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!.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Divine Trinity of Man, Society and God

No 240 of Living Life Series 1

Many would agree that the relationship between man and God is on a very personal level. By God is meant both God and saints but not the spiritual leaders amongst men. Yet, we cannot deny the need for spiritual togetherness or fellowship for by nature that is by biological nature, men live as groups.

Men must learn from one another and each man must be asset not only to himself but to others in the group. Man as a person has to be self-reliant and independent but yet he has to depend on others. That is men must be interdependent and at same time as individuals be self -reliant or independent. This is not a paradox but a dualistic reality. Tao thinking refers to this dualism as one manifestation of yin and yang.

Yin and yang are like dynamic polarities contradicting and yet complementing. One cannot exist without the other as depicted in 'pakua' - the Taoist octagon.

Self-dependence cannot be in isolation and in denial of society of other men. Interdependence cannot mean one becomes a parasite and a burden to others. Balance between the two polarities brings peace in life for the individual in society. He is at peace with life and with society. He neither runs away from society nor loses himself in society due to its trappings & nuances. This balance is depicted by the seated image of Lord Bo Tien with feet astride the elements - the polarities.

Balance is depicted by
feet astride the elements - the polarities,
the yin and yang.
His left hand in salutation
bids us to be at peace
and to be steadfast in this.
His right hand holds the sceptre
symbolic of inner truth message of God
behind all religions and sects.

Lord Bo Tien uses the analogy of candle flame. Every man must be a candle flame to light up his own life and to light up the life of others. Men must be like a collection of candle flames. This way, they will light up one another's lives and at the same time light up the lives of others beyond their group.

No individual man other than God (and His prophets) can be the alpha and the omega. But as a group in harmony, men can be both alpha and omega if that group embodies and manifests Godliness.

One candle flame is less awe inspiring than a collection of candle flames, more so if that collection is sheltered from the winds and elements. Likewise, men in a group and in harmony are more awe inspiring if they live in Godliness and are sheltered by God and saints of God.

Nations too are independent and yet they must be interdependent like the yin and the yang. Religions too are independent and yet must harmonise, cooperate, co-exist and complement. They are interdependent.

Their differences need not be divisive but if presented correctly and in right perspective, they add color to humanity. They present more ways to attract more men to God and the way of God. To the wise, this will be so but to those who are in darkness, the opposite seems the case.

This is presented and explained as the Four Pillar Message by Lord Bo Tien with 'four' referring to the diverse religions in the cardinal directions - north, south east and west. Religions are the pillars of the house of God with heaven or the sky as the roof and all beings /men are in the house and vicinity.

The paradox of attributes (individual self dependence and societal interdependence) is as per the yin and yang of Tao philosophy. To some, yin and yang are in conflict but to those who see nature and life as the gospel of God, then yin and yang complement and are actually interdependent. the balance of which leads to inner peace and oneness with God.

Within the yin and yang are to be found the alpha and omega. Within nature and life is to be found the alpha and omega, the A to the Z. This is the same as saying that within the universe, there is God.

There are two kinds of universe, the universe within each one of us and the universe outside us. God is within us and God is in us. Truth or the teachings or what Buddhists refer to as the dharma (doctrine in Pali language) is in the life of every man and being and also in the world outside every man.

The Tao refers to oneness and yet separateness of yin and yang. There is one and the one gives rise to two three and more. Why three and not two? Yes, there is God and saints other than yin and yang. This is one way of understanding the Tao concept of trinity of one is three and three is one but not all will agree.

Every man* is one. He is independent as a man but each man must live with other men. Man in his independence must be dependent on other men. But there will be conflicts and dis-ease if there is no Godliness in man and amongst men. Thus the third factor is GOD. This third factor is the balance factor and the enabling factor for success and peace. The individual, society and GOD constitute one understanding of Divine Trinity.

There is man as an individual. There is society or universe of men and there is GOD. The three is one and the one is three and more. This elucidation of trinity will be difficult to stomach for many. Lest we forget and feel uneasy, let us remember what the late Senior Brother P. Philip wanted to share with all.

"Many a pride cover 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 world."

Simple booklet capturing
Senior Bro P. Philip's perspectives.
Edited by SBP 6th Sept 2000

Man can have balance and peace like the lotus amidst the mud and water of life, the yin and yang. The lotus rises above to be free from the mud and water and yet is dependent on and rooted in swirling mud and water. This is evidence of dualism and reality and not a paradox or contradiction. Yin and yang always will be the dualism and the reality. The man who is saintly lives with yin and yang and rises above yin and yang. He is godly (God in him) and still is man. With GOD, man and yin yang dualism (society/nature), there is peace from harmony in trinity. This peace is the pervading bliss that outlast all joys in life.

The model of trinity of man, society and God applies to governance of nations. If there is lopsidedness towards individual, or towards society at large, and if there is lack of moral or divine fibre in the way man at individual or societal levels run their lives, then there will be lack of balance, peace and progress. Gross overplay of either communistic or civil rights thrusts can yield problems and be sheer eye opener of sorts.

There must be correct proportions for societal and individual needs and the balancing point differs from nation to nation and from society to society. The determining factors include cultural and religious ballasts that will somehow or other moderate the point of balance from time to time. What works well for one society or nation may not work well for another and for any one nation or society, what works well at one point in time may not do so at another point. The formula is not an easy one and cannot be cast in stone. Enlightened approach and sheer mindfulness will however help.

Though profound what has been said is yet simple and applies not just to individual but to society and to nation so as to yield the peace that transcends all sentient joys and gains and that truly is fulfilment itself. Indeed it is true to say, "Many seek the truth (way) of ancient wisdom yet the profound truth (way) is so simple but difficult to perceive." This did late Senior Brother P. Philip share with us in the days of old. This is an ageless truth and applies to so many perspectives of life and society. Truth is. God is. What more need be said? Let us go for the peace indeed through the Trinity of Man, Society and God.

*man refers to both gender - man and woman

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.