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, November 6, 2011

The Alternative Mission

No 320 of Living Life Series 1

Whilst the Mission of Heaven is to save souls and towards this end alleviate difficulties in lives of beings not just men, the lofty mission is too far fetched for many a man.

More down to earth and pragmatic approach has watered down the lofty ideals to more worldly level and a far cry from the divine truth.

Men wants to identify with the here and now and with current day society. They will see and do what they know best and that is to be with the crowd. They go for the needs of society of the here and now, never mind if this will ruffle the feathers of the sages and wise men.

If you tell them for example that in a temple jos sticks are not necessary, they would see this as too revolutionary and not in keeping with expectations of the average traditional Chinese society.

But the truth is that jos-sticks are only means to an end and the end is to invoke feeling of religiosity. They are outward manifestations of outpouring of religiosity as practised by the ancestors.

The same goes towards having images of saints and other age-old paraphernalia. Do we go for the piece of wood or stone or do we go for the closeness of God and saints that are so that omnipresent everywhere?

Well beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The beauty of a religion is in the way followers could practise and identify with divinity. If this means making a temple that more traditional and that more close to expectations of prevailing leaders of society, why not and how not?

The followers will somehow see community leaders as proxies to God and saints and work towards getting their attention and patronage. This is not altogether bad and may be added bonus to show that their organisation is making the mark and thus more will join their ranks.

This is the way of contemporary society and a convenient way to forge progress in society based on societal standards though not exactly divine or to be exact inner truth orientated.

There will of course be deviation from the pioneering spirit and zest of the founders but every religion, sect or spiritual movement undergoes the same process of deviation and evolution from the pioneering ways and thus the religious practice of modern and future days will be far cry from the days of old otherwise how could they continue to blend with and have niche in the ever changing society they are in.

Let us go back to the before 1974 message of Lord Bo Tien -Revisit of Messages by lord saint before 1974 (left click computer mouse to access)

" 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."

"Therefore, I shall not attempt to establish any new religion, cult or organisation. But I shall rekindle and re-invigorate the religious thought* of all people and instill a higher understanding of life in them."

"Dogmas evolved over centuries after the founder's death frequently differ startlingly, unexpectedly, inadvertently and at times even uncannily in emphasis from the preliminary teachings for each faith and between faiths and sects."

Praise Lord Bo Tien for His message

Whatever forms and activities a temple or institution take on is immaterial but there is need to sit back and take cognisance of how to connect with the teachings of the founders, so as not to derail from the Mission of Heaven.

It is perfectly alright to go for the ways of society and secure patronage of community leaders but such ways may mean the temple or institution is set on the alternative mission of contemporary society with focus on community leaders and needs.

What is needed is to take stock and make repetitive corrective actions to align back every now and then with the Mission of Heaven.

Otherwise the mission will be off course and instead of being a temple or organisation to lead and be above others, it will be only one of the many and no different from the many.

But to be exactly orientated to Mission of Heaven and not blend with society via so called Alternative Mission ways may mean that that temple or institution may not take foot and move on in society.

In many religions and sects, the alternative mission takes social precedence though may be spiritually not correct but still has a place. Perhaps it must co-exist but be subsidiary to the primary Mission of Heaven.

Fundamentalists decry the contemporary and so-called deviant ways of modern religious sects and institutions be it a temple or church but the truth is that without non-fundamentalist ways, many in society will not gravitate towards God and saints.

So isn't it true that alternative mission of men has a place in the Mission of Heaven that is Mission of God and saints?

God and Saints

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.