While those deep into the way of God and saints do find dogmas a limitation to spiritual growth, for the many who are attracted to God and saints through any religion or sect are more devotional based than practiced based. They need dogmas to tell them what to believe and do and what not to believe and do. There is ever the need to be convergent and not be lost by divergence for the majority of the masses.
According to Lord Bo Tien, God and saints are above religions. But without religions by men for men, many would be lost to God and saints. The prophet or saint of a religion has the right to set the rules and belief to contain new followers and keep them checked, so that they stay within certain out of bound markers.
These become the tenets and dogmas of institutional religions. With passage of time, more pronouncement of new dogmas are necessary to keep followers in the fold.
These dogmas may seem contradictory and unfriendly - sort of intolerance of other religions and other sects within a religion. They are however like parental "dos" and "don'ts" to children and are useful when children are just too young and are not at all matured and independent.
Dogmas allow some form of hold of a religion on followers to keep them in the religion long enough to learn and to gain spiritually. They may as said contradict other religions. This is acceptable and must be viewed in the right light.
But with maturity of followers, followers may have to go beyond dogmas to develop spiritually. This was what Gotama did when he learnt from the religious ways or religious sects of his day but could not find more spiritual fulfillment till he broke away with dogmas and the norms.
He had to go away from sheer denial of food and fasting as the way then to be spiritual in India. He broke new ground. He had to eat and take care of his body but not indulge in worldly ways before he could be fully enlightened.
He did not mortify himself - no self-mortification or asceticism. He never indulged in the world of materialism and sensuality. He went beyond dogmatic approach and rose above the religions of the day to be the Buddha - the fully enlightened one.
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| Lord Buddha |
Dogmas were necessary in the early phase during induction into spiritual life but become a limitation to more spiritual life for the few who could go for more. Dogmas are good servants but not good masters.
No wonder the Buddha did say that religious doctrine especially dogmas are like raft for users to cross to the other shore and must be discarded if they are to move on further in spirituality.
Dogmas are needed initially but men of more spirituality will have to move on way beyond dogmas, beyond religion, beyond church or temple.
Don't however say dogmas are not progressive and are retrogressive. They are needed but are only means to the end but not the end in themselves.
There is obviously the second last word on dogmas such as telling followers not to worship any God and saints beyond that are dictated by the specific religion. In fact with regards to this, Gotama had to go beyond worship of God and saints to reach the apex of spirituality to become the fully enlightened one - no less the Buddha.
But the ordinary men or the masses will still have to worship and to be constrained by dogmas. There is the second last word on dogmas. Do not ridicule dogmas and do not be hampered by dogmas as well.
"Thou shall do this and that" is often touted in religions. For the many it is better to comply but for the few who could go the mile, they have to break new ground and could not do so if they comply.
This is no contradiction at all but just that there is always the second last word on dogmas. Do be aware and be mindful of the second last word on dogmas.
By the way, many saints in history broke with dogmas and norms. Lord Jesus did and that is why there is the New Testament. So did Ji Gong The Living Saint. He ate meat, drank wine but was pure at heart. He believed that what matters is what goes through the heart and not what goes through the gut or what one does outwardly. He broke new grounds. He went beyond dogmas.
This does not mean others should do away with dogmas. Dogmas are still needed but the few who could do better and break new grounds must go beyond dogmas. There is ever the second last word on dogmas.
This is no contradiction at all but just that there is always the second last word on dogmas. Do be aware and be mindful of the second last word on dogmas.
By the way, many saints in history broke with dogmas and norms. Lord Jesus did and that is why there is the New Testament. So did Ji Gong The Living Saint. He ate meat, drank wine but was pure at heart. He believed that what matters is what goes through the heart and not what goes through the gut or what one does outwardly. He broke new grounds. He went beyond dogmas.
This does not mean others should do away with dogmas. Dogmas are still needed but the few who could do better and break new grounds must go beyond dogmas. There is ever the second last word on dogmas.
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| Ji Gong The Living Saint |
