In life and in religion, we are often moved by trends and fads. Though we can think for ourselves, we are often moved and swayed by what others say and often these others may be a handful who happen to be loud and persuasive.
They can be charismatic and with pomp and gaiety they create, they can make others follow them. Thus what they say a saint or prophet teaches is like the gospel truth and people just follow and not give a second thought whether such and such are indeed the teachings of the prophet or saint.
What happens if the charismatic few are warped in their views and worse still have ulterior motives other than their outwardly proclaimed call of God and Heaven. Perhaps they started off well but deviated along the way. We may say that they were tempted and some say Satan or Mara had the better of them.
That is always an excuse of men to put blame on others and the poor devil had to share the blame. Some may say the devil deserves it. Whatever has happened to openness, tolerance and benevolence?
Perhaps this reflects men's attempt to be less judgmental and to be a wee bit more loving for fellow men by saying that the wrong doer is not to be solely blamed and the devil must pick up the major part of the tap.
Somehow many men are made to think by leaders at the pulpit that the devil is behind all the wrong and imperfections of life so that men who are in the wrong and God and saints who are never wrong can escape any involvement if not blame or blemish.
Thus allot of the so-called teachings of saints and prophets may be far from the actual realities or truth. Buddha and for that matter many other saints or prophets never say that they are starting religions. It is only that followers need to have an institution to carry on. They call this institution religion.
Buddha Gautama has followers and they follow his teachings at various levels. They can be five preceptors or followers of more elaborate precepts such as eight precepts or practitioner of certain higher virtues.
This is far more sophisticated and meaningful than mere religion and worship. Worship is not as fulfilling for men as self cultivation with assured guidance and shelter by a saint like the great Buddha.
This is far more sophisticated and meaningful than mere religion and worship. Worship is not as fulfilling for men as self cultivation with assured guidance and shelter by a saint like the great Buddha.
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| Gautama Buddha Lord Buddha |
Another teaching is with regards to loving kindness and in ancient India during the lifetime of Gautama as man, love means not to eat meat and some even go further as to not to even eat vegetables for all have life. To avoid taking away of life of plants, trees, vegetables and animals, the catch phrase was "not to eat them."
Thus there was the trend of ascetism and people just ate roots or fasted. This only caused ill-health. People then was swayed by the loud exhortations of a few and the masses just followed without battling an eye. Well, that is human nature just to follow others and not question.
But Buddha said we must question. He ate meat but did not kill or have bad thoughts of harm to beings. He became the Buddha. So how is that for a start? How is that as an eye-opener?
Ji Gong or Lord Ji aptly says that it is not what goes through the gut that matters but what is in the heart (mind).
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| Ji Gong The Living Buddha |
With regards again to love, let us go into depth on this from the spiritual angle. Buddha teaches boundless love or loving kindness. Love is not love for only some but for all. There is no discrimination between those of the same group or spiritual inclination and those in other groups or other religious affiliation.
But the institution of religion somehow is self serving and inclines men towards favoring those who belong to the same institution. It is therefore not inconceivable that religion as institution will somehow more often than not counter and contradict what saints taught.
Thus the religions we have may not be exactly what were expected by the saints or prophets. The above are just some examples.
Another example is the exhortation that to receive blessings by God and saints, men must worship and revere God and saints. Yes this is often needed in the realm of man and if men want the favor of a certain man, often they have to idolise and give themselves up to that man. But how can the same be done with regards to God and saints. That would be belittling God and saints.
Thus Gautama Buddha in his life as man helped those who didn't even call out to him or believe in him, let alone worship or idolise him. He surveyed the world in his meditation and reached out to as many who needed his help.
But to this day as Buddha, he cannot do it alone. Others like us should chip in, even if we are not saints. This was echoed by Lord Bo Tien. He said that men too can help one another and not just depend on help by saints.
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| Lord Bo Tien |
Do not believe and follow just because so-and-so say that a saint like Buddha say so. Buddha exhorted in his sermon to the Kalamas that we "question and test his teachings as gold is tested by fire."
Lord Bo Tien did opine that there will always be insects coming to a flower for nectar. Blame not the flower for insects coming to it.
There will always be men who come to a temple or religion for personal agenda and benefits like insects coming to a flower for nectar. We must be mindful and be able to question and be more discerning. Otherwise for sure, we will be taken for a ride and be led by the nose.
Lord Bo Tien did opine that there will always be insects coming to a flower for nectar. Blame not the flower for insects coming to it.
There will always be men who come to a temple or religion for personal agenda and benefits like insects coming to a flower for nectar. We must be mindful and be able to question and be more discerning. Otherwise for sure, we will be taken for a ride and be led by the nose.
Do question and have second thoughts. It is alright to do so. Fear not. We are not wronging God and saints. In fact, we are wronging God and saints if we follow blindly. We will be more susceptible to manipulation by unscrupulous men at the pulpit if we just accept and question not.
It is because Ji Gong in his life as man centuries ago in China questioned and had second thoughts that he was expelled from monastery but he attained enlightenment and became The Living Buddha.
But in questioning, do not be divergent but converge and divert, then divert and converge. That way we can move on in life and not be lost in the forest. Buddha said that it is better to know the leaves in the hand than to try to know the leaves in the forest.
It is because Ji Gong in his life as man centuries ago in China questioned and had second thoughts that he was expelled from monastery but he attained enlightenment and became The Living Buddha.
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| Ji Gong Huo Fo |
But in questioning, do not be divergent but converge and divert, then divert and converge. That way we can move on in life and not be lost in the forest. Buddha said that it is better to know the leaves in the hand than to try to know the leaves in the forest.
