No 146 of Living Life Series 1
Thus have SBP been told some four decades ago that the singular temple of the lord saint is like the lone and unremarkable tree at the fringe of rice fields and plantations. The rice fields and plantations had flourished better in the past when nature was more forthcoming with rivers and streams flowing with water and nutrients aplenty from the mountain tops. Then came a long drought. The stream and rivers dried up to a trickle and the muddy beds of exposed banks did cake up in places. The farmers were distraught. The rice fields and plantations were in sorry state. But the solitary tree at the fringe away from rice fields and plantations appeared to fare better. Though not resplendent with fruits or seeds and not spectacularly luxuriant with foliage and leaves, it is quietly there and at peace even when those in plantations were systematically and mercilessly affected by the harsh elements of nature. The farmers wondered why the lone tree could fare better when the plantations they tenderly and meticulously nurtured were affected. Then, it occurred to them to shift the plantations to where the solitary tree was. When drought came the plantation trees and rice fields around the solitary tree did survive better and could even bear more fruits and crops. Why? There was underground water and stream. The truth was that simple but it was not readily perceived. In fact, the farmers faced profound issue of their crops and plantations being affected by the long drought. The solution was simple but somehow, it did escape their mental radar and helicopter vision.
Many seek the truth of ancient wisdom (behind religions and sects). Yet the profound truth is simple but difficult to perceive.
The plantations and rice fields represent the religions and sects. They have spread further away to places where they become too heavily dependent on the unpredicable moods of nature. Religions too have evolved further to meet additional needs beyond the original. This has resulted in the original fervour and basics to be diluted in some way. The core or original needs are at times no longer as easily noticed and prominent - not exactly in centre stage.
The moods of nature represent the yin and yang twists and turns which encompass human whims and fancies. All religions have to contend with the swings of worldly issues.
The solitary unremarkable tree represents the mission or temple of Lord Bo Tien. He is not here to start a new religion (plantation) for there are prevailing religions (plantations) to meet needs.
The plantations represent the world religions and sects. The trees and plants in plantations are the places of worship i.e. temples and churches.
The solitary tree (representing the temple of lord saint) is more adept in surviving all weather (yin and yang) because it was securely rooted in basics vis-a-vis the inner truth (sub terrain underground water). All religions and sects must be able to return closer to and be better rooted in the basics, that is, more of the inner truth and bring back a great deal more of the founding spirit and focus of their founding prophets than they have for now. This is represented by the plantations being moved to be around the lone tree that is to where there is sub terrain water.
This lesson of the lone tree has great implications and ramifications with respect to traditional places of worships of Asians -- especially Chinese temples. The vast majority of temples have learnt to mimic the worthy deeds of community services of a handful of temples like that of the lord saint. Many even collect cash and kind to join hands with those few temples steep in welfare services. They also return to the spirit of their founding days. They re-orientate and re-focus on original founding days activities such as early-day doctrinal activities. Such practices, inclusive of spiritual and charitable, were there when temples were first started out by the founding generations. But these practises somehow lost some steam with the years due to surge of new needs to meet newer social trends of latter day adherents. Use of western drums and guitars, rapping and praying and singing in pop or western and country music tunes are some add-ons of latter day adherents. Not to forget that in modern eras, there are singing and screaming clergy in preference to meditative, contemplative and soft spoken clergy. These trends are OK and enable more new social ways to lasso in the new generations. But they must not eclipse the traditional focus ways which better carry and deliver the core basics of the founders. The traditional focus ways are better able to elicit fervour and pitch of founding generations. Preserve the old but add new flavours and icing. Do not end up changing the cake. In religious sense, there should be no change of religious focus from pristine, pure and simple yet profound originality of founder's doctrine and values.
From the personal life angle, the one who is rooted in spiritual values and shelter of heaven is like the lone tree rooted in sub terrain water. He has endless source of water of life (vis-a-vis from the spiritual values of truth and the shelter of heavenly saints) in contrast with those who are not rooted. He is less affected by the ups and downs of nature / yin and yang. It is more smooth sailing for him even in times of drought and difficulties in life for he will still have the water of life.
Those who are close to such a person are likely to reap benefits. In the story above, crops and trees were re-sited next to the lone tree. This facilitated them to be better positioned to harness goodness of ground water. Likewise, it is beneficial to relocate and re-focus life so that we can live with the goodness in men and not with the weaknesses of men. (Please refer to the first stanza of Blessing Discourse - Mangala Sutra by Lord Buddha.....associate with the wise in men and do not associate with the folly in men...)
Lord saint Lord Bo Tien has reminded us to learn from the gospel of life - our own life and the lives of others. In the above parable of the lone tree, the farmers had learnt to move their plantation trees to the proximity of the lone tree. In life too, we should be near to the good so that we can learn to have peaceful and fruitful life. Then we too can be good in living and in life. This will pave the way for a smooth, uneventful, lovable and peaceful life despite the yin yang reality of ups and downs in life. Cheers and have more of that peace and love in life.
Extract from Inner Truth Practice Perspectives
Many seek the truth of ancient wisdom (behind religions and sects). Yet the profound truth is simple but difficult to perceive.
The plantations and rice fields represent the religions and sects. They have spread further away to places where they become too heavily dependent on the unpredicable moods of nature. Religions too have evolved further to meet additional needs beyond the original. This has resulted in the original fervour and basics to be diluted in some way. The core or original needs are at times no longer as easily noticed and prominent - not exactly in centre stage.
The moods of nature represent the yin and yang twists and turns which encompass human whims and fancies. All religions have to contend with the swings of worldly issues.
The solitary unremarkable tree represents the mission or temple of Lord Bo Tien. He is not here to start a new religion (plantation) for there are prevailing religions (plantations) to meet needs.
The plantations represent the world religions and sects. The trees and plants in plantations are the places of worship i.e. temples and churches.
The solitary tree (representing the temple of lord saint) is more adept in surviving all weather (yin and yang) because it was securely rooted in basics vis-a-vis the inner truth (sub terrain underground water). All religions and sects must be able to return closer to and be better rooted in the basics, that is, more of the inner truth and bring back a great deal more of the founding spirit and focus of their founding prophets than they have for now. This is represented by the plantations being moved to be around the lone tree that is to where there is sub terrain water.
This lesson of the lone tree has great implications and ramifications with respect to traditional places of worships of Asians -- especially Chinese temples. The vast majority of temples have learnt to mimic the worthy deeds of community services of a handful of temples like that of the lord saint. Many even collect cash and kind to join hands with those few temples steep in welfare services. They also return to the spirit of their founding days. They re-orientate and re-focus on original founding days activities such as early-day doctrinal activities. Such practices, inclusive of spiritual and charitable, were there when temples were first started out by the founding generations. But these practises somehow lost some steam with the years due to surge of new needs to meet newer social trends of latter day adherents. Use of western drums and guitars, rapping and praying and singing in pop or western and country music tunes are some add-ons of latter day adherents. Not to forget that in modern eras, there are singing and screaming clergy in preference to meditative, contemplative and soft spoken clergy. These trends are OK and enable more new social ways to lasso in the new generations. But they must not eclipse the traditional focus ways which better carry and deliver the core basics of the founders. The traditional focus ways are better able to elicit fervour and pitch of founding generations. Preserve the old but add new flavours and icing. Do not end up changing the cake. In religious sense, there should be no change of religious focus from pristine, pure and simple yet profound originality of founder's doctrine and values.
From the personal life angle, the one who is rooted in spiritual values and shelter of heaven is like the lone tree rooted in sub terrain water. He has endless source of water of life (vis-a-vis from the spiritual values of truth and the shelter of heavenly saints) in contrast with those who are not rooted. He is less affected by the ups and downs of nature / yin and yang. It is more smooth sailing for him even in times of drought and difficulties in life for he will still have the water of life.
Those who are close to such a person are likely to reap benefits. In the story above, crops and trees were re-sited next to the lone tree. This facilitated them to be better positioned to harness goodness of ground water. Likewise, it is beneficial to relocate and re-focus life so that we can live with the goodness in men and not with the weaknesses of men. (Please refer to the first stanza of Blessing Discourse - Mangala Sutra by Lord Buddha.....associate with the wise in men and do not associate with the folly in men...)
Lord saint Lord Bo Tien has reminded us to learn from the gospel of life - our own life and the lives of others. In the above parable of the lone tree, the farmers had learnt to move their plantation trees to the proximity of the lone tree. In life too, we should be near to the good so that we can learn to have peaceful and fruitful life. Then we too can be good in living and in life. This will pave the way for a smooth, uneventful, lovable and peaceful life despite the yin yang reality of ups and downs in life. Cheers and have more of that peace and love in life.
Extract from Inner Truth Practice Perspectives
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