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!.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Lunar New Year and Respect for Elders

No 819 of Living Life Series 1

We respect our parents and elders on Chinese New Year by honoring them at reunion dinners and on new year day. The spirit of the Lunar New Year lies in this respect for elders and a loving relationship between people related or otherwise. The Lunar New Year is a celebration of the respect for elders be it in family, society or in any house of God.

Whether we like elders or not, elders have taken care of us and we too must reciprocate by taking care of them in return. This respect for elders makes us not only more human but divine. Respect for elders is one of the precepts of all religions and one key precept of the seven universal precepts mentioned by Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨).

Respect doesn't mean hero-worshiping elders or idolizing them. It means seeking their views and guidance. We need to confer with them. We must respect them even if we differ from them in views. We can even factor their views into our lives or the running of family matters, mission or organisation - spiritual or otherwise.

Respect must still be due regardless of whether we are in concord with their views. This respect must be borne out by concrete actions to endear them with us. Only then can we say that there is wisdom and maturity in that family or organisation.

For instance, we may love and respect our parents but we may not agree with all their views. We do not part ways or clash with them because we differ in views but we are still one with them

God and saints are at the top echelon of the hierarchy of elders. But even with God and saints, we don't even hero worship or idolize God and saints but as wise and matured people, we grasp the Doctrine and see the Doctrine in God and saints. As what Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that the image is the Doctrine and the image is the Doctrine.

Many houses of God waver and fall when men idolize the man at the pulpit and see in man God. They just blindly follow the man at the pulpit - the elder when what is important is to see the Word or Doctrine in the saint or elder and to live in the Word because of the saint or elder.

Many houses of God too waver and decline when they fail to respect elders just because they do not go along with some of their views.

Despite the aforementioned caution, songs of praise and adoration for elders are many and below are a few:-

There must be wise respect for elders be they God, saints, parents or elders in society. This respect for elders is the backbone of the fabric of society and central to what Lunar New Year is all about. Only then will there be progress and success upon success 步步高升 .

步步高升

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.