No 139 of Living Life Series 1
(1) "Many a pride covers those who achieve the light of enlightenment. But the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood. Endurance is one’s innocent glory in the next of world."
(a) "Many a pride covers those who achieve the light of enlightenment"
Many who have insight into the inner truth behind religions become attached to this initial achievement, cling to this, and fail to go further. They fail to give up the craving in the ego. It is the ego, which makes them attached, and cling on to the initial achievement. Not only do they fail to go beyond this point, but their egos also make them see the weaknesses of their fellow men and they hold on to the view that their fellow men are not worthy of being disciples of a heavenly saint like Lord Bo Tien because of their weaknesses.
(a) "Many a pride covers those who achieve the light of enlightenment"
Many who have insight into the inner truth behind religions become attached to this initial achievement, cling to this, and fail to go further. They fail to give up the craving in the ego. It is the ego, which makes them attached, and cling on to the initial achievement. Not only do they fail to go beyond this point, but their egos also make them see the weaknesses of their fellow men and they hold on to the view that their fellow men are not worthy of being disciples of a heavenly saint like Lord Bo Tien because of their weaknesses.
(b) "But the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood."
There are however those who, out of loving kindness and compassion for their fellow men do not see their perceived drawbacks as weaknesses to be ridiculed but as opportunities to help their fellow men. They tolerate and appear to condone these weaknesses. They are considered foolish but being wise enough to want to help their fellow men to overcome weaknesses, they may be initially misunderstood. But they do not fear of being misunderstood. Moreover, they do learn from the gospel of the lives of fellow men even if they may not be of real help to their fellow men once too often.
(c) "Endurance is one’s innocent glory in the next of world."
They patiently endure and persist out of compassion and loving kindness to help others to overcome weaknesses, and do not regard them as wrong doers, bad guys or sinners. Such good Samaritans will be spiritually abundant in merits to be elevated to be with the saints in the next world.
There are however those who, out of loving kindness and compassion for their fellow men do not see their perceived drawbacks as weaknesses to be ridiculed but as opportunities to help their fellow men. They tolerate and appear to condone these weaknesses. They are considered foolish but being wise enough to want to help their fellow men to overcome weaknesses, they may be initially misunderstood. But they do not fear of being misunderstood. Moreover, they do learn from the gospel of the lives of fellow men even if they may not be of real help to their fellow men once too often.
(c) "Endurance is one’s innocent glory in the next of world."
They patiently endure and persist out of compassion and loving kindness to help others to overcome weaknesses, and do not regard them as wrong doers, bad guys or sinners. Such good Samaritans will be spiritually abundant in merits to be elevated to be with the saints in the next world.
(2) Lord Bo Tien like any heavenly saint for the matter has set the divine approach by ensuring that those who receive divine help and blessings are not necessarily those who are goody or lucky guys but in fact to many, they may even be those who are in fact dubious or down and out. Heaven does not judge men as wrong but as those who need help and compassion of God and his Saints. But men tend to judge men as wrong, and may even wonder why a heavenly saint like Lord Bo Tien would consider taking such people into the fold of the mission to save souls.
(3) Lord Bo Tien explains that there is doctrine even in His name. ‘Tien’ means sky or heaven. He says that the sky or heaven is the roof of the temple. Only the sky or heaven can look at or judge men. Man should not judge man.
(4) The compassionate Lord Bo Tien or any heavenly saint does not judge men as bad but regards all men as potentially good and capable of more good. For the shortcomings we have, a saint has confidence and patience that one day, we will be able to overcome them. He accepts us for what we are.
(5) A lord saint could choose anyone to be His disciple, or medium to do work for mission of Heaven. Even a “thief or criminal could be chosen if the saint wants to train and teach him”.
(6) A heavenly saint is compassionate, tolerant and all forgiving to want to help those in need of help, such as those who are ignorant and on wrong path, and not just those who are destitute, and suffering from misfortune. Hence at the temple of Lord Bo Tien, there is the Aged Home, the day care centre and the distribution of provisions via the Mutual Help and Care programme. Even the occasional few wayward and so-called criminals and demons of men are dear to him, good enough to be His disciples and worthy of His help to change to new leaf as He considers them as having misfortune of being misguided or wrong.
(7) Praise be to God and all heavenly saints. May we be 'forgiven' for any shortcomings we have. Likewise let us 'forgive' one another for shortcomings, and truly “love thy neighbour”. Do note that any shortcomings committed will bear consequences primarily for the doer. The shortcomings affect the doer. God and any heavenly saint are not affected for they are above and beyond human weaknesses. Forgiveness by heavenly saint merely means the saint is willing to help to change the person and let him be reborn in goodness. With the benevolence and magnanimity of God and saints, let us be reborn again and again to more goodness in every moment and stage of our life.
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