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, November 12, 2011

Understanding and maximising yin and yang

No 324 of Living Life Series 1

There is the active and passive aspects in life as in nature. These are not necessarily bad or good but we need both to be whole. The yin and yang refer to the passive and active aspects.

Yin is not negative but refers to the softer aspects and yang is not positive but refers to the more out going and dynamic aspects.

Some refer to yang as military or 'boo' which is action orientated. Often but not always correct, yang or 'boon' personality is conceived as the successful type.

Yang can be both good and bad. The same applies to yin. Yin too does not necessarily lead to bad results or failure. It is often good as well. There are good and bad yin as there are good and bad yang. Those with insight of yin and yang prefer not to talk of good and bad.

Yin refers to the passive and 'boon' aspect' which is more mind orientated, more passive but is no less important. We too can succeed in a way just by adopting passive and docile yin or boon way.

But in reality there is no such thing as being only yin or yang, for there is yang within yin and yin within yang. Thus we see the little dot within the tadpole like symbols of yin and yang in the pakua.

Progress and success are possible by either way, be it by more yin or by more yang but for more and to reach lofty levels, we must go for the dynamic balance of yin and yang.

This does not mean equal portions of both but depending on the situation or individual as well as the context of age and times, the balance may be anywhere between the yin and yang.

Too much of yin or yang may be unhealthy or at best not optimal but in reality, what is optimal is relative to the person and situation. What is optimal balance for one person may not be for another and for the same person may not be on another occasion

Some people can find that balance with more yin than yang and they are the 'boon' type (academic, civil orientated, tactical) and some find that balance in life by being more outgoing, action orientated by being more yang. They are the 'boo' type (action, executive, field, operational, military or martial).

In a way, it may be true but not always that introverts are yin and extroverts are yang. Not all yang persons are extroverts as one can be action orientated without being extroverts.

The yang person may well live a life away from others and not a social mixer and has little or no charisma. In short, some yang persons are introverts though many may be extroverts.

The yin personality may need not be introverts but can be part and parcel of active society but plays and leads passive life in that society. They are more tactical and often not be in the limelight or forefront of matters.

In a society, institution or temple, for maximising the interests of one and all and for advancing the common good and not sectional interests, the organisation must comprise of all sectors and interests groups and must be run by committee made up of good mix of leaders from the various sectors and interests groups. In short there must be balance of yin and yang not only in the organisation membership but also in the committee running the organisation. This is emphasized by Lord Bo Tien in 1984 message and this message applies to the world.

"He then pointed out to the Taoist Octagon or Pakua, which showed two fish-like symbols the yin and the yang. Both must exist and if there was only one, then there will be no balance and peace. Man must seek the inner peace through balance of yin and yang. A temple or organisation must find balance in the yin and yang elements of people that constitute the temple. Only then will there be peace and harmony. "

Extract from article 315 dated 28th Oct 2011 -
Revisit of 1984 message of Lord Bo Tien

The need for yin and yang elements of people in a temple is depicted by the yin and yang dragons. Originally sages had depicted the pearl as carried by the phoenix and the dragon but later as both yin and yang are of equal importance, yin and yang are depicted as dragons

They support the pearl. The pearl is the doctrine, the inner truth common to and underlying all religions. It is lighted up like a torch or flame as the doctrine lights up the life of beings.

We can maximise both spiritual and mundane life in an individual or society by maximising yin and yang through good grasp and balancing of yin and yang so as to achieve success and peace.

The lord saint's seated pose image depicts the saint stepping on and balancing the yin and yang. You would therefore understand why He said to us that the doctrine is in His image and the image personifies his doctrine.

Lord Bo Tien

He is also supported in his divine mission to help beings by a host of warriors who are either "boon" or "boo" or both. These are terminologies which have reference to yin and yang.

In the main altar of a temple with His image, traditionally there must be three images at the altar--- one centre image of a Buddha, the lord saint's image on right of the Buddha image, and Goddess Kuanyin on the left of the Buddha image (or on your right if you are facing the three images). This is meaningful and reminds us to balance the "boon" and "boo" to be enlightened like the Buddhas.

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.