not perceived.

Lord Bo Tien in his compassion has reminded us time and again of the common presence of inner truth in all religions and sects, in all creed and kind and in all levels and dimensions of existence of the universe and beyond.

Extract from;
The First Sermon --- The Inner Truth



.

Lord Bo Tien and why he opted for a Chinese temple for divine mission

No 117 of Living Life Series 1

With all these to consider, what should be made known to us is the tou-li. There is no need to know who is the Saint, from where He came, what were His past lives

Who is Lord Bo Tien?

He is representative from Heaven and He has the decree from Heaven to save mankind.

The Chinese traditional temple way is the weakest or least organised amongst adherents in the late 1960s. Therefore, He set out to start a role model for all such temples. By doing so, all would be able to see the same inner truth of tou-li even in Chinese temples, the very same truth common to all religions

Different religions and sects of same religion may have different approaches and ways but the motive is based on salvation of souls. Language differences of words do not help, and this may lead many to feel religions are poles apart when they in fact deal with the same tou-li, ‘the way of life’ to save the souls

Examples of words and phrases, which would be difficult to convey in another language, are as follows

Chinese Hokkien as “people pull the cart, cow ride on horse” means actions and reactions will take place accordingly.

“You drive the car, car broke down half-way, someone came along and help you to repair the car, you proceed and come to a cross-road and He shows you the way” means Lord Bo Tien has given us His teaching. Henceforth, it is up to us now. We shall be our own driver and drive our own life. 

“Ren men peng mao” means there are many kinds of people, we have to try and understand and lead them to the right path. No two are alike, and solution to life’s issues must be adapted to individual

“Sang hi re ku,” means nothing is truly lasting and satisfactory and it’s through such realisation that we see the truth – the tou-li.

.

The basis for Lord Bo Tien' s presence

No 116 of Living Life Series 1

He is here to let us see the 'tou-li' in life (tou-li is doctrine of life in Chinese), as many have not been able to do so.

He reiterates that 'tou-li'  is found in life and in all religions and sects. (Just a reminder that He is not here to start a new religion or sect.)

God sanctions the setting up of religions and sects who will have their own way of holding on to their followers but with time the 'tou-li' in life is buried by complexities of social institutions and culture.

These religions remain true to their cause till this day but human weaknesses creep in to complicate and bury the early religious thought of the founders in layers added over time.

There have been many attempts (by mankind and over time) to rejuvenate the essential religious thought emphasis.

Lord Bo Tien is here to do His part to rejuvenate the essential truths and divine understanding – the 'tou-li'.

The 'tou-li' is simple but yet profound to many just because many are caught in the spider web of life and have difficulty to see the nature of things as they are and should be.

.

Saintly teachings through simple prayers

No 115 of Living Life Series 1

There are meaningful teachings even in the prayers at the temple* of Lord Bo Tien and in simple language as well. The prayers encourage us to adore all heavenly saints and this includes all religions. The glory of saints is in the thought of beings. We are also reminded to seek even forgiveness from Heaven for wrong that may have been unconsciously or unintentionally done or done without our being aware of consequences be it through our thoughts words or deeds (mind, speech, or action). We must be able to change positively for the better for those other doings that are not right and done intentionally. We hope Heaven would not hold us unfavourably for such wrong. In reality, the saints above are not punitive and do not hold us for the wrong but we do have to face the results created by ourselves. These results in no way represent reprimand by Heaven but consequences or at worst retribution not in any way the work of Heaven but really our own work. God is 'forgiving' but common logic will tell us we have to face what we do. If we plant mango, we may get mango. If we plant wild thorny bush, how can we not expect bush and thorns. The plantation manager can help you, one of the gardeners to make good by giving you another chance but you need to face the bush and thorns, and with the blessing of the plantation manager, you can clear the bushes and thorns to prepare the ground for planting fruit trees. God has given us life to do as we will. If we put life to fruition, the fruits of our good will benefit not only ourselves but others as well. Taking the bigger picture, we will be like posats to share and help others in the name of heaven.

Now we need to realise that it is easy to do wrong, and effort is needed not to do wrong. If we want to be accepted by Heaven even for our wrong that is to be forgiven in one sense, then like Heaven, we need to adopt a similar positive attitude towards others around us who do wrong. All have and will continue to do wrong, and will fall short of the glory of God. Despite this, Heaven is prepared to look at us positively and help us, bless us to be worthy of God if we can improve and change though we may still have to face what we have planted or done to some extent.

Everyone who takes up a religion is keen to know the philosophy or doctrine in a religion. The words ‘philosophy’ and ‘doctrine’ sound profound. The former word makes teachings appear remote to the folks on the ground. The latter may connote teachings or instructions passed down by authority and not to be trifled with. The teachings of Heaven are present in all faiths, and Lord Bo Tien refers to them as ‘tou-li’ in Chinese Hokkien. The literal translation is just “logic of the way”. This is something accessible and reachable by any one. You do not need to be a guru or academia to do so. ‘Tou-li’ needs not come to us in just one way – passed down by Heaven. It is in life itself. It is the very understanding of the nature of life as we live. Heaven helps by sending saints to help us do so, and we thus have the religions and sects. But with time, organised religion becomes institution. Institution creates and adds complexity to result in simple logic of way of life to become doctrine /dogmas and philosophy not to mention the warp of history that comes with maturity of institution.

PS The writer does not speak for or represent Bo Tien Temple and this blog is his personal initiative.


.