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!.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Consensus and cooperation in temple and in society

No 852 of Living Life Series 1

Cooperation is less needed if people are of the same view. It can only be more a necessity if people differ in views. The world is made up of those with diverse and differing views. If even any one group insist that they are right and impose their views on others, then there will be resentment, ill-will and anger. Cooperation will fly out of the window and there will be less of peace in this world.

With regards to religion, surely there can never be one view even for the same religion or sect. Humanity is like that. People of differing views must accept this reality, live and let live and not force others to submit to their views. This will never happen. (That is why Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 explains that it is necessary to have many religions and many sects within any religion to bring more to God and saints.)

It is better to live and let live. It is never good to live as though others of differing views do not exist. Be mindful that others may hold different views and accept this reality. This happens too in a family but family members can still live as one whole. The same can be realized in the wider society of a community.

In a temple of the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨), the good lord refers to cooperation and consensus to allow the family of followers to live as one. We need yin and yang to come together and move as one and yet yin is yin and yang is yang. Moreover there are various shades of yin as well as yang.

It would be inconceivable to have any temple with only one shade of yin or yang. Then it is as good as a one man show with no other people. Without the active participation of people of various shades of yin and yang, there will be no temple. Temple is made of people and not the building.

Elder Ling pioneer elder of Bo Tien Temple 武天宫 reminds all on the teaching of Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) in that there must be consensus and cooperation in temple and in society. He worked hand in hand with P. Philip and others to enable temple and mission to see the light of day by working with people with different views and styles.

On a number of occasions, it was obvious that he was never in agreement with some others' views but he accommodated them and their views. He never ostracized them and put them down, though he might be critical, frank and open. This is near to the ideal way to go for a leader of any temple or of secular society. He has retired from active society but not from mission.

Elder Ling standing and in white with Philip sitting.
The good lord spoke through Philip

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.