No 51 of Living Life Series 1
Have we arrived? Some will say that we have arrived if we have the 5 C's namely career, credit card, condominium and car.
But many still are not satisfied. They do not have fulfilment. They want more or are victims of the 5 C's, simply because they are in debt or their neigbhours have more. They feel worse off even with the 5 C's. In short, they are not upbeat, not comfortable with life and far from being at peace. They have and yet have not.
So others may say might as well not have anything and be wanderer, a recluse or an ascetic so as not to be attached and to crave. But is this desirable and congenial for peace in life? Far from it as they are always wanting. There is uncertainty in everything, e.g. next meal, what to do, what to have and how to have. The better or luckier ones may be provided by family and community but end up restless and idle. Obviously, such persons are not at peace.
Thus we must neither want nor not want, that is neither ask for more or the sky nor give up everything and anything. We should neither want to redesign fate totally nor resign our life to fate. We will be frustrated and dissatisfied in the former scenario even if we do get some of what we want and be hopeless in the latter scenario as we will waste away our time and blessing potential.
The solution is to have peace by neither wanting nor denial. The solution is in the image of Lord Bo Tien with feet balancing and atop the yin and yang. Think through or read other blogs for a complete answer.
The image is the doctrine and the doctrine is in the image. Life is the gospel and the best gospel is in life we live.
We need to live life and not leave life. We need to value and embrace life. We add value to life by embracing life and not devalue it by leaving life. Leaving life is withdrawing oneself into a shell or cocoon. We should instead go out into the open world. This is one aspect or perspective.
The other aspect is this. We need to steer life and not be steered by life. We need to be in the driving seat when we can to modulate and moderate life. Otherwise, we will be run over by life. We will be controlled by life and not in control and not at peace and ease.
Meditate or perhaps, just ruminate on this. Soon and in time, you will have peace that leads to bliss.
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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!.
