No 855 of Living Life Series 1
If the attendance at weekly good works session at a temple such as ration packing is pathetic, it is to be expected if the temple has neglected good Worship and good Word.
It is the latter two that attract people and make them come to a temple in the first place These are what will make them want to be compassionate and to do good.
It is the latter two that attract people and make them come to a temple in the first place These are what will make them want to be compassionate and to do good.
Any temple cannot be functioning at good works alone. There must also be good Worship or spiritual devotion. This injects confidence that Heaven is with them through thick and thin.
Good Word or Doctrine must be primary driver of the temple. Doctrine is the true and proper understanding of life that connects one more substantially with God and saints. The Word is God.
The gold standard is the Word or Doctrine. This must drive and enhance the other two standards - copper for good Worship and silver for good Works.
The gold standard is the Word or Doctrine. This must drive and enhance the other two standards - copper for good Worship and silver for good Works.
The operational divine trinity at a temple is formed by the three with good Word at apex and Worship and Works at the bases of the trinity.
There must be Good Worship - the copper standard.
There must be bonding with God and saints and this includes sense of kinship with fellow men of the same congregation. There must be affinity, brotherhood, fellowship and camaraderie that can withstand tests of conflicts and trying situations. Those who worship together stay together.
People and not just God and saints can be blessings to fellow people - that is to one another. Generally this is referred to as fellowship and is obvious with religions with congregations. This is usually better developed in monotheistic than polytheistic religion.
With families fragmenting into nuclear families, those from nuclear families are more likely attracted to the warmth of cell groups or care groups of theistic religions than those from big extended families. They do not have magnitude of kindred-ship of big families.
People in old China belonged to very big families or communes and had no problem with polytheistic religions where group or congregational fellowship was not as strong and unlikely to be so. Their fellowship comes from big families and communes - not from religion. Polytheistic religions have not caught up with fellowship as integral to worship and life.
Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that all people must have fellowship in temples and in society. He says that Heaven will bless and shelter every individual flame of life of individuals who are devout followers of religions. But He adds that people must gather together and help one another. Together people like a bunch of candles can better shine out life for one another and for others.
That way, they bless one another. This is what fellowship in congregation or cell / care group is all about. Fellowship increases the affinity with God saints and fellow men and attracts more to join the group.
Alas in some temples and houses of God, instead of fellowship and affinity among men, there is turf guarding and dissension in the ranks with disenchantment and fragmentation of congregation with consequent loss of fellowship
In China with the old policy of one child family fragmenting extended families into nuclear, fellowship needs are more met by communes and where communes are no longer there or effective, it is met by religion via a temple or church.
There must be bonding with God and saints and this includes sense of kinship with fellow men of the same congregation. There must be affinity, brotherhood, fellowship and camaraderie that can withstand tests of conflicts and trying situations. Those who worship together stay together.
With families fragmenting into nuclear families, those from nuclear families are more likely attracted to the warmth of cell groups or care groups of theistic religions than those from big extended families. They do not have magnitude of kindred-ship of big families.
People in old China belonged to very big families or communes and had no problem with polytheistic religions where group or congregational fellowship was not as strong and unlikely to be so. Their fellowship comes from big families and communes - not from religion. Polytheistic religions have not caught up with fellowship as integral to worship and life.
That way, they bless one another. This is what fellowship in congregation or cell / care group is all about. Fellowship increases the affinity with God saints and fellow men and attracts more to join the group.
Alas in some temples and houses of God, instead of fellowship and affinity among men, there is turf guarding and dissension in the ranks with disenchantment and fragmentation of congregation with consequent loss of fellowship
In China with the old policy of one child family fragmenting extended families into nuclear, fellowship needs are more met by communes and where communes are no longer there or effective, it is met by religion via a temple or church.
There must also be Good Word - the gold standard.
Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) stressed that "The Word is in His image and in His image is the Word." The one who sees the Word in Him sees the lord. He who does not, sees not the lord even if the lord is in front of him.
There is yin and yang in the image. Peace comes through balance of yin and yang through any religion and any religion will do. We must push on steadfastly on this and have confidence that Heaven is behind us.
The good lord is behind and for all religions but not specifically with any. He is for all and favors none. He is not here to start any new religion or sect.
He is the messenger of Heaven for oneness of religions in God and in peace of individual or society, be it for spiritual or secular. This is attainable through any religion or sect or even outside religion.
There is yin and yang in the image. Peace comes through balance of yin and yang through any religion and any religion will do. We must push on steadfastly on this and have confidence that Heaven is behind us.
The good lord is behind and for all religions but not specifically with any. He is for all and favors none. He is not here to start any new religion or sect.
He is the messenger of Heaven for oneness of religions in God and in peace of individual or society, be it for spiritual or secular. This is attainable through any religion or sect or even outside religion.
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Thirdly there must be Good Works e.g. aged home, ration packing and distribution - the silver standard. This is not for personal glory but out of compassion for others who are in need. Even we too may at times be in need and need help of fellow men.
Good Work if correctly effected humbles self and promotes well being and peace in receiver and in giver.
Good Work is not so good if motivated by need to blow up the ego or pride to win acclaim by wider society. This may often be the case in those lacking in and not cultivating Good Word and Good Worship. They lack belief in God and saints. They belief only in themselves and what they can gain.
Good Work if correctly effected humbles self and promotes well being and peace in receiver and in giver.
Good Work is not so good if motivated by need to blow up the ego or pride to win acclaim by wider society. This may often be the case in those lacking in and not cultivating Good Word and Good Worship. They lack belief in God and saints. They belief only in themselves and what they can gain.
We need all three in any person, society or temple.
As said, Good Works alone is not enough. There must be Good Worship and Good Word.
The three images at Bo Tien Temple 武天宫 reflect the three.
Lord Bo Tien武天菩萨image brings to mind discipline, commitment and devotion - Good Worship.
Buddha image reflects to us the doctrine - The Good Word.
Goddess of Mercy image reflects to us compassion - Good Works.
That is why there are three phases of the temple and its mission - Devotion or Good Worship Phase, Compassion or Good Works Phase and Doctrine or Good Word Phase - represented by the three images of Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨, Buddha and Goddess of Mercy at the main shrine hall of the temple.
As said, Good Works alone is not enough. There must be Good Worship and Good Word.
The three images at Bo Tien Temple 武天宫 reflect the three.
Lord Bo Tien武天菩萨image brings to mind discipline, commitment and devotion - Good Worship.
Buddha image reflects to us the doctrine - The Good Word.
Goddess of Mercy image reflects to us compassion - Good Works.
That is why there are three phases of the temple and its mission - Devotion or Good Worship Phase, Compassion or Good Works Phase and Doctrine or Good Word Phase - represented by the three images of Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨, Buddha and Goddess of Mercy at the main shrine hall of the temple.
Bo Tien Temple武天宫is destined to be an example of the importance for Good Worship, Good Word and Good Works in a temple. It is in a leading position and has more room for improvement. It can be the leading light and beacon for other temples.
Good Works alone not enough for a temple. There must be Good Worship and Good Word. This is the Trinity of Goodness at any temple - not just at Bo Tien Temple 武天宫, your temple or our temple.
This trinity must be in us as individuals or as members of wider society - not just at temples. It is not just for you or for us but for everybody regardless of religion, sect or whatever.
