LIVING LIFE SERIES 1

A BO TIEN (武天) MISSION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED ON 28TH SEPT 2010 BY INNER TRUTH NETIZEN 2. THE MISSION IS TO SHOW THE WAY TO HOPE, INNER PEACE AND ULTIMATELY SALVATION FOR ALL BEINGS. THE PURPOSE IS TO SAVE SOULS. IT IS WAY BEYOND NORMAL GOOD WORK LIKE CHARITY AND WELFARE ACTIVITIES. NO ONE SHALL BE SAVED BY GOOD WORKS ALONE BUT BY MORE THAN GOOD WORK. THERE IS NEED TO BE IMBUED WITH THE BASIC DOCTRINE COMMON TO AND BEHIND ALL RELIGIONS AND SECTS. LIVE IN DOCTRINE. DOCTRINE IN LIFE IS PARAMOUNT.

.

The Living Life Series is dedicated to Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). The doctrine is in His image. The image is the doctrine. He who sees, understands and effects the doctrine sees and knows Him. He who does not see, know and effect the doctrine sees not and knows not the saint even if the saint or His image is beside him. The far may be near and the near may be far. Let the doctrine and the saint be part of our life. The lord saint in your life can be any heavenly saint of any religion, sect or school. The doctrine of truth is behind all and this is the Inner Truth that leads all (regardless of their religious affiliation or even if none) to inner peace and heaven on earth here and now and not just in the after life. The ideal worship and devotion is to know and effect the doctrine of God and the saints. The best gospel is the gospel of life. We learn from our life and the lives of others. The true temple is the world we live in. The sky is the roof of the temple and religions and sects are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven are in the temple. Needless to say that all the saints we know are in this temple. Ji Gong Posat too is no exception. The whole wide world and web is the temple and must be regarded as a sacred place --- a temple for living and learning. It is more important that everyone that counts plays a role in this universal temple if due focus is to be given to the Mission of Heaven. Men must not be distracted by the agenda of men and end up serving the mission of man. That would be a far cry from the Mission of Heaven. We worship God and saints, not man however good that man may be. There should be no hero worshiping or idolizing of man whether he is a charismatic pastor, priest, monk, medium or lay leader. We don't even idol worship the image of any saint but reflect on what the image stands for. - the doctrine in the image. Omitofo 阿弥陀佛!.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

The Spirit of the Hungry Ghost Festival

No 620 of Living Life Series 1

The beauty of the 7th Lunar Month Festival lies in the oneness of men with ghosts. They feast and have joy together in a Beo Keng 庙宫 with the blessings of God Almighty, Buddhas and deities. There is solidarity of beings regardless of type and class.

This is yet another illustration of loving kindness at work in popular Chinese culture. This stands out as distinct to the fear of ghosts and the relegation of the sinful to damnation in Hell. Even those in Hell who have lack of merits are given many chances to make good to be reborn in better states by receiving merits transferred to them by men and godly beings.

The Hungry Ghost Festival is one such occasion. It is a festive occasion to remind us of the union of men on Earth, the spirits of Hell and the godly beings in Heaven.

But human bias would add scorn to the age-old practice as spirit worship and bribery of the of the ghosts from Hell. Thank God however that the reality is far from this.

For one month a year, ghosts, men and gods gather to share the joy of togetherness and make merry under the 7th moon with the gods as the guests of honor.

Who say those in Hell are condemned to eternal damnation? They are simply put just misguided and less fortunate. They had made some mistakes in the past lives but they too had done some good and are capable of good and spirituality.

It is uncivilized and perhaps even barbaric to be too quick and so harsh to denounce them in the name of God Almighty and the heavenly saints. That would be blasphemy of the worst kind. God and saints are not like that.

The pomp and gaiety are unmistakably in the air at the places where the festive event is held - namely roadside, markets, town centers, villages and temples and invariably with the patronage of the gods. Even the heavenly deities or gods lend their weight and give their blessings

This festive ghost month 鬼月 is observed over the centuries and passed down to us through several generations. But sadly, even some of those more spiritual Buddhists and Taoists have distanced themselves from the festivities and this is sad, not to say really disappointing.

The reason why they are like that is rather obvious. They are often influenced by global culture. Human bias and ignorance as well as the ego attitude of "I know better" are behind their behavior.

When will men stop being bigots - the spiritual self-opinionated? When will they wake up? Why avoid the spirits just because they are spirits?

What if the gods avoid us in the way some of us avoid spirits even during the seventh lunar month. We would feel let down by the gods, won't we? Omitofo always and ever more...

Amitabha - Omitofo

Incidentally, the beginning of the seventh month is significant. It marks the anniversary celebration of the duo hell guard deities Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯.

Do not judge them by appearance and remember that there are many pairs of hell guards but the duo are well known in helping not only the spirits but men as well - in fact more of men than spirits so that men do not end up in hell.

Any post on the Hungry Ghost Festival is not complete without mention of the duo. Why they are noted as the white and black pair has something to do with how they ended up appointed as hell guardian deities by the Jade Emperor. They were appointed for their love of lives and for wanting to help beings, not only beings in Hell but more so men when they were men - the head constables of the court in Southern China.

For more go to The loving kindness of Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯

Justice Bao a judge of Hell
with Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯
attend to the needs of all beings.
They see that there is justice
and fairness in life and in death

Lest you forget

Do not make the mistake of idolizing any man who tells you about the Word. He is in the same boat as you even if religion refers to him as a religious leader. Mere mention of a religious leader is as good as encouraging idolising of that man. Why must there be hierarchy in religion? Hierarchy is conventional but may end up as liability rather than a necessity or asset. There should be no caste or hierarchy system in religion. No one is to be considered above another in religion. A religious leader or follower is a servant to serve you and not a leader to be idolised. Do not put him on the pedestal and make a monster out of him.

MAY ALL BE WELL AND HAPPY

May all be well and happy. May they have peace. May our departed friends and kins be well, happy and have divine peace. The main writer wishes the best for all for those near and far. Our kins may be far when they had passed on to better lives but they are near though far. He remembers and wishes his parents Mr Siow Soo Koh and Mdm Tay Hung Siang, his uncles and aunties like Mr Tay Koon Huay, his cousins like Mr Tay Chong Sim and his friends like Mr Philip Png well and have abundance of life. May they be rich in spirit for without such ancestors, there will be no posterity - no us and no you and me. They have blessed us and we must blessed them in return forever and ever.