"The Tao of heaven is to take from those who have too much and give to those who do not have enough."
"Man's way is different.
He takes from those who do not have enough
to give to those who already have too much.
What man has more than enough and gives it to the world?
Only the man of Tao "
to give to those who already have too much.
What man has more than enough and gives it to the world?
Only the man of Tao "
Well in fact, the way some nations and men enrich themselves may often be to take from those who do not have enough to give to those who already have more than enough. By having reliance on goods and services tax and minimizing personal and corporate income tax, this would be taking money from those who do not have enough and indirectly giving to those who have too much.
But the world has progressed such that humanity in many nations too gives to those who have otherwise little chance of uplifting themselves from poverty line. This is done either through welfare schemes or more notably through free education till tertiary level. Usually it is through both - more so when there is Tao 道 in those who govern.
Education is often the long term equalizer to achieve yin yang 阴阳 balance. This is Tao 道 in life and is practiced beyond what the world refers as Taoism.
Likewise in spiritual, those who know more should also give sense of spirituality to those who know less but who are not yet in any position to know more as yet. Such are people who would otherwise not be religious.
Thus the more learned must innovate and devise ways to somehow bring out the spiritual interests of such individuals in the masses to attract them to the houses of God and saints. This enables the very spiritual to give spirituality to the masses. Ironically, the best way is to further the worldly agenda and interests in of all places the houses of God. This would be unthinkable in the days of the pioneers of religions.
Even if individuals come to the houses of God for worldly social fellowship and agenda, this is better than if they do not come at all. It would be even better if they take over the leadership for only they know how to bring in those like them - never mind if they appear mindless and far from spiritual. This is not a liability just because they further worldly agenda for how else can the worldly be attracted to temples or houses of God.
As what Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says, "Blame not insects for coming to the flower for nectar." Blame not people for coming to a house of God for worldly agenda. One day among those who come, they will pick up the deeper spirituality and that will be good.
Thus men of deep spirituality must give opportunities where it is possible to inject some spirituality to others who are not in the least ready for spirituality They must find ways of reducing disparity of yin and yang and work towards yin yang 阴阳 balance not only in themselves but also in others who are far from the disposition to be spiritual.
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The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 did say that the far must be attracted to come to a house of God and be near though far so that there is at least some exposure and hope that one day there will be some who can pick up spirituality and make good.
The men of spirituality if they are men of Tao 道 do not just enrich those who are spiritual to make them even more so. They do not advance only themselves and their likes on how to be more spiritual. They care to give to some affinity of spirituality in those who don't have any spirituality at all and would otherwise be dead lost spiritually. By so doing, they work towards the balance the yin and yang 阴阳 of spirituality among the masses even if this is a onerous task.
Thus, be it in religion or in secular world of men, there must be balance between the haves and the have-not, between the right and not-so-right and between what appeals and is popular and what is right and proper but not appealing and popular.
To go by what is ultimately right alone will not carry the ground. A religion or sect will then lose its following and fade into history. How then can it save souls?
A governing authority of the land too may lose its support as people may find life harsh for the present though many may be aware of the long term good. Without being populist and giving out blessings, how can it stay on in government to deliver the long term good? But without being right and lobbying with the well-off financially, where will the income come from. That too is a greater concern to many countries. Thus good rulers must have Tao 道 to balance the yin and yang 阴阳 in society.
With regards to religion, the populist or welfare approach is appealing and will attract the crowd. Thus God and saints bestow worldly blessings to men without strings attached just to keep the masses in the fold and attract more. But one day it is hoped that people go for spirituality, that is, to know what is right for them and go for the core - the inner truth of spirituality common to and behind all religions and sects.
The truth is that both options must be deployed - the worldly and the spiritual, that is the populist / welfare option and the very right and proper option. In the first option, individuals shower blessings and in the other option, individuals cultivate and bless themselves. But with self cultivation, only a small number will succeed at any one time. We need both options. We need the worldly options just to enable the spiritual option. That is the ironical reality.
This is the same truth or reality behind all religions and all must know this. The mission of the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 is to bring about this awareness and two prong approach. There is the inner truth of the balanced approach.
As with all spiritual principles, what works for spiritual will work for the secular mundane world. This did the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 reminds us time and again.
Well this applies too to the balance approach deploying both populist option and self dependence or cultivation. One promotes self-reliance. The other ends up promoting dependence and religious hold on followers. Only when there is dependence, can followers learn to cultivate and be independent.
There is need for balance approach and this is referred to as Tao 道. It manifests as Te 德 - the effectiveness or power of Tao 道. Tao 道 is behind ultimate effectiveness Te 德.
The man of Tao 道 does not wait till he has fully arrived to give or rather enable the potential for Tao 道 in those far from Tao 道. This understanding is central to and the basis of the whole Tao Te Ching 道德经.
Tao 道 is behind true progress in life and in the world. Tao 道 is behind ultimate effectiveness Te德. It is intuitive in the divine nature of humanity. Yin yang 阴阳 balance is behind progress and is referred to by Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 as an aspect of the inner truth behind life and spirituality. It is what Tao 道 is all about - to bring about Te 德.
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Religions may not use the same terms of yin and yang 阴阳 or even Tao 道 and Te 德 but they do in fact refer to the same. In the same way, religions refer to Divinity in different names and perspectives - God, Jade Emperor, Brahma and what have we.
But the world has progressed such that humanity in many nations too gives to those who have otherwise little chance of uplifting themselves from poverty line. This is done either through welfare schemes or more notably through free education till tertiary level. Usually it is through both - more so when there is Tao 道 in those who govern.
Education is often the long term equalizer to achieve yin yang 阴阳 balance. This is Tao 道 in life and is practiced beyond what the world refers as Taoism.
Likewise in spiritual, those who know more should also give sense of spirituality to those who know less but who are not yet in any position to know more as yet. Such are people who would otherwise not be religious.
Thus the more learned must innovate and devise ways to somehow bring out the spiritual interests of such individuals in the masses to attract them to the houses of God and saints. This enables the very spiritual to give spirituality to the masses. Ironically, the best way is to further the worldly agenda and interests in of all places the houses of God. This would be unthinkable in the days of the pioneers of religions.
As what Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says, "Blame not insects for coming to the flower for nectar." Blame not people for coming to a house of God for worldly agenda. One day among those who come, they will pick up the deeper spirituality and that will be good.
Thus men of deep spirituality must give opportunities where it is possible to inject some spirituality to others who are not in the least ready for spirituality They must find ways of reducing disparity of yin and yang and work towards yin yang 阴阳 balance not only in themselves but also in others who are far from the disposition to be spiritual.
The men of spirituality if they are men of Tao 道 do not just enrich those who are spiritual to make them even more so. They do not advance only themselves and their likes on how to be more spiritual. They care to give to some affinity of spirituality in those who don't have any spirituality at all and would otherwise be dead lost spiritually. By so doing, they work towards the balance the yin and yang 阴阳 of spirituality among the masses even if this is a onerous task.
To go by what is ultimately right alone will not carry the ground. A religion or sect will then lose its following and fade into history. How then can it save souls?
A governing authority of the land too may lose its support as people may find life harsh for the present though many may be aware of the long term good. Without being populist and giving out blessings, how can it stay on in government to deliver the long term good? But without being right and lobbying with the well-off financially, where will the income come from. That too is a greater concern to many countries. Thus good rulers must have Tao 道 to balance the yin and yang 阴阳 in society.
With regards to religion, the populist or welfare approach is appealing and will attract the crowd. Thus God and saints bestow worldly blessings to men without strings attached just to keep the masses in the fold and attract more. But one day it is hoped that people go for spirituality, that is, to know what is right for them and go for the core - the inner truth of spirituality common to and behind all religions and sects.
The truth is that both options must be deployed - the worldly and the spiritual, that is the populist / welfare option and the very right and proper option. In the first option, individuals shower blessings and in the other option, individuals cultivate and bless themselves. But with self cultivation, only a small number will succeed at any one time. We need both options. We need the worldly options just to enable the spiritual option. That is the ironical reality.
This is the same truth or reality behind all religions and all must know this. The mission of the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 is to bring about this awareness and two prong approach. There is the inner truth of the balanced approach.
As with all spiritual principles, what works for spiritual will work for the secular mundane world. This did the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 reminds us time and again.
Well this applies too to the balance approach deploying both populist option and self dependence or cultivation. One promotes self-reliance. The other ends up promoting dependence and religious hold on followers. Only when there is dependence, can followers learn to cultivate and be independent.
The man of Tao 道 does not wait till he has fully arrived to give or rather enable the potential for Tao 道 in those far from Tao 道. This understanding is central to and the basis of the whole Tao Te Ching 道德经.
