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!.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

The pleasures of the spirit and the senses

No 798 Of Living Life Series 1

There is pleasure when a sore is scratched,
But to be without sores is more pleasurable still.

Just so, there are pleasures in worldly desires,
But to be without desires is more pleasurable still.

- (Nagarjuna, from Precious Garland)
Salutations to Bhagavan

The pleasures of the flesh and of the world are far from that of the spirit. But the pleasures of the spirit are hard to come by as many are far from cultivated in the ways of the spirit - in spirituality. They need the easy or instant way or something akin to that. Of course, this will be the pleasures in worldly desires which captures immediate attention

Thus in a temple or a house of God, it is easier to pander to the pleasures of the flesh and the world through exciting the senses of men. But won't it be wonderful for men to experience pleasures of the senses even before they can experience the pleasures of the spirit in the very house of God such as a temple?

The risk however is that men may mistake the pleasures of the senses as that of the spirit when experienced in a house of God. The reality is that while religion pursues the pleasures of the spirit, such spiritual pursuits are not attractive enough to bring in many to the house of God.

The ways of the world to pander to the senses work far better and are far more effective and even more wholesome in some ways, though some will object to this. They are like nectar to attract ants and insects to the flower.

They are the effective ways to attract more of humanity to the house of God otherwise they will be lost to God and saints. Blame not the flower for ants and insects coming to it for nectar. This did the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) say.

Blame not a temple or house of God for men of the world coming to it for worldly agenda and pleasures. It is only natural but not the wish or idea of God and saints. There is no way for God and saints to keep them out. They are still welcome and more than welcome in a temple or house of God.

As long as they are in a house of God, they have every chance to make it spiritually one day. The far may be near and the near far. So said the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). If they are out there away from the house of God, there is less chance than if they are in a house of God. This does make sense, doesn't it?

The pleasures of the senses and the worldly agenda must still be there as nectar in a temple to bring in the crowd so that they though far from God and saints are near and though near may be far. But as long as they are in the house of God, they stand the chance to make good to have the pleasures of the spirit - the spirituality of the saints.

Well, to be without desires is more pleasurable than the pleasures in worldly desires. But kudos are due to those who provide opportunities for worldly pleasures even in the house of God. How else can men of God bring the multitude to the house of God?

This too is a house of God
where there must be worldly nectar
to attract those with worldly agenda
for their good and for the good of others.
But some would not agree
not because they do not have wisdom
but that they do not have enough
or perhaps have too much
as to turn a blind eye to the many out there
and they end up unwise somewhat.
Then they too simply need help
just to open their eyes to see more.

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.