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
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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!.
