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, March 31, 2011

Fellowship and the three divine paths

No 263 of Living Life Series 1 (It is recommended that post 261 should be read before 263. Click 261 at Fellowship beyond home, school and work )

There are three ways to union with Divinity what some will term as enlightenment. All have to do with peace in Divinity.

The three ways are (a) energetic discipline (b) socio-devotional (c) intellectual wisdom approaches as somewhat represented by the images of Lord Bo Tien, Goddess Kuanyin and Lord Buddha at shrine hall at Bo Tien Temple.

This runs parallel to the three phases of the temple - (i) Lord Bo Tien phase of discipline and establishment of the mission, (ii) Goddess Kuanyin phase of social compassion and devotion and (iii) the Lord Buddha phase of doctrine and wisdom.

Lord Bo Tien on left, Buddha at centre and Goddess Kuanyin at far right

We can use combination of the three approaches or even only one. All lead to peace and ability to flow along and nurture the peace of spirit. The ultimate peace will be union with Divinity or enlightenment. The discussion above deals more with the socio-devotional approach.

All approaches are means to the end of enlightenment or union with Divinity. Often, for many, fellowship helps to foster bonding and socio-devotional path. Fellowship and faith can go some way for one to have peaceful life by rendering life more acceptable and help kindle inner peace of spirit for both spiritual and secular life. Fellowship too means compassion and devotion to fellow men. Charity is but a component of socio-devotional path which deals more with social enhancing, networking and devotional activities. This approach is the most pragmatic and popular of the three.

Only a handful can adopt the path that includes intellectual wisdom approach as the main pivot. They usually have advantage of previous spiritual cultivation not just in present life but in past.

Many sects and faiths cannot just zoom in on the better ones who fit the bill for intellectual wisdom focus. These blessed ones have stronger spiritual foundation in past lives. Religions to reach out to the masses have to focus on fellowship and devotion to God, self and fellow men. Their founders according to Lord Bo Tien can promulgate dogmas and guidelines to hold on to their following. These need not be the same across faiths and sects but all serve to lead to God and Divinity.

Establishing mission work is in the realm of energetic discipline approach. This is for the pioneers and also for those who establish hermitage. Cooking and service and support volunteer work at places of worship are included in the energetic discipline approach.

We should consider the interests of the majority by focusing on the socio-devotional approach which is fellowship based. It is the approach that will appeal to the masses.

It is better to reach out and hold on to youth even with mere socio-devotional approach and nothing more. This is better alternative than to lose them to the ravages, demands and expectations of the 21st century and beyond.

Let there be fellowship beyond home, school and work. Then more peace in life both secular and spiritual will be for one and for all. God bless.

May God Almighty - The Jade Emperor
bless you with fellowship
beyond the home, school and work.

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.