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!.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Religion has to offer more fantasy than reality

No 740 of Living Life Series 1

Fantasy is not truth but fantasy or magical thinking catches on more readily and easily than truth. Without fantasy, religion will lose its magic. Despite the advance of science and the revelations of solid hard scientific evidence on the universe and evolution, many still are more comfortable with the fantasy than the hard pure truth in religion and will never imagine having religion without fantasy.

Fantasy is like the downstream of a river which has water which is not clear and much polluted with mud and debris. It is real to the believers and it is that which attracts men to a religion like the men who are attracted to the downstream of the river.

But truth is like the upper source of a river with clear water. Few however will be attracted or bothered to go to the upstream or upper source. Many can see the river at its downstream but the upper source is remote to the many. Truth is like the upper source of a river.

This reference to the river and its upper source is dwelt in depth by the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) soon after his descent in 1969.

Many would find it easier to flow with the downstream of life rather than go upstream to get clear water. The search for clear water of truth is against the flow and up to this day and age, many somehow prefer the downstream.

If truth means that impermanence and death is a reality, this is simply too harsh and unpalatable. Many would find it easier to stomach the fairy tale world of make believe that are well and good. Well this is the nature of men.

While it is difficult to go upstream, there is no need to lament that the upper source is still far way. Why not take things in stride and handle the journey to realize the clear pure water of upper source in step-wise fashion. Live in the present and relax and try to have peace of the moment but do not day dream but move on in earnest.

The one who is more likely to succeed to eventually reach the upper source is the one who is at peace with life of the moment and can harness life at the downstream while he has yet to reach the upper source.

This does require that sense of inner peace so that the reality of the downstream does not perturb him and at the same time, he will shun fantasy which will carry him away further downstream.

There is the need to cultivate the inner peace as we go along with life while rowing upstream against the current to reach the upper source for clear water. We accept our lot and make do. But we do not deceive ourselves and think all are well and we are in fairy land.

Fantasy catches on but not truth. Religion has to resort to fantasy to attract the crowd. It has to dwell and offer more on fantasy than the truth.

The reality is that men of truth must be mindful of death and impermanence in daily life. But to many this is unthinkable and they would rather live in fantasy and think all are well.

This is because they are unable to face facts and have no inner peace to face issues in life. Fantasy is simply great and fantasy is offered even in religion. This is the wish of men but not the wish of God and saints.

Religion after all is the creation of men and not of God and saints. So what can we expect out of popular religion?

Of course, religion will pander to the fantasy of men. Religion will even distort sages beyond who they were and what they could be, just to satisfy their seemingly endless appetite for fantasy.

Fantasy in religion is here to stay and serves its purpose. Religion cannot go without fantasy. Only a few can go beyond fantasy of religion to spirituality that is beyond fantasy.

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.