.

.
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!.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Bottoms up or top down approach in religion?

No 846 of Living Life Series 1


Religion to be popular must be bottoms up and less top down. However, for religion to maintain the direction of the founding sage, it has to be top down. 

But then the people at the top may be there because they are there out of popular demand and not by virtue of their wisdom. Their charisma or whatever puts them at the top. 

Thus even if there is more top down than bottoms up, religion may deviate from the fundamentals of the founders. 

On the whole, it is better for religion to have more top down than bottoms up approach. 

The majority at the ground may not know as much as the ones at the top. The wise ones who know better must guide the flock and not the flock decide what they want and overrule the shepherd. 

Though this is true, let not the flock set the tune but alas, like it or not, do give some leeway to the flock if we do not want the prospect of a religion not having proper foothold on the present and the future. 

Too much change and leeway given to the flock may possibly result in significant change from the past. This would be not as ideal.

Thus a balance is needed but in the long run, there will still be some unavoidable dilution and change of focus of the original message of the founder. 

That is why there is need for the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) to be the messenger of God and all saints to bring out the inner or basic truth of all religions so that people will be better at what they already are or wanted to be. This inner truth or basics will always be there in the background regardless of changes.

Religions enable God and saints to save all souls through three standards - doctrine, good works and devotion. These are common and behind all religions. Doctrine refers to the truth of the need for inner peace and isn't this what all religions want us to have?


Posted by at