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.

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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!.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Is this the sign of the times?

No 717 of Living Life Series 1

Why has the approach to religion in the year 2014 and beyond been increasingly so different from the past years in the world and this is more obvious in relatively well-off countries ?

Why are the young and educated so involved and they congregate in big numbers at some houses of God, more so at the relatively new houses of God?

At the same time, there too are some houses of God that are empty and have packed up in certain countries. Perhaps there are too many and there is the population redistribution.

But even then, is this the sign of the times? Is this an indication of people being deprived of satisfaction in life and seeking answers and motivation in life from the cheer team at the pulpit of the houses of God that are not long established but of recent creation? What will become of the flock if those at the pulpit are not up to the mark and have secondary agenda.

Also, at the other extreme, why are there also many who desert some houses of God, more so in advanced nations? Likely there may be too many and too few people to pack the houses of God.

For those who thronged the newly established and extra popular houses of God, it is not that they are lacking in finances but are actually flushed with money as evident by the money collected as funds for operating the houses of God.

Is there emptiness in the midst of plenty in a significant segment or segments of society that they need to fill the void at the houses of God? Perhaps, this is the trend for the future in an increasingly consumer based, commercialized and stress prone society we are in.

There is the need to examine if there is emotional void and obviously society at large cannot fill up this void. Family and work place are no longer able to fill the void. Stress is a dirty word and may have some part.

Then as said, there are some houses of God that are deserted and why is this so? Are they so consumed by materialistic world that they have no time or heart for worship at the houses of God? Or have they simply lost interest in religion of their birth and embraced new ones? But as previously said, there may simply be a case of supply outstripping demand.

Whatever the case or scenario, certainly these are the signs of the times. Globalization and fast paced life and communication may be contributory causes though not the primary causes.

God knows but we don't really know. Men of today are certainly different from those of yesteryear with some gaining spiritual drive and others perhaps losing the drive.

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨)

But whatever it is, we must be mindful of what the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that "man is man and God is God". We must not see the weakness of man in God and the perfect God in man so that we do not turn the houses of God inside out and upside down.

This may well explain in some way that some houses of God are certainly oversubscribed and others under-subscribed. Well some men want to take on the cloak of God and some want to make God look as mortal as man.

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.