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| Who is better and more good, the one on ground or the superior one above? |
Many religions and temples focus on what will attract the crowd and what that will appeal. These may be far from the best of the good and deal with the not so good. But what matters is that they appeal and bring in the numbers and the vibrancy in a temple or a religion.
For those more discerning and who want more, they can stand on their own and move on, away from the crowd. They have to if they want to go to the next stage and many stages higher.
But those at higher stages should not decry the lack of wisdom of those at lower stages. Who would expect a kindergarten child to know Einstein theory or the theory of relativity, evolution and the wide world of science. All that they need be told is that there is God and that God created the world. This is good enough.
There is more to good with the not so good. Won't this ring a bell?
The teachings of many temples are the teachings which many could grasp but the truth is beyond and even perhaps behind this. We must go to the upper source for clear water but to do so we must first be at the downstream. This Lord Bo Tien said.
For those more discerning and who want more, they can stand on their own and move on, away from the crowd. They have to if they want to go to the next stage and many stages higher.
But those at higher stages should not decry the lack of wisdom of those at lower stages. Who would expect a kindergarten child to know Einstein theory or the theory of relativity, evolution and the wide world of science. All that they need be told is that there is God and that God created the world. This is good enough.
There is more to good with the not so good. Won't this ring a bell?
The teachings of many temples are the teachings which many could grasp but the truth is beyond and even perhaps behind this. We must go to the upper source for clear water but to do so we must first be at the downstream. This Lord Bo Tien said.
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| Whilst the water from the upper source is clear, who have the better edge those at the down stream or those at the upper source? At times it may be those at the downstream |
But to one who is at the downstream, even the polluted water of the river is alright and it may be futile to ask him to go against the current to go to the upper stream. He may be irked by you and find you wanting if you tell him to go for the upper source for better water.
He may even find the mud and shit of the water at the downstream palatable and enriching. They do add taste and give character and distinctive flavor to the water.
All of us feel that way when we start with life and religion but when we are more discerning and grow in wisdom, we know better and stay away from the crowd and the downstream. We wade and row against the current to the upper source.
We do not god for distinctiveness or uniqueness. Instead, we go for plain truth or reality.
We however do try to help the rest at the downstream but if they are not ready, then we just have to wait it out till they are ready. Anyway the polluted water of the downstream may still serve its purpose and if not for the religions and sects of the downstream, many would be lost from the river and from divinity.
There is more to good even with the not so good. This is true even in a temple of any lord saint and a temple of Lord Bo Tien is no exception.
While those at the helm of the temple know little of the doctrine, and do mere social and welfare work, what they do may be not so good to the more discerning and the wise. But then of course, there is more to good even with the not so good.
As the saying goes, let not pride get into the way. Pride may beget a fall. The hare may in complacency sleep and still lose the race to the turtle who though crawling at snail pace may even reach higher stages and the finishing line - enlightenment and sainthood that is the divine end point.
Thus the big joke is that the not so good may reach and have more good after all. This may be the way men of Tao or Way learn to eat humble pie.
So long as one is not yet saint, who knows the person who is not as good may end up good enough to be saint so long as he can prod along and not walk backwards. Omitofo
He may even find the mud and shit of the water at the downstream palatable and enriching. They do add taste and give character and distinctive flavor to the water.
All of us feel that way when we start with life and religion but when we are more discerning and grow in wisdom, we know better and stay away from the crowd and the downstream. We wade and row against the current to the upper source.
We do not god for distinctiveness or uniqueness. Instead, we go for plain truth or reality.
We however do try to help the rest at the downstream but if they are not ready, then we just have to wait it out till they are ready. Anyway the polluted water of the downstream may still serve its purpose and if not for the religions and sects of the downstream, many would be lost from the river and from divinity.
There is more to good even with the not so good. This is true even in a temple of any lord saint and a temple of Lord Bo Tien is no exception.
While those at the helm of the temple know little of the doctrine, and do mere social and welfare work, what they do may be not so good to the more discerning and the wise. But then of course, there is more to good even with the not so good.
As the saying goes, let not pride get into the way. Pride may beget a fall. The hare may in complacency sleep and still lose the race to the turtle who though crawling at snail pace may even reach higher stages and the finishing line - enlightenment and sainthood that is the divine end point.
Thus the big joke is that the not so good may reach and have more good after all. This may be the way men of Tao or Way learn to eat humble pie.
So long as one is not yet saint, who knows the person who is not as good may end up good enough to be saint so long as he can prod along and not walk backwards. Omitofo
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| ....where the good co-exist with the not so good and even as brethren as should be the case based on yin and yang principle taught by Lord Bo Tien - the balance of polarities as depicted by the image of Lord Bo Tien with the feet on the elements |
