Inner truth lessons from Yogi Bear the movie

No 231 of Living Life Series 1

Movie review at Yahoo Singapore extracted on 31st Dec 2010

http://sg.movies.yahoo.com/Yogi%20Bear/movie/15688

"Everyone's favorite pic-a-nic basket-stealing bear comes to the big screen in "Yogi Bear". Jellystone Park has been losing business, so greedy Mayor Brown (Andy Daly) decides to shut it down and sell the land. That means families will no longer be able to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors and, even worse, Yogi (Dan Aykroyd) and Boo Boo (Justin Timberlake) will be tossed out of the only home they've ever known. Faced with his biggest challenge ever, Yogi must prove that he really is "smarter than the average bear" as he and Boo Boo join forces with their old nemesis Ranger Smith (Tom Cavanagh) to find a way to save Jellystone Park from closing forever."

Yogi bear the movie is the subject of this blog. It is about how a dimwit but positive and lovable bear can out do the warden to save the park reserve.

Often in life we don't have to be correct but need to be positive and pleasant. Even a clown of sorts can get what he wants and be of service if he is positive and set in what he wants.

The substance can be not ideal or not more correct but so long as the motivation or form of spirituality is there, that person may have more mileage in life and spirituality than the more ideal or correct priest or clergy of a profound religion.

That is why there are many religions and sects and why some sects do better than others though they are comparatively simple and do not adhere to more fundamental, profound in depth and elaborate spiritual teachings. This reflects the divine wisdom of God and His saints in providing range of choices to reach out to all. The ones or sects that reach out to many may not be the most elaborate fundamental and complete.

This is the inner truth message of God  which Lord Bo Tien wants to remind us. Sometimes, it is better to be less correct but to be able to arrive at some point. This is better than to be more correct but unable to arrive at any point. This is food for thought.

Do go to the movie and learn how to be Yogi the bear who often says he is "smarter than the average bear". But try not to be a dimwit or bungle king though but of course, it may not be that bad to be dimwit or bungler at times if one can be positive, committed and pleasant. We cannot be sure if readers could buy this suggestion though.

But inner truth lessons  are out there even in the movie Yogi Bear. Ha ha and ho ho.... No need to agree or disagree.... just take the expressed views with a pinch of salt and reflect on the reality of life. There is no right or wrong. Often, there is value in every view and angle of approach. Thus all religions and sects have their usefulness and values to God and humanity. They represent the whole wide spectrum of views in God - in Divinity. Cheers. In religion, as always and to be expected, everyone is right in his or her own way.  We can even belong to the same church or temple but yet have different style, way or emphasis. We should thank God for that. There is richness and oneness in plurality and diversity.

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The shrine hall at Bo Tien Temple was designed based on the doctrine of Heaven.

No 230 of Living Life Series 1

Bo Tien Temple front view.
Octagonal temple shrine  is at ground floor together with koi pond
Aged home is on the second and third floor. Auditorium, meeting rooms
and Mutual Help and Care  are on the second floor

    

click for enlarged view

Four transparent fibre glass pillars surround the prayer hall on the ground floor of the temple. 

They arise from the pool with koi fish. In the centre of the pool is the octagon pakua shaped shrine floor.

koi in pool around the octagon shaped shrine floor

The altar of the shrine displays the three images of Amitabha Buddha in centre, the Lord Bo Tien on the left and Goddess Kuanyin on the right. 

Buddha is at the divine apex or God head (the Pure Ones). God refers to both the Pure Ones and the Jade Emperor.

Goddess Kuanyin is everywhere and she aptly portrays the essence of God's love - the Holy Spirit.

Heavenly saints like Lord Bo Tien are representatives of God. 

The trinity of Buddha, Lord Bo Tien and Goddess Kuanyin is in a way parallel to the concept of Divine Trinity - God, His representative and the Holy Spirit ('leng' in Hokkien Chinese dialect).

This again demonstrates that the inner truth is the same behind the different religions of the world. Religions and sects are many but they reach out to more, for the benefit of one and all and to save all souls. This is the Inner Truth Message of God which Lord Bo Tien wants us to know and which forms the prime basis of His Mission. Sometimes, it is known as the Four Pillar doctrine with religions as the pillars but of course there will be more than four religions in the four cardinal directions.

In front of the image of Lord Bo Tien are the figure heads of the five archangels of God.

octagon shrine hall with pakua in centre.
Part of the conical  glass roof can be seen in background

The roof of the shrine is the towering glass cone roof. This depicts the sky or Heaven as the roof of the Temple.

Conical glass roof gives clear view
of the sky as the roof of the temple.
Religions are the pillars and
the sky is the roof of the temple of heaven
Lord Bo Tien said that
the whole wide world is the temple
with religions as pillars and
all under heaven are in the universal temple
The actual temple is not a building
but the universe of the hearts of beings

The four pillars with flowing water curtain down pillar surfaces are reminiscent of the religions of the world in the north south, east and west. Religions depicted by the pillars support the roof or Heaven. 

The ever pleasing and crystal clear water curtain running down the pillars depicts endless blessings from Heaven.

right pillar in front and arising from  koi pool

The pumping of water from the pond under the floor of the prayer hall up the cores of the pillars represent the merits of men of religions.

These rise up to the heavens and are returned as curtain of divine blessings to the pond or pool of life.

The shrine floor with pakua and one of the four pillars is in the background

The shrine hall in octagon shape sitting amidst the pool of life reflects the pakua of life. 

The pakua embodies the flux of yin and yang, the polar or dual contingencies of life like gain & loss, love & hatred, joy & sorrow, praise & blame, success & failure, denial & indulgence etc --- the balance of which yields inner peace. Inner peace is the essence of Heavenly experience which would lead to enlightenment - oneness with Divinity.

The octagon shrine hall with pakua.  Photo courtesy of BWY.  2nd Jan 2011

We should neither deny the worldly life (and escape head long into obsessional craving for spiritual and for heaven beyond present life) nor over indulge in worldly life (without any care or concern for spiritual and for heaven). 

When we go for the spiritual life, the same values for spiritual life applied to our worldly life gives adequate optimum comfort and success in worldly life as well. We gain spiritually simultaneously while leading worldly life. This is possible because our moment to moment life, that is, our daily life is the very ground for our spiritual practice and cultivation. We can have heaven and inner peace here and now in this life and not wait for heaven beyond this life. We have both worldly and heavenly gains

Our worldly life is our gospel. We learn from the gospel of life as it unfurls. The whole wide world and web is our temple for spirituality - for spiritual understanding and cultivation. We learn to be one with God. God is everywhere in the nature or world we live in and even in us and in our life.

We certainly can have heaven by having more inner peace here and now in this life and not wait for heaven beyond this life.

This is the message of God through saints like Lord Bo Tien. The balancing of yin and yang for inner peace is portrayed in  the seated image of the lord saint with the feet of the lord saint balancing the yin yang elements -- the polarities of life.

The shrine hall at Bo Tien Temple was designed based on the doctrine of heaven. It embodies the Inner Truth message of God. This was expounded to us through the lord saint Lord Bo Tien.

In the opinion of inner truth netizen, there is need to mention Senior Bro Png Philip, Elder Ling Diung Kwong and many others who played their parts to bring about the reality of the temple premises

But there is the universal temple that Lord Bo Tien wants us to know and all under Heaven are in this temple. This is not a concrete building. The sky is the roof of the temple and religions and sects are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven are in the temple. The whole wide world and web is the temple and must be regarded as a sacred place --- a temple for living and learning. It is more important that everyone that counts plays a role in this universal temple if due  focus is to be given to the Mission of Heaven. Men must not be distracted by the agenda of men and end up serving the mission of man. That would be a far cry from the Mission of Heaven.

 Side view of Bo Tien Temple with the towering glass cone housing over the shrine hall

Even Ji Gong the Living Buddha roams the world of men and the whole world is his temple. This is in line with the concept of universal temple by Lord Bo Tien

Ji Gong

Christmas is the celebration of life

No 229 of Living Life Series 1

The day of the birth of Christ on 25th December is the day of mass, the day for the celebration of life. We celebrate and live life in God, in the Holy Spirit and in Man, the Son.

We recognize that God is triune. He is the One. He is the Holy Spirit and He is in Man. Jesus embodies the three. The three is one and from one, comes two and then three. This has some parallel with the Three Purities or Absolutes of Taoism.

From these, men in God speak out to more men and fan out for the good of the many and for the benefit of one and all. This is the spirit and the life of Christmas.

This celebration of life in God is universal beyond religion, sect, creed and race. No other celebration reaches out to the modern man like the ocean to all corners than Christmas.

Christmas is for all. The belief is simple, yet profound and ever far reaching, like the ocean lapping on the shores of many a land. Just do believe in God, Holy Spirit and Man. Then all can cherish and celebrate goodness of life - in God, in Holy Spirit and in Man His Son.

This is also the manifest expression of inner truth behind life that God wants us to know through iconic individual like Lord Bo Tien. The latter is not here to start a new religion but He wants all to better appreciate prevailing ones, more so the one that appeals to the person so that that person can celebrate life not just on special day but every day.

The spirit of Xmas is in love, 
in giving and receiving

Let every day be a Christmas for love, for giving and for receiving. Let it be as it has to be for everyone, that is, for the infinite many beyond the finite few. This all embracing love for life is the true spirit and meaning of Xmas. Love and be loved. Give and be given. Bless and be blessed. Cherish and be cherished. Cheers. Have a joyful Xmas not just on that one special day but for every day. 

Live and believe that there is the One. From the One, there is the Two and from the Two there is the Three. Then arises all the rest, the many levels of heaven, the religions and the sects and all that are and will be. All religions are one and it is not wrong to say that there is only one. But from one, there is the two and from two, there will be the three and more. God is one and from one, there is the two and from two, there is the three and more -- the pure ones and the saints. Then comes the religions, the sects, the chapters and the schools. All these are to be and have to be, so that more souls may be reached and saved as embodied by the inner truth message of Lord Bo Tien. To  some Christians, Christianity is the main one. This is true so long as we realize that there is the one. From one, arises the two, and from two, arises the three and more. (Do refer to  Messages before 1974)

PS A word of note is that in the beginning there was God and the primordial energy from which God manifested. The primordial energy was the base from which arose one and from one there arose the two and from two there arose three and more. You can say that there is God, the Holy Spirit and the Son in man. From there, arose more, the pure ones and the saints, also the levels of heaven, and all that are below. The primordial energy that remained devolved or rather evolved to be what Taoists refer to as yin and yang. There will always be the dynamism and flux between the yin and yang - the polarities of life and universe. Beings must attain the balance and have inner peace and eventual enlightenment to be with God and divinity. This is the way, the truth and the light.

For reference on Taoism, read The Three Pure Ones at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Pure_Ones
http://www.taoistsecret.com/taoistgod.html

(The above article is meant to provide an alternative view that affords insight into the comparative similarities between religions and between the west and the east. It is meant to attract readers who want serious alternative views that are different and refreshing and yet in some way conform to the standard or conventional views held by mainstream factions and diversions that spear head present day approaches and variations. It is never the intention of the writer to ruffle feathers or to upset the peace but to promote sense of unity and sameness of purpose across and amid the diverse sects and religions of the world. Alternative views are but part of the same spectrum of views that are in concordance, somewhat identical and yet distinct from one another. The writer does not represent the views of any one group but may touch on views that may appear to be that of certain groups and yet still differ somewhat. He is not writing from the angle of any one sect or religion but tries to view issues using the inner truth message of Lord Bo Tien. Do remember that the inner truth message is not the basis of a new sect or religion and Lord Bo Tien has no set intention for a new sect or religion. He speaks out to the wisdom and Godliness of all people regardless of their religious affiliation or even if none.)

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Poinsettias

Poinsettias and Christmas

Jesus's birthday. The girl gathered roadside weeds to place at the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" red leaves sprouted to become beautiful poinsettias. In the 17th century, Mexican Franciscan friars included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern resembles the Star of Bethlehem, and the redness of leaves reminds us of the love of Jesus for mankind with his blood sacrifice through crucifixion.

For more information go to Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_pulcherrima

A white Christmas with buffet setting
of blessings with many stars of Bethlehem
above the ginger bread manger
at a restaurant in Singapore.
It was in a manger that the baby Jesus
was born on Christmas Day.

Let there be many stars of Bethlehem to guide us to God and the gift of God in saints like Lord Jesus. Let every day be a White Christmas, so pure, peaceful, and with festive joy reaching out to all irrespective of creed, color or conviction or even if none. Even the wayward too can feel the joy and peace.

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God's Mission through any spiritual organisation is like The Dragon Dance

No 228 of Living Life Series 1

(1) Lord Bo Tien had in 1984 descended to remind that a temple or spiritual organisation leader must be ever the more steady and steadfast to continue to undertake the divine order (leng / the Holy Spirit) to implement God's Mission to save souls. This is more so as there are bound to be members within its ranks who are not clear and steady. That members may be in such state is understandable as they are after all human beings.

(2) He then gave illustration of a long dragon with a pearl held in its mouth and has descended to the deep forest. It has to reach the human world to pass the pearl to the world through every spiritual organisation.

(3) The Lord then said that, in effect, the dragon head with pearl has no problem reaching the destination (the spiritual organisation) after travelling through the deep forest, and such dragon has a very long, long body with many legs.

(4) In the heavenly sense, however, the 'Leng' (Chinese word) or Holy Spirit can be compared to a dragon with God at the head of the dragon, and the heavenly saints, God's representatives, deities, buddhas and prophets are the many legs of the dragon. Lord Bo Tien like any heavenly saint or prophet is but one leg of the dragon. The tail has yet to arrive. This tail represents the second coming of a buddha or messiah at the end of the present world cycle or era. Then there will be completeness of the dragon - the Holy Spirit.

(Lord Bo Tien's 1984 Anniversary Message refers "This is a very good dragon which has many legs, and the lord saint Lord Bo Tien is one of the legs to support the dragon. Up to date, the legs have arrived but not the tail")

 (5) But in the earthly or human realm, the dragon had arrived but being a very long, long dragon, members of any of the various spiritual organisations would regrettably usually fail to recognise the body as that of the dragon they are waiting for, and they would step on it bringing hurt and pain to the dragon. Members of every spiritual organisation must welcome the dragon, and take up dragon positions to help carry out the dragon dance – the Mission of Heaven on Earth (God's Mission to save souls through their respective sect or religion).

(6) In the human realm, the members of a spiritual organisation must take up dragon positions. The organisation leader must carry the dragon head to lead the dragon dance in the human realm.

(7) But members who carry the legs of the dragon sometimes tend not to move in unison with the leader and thus cannot dance to the music and direction by heaven. When such disharmony and failure to give due respect happens, there will be no dragon dance, but chaos more so if the dragon body is long. The legs cannot be telling the head where to go. 

(8) It is the dragon head which will lead the dance. Sometimes, a change of the person to be the dragon head is the issue and not the members. But often heaven has say to decide who can be the leader to hold the dragon head as past lives do play a part.

(9) The dragon will have to dance to music of heaven. Any temple or spiritual organisation must take the direction from Heaven for its part of The Mission. Heaven through a prophet or saint will conduct the music for the Mission.

(10) The religious or mission council or board members of spiritual organisation will hold the pearl ball in front of the dragon, and ensure that the dragon head is effective, comes to life, i.e. could spit fire from its mouth, and throw the pearl ball in and out of its mouth. The council or board has to give life and realism to the dance, i.e. to the part of Mission undertaken by the spiritual organisation.

(11) The Mission to save souls is on for all spiritual groups, and members of every group must do the dragon dance, the mission, by following the lead of the dragon head i.e. the group leader. The dance must be in accordance with the music from Heaven. The spiritual group leader carrying the dragon head must lead the dance, and the bearers of the many legs must dance in unison. The religious or mission council being bearers of the pearl and being dragon fire facilitators must play and dance in harmony and be one with the dragon head. This is the direction and message of God through all heavenly saints. Lord Bo Tien is  a messenger of Heaven.

(12) The Mission  of any spiritual organisation or group is like the dragon dance.

(13) Let the organisation leader e.g. pastor or priest lead the dance. He has been tasked to lead the Mission in his organisation and he has to ensure that the organisation dances with the music (carry out its part in the Mission) or face the music (stand in judgement by Divinity). It is not wise to undermine him and there is no time to waste. Worse still, there will be chaos if everyone tries to move in his or her own way, if everyone wants to be heard, as much time, energy and resources will be wasted.

(14) The dragon will be sick if the head cannot move the legs, if the dragon cannot dance in unison with the musical directions from Heaven. Then, members of that organisation must pray that Heaven bless them with dragon doctors / healers. Let them then pray that Heaven does not lose confidence and decide to choose a totally new crew in that organisation. This will happen if dragon healers fail in their job and are taken away to other realms. Time is nevertheless limited though providence has been patient and understanding (for their lack of clarity of perception and spiritual steadfastness of purpose, for their human weakness, vis-à-vis short fall in mutual respect for the leader and for one another). Many a time, members have their individual views but please let the head decide for he is the one to lead the dance though at times there is need to have a  new head or leader.

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A spiritual organisation is a divine tree

No 227 of Living Life Series 1

1) A spiritual organisation is a tree of Truth planted by a heavenly saint. It breathes on the air of the Divine Spirit. It is meant to provide shade and fruits for the members so that they can effect Heaven’s Mission to save souls. Members must act like one family to tend to the Divine Tree.

2) What will nourish the tree and allow it to flourish are the following:-

a) Water of merits of members, devotees and well wishers
b) Air of the Divine Spirit
c) Devotion of love, care and co-operation by members
d) Nutrients of spiritual understanding of temple members
e) Light of Mission harnessed by members

3) What will result in poor growth of tree, and cause stunting and withering? They are: -

 

a) Drought from lack of water of merits
b) Failure to ensure ventilation for air of Divine Spirit to reach it
c) Lack of care and perhaps worse, neglect and trampling by errant members
d) Failure to provide nutrients of spiritual understanding (i.e.members not learning and practising)
e) Depriving the tree from light of mission
f) Harmful parasitic actions of members egos, selfish ways and deceit

4) Good and effective co-operation and consensus approach to facilitate proper teamwork and effect a good care agenda are important for a healthier and more sturdy tree to provide more fruits of truth and divinity

5) For this, strong and effective leadership is important, more important is enlightened leadership who can call the shots, endear members’ respect, and arrange them into effective teams and who can then provide directions for co-ordinated efforts

6) The members who look after the Divine Tree must have effective leader and Lord Bo Tien has time and again stressed this as essential for any spiritual organisation..

Without leadership, the bigger the team, the more chaotic will be the care, and productive effectiveness will then take a battering.

The size of the team will be dependent on the strengths and effectiveness of leadership.

A good leader could commandeer a bigger team. A poor leader works with small clique or team. But the Divine Tree or spiritual organisation must have big team for God's Mission

Bad team members will make the leader less effective as they do not co-operate and act concertedly with him.

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Trees of life and faiths need the water of inner truth

No 226 of Living Life Series 1





Lord Bo Tien's 1980 Anniversary Message

There are many trees in plantations. Come dry season, the trees shrivel, do not fare well and have few fruits. At the fringe, there is a lone tree. The grass and shrubs around it remain green and flowering despite the dry season. This lone tree pales in comparison with the trees in the plantations in good seasons. Somehow, however, despite dry season, it still has a good crown of leaves and fruits. Though rivers dry up and there is hardly a drop of rain, it ironically thrives better than the trees in the orchard. The farmers are at a lost but a few decide to relocate their trees to the fringe. Soon these trees too survive the dry spell and could flower and bear fruit.

How do we explain this? The answer is simple. The lone tree at the fringe is rooted in ground with subterrain water stream in all seasons. Even not tended to and watered by farmers in good seasons, it can still survive though less majestic than the trees in the plantations. But the trees in the plantations wither in the dry season as the farmers could not secure any water for the trees. The lone tree at fringe rooted in ground stream has continuous water supply in all seasons. It could survive even when not tended and watered. (It would certainly fare even better if tended and nurtured with more water in good seasons)

Brethren, adherents of religious institutions too must ensure their institutions must be sustained not just by the water of conventional ways of sectional society but more importantly, by the all-season underground water of inner truth.

The inner truth is that God and Heaven reach out to us via more than one religion or sect, via more than one tree of hope. This is to allow more to experience the inner peace amidst the yin yang ups and downs in life. This inner peace is achieved by recognising, by balancing and by non-denial of yin and yang. We will then not be tossed and swept around by yin and yang. Yin and yang refers to the worldly contingencies or axes in life like gain loss, health sickness, praise blame, honour dishonour, elation and dejection, mania and depression etc which create restlessness and dis-ease. We do not need to wait till kingdom come in after-life to have heavenly peace. We can do so here and now. Only by inner peace can we be one with the peace and purity of the holy spirit of God and heavenly saints ('leng' in Chinese Hokkien). We will have heavenly inner peace of our spirit or inner being here and now. We develop the God or Divinity within us.

Religions and sects are thus the trees of hope to save souls by appealing through diverse ways and means to reach out to as many as can be to bring on the inner peace in the world within every individual. For the trees of hope to be effective all the time, the religions as trees of hope must be nurtured by the water of inner truth and not just driven by water of sectional preferences, interests and norms unique and peculiar to sectional society. The latter are effective but religions would otherwise be more effective for all seasons if rooted in water of inner truth.

There is another application of the lesson of the lone tree. Do we as individuals want to be the lone tree and survive all seasons and contingencies of life? We can do so by being rooted in underground water of inner truth when we practice and profess our separate spiritual approaches? We are one in inner truth (that is in our goal to have godly divine inner peace) but remain distinctive in our separate approaches.

Do we want to see the oneness of religions and sects or do we want to see the sects and religions as divides and contradictions? Just like water and fire, they complement and make nature more whole, so too with religions. They may appear different but serve the diverse needs and make humanity more wholesome and divine. Religions have their worldly or mundane ways to attract, meet needs and hold on to their adherents. They need to evolve and to be innovative to do so. Collectively, they appeal to more men than what could be achieved by just any one religion or sect. But to be more effective, not to cause divides, and to be synergistic, they must be sustained concurrently by the divine underground water of inner truth.

Last but not least the lone tree lesson can be applied to another perspective. The lone tree can represent the fringe small and modest organisation of the lord saint. The organisation (like many others) is not set up to roll out another sect or religion. As His lordship has stressed, it is to serve as platform to promote better understanding of religions and why God and Heaven have sanctioned proliferation of more religions and sects to be pillars to bring more beings to the fold of divine peace here and now. There is no need to wait for the afterlife.

In time, many more religious institutions the world over will be persuaded to adopt the intentions of the many organisations like that of the lord saint and uphold the inner truth. They can reach out in their own separate, special and unique ways. Yet they will rejoice in and complement the good works of other institutions. This points to the harmony, infinite compassion and peace so characteristic of divinity but not instinctive in men.

This hopefully gives a glimpse-cum-discussion of the 1979 anniversary message. The attempt at re-enactment does not do justice to the divine wisdom of the lord saint.  

Lord Bo Tien's 1977 Anniversary Message

"Everyone is like a tree. Compare thus two trees. A tree with abundant leaves but has shallow roots looks good but can easily be uprooted when beset by storms. A tree with poor crown of leaves and foliage but are deeply and well rooted could withstand storms and drought. Which would you prefer? The grasp and practice of the doctrine will enable you to be rooted to face big problems and issues."

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Reflections on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

No 225 of Living Life Series 1

The stories of Harry Potter are not just fiction. They bring to mind that in any society and even amongst the wizards and witches, there are both the good and the bad.

The understanding derived from the more oriental religion is that witches and wizards do exist but more in the spiritual underworld which coexist with the human world and the netherworld. They are like in any society or community comprised of both the good and the bad. This is unlike fundamentalist concept that all witches and wizards must be burnt or exorcised for they are all bad and all of the Devil.

Buddhist, Hindu and Asian culture depict some beings of Hell as

of good heart and capable of cultivating some good and have spiritual development. For example, the ogres are part animal, part spirit and part human form and many are reported to be man and animal eaters.  But some ogres are even exemplary like the great Jambhalas who prevented  rock from being hurled at Gautama Buddha. Lord Buddha in Tibetan and Mahayana texts did even speak well of a few of them. Nearly all the Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhists have even regarded them as saints or bodhisattvas who can enable and facilitate beings to gather merits and wealth to improve their lot so that they can improve and be on road to enlightenment.

Even denizens of Hell belong to a spectrum ranging from the bad,  self suffering or self tormenting, wicked and evil to the very ignorant who had committed some grave errors in their previous lives. Buddhas have been noted to visit them to impart them the doctrine and some have even attained early stages of sainthood even while sojourning in Hell. Oriental belief is that those born to Hell do not stay in Hell forever but can be reborn to human world and higher planes if they have done some good in the past lives or able to cultivate the way of God while in Hell despite the dire unfavorable circumstances.

Thus the Harry Potter stories are reflective in some way of the true nature of beings. All beings are capable of good and bad. The fact that one is born with the community of the baddies does not mean one is a baddie. It is also not true that one who is a baddie cannot be good. In the Harry Potter stories, recognition is given to the fact that even amongst the witches and wizards, there are the good and the bad, the devils and the saints. 

It is too presumptive to even think for instance, that all prisoners must be bad just because they are prisoners. Then why the need for rehabilitation and corrective actions for prisoners in many of the countries across the world? Who would say that prisoners cannot be good or not capable of being good? It is ill will and myopic narrow mindedness that lead many to think that the baddies will always be baddies and should therefore be regarded eternally as such. 

This myopic and intolerant moral highhanded approach be it in respect of prisoners or  otherwise  (e.g. witches and those in hells and lower realms) is not only not divine but also inhumane. Some may want to say that such view, stance or conviction surely smacks of  sheer shallowness, childishness and immaturity as well as plain lack of wholesome and holistic overview. Yet, such people portray themselves as the elite and the favored few by men and by God. They speak from purported and supposedly divine moral high ground and point fingers and speak down to others creating fear for not only God but also for men who claim to stand for saints and God as well. 

Nevertheless, they do have role in the divine scheme or plan of God. 'Why?' you may ask.  The reason is that it is Divinity (and saints) who decides who can come to the flower of God. The flower cannot stop ants and insects from coming to the flower. Thus we should not blame the flower. This has been said repeatedly by Lord Bo Tien. Lord Bo Tien's 1984 Anniversary Message

"Ants and insects are attracted to the flower and all should not blame the flower for attracting ants and insects. A heavenly saint is like the flower and the least expected amongst men will be attracted to the saint like ants and insects to the flower. This is not the wrong doing of the flower but nature's way of survival and existence. That the least expected should be at the helm or in the following of a temple is not the folly of a heavenly saint and Heaven but Heaven's way to reach out to all more so the more lost in society. But the folly of men should not be regarded as Heaven's folly."

To prejudge that a group can only be all bad or even all good is probably too naive and simplistic--- though good enough for the consumption of the fearful and the faithful of simplified or perhaps fairy tale like or fundamentalist sections of society. But please do not judge those who judge others adversely or inappropriately. Do not discount their roles and usefulness to God and society. Here is insight into this aspect.

In 1983 message, Lord Bo Tien did mention that if heaven wants to, even a thief can be chosen as leader if any heavenly saint wants to train and teach him. Lord Bo Tien's 1983 Anniversary Message

"Even Lord Buddha's teachings are not exclusive to the more good but are for all whether good or not and regardless of their personalities, status, job, or background. This is the heavenly perspective that doctrine is for all and not reserved for or the enclave of any group." 

Religion is not for the favorite few or for the goody two shoes but for the majority many others who are not amongst the few elite or best. Otherwise it would be exclusive and not inclusive. There is less need to do more for the few but to do more for the many who may appear less deserving of heaven in the eyes of man. It would be akin to preaching to the converted if focus is on the few goody two shoes. Evangelism targets the many and not the few. The more inclusive religions or sects tend to be more focused and simplified in doctrine and be more dogmatic. The more exclusive are very exclusive that is cater only to the elite or advanced because they are too philosophical, abstract and  much less dogmatic, hovering in the outer space of spirituality. They are very foreign, very Greek, incomprehensible and unpalatable to the majority. God and Heaven do cater to the broad based needs and reach out to masses via diverse ways and the variety of sects and religions. Thank God and Heaven for the divine  inclusiveness otherwise many will go to hell both literally and figuratively.

Lord Bo Tien did add in 1983 "...people should not judge and frown at the profile and personalities of members of a temple or spiritual organisation. The purity and excellence of the members and leaders may not be at par with and measure up to the purity and excellence of the doctrine of Heaven. The choice or judgement call on who can be leaders and members lies with the heavenly saint of the temple or spiritual organisation. Even a thief can be chosen as a facilitator of the organisation if the founding saint wants to train and teach him."

In the film show of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the story refers to the symbol of the magic wand, the round resurrection stone and the triangle symbol of the invisible cloak and the roles of all three in relation to lesson of the three brothers and the way they handle Mr Death. 

The three brothers were each given a choice of three gifts by Mr Death -- the wand, the round resurrection stone and the invisible cloak. The first brother 's  choice was the wand which would give worldly power but this is of little help with regards to cheating death. The second brother's choice of the resurrection stone enabled him to resurrect others to life after death  but alas they could not live long after resurrection and he could not resurrect himself. The third brother with choice of invisible cloak could  live the full and peaceful life unnoticed even by Mr Death.  He could decide when to die and then he would take off his cloak and go away as friends with Mr Death. He had not only cheated death but has become true master of his own life. He had become friend of Mr Death and can choose when to die and not let Mr Death decide and dictate.

Worldly upmanship as depicted by the first brother with the magic wand and spiritual upmanship as depicted by the second brother with the round resurrection stone have their limitations. But  it is best to adopt a low profile and wise moderation with respect to both extremes of insatiable worldly trappings and spiritual prowess over others. This will enable life so as to allow a peaceful and quietly fulfilling life. This is in a way best depicted by the third brother with the invisible cloak.

The three symbols and the story of  the three brothers have some semblance to the doctrine of inner truth behind all religions. Lord Bo Tien has always advised the balanced approach as the one common denominator behind  and underlying the diverse faiths and sects sanctioned by God Almighty. He advised that we should balance between the materialistic life and spiritual life as depicted by his feet straddling the two elements or approaches. We should live life incognito neither be too worldly or materialistic nor portraying spiritual excesses. Both extremes lead to unwholesome consequences.  Lord Bo Tien's 1975 Anniversary Message

In conclusion. it is timely to remind that Lord Bo Tien had said  in 1974**that we learn from the gospel of life, our own life and that of others as life unfurls. We too can learn from the minds and thinking of others and the Harry Potter series is a great resource for us to have an insight to the mind, thoughts and fantasy of the author J.K. Rowling. Fundamentalists may beg to differ somewhat and reserve their views.

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Lord Bo Tien's 1974 Anniversary Message

A society or "a temple too will attract people of various characteristics, some good and some not so good. These will be contrasted for all in the group and be noticeable. Learn and absorb as much of the good points of others. Do also learn from the weaknesses and mistakes (of others), so that these will not be repeated in their (your) own life."

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The second coming - an inkling or beyond

No 224 of Living Life Series1

There is always interest on the end of the world or the second coming. Why is there the interest and why is there the need for second coming?

All boils down to the understanding that when there is arising, there is progress and subsequent decay and the need for reemergence. This is similar to life with birth, growth, maturity, ageing and death followed by rebirth. Even for our thought moments, there is birth of a thought, growth of the thought, fading away and death of the thought followed by birth of new thought.

It is therefore not unexpected or surprising for religion to dwell on the emergence of its prophet, the progressive impact of the prophet and his religion on the world over many centuries. There is then the evolution of the religion to keep up with the times. Despite all that, there will be the downturn which will precede the second coming of the prophet. This is the very nature of things and life in the world we are in.

Incidentally, fundamentalism, that is keeping to the so-called written word, is attempt to stall the process of downturn and to maintain the upturn and at least keep religious fervour at the plateau. Another thrust to stamp the tide is to keep up with the times and sometimes this may end up with previously otherwise considered unthinkable ways to be implemented just to ensure religion remains attractive and as relevant as in the past. In the process, there is watering down of the fabric of religion. The original fervour and doctrine of the founder may be then be subverted. 

Like what Lord Bo Tien said before 1974 in his inaugural message.  " From time to time in history, saints arose amongst men to lay down certain rules and regulations to help the masses lead better lives and to incline them towards GOD. "

"Over time, these rules become the tenets of an organised religion, but the idealistic spirit and motive, which prevailed during the founding saint's life time, changed gradually after his passing with arising of sects and differing sectarian styles."

"This is why often an organisation cannot bring out spiritual truth more effectively and closer to true nature of life unique to each individual in society. Life is an individual concern. Religion is always centred on life and a personal concern. Religious organisations often may end up over time as archaeological departments trying to discover the past." Messages before 1974

Thus it is uphill for any religion to maintain the zest and tempo of the founders and despite innovative changes, with the ever increasing worldliness, materialistic society, consumerism, over board self-gratification and self indulgence, religion will fade away and become not at all appealing. Churches, mosque and temples will be increasingly deserted. The clergy that is the monks, pastors and priests will be the first to wane by doing what their ancient predecessors would not have done. There will be scandals of sexual, financial and cult etc. 

Religious texts refer to the few faithful who adhere to the original fervour. Before they are here no more, the next prophet in their religion will come and there after there will be no third coming for many centuries or aeons to come. The reason for this is that the decadence of society with ills like moral and social decay will make it futile for the advent of a prophet.

Thus in Buddhism, there is Buddha Maitreya who is currently in Tusita Heaven waiting for the time when there is no more of the original doctrine and fervour and yet there is enough few of the faithful who can benefit from his coming. 

The majority of people then will lead a decadent life and not at all receptive to truth and doctrine. Why is this so? This is the natural cycle of life and the universe-- of nature to be exact.

Many who have been in Hell have completed their sojourn in Hell. By virtue of their remnant past good Karma (live energy) before their rebirth in Hell due to bad volition or Karma, these beings will be born as humans. But many will continue to behave like beings in Hell with bad attributes. They may even appear to be well off with wealth and appear to be rewarded for the bad they do. They are merely expending their good karma or life energy of their past lives before their sojourn in Hell.

Religions would change and innovate to reach out to them but in time this too will not be possible. Thus we can see for ourselves, new approaches and new ways of worship or devotion which to our ancestors will be unthinkable. But without such means, there is no way religion can reach out to them.

In time, even warping and distortion of the original fervour of the founding fathers of religions too will be to no avail. Way before this comes true, the second coming will have to be. The second coming must be timed when there will still be some who can benefit and when the original truth, founding spirit and fervour of the founding fathers of religions are beyond salvage.

The second coming of the Messiah referred to by the West is western portrayal and a more apt and palatable one for modern westernised society be it for the East or West. This reinforces the adage that all roads lead to Rome and in the words of Lord Bo Tien, all religions and sects lead to GOD and truth.

No effort should be spared to reach out to all even the unreachable. Credit and applause must be given to those who try to do so. They try to share their religion with all though in trying to do so, they may rub many the wrong way round. Sometimes, they would even appear uncompromising and intolerant of others views. But the crux of the matter is that at least they try to reach out to as many as they could even the unreachable though in the process they do rub many the wrong way round.

One question that comes to mind  is whether are there as many prophets referred to in the second coming as there are many religions or will there be only one. This is for readers to conjure and there is no way we can know for sure.

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Is there the need?

No 223 of Living Life Series 1

Who can say that one sect or faith is better than the others?  Anyone perhaps can say so but yet all should never say so. You may wonder why this is so. Let us bring you round to the realisation that all are one and one is all. The simple is yet the most complex and perhaps also philosophical. The most philosophical is yet also simple. This is true of any faith otherwise the faith will not reach out to various sections of society.

Take for example meditation. There is one pointedness as well as awareness or insight meditation (basically two types). The fruits or outcome include joy, absorptions, ecstasy. Some religions simply appear not to have meditation but what they refer to as prayers have the same effect of meditation. They feel an inexplicable joy and described this as union with the holy spirit or God. This is similar or akin to the 'piti' or joy described by Buddhists in their meditation. What Buddhists and Hindus describe as 'jhanas' or absorptions of various levels  are experienced by theists when they fast for days and pray to God in seclusion or wilderness. They describe experiences of being engulfed and transported to vast expanse of light or vision with intense ecstasy or sense of fulfilment. They say they have union with God. Even the very act of singing hymns or even talking in tongues is a form of trying to be one with God, that is a form of prayer, worship or meditation, whatever you may wish to refer to.

Even the practice of offerings is another example. Some offer water, fruits, food  but some offer tithes, money, time and even themselves. All are examples of what we can give to God. Which religion is better at this is not the issue but the issue is that God and saints do not need them but it is still a practice to be encouraged but in the wise and sensible way.

Even if one gives nothing and just say that one will improve and better oneself, that too in a way is an offering --- an offering to love oneself and do better for oneself. That is what God wants us to do and have. That is the best we can do justice and give credit to God and saints. 

Thus be it obvious offering, new ways of offering or apparently no offering and just self love and cultivation, it is still an offering and yet not an offering. Whatever we give to God, God does not need and if He needs, then there is cause for concern. Is He omnipotent and all perfect? Are we not belittling Him by offering to Him what we would otherwise offer to great men? Are we not measuring Him like we measure our fellow men? (See not the man in God and the God in man. Man is man and God is God.)

Thus the issue is whether there is the need or perhaps there is none. Is there the need?  Is there the need to say that all practices and religions are different or the same?  'Yes' and 'No' and both 'Yes' and 'No' and perhaps neither as well. All depend on where you are coming from. All are one and one is all.  Is  there the need to talk like that and to twist words like that? This is perhaps food for thought.

This is exactly what Lord Bo Tien tries to convey to us on the oneness and yet distinctness of faiths and sects. There is oneness as there is common purpose with God and divinity as the inner truth behind all. There is distinctiveness or separateness as they are distinct faiths and ways of approach.

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The inner voice of God in us

No 222 of Living Life Series 1

There is the universe out there and the universe in us. The nature of life out there and the nature of life within us are the same nature. He who knows himself knows the world.

Thus our Lord Bo Tien did say. The doctrine is in His image and the doctrine is in the world we live in. Life is about the truth and the truth is about life. Life is the living gospel and the gospel is none other than life. That is why we refer to the living gospel.

Within our mind and body is to be found the same nature of life as in the universe or world we are in. God is nature and nature is God. Know our self. Know nature and know God. God speaks to us through the nature or world we live in. If we are not at peace with nature and abuse nature, nature speaks aloud to us by global warming, green house effect, pollution disasters and the imbalance of our ecology and species.

If we do not handle our own life well and if we are not at peace with our own life (mind and body), life will speak out to us in many ways. We will not be at ease and at peace when we do not listen to our life, our body and our mind. Hunger affects us loud and clear.  Our health takes a beating. Greed and over-eating too affects us and everyone hears about our plight.

God is life and life is God. God speaks to us in the world we live in. Yes, God speaks to us (within us) as we live life. This is like the inner voice and some say this is conscience. The inner voice should be cultivated and refined and this depends on how we lead our life, how we handle our body and how we do so for our mind. We grow fat and feel bad. We fall sick and feel the need to have divine grace and blessings. These are a few examples of the inner voice or of how God can speak to us.

If we want God to speak to us with love, we must love ourselves and be right all the time or at least try to be so most of the time. We must be kind to our self even if we are not so right or not so good or if we do go wrong. 

God helps those who help themselves. God is loving and this is palpable only if we are loving to ourselves and only when we are in the company of like-able and loving people.  We must not fear our self, be judgemental with our own self  and be displeased with our lot.

Then we do not need to fear divine displeasure and our inner voice or conscience will be a pleasant one. The God in us will be pleasant and loving if we are pleasant and loving to our self.   

This is the inner truth in life. Life speaks aloud to us in the world of our mind and body and not just in the world we live in. There is more to it than meets the eye. There is the inner voice of God in us.

Our individual life is like the image of Lord Bo Tien. The image is the doctrine and the doctrine is in the image. This has been stressed to us by the lord saint. Our life is the doctrine and the doctrine is in our life. The best gospel is not the written word but the gospel of our own life. Life is the gospel and the gospel is in our life.

Cultivate and nurture the inner voice of God. Make sure it is a loving one and has to do with peace and ease, not fear, displeasure and dis-ease. How? The answer lies in how we love our self and want to make good what we have and can have, how we can accept our lot and move on. Be nice to our self and God will be nice to us. Be nice to our self and somehow, the world suddenly will be nicer to us even though there is no miraculous change from the immediate past.

A few have wrongly conceived God as wrathful and jealous God and they encourage fear and guilt within themselves. They fear to think, to do more and to want to love themselves ever more for they fear to hurt God. Is  there the need to do so? Is God not perfect and beyond hurt, jealousy, anger, greed and need to control others? On the contrary, we and not God and saints are the ones who are liable to be hurt, jealous, angry, greedy and we often want others to please us as we want to control others. Isn't this an example of  doctrine in life and an evidence of God speaking to us through our life --- the inner voice of God in us.

This inner voice of God in us is the same as and one with the voice of God in the world we live in. It is a loving voice if we are loving to our self. God loves those who love themselves. God helps those who help themselves.

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