No 1068 of Living Life Series 1
This 10 inch image of Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 is made of teak wood. It has lasted for 45 years and will likely last more decades.
It was in front of this image that the good lord came down through the late Philip Png. It was in front of this image that the anniversary messages of the lord were delivered.
Just before the concrete temple was built, it was replaced by a bigger image of the lord. The representatives of the lord said that it will be the main image and if there be bigger images, it will be placed inside the bigger images.
But this did not happen. The initial bigger image about 3 to 4 feet tall was from China and blessed by the lord through Philip. The 10 inch image was placed in front of it for a few days after which the 10 inch image was placed at the back altar of the old temple.
At the current concrete temple at International Road, the bigger image developed a crack at its base. It was considered bad omen and was burnt and sent back to Heaven so to speak. In fact the good lord predicted that his image will be returned to Heaven if people were not attuned to mission.
In its place a brand new image of similar size was ordered from China. But like it or not, by then the late Philip was no longer around. No initiation ritual of sort was carried out and this was in line with the much ado and more open thinking.
The 10 inch image is still there but is placed in attic room most of the time. The significance attached to it is no longer there.
You can say that people have changed and gone modern. Even on yearly anniversary celebrations, it may not be brought down from the attic room. If brought down to the main shrine, it is placed at a side table and not the main altar.
Times have changed. People have new thinking and new ways. This has to be accepted.
In the last two years of Philip, the representative of the lord confided that a few pioneers might have a chip of the wood from the bottom of its base to be burnt with the remains of the selected few pioneers.
As to who these few would be, it was never told. Perhaps, no one deserves this honor. But we really don't know, do we?
What was deemed the in-thing may no longer be. Every generation has its own outlook. This does not mean the generation is at odds with the old, but just the need to be different somewhat and to be better.
Men do not want to be overshadowed and be in the shadow of other men of the past. They want to stand out on their own and show that they too can do the same and more in better ways - not in the ways and beliefs of old but in their new perceived ways. Yes, indeed they often are better.
In the process, they edit not only history but the doctrine - often over simplifying it. They feel more right and more correct than those who had passed by and passed on.
That is it. That is why what was told of the 10 inch image of the lord will mean nothing to them. That is also why it is necessary for the mission of the lord saint to bring men regardless of religion from the downstream doctrine to the upper source.
As said by the good lord, we must go to the upper source for clear water. But the current of the downstream is very strong and it is easier to flow downstream. It is easier to be with the crowd than to be right and lonely - away from the crowd. That is the problem.
What would we expect then? Surely the 10 inch image will gather dust in the attic. So too will the primary purpose of the mission to reach out to the world to make people better at what they are and not to showcase what good they could do - which of course others too could and already did.
Heaven do know and they assure that all who meant good and do good will still be blessed. Men often cannot see beyond the good they are doing. That is why the good lord says that the Mission is by Heaven (God and saints) and not by men.
May all be well and happy. May men go further than the good they are doing or want to do.
As to who these few would be, it was never told. Perhaps, no one deserves this honor. But we really don't know, do we?
What was deemed the in-thing may no longer be. Every generation has its own outlook. This does not mean the generation is at odds with the old, but just the need to be different somewhat and to be better.
Men do not want to be overshadowed and be in the shadow of other men of the past. They want to stand out on their own and show that they too can do the same and more in better ways - not in the ways and beliefs of old but in their new perceived ways. Yes, indeed they often are better.
In the process, they edit not only history but the doctrine - often over simplifying it. They feel more right and more correct than those who had passed by and passed on.
That is it. That is why what was told of the 10 inch image of the lord will mean nothing to them. That is also why it is necessary for the mission of the lord saint to bring men regardless of religion from the downstream doctrine to the upper source.
As said by the good lord, we must go to the upper source for clear water. But the current of the downstream is very strong and it is easier to flow downstream. It is easier to be with the crowd than to be right and lonely - away from the crowd. That is the problem.
What would we expect then? Surely the 10 inch image will gather dust in the attic. So too will the primary purpose of the mission to reach out to the world to make people better at what they are and not to showcase what good they could do - which of course others too could and already did.
Heaven do know and they assure that all who meant good and do good will still be blessed. Men often cannot see beyond the good they are doing. That is why the good lord says that the Mission is by Heaven (God and saints) and not by men.
May all be well and happy. May men go further than the good they are doing or want to do.
