No 38 of Living LIfe Series 1
We go through life like in a concert. We go for prime roles and part to find our own niche in society. When we are near to this, we think we are near success and happiness. But alas such joys are apparent, and recede from us like the rainbow. Like the rainbow, life’s joy is near and yet far.
True joy is the joy of the saints when we become enlightened, free from the fetters of deluded ego and clinging, when we are in harmony with God. The concept is so simple but yet profound because we gauge spiritual joy in ego terms. We equate joy with clinging, but with spiritual joy, there is no clinging, and we fail to perceive that such joy there can be.
Spiritual joy can be far to us so long as we judge it in ego terms, so long as we wrongly believe that joy can only go along with clinging. But it is near to us. God has given us religions. He has sent to us His Saints and Prophets. Many have understood, but not many have perceived through realisation in practice. It is far and yet near.
The near can be far and the far can be near. Thus is true of many things in life. Happiness too is such, and the many types of happiness ranges from the apparent to the sublime.
Health is the highest gain. It is a human form of happiness, but we have to grow old and we have to fend off illnesses. The surest journey from birth is death. Health is not the end-all, but a means to the end-all. What then is this end-all joy?
Contentment is the greatest wealth. The poor if contented are rich. The wealthy if not satisfied ask for more, and are far from contentment. Contentment is but one of the first steps for it is not the end-all, but only a means to make us stay less focus on clinging to sentient issues. With contentment, we are near to true happiness but yet far from the end-all joy of all joys. This again illustrates the near and the far, or the far and the near.
We need friends to be happy in life. We need fellowship of fellow disciples in any religion or sect, but how much can we depend on them when they too need to be saved, and to be with God. The ego roots of our fellow brethren often surge forward to sully and spoil the fellowship. Fellowship is necessary but can be a setback on many a time when the fellowship turns sour with ugly ego coming to the fore. What then is the ultimate fellowship or friend when your friend can turn out to be your foe due to devil of ego? Hermits will attest to the fact that self-confidence is the best fellowship.
Self-confidence stabilises oneself on the road to the ultimate end-all. It is happiness in itself but only the means to the ultimate end-all. We derive some joy from it, but there again it only makes us nearer to the end-all joy. It is only an apparent joy in itself. It is one factor to put us on the right road. Through self-confidence, we are near to joy but yet to attain the end -all bliss. We are near and yet far.
The end-all joy of all joys is bliss of enlightenment when we forgo the defiled and deluded ego, when we let go the clinging which brings about rebirth, and when we can be one with God and His Saints. Such spiritual joy is boundless and lasting as it is from God and not from the ego of being and craving. Only the wise amongst us seeks the road to spiritual fulfilment, but such fulfilment is near and yet far so long as we are not rid off our ignorance and defilements like arrogance.
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The Living Life Series is dedicated to Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). The doctrine is in His image. The image is the doctrine. He who sees, understands and effects the doctrine sees and knows Him. He who does not see, know and effect the doctrine sees not and knows not the saint even if the saint or His image is beside him. The far may be near and the near may be far. Let the doctrine and the saint be part of our life. The lord saint in your life can be any heavenly saint of any religion, sect or school. The doctrine of truth is behind all and this is the Inner Truth that leads all (regardless of their religious affiliation or even if none) to inner peace and heaven on earth here and now and not just in the after life. The ideal worship and devotion is to know and effect the doctrine of God and the saints. The best gospel is the gospel of life. We learn from our life and the lives of others. The true temple is the world we live in. The sky is the roof of the temple and religions and sects are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven are in the temple. Needless to say that all the saints we know are in this temple. Ji Gong Posat too is no exception. The whole wide world and web is the temple and must be regarded as a sacred place --- a temple for living and learning. It is more important that everyone that counts plays a role in this universal temple if due focus is to be given to the Mission of Heaven. Men must not be distracted by the agenda of men and end up serving the mission of man. That would be a far cry from the Mission of Heaven. We worship God and saints, not man however good that man may be. There should be no hero worshiping or idolizing of man whether he is a charismatic pastor, priest, monk, medium or lay leader. We don't even idol worship the image of any saint but reflect on what the image stands for. - the doctrine in the image. Omitofo 阿弥陀佛!.
