No 27 of Living Life Series 1
Religion is about the nature of life. We can look within us. We can look around us, to not only see but also perceive the nature of life. Some say that Divinity is in us. Divinity also pervades the world around us.
Even plants and trees remind us of the nature of life. To nurture a tree from a seed, we need to know the soil condition best suited for that tree. For instance, a cactus could thrive on sand, but not the lotus, which thrives in a muddy pool. It would be unthinkable to grow a cactus in a pool.
The seed of Truth is in every one of us. Likewise, we need to provide the right religious soil for these seeds to grow into trees of Truth. Different individuals require different religions to germinate the seeds of Truth in them. The resulting tree with flowers is the Truth that develops in the individual.
Is it not true that one religion may nurture the Truth in one person but not another religion. Yet, this other religion will be most suitable to nurture the Truth in another person. This is as in the example of the muddy pool and the sandy desert. The muddy pool favours the lotus. The sand is suited for the cactus.
Do understand that different religions are needed for different individuals, just as different soil conditions are needed for different trees to grow.
This is the essence of the doctrine of four pillars of Lord Bo Tien. The major religions are the pillars of Truth or the soils for the germination of the seeds of Truth in various individuals.
Truth is in the world around us. Even trees and seeds remind us of Truth. Our Lord Saint reminds us that we can realise Truth through any religion.
Religions are the soils for Truth to grow in. Grow our lives on the soils of truth. Different trees need different soil types. Likewise, difference in men require that different religions and sects to meet their needs.
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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!.
