While man may want to seek satisfaction in life be it spiritual or otherwise, the most important requirement is for man to accept himself and proceed from there.
If one is never satisfied with oneself, no amount of blessings will satisfy him for long. He will always be not satisfied and want more. This is a reality man has to face.
Before man can go to heaven, he must accept that the life he has for now is good or heavenly enough though more can be done to make it better.
It is the world within us that matters and this will color the world we live in. As we think and perceive, so will our life be. We will be happy so long as we accept ourselves and not want more of what others have that we don't have.
Thus the poor may be rich though having less than others. The rich may feel poor if he feels he is behind and lacking compared to others.
Likewise for the man who belongs not to a religion or church but is contented with whatever heaven has provided for him however meager this may be, he is with God and God is with him. He does not need a religion.
He does not need to be in a temple. He may be far but yet is near. This did Lord Bo Tien say. Who is the lord saint? There is no need for that and more important is to live in doctrine than to know him. Know the doctrine of life. This must embrace the loving of life.
Know how to treasure life, accept and love yourself for what you are and for what you have and can have. Then like all saints, he is with you even if you do not worship him.
He does not need to be in a temple. He may be far but yet is near. This did Lord Bo Tien say. Who is the lord saint? There is no need for that and more important is to live in doctrine than to know him. Know the doctrine of life. This must embrace the loving of life.
Know how to treasure life, accept and love yourself for what you are and for what you have and can have. Then like all saints, he is with you even if you do not worship him.
If man does not even accept and love himself for what he is and what he has, how could he treasure the love and concern of others, God and saints included.
'Others before self' may indeed seem good but of what use when he loves not himself. Man cannot end up making himself a sacrificial goat. That would border on pagantry of sorts.
'Others before self' may indeed seem good but of what use when he loves not himself. Man cannot end up making himself a sacrificial goat. That would border on pagantry of sorts.
Thus, if we want to be accepted by others and by God and Heaven, what matters is that we must accept ourselves. This is the starting point.
The truth of life is ever that simple but men see not the simplicity and blame fate and Heaven for being cruel. Men would rather adopt the defeatist approach and be defeated before life could even unfurl.
If a man thinks beautifully of himself and of life, life will be somehow pleasant and acceptable. Then more he can have.
If he thinks life is ugly and despise himself, everything he comes across does not seem right. He will end up feeling poor or having less.
If however he thinks too highly of himself and looks down on others, he will end up being despised and looked down by others. That is to be expected and there is really nothing that philosophical or spiritual about that. It is just common sense.
If he thinks he is a lotus though he is not one, a lotus he will be somehow, as for sure he will try to be more of a lotus. If he thinks he is a weed, indeed a weed he would be.
