A Practical Aspect of Mindfulness

No 1286 of Living Life Series 1




There are those who are near to God and saints in a temple. They will end up far from the temple. Why? 

The more good they do, the more likely are they to attract those who are less motivated to a temple. 

These are those who come to a temple like insects to the flower for nectar. They have different priority in agenda. 

What they want set them apart from the faithful. They are far though near. 

This is what the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know. 

The observations apply not only to a temple but to a family and to any society. We just need to observe and reflect. 

This is a practical aspect of mindfulness. It holds true in any religion, society or family at least some of the time if not all the time. The good lord reminds us to reflect that what holds true in religion holds true for secular worldly life.

To be or not to be. To have or not to have

No 1285 of Living Life Series 1

To be or not to be? That depends on your principle in life. That depends on what we know as the means and the ends. Do not let the means become the ends or the ends becoming the means. This applies to spiritual as well as mundane life.

Do we need to be very well educated or do we need to have cash aplenty before we can have fulfilment? Is religion a means to this end? Isn't religion the end in itself? 

Do we find inner peace in religion? Or, perhaps religion is just the stepping stone for worldly needs? If this is so, religion becomes the means to the worldly ends. 

This may be not ideal. But aren't it the way most of us get inducted to religion? 

We want God and saints to give us worldly material success as human beings. Eventually however we will want to have the wealth that is beyond what worldly blessings can give us. 

Then worldly blessings become the stepping stone for spiritual wealth - the richness of the inner peace. Spiritual wealth and worldly wealth must balance one another. We cannot deny neither. 

There must be balance of yin and yang. This is inherent in all religions. The mission of the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 is to promote this in humanity through all religions. 

To be or not to be? To have or not to have? Well the answer is we must be and yet not be (more). We must have and yet not have (more). 

What is the right proportion depends and varies from person to person and in the same person varies from context to context and from time to time. It also varies from culture to culture and from nation to nation. 

It is not exactly the middle path but the most appropriate and peaceful ratio. Yin yang balance is dynamic and can be delicate. 

More than meet the eyes

No 1284 of Living Life Series 1

There is more than meet the eye. What people say and do are not what are in their hearts. This is what has been going on since time immemorable. This is the self-centered element. 

But as long as there is the conscience which some refer to as the fear of God, there will be the constant self correction. 

Some refer to this as mindfulness - the reflection or meditation to keep oneself on the more straight path that brings good to one and all to have the peace. This they call religion. 

Religions differ in the way to reach this peace. The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that the basic or inner truth is the same but how to arrive at this varies. 

Religions may appear different. But there is more than meet the eyes. At core of all religions is the same basic truth or teachings. 

People think differently. That is for real

No 1283 of Living Life Series 1

We believe what we want even if we say we believe what others believe in the religion we  together profess. This means we are in a way free thinkers and yet not. This is best. 

Why? We will be moderated and will not want to impose our thinking and ways on others. We will accept others for differing from us just as we accept ourselves for differing in beliefs from others in the same religion. 

By extension, we will not mind if many are not from the same religion. We will be accepting and condoning differences. 

People must have their own ways and beliefs. This is for real. No such thing as exactly of one view. There will ever be differences. Differences and variety maketh society. Society is like that. 

Even God and saints are for this. That is why there are the religions, there are the sects within religion and there are schools within sects. 

But as the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 points out the goal or aim is the same - to have inner peace and be one with God and saints. 

Even with oneness in God and saints, there will be variations. There will be many religions and many sects. That is to be expected. 

The relationship between God and the individual is and has to be unique. If unique, how can it be identical? 

But this does not mean one is more right and the other wrong. That is the reality of life. 

We embrace others who are always somehow different from us We have to wake up to this or we will end up fanatics at odds and ever clashing with those who are different from us. That will be sad and the anti-thesis of religiosity - of what religions stand for. 

The secret of Heaven is no secret at all

No 1282 of Living Life Series 1

The secrets of Heaven cannot be revealed. Even if some secrets are revealed, many often would not believe in them. They will consider them as untruths. But the reality is that there are no secrets. It is simply that we are ignorant. We just don't know. 

One such so-called secret is that the human world is a heaven of sorts. We have the best of both worlds - both the harshness of hell and the beauty of heaven. 

We are in the position to taste both and appreciate what would be better. Without heavenly life, we would not appreciate the harshness of hell. Without the harshness of hell, we would not realise we have heaven on Earth. 

Without death, we will not wake up to emptiness of what we consider as solid and concrete. 

Without dualities, we will not appreciate that the ultimate is to have inner peace come what may. 

We can enjoy life but make sure that this is and will not be at expense of peace. To have peace does not mean we have less of the world. We can but we must know when enough is enough. 

Having too much than we can handle or stomach comfortably is just simply too much. This will spoil the peace. 

Having too little is not the answer as if we have not, we will be in want as well. There will be no peace. This too is not congenial to peace. 

The logical approach is there. But many simply find this too simple to extent of being unbelievable. We expect that inner peace is something intangible and far too complex to understand. 

When beset with this, we over react and think that the only way is to pray to God. Let it be God given. Just keep asking and it will be given. If not given as yet, this will simply mean we have not pleased God. 

We simply cannot accept that divine or inner peace is in concept simple. We just have to balance life, the yin and yang - the ups and the downs, the negativity and the positivity. We cannot do away with yin and yang. We must have both, work for both but need to balance both to have inner peace. 

What amount of yin or yang and the ratio of yin and yang varies from person to person and from time to time in the same person. 

This concept is simply simple yet profound. It is simple on one hand and yet not as simple to grasp and arduous, even time consuming to work at it. 

That is why many just don't bother and expect God and saints to give us inner peace. Some even don't bother about God and saints. They just live their guts out and be the material person to live the material life - the worldly life. Some even go to the house of God and saints to have the material life. They are like insects going to the flower for nectar. 

All these are common to and behind all religions. The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know and to be mindful of the various aspects of the nature of life and come clean and peaceful regardless of the religion we are in. 

But inner peace is not something we can have once we understand, once we straighten our minds and able to think straight and with clarity. 

We have to train our minds, cultivate moment-to-moment peace and persist in doing so over the long haul - perhaps over many lifetimes. 

The secret of Heaven is no secret at all. The so-called secret is just the nature of life. 

We simple don't bother to reflect on the nature of life. We simple want to dream on and expect to be God-given. God will provide. No need to worry. They hold on to this for dear life.

Of course, some go the other way. They don't need God and saints. They can be on their own. 

This is just like children saying they don't need the parents. We do need guidance and help initially. But we have to grow up and be more independent. Never have crutch mentality - that will be our undoing. That will undermine the flowering of inner peace in us. 

Glorify not God. Live in His Word. Live in God.

No 1281 of Living Life Series 1

Why hanker for glory in life? If it is to blow up one's image in eyes of the world, will this be useful? It will be if one can sell himself and others will want to get his services. 

Beyond that, it may be self defeating as it will be ego-driven. Can one satisfy the ego? Well, the answer is obvious. 

What about glorifying others? Well, this may be encouraging but beyond a certain limit, it can be ridiculous. 

We may end up going for the person and not just acknowledging the good he has or is capable of doing for others. We may fail to be like him. 

What about glorifying God or a heavenly saint? That may be done with good intent but may end up with idolising God and saint - hero worshipping him no less. We end up going for that and plain forget what God or saint stands for. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 does not even want to start a new religion or sect. He reveals little of himself. All he wants is for us to know how to be pure and good at spirit - at heart. 

No need for worship or to kneel to his image or to offer a thousand jos sticks. No need to offer sacrificial cows, poultry or even fruits and food. He like God and saints do not need all these.

Just learn from him how to be good and pure and have the peace. Best of all is to be good to all and not just self. No need to sacrifice or deny self just to be good to others. 

We need to be good in whatever life, religion or culture we are in. We need to be better than what we are. The way to be good and pure is the Word. 

The Word is the image and the image is the Word. God is the Word. The Word is God. God seeks no glory. Do not glorify God or saint. We should also not glorifying the Word, but live in the Word. Then we live in God and saints and God and saints live in us. 

God is no man and needs no glorification by men. Do not glorify God and end up crazy over God or saint. We may end up arguing, hurting others and disrupt the peace. Live in the Word. Live in peace. Live in God.

Better in existing than be poor in new

No 1280 of Living Life Series 1

How good a religion depends not on the religion but the beholder. If there is belief and love for the religion, this matters more than anything else. 

Beauty of a religion depends on the beholder. This is it. No point trying to tell the beholder to consider other religions. 

Moreover as the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that the same basic or inner truth is in all religions. 

There is God. There are saints. There is the need to be good. What is good has to do with love for all lives - our own and others. Inner peace must be behind the love of life and goodness. 

Thus what matters is that the beholder of a religion must learn to be better at his religion. He is better at being in his religion than end up a lousy follower of another. 

He must be better at what he is in. Better in existing than be poor in old. Isn't that an eyeopener? The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 hits the nail on the head when he said that. 

All saints and prophets will do the same. They go for truth and God in their times as men in the flesh. The notion of religions did not even exist then. Religions are created by men as institutions to further the teachings of the saints when the saints were no longer in the flesh. 

Secular state enables religions to meet divine values

No 1279 of Living Life Series 1

The problems and issues of men are many and plentiful. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 lamented. 

Even in religion which is to solve the problems of humanity, men may end up creating more problems than solving problems. That is what men will often end up with. 

God and saints are not like that. They go for peace and are at peace. Men may end up never giving peace to God though men may want to do so. That is in the very nature of Man. 

To err is human and to forgive is divine. Through the influence of God and saints, men may learn to give and take. Often men can be complacent and end up going for an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 

They even position God in one religion against the same God in another religion. That is a great joke but it happens anyway. How to correct this? 

As men often cannot be expected to go for peace all the time, there is need for counterbalance. Often the laws of the land provide this counterbalance through a secular state mechanism. 

This is better than giving liberty to men to do so themselves through religions. No wonder the saints of religions advise that we obey not only the laws of God but also the laws of the land. Even if we fail to obey the laws of God, the laws of the land will be there as safeguards. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 lends his weight to this approach. Secular state is anytime better to ensure divine values are met. 

Let the state provides the yin and yang balance of religions so that religions can meet divine values of God and saints - so that religions can add values to one another and complement one another. 

Singapore is a secular state and people there are as religious if not better at being religious in their respective religions than non-secular states. 

That may be why the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 chose to descend in Singapore in 1969 to kick start his mission on the oneness of religions in God and truth amid the obvious diversity. Religions do thrive better in a secular state. 

In a secular state, where all religions are upheld and there is separation of religions from the management of the state, the state calls the tune and prevents religious excesses. 

The state lays down out of bound markers and ensures religions toe the line. This is so that no one hurts another in the name of religion. 

This will promote peace that all religions want followers to have. This is so that ultimately they have peace of spirit. 

God wants men to have peace but in their passion for religion, they may end up doing the opposite when they get carried away. The state must come in to put things right. 

The state must do its duty to maintain peace and harmony but with an even-handedness. This should not be viewed as curtailing the spread of wings of any religion but on the contrary as promoting the betterment of its citizens. 

Citizens can then practise religions in peace and harmony. Isn't this the wish of God and is exactly what God wants for us? A good secular state enables religions to meet divine values.

Against the current to the upper source of religions

No 1278 of  Living Life Series 1

Comparison between religions is often not viewed kindly and many shun going into this. That is best. 

But when there is need to show the oneness of religions and sects, what is needed is to know all religions and understand that there is oneness of religions and sects. 

There is the emphasis on God-head and the need for goodness in some form. There is the need for outreach to all beings and humanity. Truth must reach out like the ocean to many a land. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 did not start a new religion or sect. He is not out to win followers and be a new prophet or saint. 

The existing religions and prophets are good enough. He is out to highlight the oneness and not the divisiveness that humanity so often end up with when they champion their religions. 

The mission of the good lord is not easy one and may create misunderstanding. It is against the current and does not flow downstream with the current. There is need to go upstream to the upper source for clear water. This did the good lord say. 

If one takes the advice of the good lord, one does not end up with a new sect or religion but becomes better at the religion one is in and at same time becomes more accepting and appreciating of all religions. 

One becomes better at what religion one is in - better at what one is and better for the world with no bigotry and religious fanaticism. He or she will  love and feel for all religions and not just his or her religion. Isn't that marvellous? 

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