Many see the dust in others' eyes but not in their own. This did Lord Jesus say.
It is often true that many judge others as having erred when they themselves too have erred. But perhaps it is not a matter of error but matter of rightness and level and context of practice..
The presence of many sects in a religion is testimony of the different approaches and interpretations within the same one religion. Which one is more correct and are all correct in their respective ways? Perhaps the latter is the answer but man will not buy this as logical as they think they are right and others not so. They see not the dustin their own eyes.
What is right within a level of practice may differ greatly from those in other levels. It is not correct to expect those of a level of practice to change to those of higher levels. We too do not expect those of higher levels to come down to go for lower levels.
One should not scorn at the views of higher levels as far fetch simply because it is beyond his perception. Those at higher levels likewise should not expect those of beginners at lower levels to understand and go beyond their levels.
Thus in a religion there will be many levels of pratices and this will translate into many sects. Even for the same sect, there will be many temples and no two temples will be alike.
But the problem is that men like to see the dust in others' eyes and say that what others are doing must be wrong as long as these differ from what they do and accept.
They fail to see that there will be different levels of practice even for the same sect. They take the differences as wrong or to put it metaphorically as dust in other's eyes.
By a similar stretch of rational thinking, it may be said that many see others sects or religions as wrong so long as these differ from their own.
But aren't the various religions and sects representing expressions of different levels or views of God and his saints. So why the insistence that one is right and others are wrong.
All are right in their respective ways as they are practising at different levels. There will be differences even for people of the same sect or temple. Somehow or other, everyone is at a different stance and sublevel. It is like looking at the kaleidoscope. It may be the same kaleidoscope but the views will be different each time even for the same person or same sect of a religion.
No two persons of the same sect will hold the same level and perspective of conviction and belief. This will be more obvious for those professing different sects, let alone different religions. Can we say that one is more correct and the other not so?
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| Lord Bo Tien |
Lord Bo Tien reminds us to learn from the goodness of men as well as the differences amongst men. That way, we know better about the truth of life and know God better day by day.
Men are like candles of different sizes and shape. Instead of seeing the differences and the unpleasant aspects or "dust in others' eyes", it is better to see and value one anothers' strong points and values. It is better that men of religions come together, like the coming together of candles of varying sizes and shapes.
The coming together of such candles like the coming together of sects and religions make a better impact than the individual candles or sects / religions on their own. Cheers and these did Lord Bo Tien point out to all.
Men are like candles of different sizes and shape. Instead of seeing the differences and the unpleasant aspects or "dust in others' eyes", it is better to see and value one anothers' strong points and values. It is better that men of religions come together, like the coming together of candles of varying sizes and shapes.
The coming together of such candles like the coming together of sects and religions make a better impact than the individual candles or sects / religions on their own. Cheers and these did Lord Bo Tien point out to all.
