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!.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The second coming - an inkling or beyond

No 224 of Living Life Series1

There is always interest on the end of the world or the second coming. Why is there the interest and why is there the need for second coming?

All boils down to the understanding that when there is arising, there is progress and subsequent decay and the need for reemergence. This is similar to life with birth, growth, maturity, ageing and death followed by rebirth. Even for our thought moments, there is birth of a thought, growth of the thought, fading away and death of the thought followed by birth of new thought.

It is therefore not unexpected or surprising for religion to dwell on the emergence of its prophet, the progressive impact of the prophet and his religion on the world over many centuries. There is then the evolution of the religion to keep up with the times. Despite all that, there will be the downturn which will precede the second coming of the prophet. This is the very nature of things and life in the world we are in.

Incidentally, fundamentalism, that is keeping to the so-called written word, is attempt to stall the process of downturn and to maintain the upturn and at least keep religious fervour at the plateau. Another thrust to stamp the tide is to keep up with the times and sometimes this may end up with previously otherwise considered unthinkable ways to be implemented just to ensure religion remains attractive and as relevant as in the past. In the process, there is watering down of the fabric of religion. The original fervour and doctrine of the founder may be then be subverted.

Like what Lord Bo Tien said before 1974 in his inaugural message. " From time to time in history, saints arose amongst men to lay down certain rules and regulations to help the masses lead better lives and to incline them towards GOD. "

"Over time, these rules become the tenets of an organised religion, but the idealistic spirit and motive, which prevailed during the founding saint's life time, changed gradually after his passing with arising of sects and differing sectarian styles."

"This is why often an organisation cannot bring out spiritual truth more effectively and closer to true nature of life unique to each individual in society. Life is an individual concern. Religion is always centred on life and a personal concern. Religious organisations often may end up over time as archaeological departments trying to discover the past." Messages before 1974

Thus it is uphill for any religion to maintain the zest and tempo of the founders and despite innovative changes, with the ever increasing worldliness, materialistic society, consumerism, over board self-gratification and self indulgence, religion will fade away and become not at all appealing. Churches, mosque and temples will be increasingly deserted. The clergy that is the monks, pastors and priests will be the first to wane by doing what their ancient predecessors would not have done. There will be scandals of sexual, financial and cult etc.

Religious texts refer to the few faithful who adhere to the original fervour. Before they are here no more, the next prophet in their religion will come and there after there will be no third coming for many centuries or aeons to come. The reason for this is that the decadence of society with ills like moral and social decay will make it futile for the advent of a prophet.

Thus in Buddhism, there is Buddha Maitreya who is currently in Tusita Heaven waiting for the time when there is no more of the original doctrine and fervour and yet there is enough few of the faithful who can benefit from his coming.

The majority of people then will lead a decadent life and not at all receptive to truth and doctrine. Why is this so? This is the natural cycle of life and the universe-- of nature to be exact.

Many who have been in Hell have completed their sojourn in Hell. By virtue of their remnant past good Karma (live energy) before their rebirth in Hell due to bad volition or Karma, these beings will be born as humans. But many will continue to behave like beings in Hell with bad attributes. They may even appear to be well off with wealth and appear to be rewarded for the bad they do. They are merely expending their good karma or life energy of their past lives before their sojourn in Hell.

Religions would change and innovate to reach out to them but in time this too will not be possible. Thus we can see for ourselves, new approaches and new ways of worship or devotion which to our ancestors will be unthinkable. But without such means, there is no way religion can reach out to them.

In time, even warping and distortion of the original fervour of the founding fathers of religions too will be to no avail. Way before this comes true, the second coming will have to be. The second coming must be timed when there will still be some who can benefit and when the original truth, founding spirit and fervour of the founding fathers of religions are beyond salvage.

The second coming of the Messiah referred to by the West is western portrayal and a more apt and palatable one for modern westernised society be it for the East or West. This reinforces the adage that all roads lead to Rome and in the words of Lord Bo Tien, all religions and sects lead to GOD and truth.

No effort should be spared to reach out to all even the unreachable. Credit and applause must be given to those who try to do so. They try to share their religion with all though in trying to do so, they may rub many the wrong way round. Sometimes, they would even appear uncompromising and intolerant of others views. But the crux of the matter is that at least they try to reach out to as many as they could even the unreachable though in the process they do rub many the wrong way round.

One question that comes to mind is whether are there as many prophets referred to in the second coming as there are many religions or will there be only one. This is for readers to conjure and there is no way we can know for sure.

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.