LIVING LIFE SERIES 1

A BO TIEN (武天) MISSION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED ON 28TH SEPT 2010 BY INNER TRUTH NETIZEN 2. THE MISSION IS TO SHOW THE WAY TO HOPE, INNER PEACE AND ULTIMATELY SALVATION FOR ALL BEINGS. THE PURPOSE IS TO SAVE SOULS. IT IS WAY BEYOND NORMAL GOOD WORK LIKE CHARITY AND WELFARE ACTIVITIES. NO ONE SHALL BE SAVED BY GOOD WORKS ALONE BUT BY MORE THAN GOOD WORK. THERE IS NEED TO BE IMBUED WITH THE BASIC DOCTRINE COMMON TO AND BEHIND ALL RELIGIONS AND SECTS. LIVE IN DOCTRINE. DOCTRINE IN LIFE IS PARAMOUNT.

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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!.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Is there the need?

No 223 of Living Life Series 1

Who can say that one sect or faith is better than the others? Anyone perhaps can say so but yet all should never say so. You may wonder why this is so. Let us bring you round to the realisation that all are one and one is all. The simple is yet the most complex and perhaps also philosophical. The most philosophical is yet also simple. This is true of any faith otherwise the faith will not reach out to various sections of society.

Take for example meditation. There is one pointedness as well as awareness or insight meditation (basically two types). The fruits or outcome include joy, absorptions, ecstasy. Some religions simply appear not to have meditation but what they refer to as prayers have the same effect of meditation. They feel an inexplicable joy and described this as union with the holy spirit or God. This is similar or akin to the 'piti' or joy described by Buddhists in their meditation. What Buddhists and Hindus describe as 'jhanas' or absorptions of various levels are experienced by theists when they fast for days and pray to God in seclusion or wilderness. They describe experiences of being engulfed and transported to vast expanse of light or vision with intense ecstasy or sense of fulfilment. They say they have union with God. Even the very act of singing hymns or even talking in tongues is a form of trying to be one with God, that is a form of prayer, worship or meditation, whatever you may wish to refer to.

Even the practice of offerings is another example. Some offer water, fruits, food but some offer tithes, money, time and even themselves. All are examples of what we can give to God. Which religion is better at this is not the issue but the issue is that God and saints do not need them but it is still a practice to be encouraged but in the wise and sensible way.

Even if one gives nothing and just say that one will improve and better oneself, that too in a way is an offering --- an offering to love oneself and do better for oneself. That is what God wants us to do and have. That is the best we can do justice and give credit to God and saints.

Thus be it obvious offering, new ways of offering or apparently no offering and just self love and cultivation, it is still an offering and yet not an offering. Whatever we give to God, God does not need and if He needs, then there is cause for concern. Is He omnipotent and all perfect? Are we not belittling Him by offering to Him what we would otherwise offer to great men? Are we not measuring Him like we measure our fellow men? (See not the man in God and the God in man. Man is man and God is God.)

Thus the issue is whether there is the need or perhaps there is none. Is there the need? Is there the need to say that all practices and religions are different or the same? 'Yes' and 'No' and both 'Yes' and 'No' and perhaps neither as well. All depend on where you are coming from. All are one and one is all. Is there the need to talk like that and to twist words like that? This is perhaps food for thought.

This is exactly what Lord Bo Tien tries to convey to us on the oneness and yet distinctness of faiths and sects. There is oneness as there is common purpose with God and divinity as the inner truth behind all. There is distinctiveness or separateness as they are distinct faiths and ways of approach.

Lest you forget

Do not make the mistake of idolizing any man who tells you about the Word. He is in the same boat as you even if religion refers to him as a religious leader. Mere mention of a religious leader is as good as encouraging idolising of that man. Why must there be hierarchy in religion? Hierarchy is conventional but may end up as liability rather than a necessity or asset. There should be no caste or hierarchy system in religion. No one is to be considered above another in religion. A religious leader or follower is a servant to serve you and not a leader to be idolised. Do not put him on the pedestal and make a monster out of him.

MAY ALL BE WELL AND HAPPY

May all be well and happy. May they have peace. May our departed friends and kins be well, happy and have divine peace. The main writer wishes the best for all for those near and far. Our kins may be far when they had passed on to better lives but they are near though far. He remembers and wishes his parents Mr Siow Soo Koh and Mdm Tay Hung Siang, his uncles and aunties like Mr Tay Koon Huay, his cousins like Mr Tay Chong Sim and his friends like Mr Philip Png well and have abundance of life. May they be rich in spirit for without such ancestors, there will be no posterity - no us and no you and me. They have blessed us and we must blessed them in return forever and ever.