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.

.

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, June 5, 2011

The art of living is in Tao present in all religions and in life

No 273 of Living Life Series

Have you read and have you understood? The doctrine of life, Tou Li or Tao, is in the image and the image is the Doctrine.Thus did Lord Bo Tien said in one of his anniversary messages.

Do understand why the lord (Bo Tien) said that the near may be far if they see not the tao in the image and in life. The far from the image and the written gospel may be near to the lord and for that matter all saints if he sees the Tao in life. That the gentiles are nearer to God than the Pharisees (mentioned in the gospel of Jesus the Messiah) is the same as saying the near may be far and the far may be near.

He who sees and practices the truth (Tao or Tou-li) sees and knows the lord. He has the third eye. He who does not see and know the truth (Tao or Tou-li) does not see the lord even if the lord is before him. He is ''blind'' even with good sight for he has no third eye. This was the exhortation by the representatives of Lord Bo Tien.

Thus it is small wonder that at times, the humble will be exalted and the exalted will be humbled. This was said by Lord Jesus in reference to certain Pharisees in the Christian Bible. This is in concordance with the assertion that the truth behind religions tend to be similar. This is referred to as the Inner Truth doctrine by Lord Bo Tien in his opening message.

Religions appear different and have different approaches and dogmas to appeal and hold on to their followers but they serve the same Divinity and Tao or Truth in God. God's compassion meant that He would cater to the varying facets and aspirations of human society.

The art of living is in Tao, knowing Tao or Tou-li and making it a way of life. We must be at peace with and one with the ups and downs of life as portrayed in the image of Lord Bo Tien with the feet atop and balancing the yin and yang of life (the opposites of life like gain loss, happiness sorrow, health ill-health etc)

Lord Lao-Tse's take on how to be virtuous is worth mentioning here. The truly virtuous man who makes Tao a part of his life must spontaneously do good out of what he genuinely feels without being aware and concerned of other people's approval. He believes people should "act without acting" by spontaneously saying and doing what is genuinely felt from his heart rather than putting on a show for others. The virtuous man in Tao steers clear of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy can result when people behave in ways they think others will approve of and value.

In short, we just do what is right and proper not to please others or to fan our own ego. We do not fan up our own ego. At the same time, we do not deny our individuality. We also do not live for others ego. This requires balancing of opposites like in the image of Lord Bo Tien with the feet atop and balancing the yin and yang of life.

Lord Buddha's Middle Path has to do with this balancing and avoidance or denial of self as well as attachment to self be it our own or others. The term Middle does not mean in the middle but the correct dynamic balance.

Ji Kong is a saint not aligned to any particular religion but yet respected by Buddhists and Taoists. He hails Amitabha as his inspiration. He injected another perspective to Tao. He is most often quoted as saying thus -「酒肉穿肠过,佛在心中留"What matters is the state of one’s heart (mind), and not what passes through one's gut." Like Lao Tse he goes for virtue of sincerity from the heart and steers clear of any semblance to hypocrisy. Even Jesus commented on the hypocrisy of the Pharisees during the days of old.

All the prophets realise the weakness of men to be good only to get recognition of others be they gods or men. That's why in ancient days, there were errant or misled priests who were out to get the favors of saints and rulers of the land. This continues to be the bane of many of the followers of modern day faiths and sects.

The way therefore is to be sincere and be good for goodness sake instead of for getting into others good books. The way of how to be right and proper in the art of living right here and now is indeed so simple but difficult to perceive for those so blinded by the need to please others and /or their own ego.

Many amongst men are not seeking the ancient wisdom of our forefathers and only perhaps a handful are wise and keen enough to want to do so. But, alas, the sad part is that even amongst this finite handful, the greater number see not the need for essential and true sincerity but are instead blinded by the need to please and worship others be they God, saints or men.

Though the truth of matter is simple and all we need to do is to be pure in wanting to do good. We should not do good secondary to motive of personal gratification and / or gratification of others be they God, saints or men. Many still are blind to the need to be good just for goodness sake - to be pure in what they do even in doing good. They just cannot perceive that they can do good just for goodness sake and without strings attached and without personal agenda which can border on hypocrisy and can make them appear not sincere.

No wonder the late Senior Bro P. Philip did say thus, "Only the wise seek the fulfilment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but difficult to perceive." Many even amongst the minority in society who are spiritualists do not know how to live right and to go for the 'Tao' or 'Way' in life.

So much has been said on the Tao or way of goodness. This is an art of living we need to cultivate and refine as we go along in life. We should not feel guilty if we cannot achieve over night. Just do be mindful. There is need to improve in small steps and bites. Do remain peaceful and calm along the way if we want to progress in the art of living in Tao.

The art of living is in Tao common to all religions and within the reach also of those without institutional religions. We must do good not to please ourselves or to please others. We maintain the balance of doing good for goodness sake and not to inflate our own ego or to be in the good books of those we fawn. This is the way to be not in conflict and to be one with the universe - that is to be at peace with life of yin and yang. Don't you agree?

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.