Traditions die hard - take new meanings and forms

No 1277 of Living Life Series 1

Traditions may fade but they don't die. They take on a new flavour. They become unique in a new way or form. There is the same traditions but very different basis behind them. 

Christmas is one of them. It is no longer as centred on Christ but more on meaning of the spirit behind Christ - the need to give and to receive. Even the secular and non-Christians embrace Christmas spirit and fun. 

The same goes with the Hungry Ghost Festival of the ethnic Chinese in South East Asia during the seventh lunar month. It is no longer centred on hungry ghosts alone but more on need for charity among the living. 

There is the gathering of temples, clans and associations to jointly raise funds for get together more of humans and less of spirit. The gods or saints now are invited to join in - to bless the living - not just the dead once a year. 

Yes, the old emphasis on the dead and the forgotten and deprived dead takes second fiddle to the need to gather the living and the gods to come together to bless all - not just the dead and deprived souls. 

There is the tending to the living and the gods. That is something unintended but comes naturally. The tradition is no longer what it was directed at centuries ago. 

It is far from that though near as well. This is the nature of humanity. The near may be far. Didn't the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 tells us? 

Also, the far from tradition may be near. There are those who avoid the Hungry Ghost Festival but daily in their hearts transfer merits mentally to the departed and wish at heart that all may be well and happy. Aren't this evidence of the far from tradition of the Hungry Ghost Festival being near in spirit to the festival. 

Then there are those who take up Buddhism or Christianity who no longer partake in the festival. But they still remember the poor wandering souls and devote services to bless them. They also invoke blessings for the living who are in need. Isn't this motivated by the spirit behind the culture of the Hungry Ghost Festival? 

Another tradition is that of the Mid Autumn Festival or Moon Cake Festival of the eight lunar month. This is no longer connected with worship of the Moon - symbolic of completeness, fertility and romance, no longer to do with thanksgiving worship of mountain gods for good harvest during Shang dynasty.  

It is even integrated into Christian church services where there is  a strong Chinese congregation - Mid Autumn Service. The significance is still the same - love, fellowship, fruitfulness and fertility in life. wholeness, completeness and what have you. 

You name it and there is always the excuse... Invariably the far may be near. Those who disown Chinese popular religion may yet be near in essence to it.  That is most fascinating, isn't it?  

We may give up and yet we go one round circle to embrace it in another form. Tradition dies hard. Tradition takes new form and even new and augmented meaning. But it is the same thing after all. 

Religion does embrace culture and rejuvenate it. This way the family can stay together even if members are of different religious persuasions

Do some have more right to life and to God?

No 1276 of Living Life Series 1

We do know that all are not born equal to begin with. 

But is it true that some have more right to life and more right to God. 

The most moral answer is that all have the potential right to life and to God even if they are not born equal at birth

What happens in reality is that some can have more because they work for it. 

But some go about doing this in honest ways. They do not create fortune for themselves by causing misfortune to others. That will be demonic. 

Such people who create fortune for themselves by causing misfortune for others are not just out there but also in the houses of God and saints. 

They can even be the leaders in houses of God and saints. They speak for God and they take advantage of the faith of others in God. They make use of God's name to get what they want out of men. They are manipulators. 

They are like insects attracted to the flower for nectar. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says. Blame not the flower for insects coming to it. 

The irony of undoing God's work while doing it

No 1275 of Living Life Series 1

Tithing is for God. But really why must God want even tithes in the first place. Tithing is more for men to run a house of God. 

But is a temple or place of worship a house of God? The house is for men to gather in worship and contemplation of God. God needs no house of bricks. The world and beyond is where God is. 

Man is strange. Man nevers call a spade as a spade. Man nevers say that the truth of life is this and that. Instead man says that God says this and that. But really what man says is his understanding of the Word of God, 

Man speaks for himself but to make it more convincing so that others would just accept with hardly any thinking , man says this is what God says. Other men will just believe. 

Why? Men are awed by God. But God gives free will and expects men to be able to think and have common sense. 

But the man at the pulpit may end up undoing the wish of God. Such a man can be near to God but yet far.  This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 did say - the near can be far and the far near. 

Such a man at the pulpit is both an asset and a liability. Asset indeed he is as he brings men to God. But a liability he will be if he uses God's name in vain when he thinks for men and not let them think. This is ironical. He is undoing God's work while doing it.

He just sheperd men like sheep, shoos men to go this way and that way. Other men become like sheep. No need to think and decide. Perhaps this can be good for those who are new to spiritual and not able to think for themselves like very young children. 

But nowadays, we even teach the very young child how to think and ask the child what he thinks is right or what he should do. We guide the child in thinking process. 

Will they when they are of age accept what are told? They will only after thinking through. Then they may not if it is not logical. 

If men in religion continue the habit of insisting on what they say as gospel truth, then the truth be told is that they for sure will be undoing God's work while doing it. This holds true in all religions. 

Why be self righteous? Judge not. Be humble. Amen

No 1274 of Living Life Series 1

What's wrong with being wrong? We will never be exactly right anyway? We will ever be wrong in some way somehow. 

If God don't mind, who are we to mind what others do and say. Be humble. Never put on airs. Don't be arrogant. 

The humble and meek will be exalted and the exalted humbled. Why go the mile to say we are right and others wrong? We will never be really right anyway. That is the reality. That is so and so be it which is what Amen is all about. 

Never say we are better. Never say one religion or sect is correct or better. All can serve the needs of men in their respective ways. 

All are different and yet the same. All are one in God and in truth of goodness. Any religion is as good and wholesome as another. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know regardless of our religious persuasion. 

But it is never easy to qualify what is good. What is good to one man may not apply to another. 

One man's meat is another's poison. Vegetarian is good for some but of what use is it to those who have ill-will and go for the kill - ever wanting to hurt and be one up on others? They go for the blood and flesh of those they don't like but yet champion vegetarian life style. 

Be true to what we uphold. What matters is never what we do or believe but what is in our heart - what comes from the heart. Ji Gong 济公 the living saint upholds this principle. All saints teach this. 

It is plain simple. We must be pure at heart and be true to what we say and do. Be humble and be meek. We will be near to God and saints though we act and think we are far from God and saints when we are humble. 

This is what the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 say. This is what Lord Jesus meant when he say that the meek and humble will be exalted and the exalted humbled. 

We are never right even when right. Never be self righteous. Judge not. Be humble. Never lord over others. Do not discriminate or decimate others beliefs or religion. One religion is as good as any. That is so and so be it. Amen.

Do what we can to be as right as we can. Pride not in what we do less we be carried away. Fear not and have no guilt for not being as right as we can. The need to ensure we do not succumb to fear and guilt is stressed by the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 .

Fear and guilt tear away our spirit, peace and confidence. Guilt makes us feel like we are fools and damned. God never say that. 

It is we who may do so - all because of our being self-righteous in the first place. Don't be self righteous. Judge not. Be humble. Amen indeed. 

Never be derogatory. Never label the self-righteous as fools. God did not and will not. Why should we then? Feel sorry for those who are self-righteous. 

Love them. Be with them. Change them to be better than that - more so in the religion they are in. There is nothing wrong in their religion or in any religion. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 expects of us. All religions serve their purposes. All are one in God. 

Accept others as they are and make them better

No 1273 of Living Life Series 1



Never never be intolerant. This will only ostracise others. Worse still is it that it will create fear.  Don't damn others. That is the way of the demon. Don't be a demon and make others bow by force or coercion. 

There has been the uncivilised trend to create fear and sense of terror in those who don't buy the beliefs and ways of the religion dangled by some passionate men of religion. 

When those at the receiving end don't agree, they don't leave them alone. They continue to harass. What will happen then? 

They provoke fear and terror. Then what will happen next is retaliation. Retaliate they will and in more intense ways - more terrorizing ways also in the name of God and religion. 

This too is upmanship but of the worst kind. Who are to be blamed? Is it the one who create mental fear and psychological terror in the first place or the one who go beyond this to create physical terror? 

Terror begets more terror. Bad begets bad. Good will beget more good. Return terror with love. Return bad with good. There is no other way. 

Also remember that the ways of men are not the ways of God and saints. God loves and in name of love, God and saints do not hate even if you do not believe in God and saints. 

Man must be like God - love and share with others, appreciate them if they want to be different, accept them and instead make them better at what they believe. Make them more good. Do not act as though God will hang their souls if they don't buy your religion. 

They need not be of the same beliefs or religion. As long as the intent is good, it is good enough. Accept them and they will accept you. 

No need for them to give up their views or for you to give up yours. Acceptance begets acceptance. Don't force upon your beliefs on others. You can however share and if they accept your views, they can integrate them to the existing views of their religion, and be better at  their religion. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 goes the mile to tell us that the mission is to save souls though whatever religion they may be in. 

No need to uproot them or upset them. Make them better at what they are. You too can be better at what you are by learning from them and their religion or culture. 

Nuclearisation of family not good in the long term

No 1272 of Living Life Series 1

Do we need to be alone? Do we need to be with others? Why do we work? Why do we have family and relatives? 

Is it so that we will not be alone. Then, why must there be nuclear families when we need to be with others? 

Why did the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that we need to learn from one another? 

Then isn't living in big extended family good and working in big institution good? Well, somehow while people want to work in big institutions with many colleagues, they would rather stay separate from their siblings, parents, cousins and grand parents. 

In the old days, people even have many wives so that they have really big families under same roof.  A village or town will have a few or at most a dozen such families. They are close knit though they have the run of mill problems among men. 

Nowadays, such village size families no longer exist except in the rural areas in some countries. Instead, we have newly married couples staying on their own even if they do not even have children as yet. 

What has become of Man as a species? Well, this takes the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 to tell us that a bunch of candle lights is better and more effective in shinning up life than a solitary candle. 

If the good lord says so, is Divinity trying to tell us to think hard to deliberate how we should live and what type of family life we should have? 

The fragmentation or nuclearisation is not necessarily good, or is it? Well, living in big family is not easy as there is  need for a lot of give and take. But isn't that how we grow, learn and mature in life? 

Then for goodness sake, why withdraw into the shell and have nuclear families? Splitting up matter into atoms and splitting up the atom into nuclear particles can result in instability and can be explosive and potentially destructive in consequences. 

It will result in parents rejecting children once they reach young adulthood. These young adults would when they grow older then go one step further. 

They naturally don't even want to be married. They shun binary relationships. They shun wedlocks. 

They rather be single, free and easy, let alone have children. What would become of humanity? 

The light of the single candle can be easily blown out. But the light of a bunch of candles are not so easily blown out. However, too many candles can cause meltdown of candles if they are not spaced and balanced out. 

Is the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 trying to tell us how to change our destiny. Big family is good. Single is out. Two or nuclear is not good in the long run. 

Some balance and in between is needed. There must be balance - to be exact yin yang balance like depicted in the Bagua and its Taiji and the eight trigrams. 

Taiji

Bagua

Some can balance with more numbers and some with less. No exact formula. Nothing fixed. Nothing rigid. People are different. That is why religions are different but yet one in God and in truth. 

Nuclearisation of family is not good in the long term. Religion has to some extent take on the role of denuclearisation. Religion has to provide the big extended family advantage - the substitute missing in nuclear families. The culture of cell groups or self help groups is evidence of this.

Religion mitigates the lack of extended big family but is never ever a proper replacement. So humanity must have wake-up call and move away from nuclearisation. 

Nuclearisation erodes away family structure. It breaks up the living family tree and disperse them in bits and pieces across the land. It is not only destructive in long term but can explode and wipe out what humanity stands for. That is pathetic isn't it? 

Idolise not God, saints, men or Word. Be the Word.

No 1271 of Living Life Series 1

Do we wanna be with gods or be with men? The upfront answer to save face is that we wanna be with God than be with men. 

The truth be told is that somehow men must be with men and this often matters more than be with God and saints. Would God and saints mind? They don't. 

God and saints rather we gain strength in numbers with fellow men. But men may mislead men as men usually attracts fellow men due to popular and shallow fads rather than sound and solid values. In a way it can be like the blind leading the blind though we cannot deny that God is what these men go for. 

This is ironical but nothing is further from the truth. God unlike men does not need to be fawned on. God prefers that we stand together and learn together. 

But what we learn should have nothing to do with the folly and shallowness of men. We should learn what life is about, the true nature of life and how God can help us. 

God cannot live life for us. God cannot wish that we be saved and presto we will be saved. God can only tell us how we can be saved. 

It is not that faith in God is not good. It is good. But this has nothing to do with idolatry of God but more to do with doing what God wants us to do - to be pure in spirit and be at peace. 

Otherwise, all of us will be nuts in the head and disasters in the name of God and saints. We will be such let-downs and disgrace to his grace. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 let it be known that we do not idolize him at all. He is not here to start any new religion or sect. He descended in Chinese culture to show that even in culture and not just in any religion, there is the same intrinsic values that constitute the doctrine or Word that is God. 

The Word is God and God is the Word. The Word is the image of the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨. Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 is the Word. 

Having known this, many still idolise God and heavenly saints and pay lip service to the Word, let alone make any effort to live in the Word. This is sad, isnt it? 

Some even boast of the Word and never go beyond worshiping the Word. They idolise the Word. 

Don't idolise God, saints and the Word. Live in the Word and make the Word come to life in us. That way God and saints manifest through us. We become the Word and become like God in our own way. No need to idolise what we adore - be this God, saints, men or Word. 

The best is for us to live in The Word. Then though to many we may be seemingly far from God, saints, men or Word, we are near though seemingly aloof. The far is near and the near far. So said the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨. 

Idolise not God, saints, men or Word. Be the Word. The Word is God and lord. Then we be near though to many we are far from God and saints.

Stand among the gods while among men

No 1270 of Living Life Series 1



People have short memories. But God don't mind. Many ask for help. But once they have been helped and their prayers answered, they lost their devoutness. They take things for granted. They expect more. They get turned off from God and saints. Why? They don't seem to have their prayers answered any more. Sad isn't it?

When men are in need, they can promise the sky and the sky no less they will tell God and saints. But God and saints will help, not because of what men promised. 

Love for all is why God and saints help all beings, never mind if men end up disappointing. God holds not on to men for what God gives to men. God expects no gratitude - no favors in return. 

In fact, God and saints expect men to have short memories and to take things for granted. Once blessed and given, they seem to forget that they were given and blessed. 

Why? The reason lies with why men are not yet saints and far from saintly and godly. 

They are ego monsters in some way. They have monstrous appetite. They need to satiate their ego. They want and want. Oh, with such a good appetite and an unhealthy one, they forget they were in distress. Once out of distress with God's grace, they forget they were in pain and they hunger for more. 

Men need to be reminded that without God's help (which they don't need to work for it and God will just give), men will never get themselves out of the rut. They will be stuck in the mud or cesspool or worse still the quick sand and have no future. How can they cultivate spirituality? 

But alas, once they get out of the quicksand of distress such as poverty and pain, they forget, and forget they do. It just comes so naturally. 

Instead of picking up themselves and go for it wholeheartedly in cultivation of goodness and peace of spirit to be a bit more like God and saints, well, they think they have arrived at paradise. They simply forget. Men have short memories. 

Thus if men can do this to God and saints, they can do that to you. You may do all you can to help them. But if they have short memories and forget God, how can they not forget you. 

But if this happens, do not feel hurt. Do not be angry. They are the ones you wanted to help in the first place. Don't turn the table on them. Don't be a control freak. Wish them well and even help them even more. Do not run them down. 

Be like God and saints. Bless and help without expecting gratitude. Then you will stand among the gods. 

Yes, stand among the gods. Help without strings attached. Help and blessings are not for bargain or sale. Help is of love. If love is for sale, then it is not love. A father would love his prodigal son. We too must be like that. 

Love and help others without conditions. Help and wish them well. No need to remind them that you have been of help. That is the way of God and lord saints. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 is like that. If man is like that, other men may think he is foolish. Well, society is like that. What to do? 

Accept society as it is. Do your part and be like the light even if a lone light to shine away the darkness of men. If one light is already good, a bunch of lights will do even better. This did the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 say, didn't he? 

If we set out to help, don't give up because men have short memories. Persist and continue to help. One day there will be those who wake up and join us to love and help without expectations, never mind if people have short memories and forget that we even help in the first place. 

The worst is for us to try to take it back. Do not condemn them just because they forgot that we help them. 

Don't hold on to the good you have done. Continue to do good. Wish not the bad if people forget the good we help them to have. 

Hold on not to good done. Let go and do more good. God and saints are like that. They don't even need us to sing their praises. So can we. Don't bother if others comment that we are stupid because we help but those we help turn us off in the end, let alone praise us. 

Stand among the gods while among men. That is the way to be and the way to go. Be in heaven while on earth and in hell of men. Be a beacon of life and love. Be divine and yet still man indeed. 

Be like an immortal but yet very mortal. That will be humbling indeed. The humbled will be exalted and the exalted humble. That is what Jesus and what all saints will say.

Stand among the gods while among men. Many a leader of men in a temple tend to forget this and they try to correct others. They can try but if they know better, would they? 

Just be good and expect nothing in return. But such a leader do tend to get carried away and they become more man and less god. Well, let them be. They do have good intent. Their good intent is exactly the problem of all problems - perhaps the mother of all problems in a temple. 

Don't end up pointing fingers at our ancestors

No 1269 Of Living Life Series 1

Of what use is life if there is no health? This calls for moderation, neither none or too little nor too much. 

Too much of what would otherwise be good will be bad. Too much of obsession with religion will defeat the very purpose of religion. Many fail in life because they get carried away by religion and run away from life and shun others who are not with them. 

There is a need for healthy approach to any aspect of life. This includes religion. This will better serve not only our own religion but the world of others religions.

If we believe a religion to the extent that we do not believe in others and even run down the others, what will become of us? We will be odd and queer, strange and not in tune with contemporary society. 

We will end up pouring cold water and denigrating even our loved ones who are of different religion. Worse still, even if of same religion, we will denounce them for not being right just because of different denomination or sect. 

Worst of all, we will denigrate all our ancestors for being not of the right religion or sect. They didn't even have the chance to know the religion or sect we know. 

Condemning others of different religious persuasions will end up condemning the whole lot of all our ancestors. Disrespect for elders is already bad - not to say condemning. 

Being proud of our religion or sect is good but not to extent of not appreciating other sects or religions. Running others down will surely end up running down the goodness of all ancestors without whom we won't be here today. 

No wonder all religions teaches that we respect elders. They never say we respect only those who are right and in same same religion or sect as us. They say we respect all elders. 

This is the teaching of all religions and saints. The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 stresses on this. Without this basic, how can we be good and worthy of the goodness of God. We will be worst than beasts. 

Disrespect for others can lead to disgracing ancestors. Respect for all starts with respect for elders and our ancestry. The reverse holds true as well. Before we can respect ancestors, we too must start with respect for others. 

Point fingers not at others or we end up pointing at ancestors. We will end up pointing at ourselves. Point not at others or we end up pointing at our own ancestry. Give this some thought. This is a good learning point, isn't it? 

The Inner Truth and the Inner Peace

No 1268 of Living Life Series 1

There are universal truths that underlie all religions. 

There is the truth of God. Who God is and what he can do and not do is another matter. 

Then there is the universal truth of goodness and what is goodness too is another matter. 

Then there is the universal truth that we need inner peace that comes from being good. Goodness leads to inner peace. 

We need to contend and balance the yin and yang, the ups and downs, the passivity and activity of life. We need to work with the yin and the yang. This does not mean equal amounts of yin and yang. Some need more yang and some need more yin to achieve the balance and have inner peace.  

To cap it all, there is the universal truth that goodness is of God and saints. The Word is God and God is the Word. 

The universal truths underlying all religions can be collectively referred to as the Inner Truth that the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 talks about. We can refer to the five universal truths as the five aspects of the Inner Truth. 

Marriage and the crucifix of life

No 1267 of Living Life Series 1

Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨

Marriage is the wedlock of two persons to become husband and wife. Together they handle the universe between them - heaven and God above, and Hell and denizens below. In between heaven and hell, there are the various levels of beings with humanity at the centre. 

Husband and wife have between them the longitudinal axis of heaven above and hell below. This forms the crucifix of life. 

The crucifix is a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. Husband and wife hold hands to handle the universe so that they can have a world of their own. They transform the crucifix from one of pain to one of peace and gain. 

Together like the yin and yang they balanced out the universe between them so as to have zero sum of yin and yang. The result of course is more peace. 

This is Tao - the logical way to have peace in life. This principle of yin and yang and its coupling to have balance is represented in the Taiji of the Bagua. 

The Taiji of the Bagua

The Bagua

This is the central theme of common sense in what is referred by the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 as the Inner Truth of life that is in and behind life and all religions. 

It has to do with the crucifix that we come to know as symbolic of Christ - the Lord Jesus. 

The cross in ancient Rome was the worst of criminals. It symbolises the worst pains of life but the same cross can be turned into the highest peace that God wants men to have - as symbolised by Christ. 

Marriage or wedlock has to do with the two meanings behind the crucifix. Marriage kicks off family life and there is both joy and sacrifice. The sacrifice is painful at times but if the crucifix of life is properly managed and negotiated, surely there will be more life and peace. 

Chinese families traditionally respect the whole longitudinal axis. They respect and are at peace with God and saints above, with those in Hell below (eg. the Seventh Month Festival), and those in between such as the earth gods and all beings not above or below. 

The newly married couple too must learn to tap into this culture based on the value of please and be pleased to have more peace. This is not worship but to live and let live - to better others if they want to better themselves. 

Some may consider this as bribery but really what matters is the intent and the sincerity. Bribery will bring no peace in the long term. Sincerity will. 

Be matured enough to accept differences of others

No 1266 of Living Life Series 1

We do need to grow up in all aspects of life. Exposure and acceptance that others may not think the same way we do is what we must grow up to have. 

This is sign of maturity. This will help us to clique and be in harmony with the world. 

We must not withdraw ourselves into the shell and exclude ourselves from reality. We may be right. But others too who hold differing views too may be right in their own way - in the context of the culture they are in. 

We love our own beliefs, our own religion. This should not shut us from the other religions. 

On the contrary, we should love others just as we love ourselves. Love also means to accept ourselves for what we are. Love means we do not stay put but improve ourselves. 

Love for ourselves means to love ourselves for what we are, to accept ourselves for what we are, to appreciate what makes  us tick, to appreciate our likes and dislikes - not to make ourselves be what we are not  and come to terms for what we like and dislike. 

Love others the way we love ourselves. Accept them for what they are, appreciate what makes them tick, to appreciate their likes and dislikes - not to make others be what they are not and to come to terms for what they like or dislike.

This includes religion. Others may be far from us in what they like or dislike. But if we accept them for what they are, then all will be well. They will be near yet far. 

Isn't this what the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says of men and their religions. All religions are one in God and goodness. But men cannot be one in going about achieving this. 

Religion is about love for life - love for people for being different from us and yet share the common goal of wanting to be good and to believe in God. 

What's wrong in doing so in their own respective ways? Surely acceptance is the right thing to have. Surely if we grow and mature in life, we will accept others for being what they are. This includes their being different in approach to God and goodness. 

Not accepting and being critical will cause ill-will. How can there be love among men then. We will end up not be loving to life - our own and others. 

Be mature enough. Grow up. Accept others for what they are - even in religion. 

Grow the love in us. Grow the goodness of God in us. Do grow up and accept that others have to be different. Grow and be matured to accept differences of others. 

Be matured enough to accept others who are different. Don't run them down. Accept others for what they are if we want to be accepted for what we are. There is no other way. 

This does not mean we cannot share our views. But there must be mutual sharing and acceptance. 

If we want to be heard, we must be willing to hear others out. Never insist we are right and others wrong. All can be right in their own ways, context and perspectives. Of course, all can be not so right in their own ways as well. 

The issue is for everyone to learn from others and be better in his or her own beliefs and religion. This will value add. All will be better in what they are - in their own beliefs and religions. This is the emphasis given to all regardless of religion and persuasion by the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨.

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The family that prays together stays together?

No 1265 of Living Life Series 1

The reality is that families are no longer of one religion. The saying that the family who prays together stays together is no longer as true as before. 

With the passing of time each generation wants to strike out in life differently. Even if members of family are of the same religion and even the same sect or church, the younger generation wants to be different. 

The older generation can no longer tell them what to believe and do. It is better to leave them alone to their whims and fancies. 

With this trend, it is no surprise that more families will have members belonging to different religions. There is no cause for alarm or dis-ease.

What matters is that the form of religiosity brings them closer to God in their own way and also to the goodness and pureness of thoughts, speech and deeds that is of God and saints. 

Of course, the older generation would prefer that they conform with the religiosity that the old are so used to. 

Perhaps at this juncture, it is good to reflect, be mindful and to meditate on what matters most in religion - what matters most to God and saints. What matters is God and the goodness cum purity that God stands for.  

If the younger generation can have this, all will turn up well. There is no worry. There is no concern - never mind if they cannot conform with the thinking and ways of the old. They are near though far. 

On the other hand, it is possible that the old diehards may be the ones who say and do one thing but end up thinking of exactly what they know they should not do. 

Outside the house of God, they may even mindlessly do what they should not do. They claim to be conformists and fundamentalists but do not keep up to the word they guard zealously in the house of God. Then they too are near but yet far from God. 

The young whom they chastise for being out of step may be better than them if they are able to be good and pure in spirit despite their being non-conformists with the old religion. 

They are often criticized and shun by the old. They cannot join the old in church or temple services and have to hold and manage their own services such as the young adult church. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 hits the nail on the head when he says that the near may be far and the far near. In a way far is near and near is far, isn't this so? 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that if there is sunrise, there must be sunset. Sunrise and sunset are of the same day. 

Likewise, religions can be like sunrise and sunset - different but yet same - same God and the same need to be good, pure and be at peace. 

Family members can be of two religions. This does not mean they are of two minds - two kinds. They are still one though they may not seem to pray together. 

They are together at heart - in spirit of the need to be good, pure and peaceful regardless of the differing religious affiliations and expressions. 

A father's advice on marriage

No 1264 of Living Life Series 1

Marriage brings together two persons as one. They complement each other through values each have that the other don't have. They make each other more complete and whole. 

There is also the bonding of shared values common to both. These shared values allow them to clique. 

One must know why there is the attraction between the two. What draws them together and why they are comfortable with each other? 

Ultimately, there is the common need to settle down. The need to settle down and have family is what brings on the union of marriage. 

Otherwise, if one party is not ready, marriage will not come about even if there are shared values and complementary qualities. 

In addition to the need to settle down, there must be common interests and approach to life as well as the feeling of completeness that the partner brings along in the union of marriage. Then marriage will be more productive

Two in one is good and with two, there will be more with the union of marriage when children come along. 

While it is not a must have to have children, having children will add more meaning and liveliness to married life. We must wish that the couple find more meaning in life through marriage. 

The couple fulfils the purpose of life through marriage. It is one way to have coupling of yin and yang in life. Life will then revolve like the Taiji in the Bagua. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that the understanding of the Taiji core of the bagua is central to life. 

Mastering the Bagua is central not only to life but to spirituality. Marriage can enhance spirituality. There is peace when yin and yang couples and revolves in unison. 

Bagua with Taiji core

A couple must embrace the need to be pure and humble to each other. Pureness in devotion promotes more love. This is the same pureness that is necessary for spiritual commitment to God. Marriage is God's blessings to humanity. Thus it is the holy matrimony. 

Taiji

Marriage embraces the Taiji of the Bagua of life. Yin and yang must embrace. There is yin in yang and yang in yin - as depicted by the white / red and black dots. This has to do with common interests and outlook. What matters is the values yin brings to yang and yang to yin. They must add value to each other. 

Revolving Taiji

Parents of the couple must be mindful not to disrupt but promote the Taiji of the Bagua of life in marriage. This is more relevant in modern times when there is the nuclearization of the family unit.

Home - the house of God for every Adam and Eve

No 1263 of Living Life Series 1

On hindsight, the Living Life Series should have been named the Living God Series. We need to live in the principles God stand for. We need to show to others that God lives in us. 

They will then want to be like us and with us. They will want to learn what makes us tick. 

God is silent. God is peaceful. God is love. God is about how to be good  and pure. 

Man tends to be noisy and frivolous at that. Man is not peaceful even when idle. Man is full of thoughts. 

To think is not the problem. The problem is when man is wild and restless in the mind. 

Man harbour thoughts of hatred though man may not admit it. Man often keeps such thoughts to himself and put on a front. Man can be hypocritical but not God. 

This is no good. This is not pure. There is no purity of actions, speech and thoughts. 

Man may act and speak good. But this is not matched and backed up by his thoughts. Man is like that as he is ego-driven. 

But God is understanding and knows man's weaknesses. With every Adam, there is Eve. This is God's gift. 

Every Adam learns to be good to at least his Eve if he cannot do so for others. When this happens, there is holy matrimony. 

With true matrimony, there is no ego between Adam and Eve. But if there is ego, then ego drives a wedge between Adam and Eve. Divorce and separation are the consequences. 

For many if they cannot be pure good and humble with their spouses, how can they be good and godly to others? This is common sense, isn't it?

God's gift of Eve to Adam is to teach and inspire man to be good and godly so that people may be godly even at home. They may not even need to be in a church or temple to be so. 

They are far and yet near - far from house of God but near to God through the holy home of marriage. They are near to God at home and live in the Word to make marriage godly but far from the houses of God in the religions men built. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that the near may be far and the far near. Who says the house of God is out there? 

The home is the house of God for every Adam and Eve. It is where we can live in God and God lives in us. Home of every Adam and Eve is where God is. But the Satan in guise of ego may break up this home. How can there be ego to divide man and his wife? 

Home too is the house of God for all. God lives in this house. Home is the first temple. God bless the home with children. Children adds to the fulfilment in this temple. Parents are the first gods to these children. The Buddha too said so didn't he? 

Naturally, when Adam and Eve set up their nest home, they need to have children and to care for their parents in this first temple. If they cannot do so, how can they ever learn to love the world like what God is doing. Home too is thus the house of God - the first temple or church.