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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!.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The changing facade of religion

No 796 of Living Life Series 1

In whatever religion that we have on Earth, one thing stands out is that the norms that exist on Earth too applies to Heaven. This is not a joke but a truth if you care to observe and pause to analyse life over the centuries. 

 In the beginning of any religion, the country of the founding sage was ruled by a ruler and the ruler was often a king or emperor who held sway over the lives of men. There was no democracy and even freewill was limited. It was the will of the king that counted. If one displeased the king, that would be it. He might face the displeasure of the king for eternity or at least for the rest of his life in flesh. 

As the Chinese saying goes, "As on Earth, so also in Heaven." Religion involving God and saints then in ancient times was like a carbon copy of what was on Earth and perhaps, it may be true for all times. 

In ancient times, God was portrayed like the emperor on Earth. Men must abide by his will and must tread life carefully so as not to incur his displeasure. The moment he lifted his finger, a man might be dead meat. This might sound blasphemous in the modern times of 2014 and beyond but it was like for real then in the past.  

Thus we have carried over from those ancient times the notion that God is an angry God. God is a jealous God and men must not be beholden to any divinity other than him, not even his saints and angels. Men must do his bidding, and that's it - no bargaining...

 Ironically, men were and may till today (2014) still be told that God is loving but yet they must fear God for fearing God like fearing the Emperor is a virtue to be eschewed. 

Somehow this has been carried over from ancient days and this leaves a bad taste for all times. Such approach is lagging behind the changed reality that we have today. 

 In modern era, as for the ruler of the land, there is democracy and it is the will of the people that counts and not the will of the ruler. The ruler is beholden to the people. So what about God? 

 If God is like the rulers of Earth, he must if he is loving, be responsive to the people and not the people responsive to him. He must not create fear but love for him as the ruler. More importantly, God must have unconditional love for the people who are his subjects. He must not segregate his people into categories, some more favored and others less favored or not at all. 

 He must be fair with regards to the punishment of or rather retribution for those who erred. There should never be eternal or undue duration of damnation but just a limited and appropriately period of sojourn for rehabilitation in purgatory. 

 God will not lift a finger to hurt or punish but the laws of heaven will take its course which he can moderate. He will do so when he can and where it is possible and appropriate. 

 The harshness of life woes is bad enough. Purgatory is even worse. It is not the making of God but the making of men who have erred

While some form of purgatory abounds, there should be no hell. Why would a loving, democratic and responsive God want to create pain or let hell loose for those have done wrong? 

 God will not do wrong to those who have done wrong to others. He must do right for them and right their wrong. Rehabilitation is the way be it on Earth by the human rulers and it too must be the way of God and saints of Heaven above. 

 Isn't this truly how we should correct our mental projection of God and Saints? After all, God and saints are the embodiment of love and wisdom.

Thus there will be the unavoidable changing facade of religion as men move over from ancient times of autocratic and dictatorial rulers to modern times of democracy where the rulers are beholden to the people. Could it be that one day, religion will also go the same path or are already progressing on this path?  

 Will one day men think that God is beholden to the people and the will of the people will hold sway over God. That would be unbelievable but fear of God and that he is wrathful too are out of place perhaps for the people of the future if religion is to be more meaningful and fulfilling for men. 

Religion will have to change its focus and its facade as the sages of old in China said. Religion must keep up with the times. What is on Earth, so also in Heaven. Didn't the sages of old in China said so? 

 From fear and wrath of God, we will in time have more of the unfettered love by men for God devoid of fear. We will have full conviction of the love by God for us without fear of his being autocratic and judgmental with a heavy hand. How can we love at the same time have fear, be it of God or anyone?

 God will in time in a way be more soft and kind and appearing beholden to men and the wishes and fancies of men though he does not need to be beholden to men. How else could he bring the masses to flow with him so that he and his saints could one day save their souls?
The good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) in his most meaningful message in 1975 talks about the need for love that is not selfish, that is not one sided and that is beyond fear. He says there is no sin as sin means we hurt and harm God and saints. Men can never harm or hurt God and saints. 

 If God and saints are susceptible to hurt, harm and anger instead of love, then they are not perfect and no longer God and saints. They are loving and it is men who are not loving and perfect. Men make God and saints appear to be otherwise and that is sad. God and saints only feel sorry for them but still love and cherish them. Men often know not what they do. 


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