Fellowship and the three divine paths

No 263 of Living Life Series 1 (It is recommended that post 261 should be read before 263. Click 261 at Fellowship beyond home, school and work )

 

There are three ways to union with Divinity what some will term as enlightenment. All have to do with peace in Divinity.

The three ways are (a) energetic discipline (b) socio-devotional (c) intellectual wisdom approaches as somewhat represented by the images of Lord Bo Tien, Goddess Kuanyin and Lord Buddha at shrine hall at Bo Tien Temple. 

This runs parallel to the three phases of the temple - (i) Lord Bo Tien phase of discipline and establishment of the mission, (ii) Goddess Kuanyin phase of social compassion and devotion and (iii) the Lord Buddha phase of doctrine and wisdom.



Lord Bo Tien on left, Buddha at centre and Goddess Kuanyin at far right



We can use combination of the three approaches or even only one. All lead to peace and ability to flow along and nurture the peace of spirit. The ultimate peace will be union with Divinity or enlightenment. The discussion above deals more with the socio-devotional approach. 

All approaches are means to the end of enlightenment or union with Divinity. Often, for many, fellowship helps to foster bonding and socio-devotional path. Fellowship and faith can go some way for one to have peaceful life by rendering life more acceptable and help kindle inner peace of spirit for both spiritual and secular life.  Fellowship too means compassion and  devotion to fellow men. Charity is but a component of socio-devotional path which deals more with social enhancing, networking and devotional activities. This approach is the most pragmatic and popular of the three. 

Only a handful can adopt the path that includes intellectual wisdom approach as the main pivot. They usually have advantage of previous spiritual cultivation not just in present life but in past.
 

Many sects and faiths cannot just zoom in on the better ones who fit the bill for intellectual wisdom focus.  These blessed ones have stronger spiritual foundation in past lives. Religions to reach out to the masses have to focus on fellowship and devotion to God, self and fellow men. Their founders according to Lord Bo Tien can promulgate dogmas and guidelines to hold on to their following. These need not be the same across faiths and sects but all serve to lead to God and Divinity.

Establishing mission work is in the realm of energetic discipline approach.  This is for the pioneers and also for those who establish hermitage. Cooking and service and support volunteer work at places of worship are included in the energetic discipline approach.

We should consider the interests of the majority by focusing on the socio-devotional approach which is fellowship based. It is the approach that will appeal to the masses.

It is better  to reach out and hold on to youth even with mere socio-devotional approach and nothing more. This is better alternative than to lose them to the ravages, demands and expectations of the 21st century and beyond.

Let there be fellowship beyond home, school and work. Then more peace in life both secular and spiritual will be for one and for all.  God bless.



May God Almighty - The  Jade Emperor
bless you with fellowship
beyond the home, school and work.



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More on fellowship at religious institutions

No 262 of Living Life Series 1 (It is recommended that post 261 should be read before 262. Click 261 at Fellowship beyond home, school and work )








Let us dwell on the 2nd quote of the late Senior Bro P. Philip in relation to the issue of fellowship and socialisation. Do these have any relevance to saving 'souls' through union with God or what some will refer to as enlightenment?

"Many a pride cover those who achieve the light of enlightenment. But the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood. Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next world. "

Many a pride cover those who achieve the light of enlightenment.

Discussion part 1: Those who can see the path to enlightenment may realise that fellowship is eventually not the critical to enlightenment but at the same time, not to have fellowship when one is yet to see the light means that many a person may be like lost sheep. Fellowship helps to herd sheep together and allow the sheep to be shepherded to better life.  That will, of course, be stepping stone for spiritual union with divinity.  Those who achieve the light of enlightenment takes pride in notion that fellowship is a good thing to have for the present even if others caution him for selling socialisation as a goal rather than enlightenment. 

But the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood.

Discussion part 2:  But the good disciple of truth fears not of being misunderstood and find it still worthwhile to promote fellowship beyond the home, school and work. The sects and denominations that catche the interests and fancies of the modern youth are those who simplify the spiritual path and promote fellowship. This may be frowned at by those sects and denominations steep in fundamentalism  and philosophy but have yet to see the light that we need to promote the selling points of truth and to do so, we must peddle not the profoundness and intricacies but the simple aspects. To make it more acceptable and not to alienate those lost in the world of attachments and  worldly passions, fellowship which takes the myriad forms of social mores are peddled. They serve to bring together and bind the youths of the 21st century and at least, there is then more opportunities for a good number to move on to be in the light of enlightenment.

Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next world.

Discussion part 3: Thus though heavily misunderstood, the wise with vision who peddle fellowship at social levels in a church or temple have to stay strong and be misunderstood by many.  When kingdom comes in afterlife, they will stand in glory with divinity as they have acted as shepperds for men who would otherwise be worse off and left to the ravages, demands and expectations of the 21st century and beyond.

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Fellowship beyond home, school and work

No 261 of Living Life Series 1. 

When Lord Bo Tien in 1975 anniversary message exhorted to all to be like the candle flame and come together as collection of candle flames to be better able to light up the lives of more men, the ramifications and deeper meaning of what He said did not sink in till the years flowed on in the river of time. Now in year 2011, the saying of the lord makes its impression in many ways. One such meaning surfaces when we look around at life of the young in society. 

Lord Bo Tien

In this modern age of fast pace life and consumerism that consume and eat away the peace and joy of life, one consequence is that often our youths are left lonely despite having friends and despite moving on from family to primary school and then to high school, college and university. 

Each stage of the youth's life is short, fleeting and packed, with precious little time to make enduring friends and have socialisation so very important to keep the peace and to keep a youth in one piece and not be wrecked by the savages of modern day life of youth which robs away the fairy tale world of youth. 

Friends come and go and even before friendship can take root, friends part ways for next stage in life at school or at work. As though this is not enough, to make matters worse, the youth returns home from school to an empty shell of the paltry nuclear family home. Often, even if there is no shortage of cash or facilities for modern day indulgence, the home is empty because siblings and parents are taken away by the bidding of modern life.

In crowded cities, the home is no longer a landed house, not even a cottage but a flat that is shrinking in floor area and space to be akin to be but better than a pigeon hole or worst still a well stocked pig sty. 

The loneliness of modern life gnaws at the heartstrings and can pierce the heart and soul of the youth with anguish. Little wonder, some just cannot take it and end up addicts of sorts or end up with drugs, recidivism, vandalism or just be public nuisance by painting the town red. 

What can we do for our youth? Where can they find long term fellowship that traverses  and can out last the many fleeting stages of his life.  Loneliness amidst modern life especially city life can rob away the zest for life. 

Thank God that there is the weekend or after school church activity to turn to.  By church is not meant just the Christian church but any spiritual house of worship of any religion.

The church does not turn them into priests or monks but allow for  good wholesome gathering of youth for fellowship and for growth of flesh and spirit. There is more than mere prayers and worship. There are many avenues and activities to cater for the youthful exuberances and excesses. They channel them to wholesome outcomes. 

We should thank God for that. Youths find fellowship that outlast the fleeting stages of life and provide fellow youths to hold hands across the span of many stages of life. 

It is not so much the substance of what the church preaches but more importantly, the form that will heal and nurture the mind and body of today's youth. All these, the modern youth somehow often cannot substantially have from nuclear family home, from  nursery, from school, from college, from university or from work. 

With the disappearance of the iron rice bowl, work too is short lived and a youth often changes bosses as often as he changes pants.  Praise God that we have youth ministries and groups at churches and places of worship to bring together youths in healthy social circles to do things together that they often cannot do outside the church or place of worship.

This is in keeping with Lord Bo Tien's message for men to gather together like candles to light up one anothers' lives and the lives of others as well. Cheers and be good to our youths by letting them belong to youth ministries of any of the many religious institutions.

Fellowship beyond home, school and work is important. This is necessary for fruitful and appealing life to keep our head on our shoulders and not just lose our mind - not just  in mundane worldly life but in spiritual life as well. The same principle of fellowship applies equally well to spiritual as well as to secular mundane life. This has always been reiterated by saints and Lord Bo Tien is no exception. After all, He too is a messenger of God. Praise God and lord.

Praise the churches / places of worship for their good wholesome work for the youths of today and the future yet to be. Certainly, Lord Bo Tien too will share similar sentiments.

The lord messenger of God Almighty

For fellowship and the three divine paths, go to post no 263

Fellowship and the three divine paths

For discussion on Quote by late Senior Bro P. Philip

in relation to issue of fellowship beyond home, school and work, go to post no 262 ---  More on fellowship at religious institutions


   

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Perspectives of the Pakua

No 260 of Living Life Series 1

Pakua

The pakua deals with life and all phenomena. It figures prominently in the I-Ching - the Book of Changes. This book is centred on the ideas of the dynamic balance of opposites, the evolution of events as a process, and acceptance of the inevitability of change.

In pakua, yin and yang descriptives are ascribed to each and every phenomenon and context of life. Yin and yang are sort of opposites that go in tandem, the negative and positive, the downs and ups and the female and male elements. We need to contend with both, flow with both but not swept around by them. We need to balance both the yin and yang in life.



Pakua takes centre stage at Bo Tien Temple shrine hall 
at No 6 Chin Bee Road Singapore 619708
Tel: 65 62626021



Balance does not mean mid point or average and the best way to understand this concept is to refer to the dynamic equilibrium which yields peace. This is as per the doctrine portrayed by the image of Lord Bo Tien in seated pose with feet astride the two elements at his feet. The elements represent the yin and yang which some refer to as the little devils or elfs of life but the more well informed will use the terms yin and yang.

Lord Bo Tien

There are many perspectives to the pakua but five are touched on below. Peace from balance of yin and yang is the common goal of all the various perspectives of the pakua.

(1) Plurality perspective

The many segments of the pakua depict plurality of nature and life but this is not the only message behind the segments. These segments of diverse aspects of nature and life come together in harmony to form the pakua. They embrace the yin yang elements - the polarities of life which include the 'up's and 'down's of life. Do read article 257 for more of plurality by clicking:-

Better to be caring and show concern than to be clever

(2) Creation perspective

The two dots represent primordial energy. From them, arose the Three Pure Ones, each with own heaven in the supra- universe and then God who created from the post primordial yin and yang the universe we understand of heavens, earth, hells and all beings -- all represented by the segments of the pakua. For more of this, read article 258 by clicking on

Faith and logic are complementary if optimised.

(3) Phenomena perspective

Pakua literally means eight diagrams to represent 8 categories or areas of life and phenomena. The eight trigrams sometimes refer to the changes in life.  The term is derived from the book of the I-Ching*, a sacred text.  Each diagram consists of three lines, each line either "broken" or "unbroken," representing yin or yang, respectively - ☰ ☱ ☲ ☳ ☴ ☵ ☶ ☷. Because of the three lines, they are called trigrams. 

Why three lines and not two or four? The answer is a philosophical one. There is heaven, earth and man emphasis in Chinese culture. There is the yin and the yang and the third party where they act or which acts as neutraliser of sorts. In the instance of heaven, earth and man, heaven is yang and earth is yin. What is yin to one circumstance or context may be yang in another circumstance or context.

八卦 Pākuà—The eight trigrams

乾 Qián ☰	兌 Duì ☱	離 Lí ☲	震 Zhèn ☳	巽 Xùn ☴	坎 Kǎn ☵	艮 Gèn ☶	坤 Kūn ☷
Heaven/Sky	Lake/Marsh	Fire	Thunder	Wind	Water	Mountain	Earth
天 Tiān	澤(泽) Zé	火 Huǒ	雷 Léi	風(风) Fēng	水 Shuǐ	山 Shān	地 Dì

Pa kua

☰ ☱ ☲ ☳ ☴ ☵ ☶ ☷

Trigrams

The trigrams are related to the five elements of metal, fire, earth, wood, and water.

Trigrams of Heaven (Qian) and Lake (Dui) are related to element of Metal.

Trigram of Water (Kan) is related to the Water element.

Trigram of Fire (Li) is related to Fire element. 

Trigrams of Earth (Kun) and Mountain (Gen) are related to Earth element.

The trigrams of Wind (Xun) and Thunder (Zhen) are related to Wood element (being forces that can erode stone).

(4) Feng shui perspective

There are various evolved applications of the pakua but most notable is in feng shui which often degrades the true spiritual value of the pakua and is best considered an off shoot application.

In feng shui, the eight trigrams end up having bearing on eight aspects of life: (i) wealth, (ii) reputation, (iii) love, (iv) family and health, (v) travel and helpful acquaintances, (vi) career, (vii) wisdom, (viii) children and creativity. Though this perspective might not be behind the original primary spiritual basis for the pakua, it has however found favor amongst geomancy and feng shui practitioners and believers. The motivation is far from spiritual and obviously driven by fanciful mundane obsessions.

It has become a social tool to modulate and optimise all the eight aspects of life.  No one application appears to be wrong and none can be exactly right. Belief after all is in the hands of the beholder and is always subjective rather than objective. Rationalisation makes things appear more right and proper to extent of being more conducive to be acclaimed and venerated beyond mere art.

(5)  Cultural perspective

Many had in the past adopted the pakua often with a mirror variation as talisman to deflect or ward off untoward forces and ill wind. The pakua was placed at the main door of a house to face outwards often at neighbours' doors to their distaste.  This cultural perspective is no longer a mainstream practice. In the first place, it was not what the pakua was designed for by the ancient sages of Tao.

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Altar at Bo Tien Temple
with the tokens of the five archangels


Are the five elements
of metal, fire, earth, wood, and water 
reflective of the five archangels?  
One can never know...

  

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Bo Tien Temple  at No 6 Chin Bee Road Singapore 619708
Tel: 65 62626021

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Spiritual paths do meet

No 259 of Living Life Series1










Pakua literally means eight diagrams. Each diagram consists of three lines, each line either "broken" or "unbroken," representing yin or yang, respectively - ☰ ☱ ☲ ☳ ☴ ☵ ☶ ☷. They represent various aspects of understanding of life and existence - our own and that of nature and the world. There are various evolved applications of the pakua and these are beyond the scope of this blog.

Do the paths of Tao and Buddha meet?

The Pakua embodies the path of Tao but is the path of Tao any different from the path of Buddha? The answer is 'No.' For insight on this, do read:

Knowing the spiritual paths


"Nevertheless, the paths of the Way / Tao and the paths of Buddha World do converge when the apex of perfection is reached. Perfection can best be simplified as purity."





Tao is not just in Taoism

.Click to read more of various Tao in religions and secular life.

What is Tao?




Doing good way or purity way?

Click on titles below for an understanding.

The complementary twin divine paths

The twining of spiritual paths in life 



Truth is one and same for all religious paths
 

The Inner Truth Message explains to us that all religions lead to same truth of God or if you like Divinity. The dogmas and initial ways may be different but the end point and goal is one and the same Divinity.  This is the message conveyed to us by Lord Bo Tien,

The doctrine of the way to peace in Divinity is depicted in the pose of Lord Bo Tien's seated image. His both feet balancing and on top of the elements of yin and yang of life tells us the same truth embodied in the pakua and the path for equanimity (Uppeka) when one overcomes the eight worldly contingencies taught in Buddhist philosophy.

The apparent differences of religions lie with the style or form but the eventual substance of truth of divinity is one and the same. Thus in reality, there is no difference in substance at all.

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Faith and logic are complementary if optimised.

No 258 of Living Life Series 1

This post is based on the very personal understanding of inner truth netizen 2 and is  motivated by the quotation of the late Senior Bro. P. Philip.

Only the wise seek the fulfilment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but difficult to perceive.

It is indeed difficult to perceive that all religions are for the same Divinity. The apparent differences in portrayal are many and can be complex to point of being profound but the truth is that they are for the same Divinity though they speak differing language.

It is indeed also difficult to see that God is caring and show concern when the various yin yang of life make many wonder why the need for ups and downs in life if God is caring. Where have God gone wrong? Is it men who wrongly understand the way of God? 

The answer is simple and is illustrated by the pakua.



 The two dots represent primordial energy.
From them, arose the Three Pure Ones
each with own heaven in the supra- universe
and then God who created from
the post primordial yin and yang
the universe we understand
of heavens, earth, hells and all beings
represented by the segments of the pakua.

Pakua literally means eight diagrams. Each  diagram consists of three lines, each line either "broken" or "unbroken," representing yin or yang, respectively -  ☰ ☱ ☲ ☳ ☴ ☵ ☶ ☷. They represent various aspects of understanding of life and existence - our own  and that of nature and the world. There are various evolved applications of the pakua and these are beyond the scope of this post.



In the beginning, there was the primordial energy, the initial antecedents of yin and yang and they are represented by the white and black dots of the pakua. From these, arose the First Pure One and thereafter at the initiation by the First Pure One, the Second and Third Pure Ones. The  Divine Trinity of The Three Pure Ones came into being, each with their own Supra Heaven and retinue. 

Then arose from creation or wish by the First Pure One, God Almighty, the Jade Emperor and his court of saints. God created the universe of heaven, hell and earth that we know. But all these have to do with the yin and yang.

Beings that arose from the post primordial yin and yang lack divine lustre and have to gain mastery of yin and yang. Thus, it is not that God is wrong or we have wronged God but that we often try to be clever and rationalise in absence of true grasp of yin and yang reality. This is the truth which is simple but many fail to perceive.

Logic is good but in absence of facts and understanding of divinity can end up with rationalisation and half truths. There must be some trust to begin with. Call this faith if you like.

But faith need not be blind and it is always alright to have doubts even of God and saints. There is no need to denounce or put down those with doubts of God and saints. No need for fear and guilt to coerce others to toe the line of faith in God and to feel that to doubt is folly and blasphemous..

But Lord Bo Tien wants us to know that we must be open to such people as they too are our brethren. When they are accepted and able to know more, they will rationalise less and will know God and saints more. They will grow in confidence and faith. Logic if channeled correctly can grow faith.

Faith of the faithful must accommodate logic of doubters. Faith and logic are complementary and synergistic if optimised. They can go hand in hand. That way men can think and advance even more. Science will not be in conflict with religion.

Had it not been for the wisdom of men to hold the conviction that science and religion are complementary, men will still think that thunder is the wrath of God and  earthquake too is due to our stepping on the toes of God. Worse still, we may still hold on to the belief that the world is flat and not a sphere.  

Whilst men have advanced in many frontiers of knowledge and science,  there are still many frontiers men have yet to explore. The lives of men can be likened to candle flames. Yes, men can group together and collectively shine the way for all men to progress.  But if sheltered by God and saints, the stronger and brighter their candle flames of life will be.

This is part of the candle flame message of Lord Bo Tien and this of course is the teachings of all saints and religions, not just of Lord Bo Tien. After all, the lord saint is not here to outdo other saints just like men in their folly trying to outclass one another. This is not the way of saints. The way of men never will be the way of saints but men can try to be like saints and adopt the way of God and saints.

Faith and logic or rather religions and science can be synergistic. Logic and science is amoral and if we use logic and science wisely, we will not be at odds with God but will be with God. Faith and logic are complementary if optimised.

God Almighty The Jade Emperor holding court in Heaven

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Better to be caring and show concern than to be clever

No 257 of Living Life Series 1 

We need to be reminded from time to time that for any service by any professional individual or by any secular or religious institution, certain attributes are as important, if not more important than mere intellectual capital, savviness and prowess.

For example, we tend to want our teachers, doctors and priests to be clever and knowledgeable but often forget that other service attributes are even more critical.

We too portray our religions as profound and that may be good. But there is the flip side or the unpleasant side.

For one, others may be impressed but be put off or worse still feel alienated right from the first encounter.

A recipient of service, be it from doctor, teacher, or religion must feel comfortable with the service.

The provider need not be clever and show profoundness.

Concern and caring service attitudes with careful attention to needs of recipients are perhaps more important than the profoundness and complexity.

It is better for the doctor, teacher, leader or pastor to be careful, concerned than to be clever.

A sect or religion should show care to men rather than alienate men through profound philosophy. There is no need to make God and truth of God so profound that we fear and distant ourselves from knowing God and truth. We are not so unworthy to extent that we need stay away from divinity.

God cares and shows concern for all even those who think they fall short of the glory of God. Thus, any sect or religion should show care to men rather than alienate men through profound philosophy. God is not the preserve of elitists and the well-off in intellectual and material resources.

Truth of life and God need to be portrayed in simplicity to be within reach of all. Men in the throes of life with cyclical ups and downs often fail to see the simplicity of truth in God and life.

Many seek the truth of ancient wisdom, yet the truth often appears profound and difficult to perceive though the so-called profound truth of life is actually simple.

Man with passion sometimes stands on moral high ground to the point of  being distasteful.

Men should be caring, show concern and be careful rather than try to be clever and rub people the wrong way round.

There are two 'C's men must have with the third 'C' being good to have. Better to be caring and to show concern than to be clever.

This applies to both men as individuals as well as men as social and religious institutions.

There is need to take heart and stay connected with society and the true nature of life. It is foolhardy to be scholarly and not wise.

The exception however must be made for those at the apex of political or religious institution. They need to be clever, that is, to be scholarly as this is important and constitutes critical intellectual capital. But to be wise, the leaders at the top must not only have  intellectual capital, they must also be street smart. They must be able to connect with the ground and at same time be able to correct social imbalance or inequity.

To put things in nutshell, grey brain matter is required. IQ (Intellect Quotient)  is good but EQ (Emotional Quotient)  and AQ (Adversity Quotient) are also acutely indispensable for them to make the grade. This adds two more 'C' s - connect and correct. 

The greatness of a leader or an institution is augmented by the ability to have the two additional 'C's. He or the institution must be able to connect the different schools of apparently differing thoughts. He or the institution must be able to correct the occasional inclination to the not-so-welcome small talk of others beliefs - talk that divides society and religions rather than harmonise and bring them together

If this ideal cannot be idealised, then it is better to be not clever and to stick to the original two 'C's  - to be caring and show concern and respect for others. There is no need to be clever when cleverness takes on unwise ways and  leader or institution is unable to connect and correct. 

Cleverness is an asset only if the additional two 'C's are there,  that is, the astute abilities to connect and correct. Otherwise , it is better to  be caring and to show concern than to be clever.

To put it bluntly and coarsely, to try to be clever can make a leader or institution look stupid if that leader or institution is not able to connect (with people /other institutions) and correct (social inequity or imbalance) but instead stir up the mud....and widen the divisiveness amongst men and institutions.

This would be contrary to the will of God and His purpose of plurality. The existence of varied religious institutions, nations and even approaches to the same ideology are examples of plurality. Plurality manifested in many aspects of nature and life is the will of God.

The many segments of the pakua depict plurality but this is not the only message behind the segments. These segments of diverse aspects and sections of nature and life come together in harmony to form the pakua. They embrace the yin yang elements - the polarities of life which include the 'up's and 'down's of life.



Pakua



Cheers and praise God and lord.



Lord Bo Tien



PS This post is  motivated by the quotation from the late Senior Bro. P. Philip.

Only the wise seek the fulfilment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but difficult to perceive.




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Are we ever satisfied?

No 256 of Living Life Series 1







"Are we ever satisfied?

We never get what we want.

We never want what we get.

We never have what we like.

We never like what we have.

Yet we still live and love.

That's life."



Does the above apply to you?

If so, you are not alone.

You are a survivor

And have resilience

There is hope for you.

Heaven is attracted to the likes of you.

Do read the posts and search your heart

What must you know and do

to make life work for you

and not you work for life?

PS This short post or article may be an advertisement of sorts for living life series 1 by inner truth netizen 2


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Role of precepts and the Four Pillar Doctrine

No 255 of Living Life Series 1







There are precepts in any religion. Do we need to know more than the religion? The answer can be both 'Yes' and 'No' . In Buddhism, there is the Five Precepts. 

"Five precepts are good enough for you. You do not need to know more or do more than that." This is often told to the laymen in Buddhist temples by Buddhist clergy.

It may be a small step but it is all that we need to know and do to be big in spiritual in time to come, be it in present life or in afterlife.

Incidentally, any abuse of food, activity or substance can result in intoxication when mind is affected. One can even have water intoxication, game intoxication and gambling intoxication. Many would have come across the work alcoholic who ignores everything else in life except for work. He is far from being peaceful as well. He is intoxicated by need to work and does not lead a balanced life - no work life balance.

The five precepts are: do not kill, do not steal, do not tell lies, do not commit sexual misconduct and do not be intoxicated. 

The five precepts and for that matter the precepts of any religion are based on essential spiritual principles but translated as actions to effect easier practice. Precepts are therefore means to an end but certainly not the end in themselves. 

Some who are more serious in spiritual may find them short, wanting and even contradictory in some ways. They however effect practice at mundane day to day level. Precepts go some way to ensure peaceful and fruitful life, both spiritual and secular. The individual will also be peaceful and pleasant to others and will bring out the peaceful  and pleasant side of others.

In the long run, precepts do not replace wisdom and grasp of spiritual truth. The latter however takes time and to wait till then to practice would be unwise. 

In any religion, there will be precepts. The precepts do differ from religion to religion. They serve to be basic moral markers for followers to comply with and one of the ways to hold them to the fold of the religion.

The inner truth of Divinity is common denominator of all religions and but other than that, religions do need to differ somewhat so as to reach out to all people in all parts of the world. This is part of the  Four Pillar Doctrine of Lord Bo Tien.

The Four Pillar Doctrine states that there is Divinity or God. It is the will of God that beings must  be good and  improve in goodness. They must cultivate the way and be enlightened so as to be with God at the apex of Divinity. that is, to be part of  Divinity.

They must cultivate the Godliness in them. They can do so through any religion or sect in the four directions. The name Four Pillars refers to the religions of the world in the four cardinal directions - north, south east and west. 

They also refer to the archangels of God and any of the heavenly saints may be considered the  fifth archangel.

Each religion is free to promulgate its own tenets, precepts and belief systems so as to be able to hold on to their following and enable their followers to achieve the divine goal. 

This is the gist of the Four Pillar Doctrine but inner truth netizen prefers to use the other name of this doctrine which is the Inner Truth Message common to and underlying  the  religions we have in our world. 

Lord Bo Tien is not here to start a new religion or sect but to explain the oneness of religions and sects. He even demonstrated that the same truth of God is to be found in a Chinese temple.       .

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It is the little things in life that make the difference

No 254 of Living Life Series 1 

Big issues count but it is the small things that make the difference. 

Why small issues are important? A stitch in time saves nine. Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. Also, when we take care of small issues, big issues will not be there if we can handle the issues as they arise and nip them in the bud. Practise and cultivate peace in life a little at a time.  Never mind if you are slow or still troubled in mind and far from peaceful for now. It is important that you do not stop trying and move on in life however slow you may be.

A fruit tree rooted in subterranean water will be there and bearing fruits even if there is drought but not the trees in big plantations which will wither in drought with no subterranean water. A man rooted in inner truth and practice of inner peace may not be as well off world wise as others much better off in good times.  But in face of drought of life, he stands and still thrives. He is at peace when others many times better are not. Why? He is at peace as he is not affected by the yin and yang of life, for he stands at the centre of the pakua and not swept around by cyclical yin yang.

Nurture the candle flame of life however small and weak it may be compared to others.  If sheltered by God and saints, this flame will glow and grow and not flicker in the wind.

Go for strength in numbers. A collection of candle flames can out do a big candle flame. This was alluded to by Lord Bo Tien.

If thus far, the efforts are not enough, seek the blessing and shelter of God and saints. With combined self effort and heavenly blessings, issues however big will be small even if they cannot be no issue due to the element of fate. Small issues will naturally be no issue.

Lord Bo Tien

In going about life, go for the little blessings in life. Often it is the little things in life that make the difference. Small things in every day life do add up and big things you will have. Also, it is easier to maintain the peace when you go for the small things in life. You are less upset if they do not come your way but surely you will have no problem getting many of the small things in life which do not require great effort and are not exacting.

The man of peace goes for the daily blessings of life and treasures them however small they may be. He does not take life for granted.  He values life and often this translates to valuing the little blessings of life that come his way.

It is the little things in life that make the difference.  All good things and for that matter, even the big things in life depend on our having the little things in our daily life which we often take for granted and often not even aware of. When we have them, we are complacent but when they are not there, we feel the loss and realise that the little things do count and are not little after all.

They do add up to big things to come. They do  pave the way for more good things in life. It is from the little things that we can end up having big things. It is from starting small that one day we can end up big. All great men were small at some stage of their lives. Go for small if ever you want to give yourself the chance to be big one day.  But do not insist that you must make it big.

This holds true for both mundane and spiritual life. The principle of being peaceful means we go for small steps and not take big leaps. A little spiritual peace every now and then will one day put us to the path of sainthood.  The effort required is small  and within the capability of all men. It is not in the least daunting.

The same spiritual principle of going small if you hope for better things if applied to mundane world will ensure peace and comfort in mundane secular life as well. This is the teaching of all saints and Lord Bo Tien is one of them. 

Do not envy over what others have. Do not crave for what you yet to have. Do not rave over what you have. Do not stave off or deny life and left to waste what you have. Praise God for the little things in life. Then you will not crave, rave or stave off life. This may sound profound and complex but truth is actually so simple and yet difficult to perceive as what my late Senior Brother P Philip said.

At this juncture, let me share what I read many years ago. 50 years ago, one medical doctor at Ipoh Malaysia in the Voice of Buddhism wrote to a school boy to say that five precepts for a Buddhist is good enough.

"Five precepts are good enough for you. You do not need to know more or do more." 

It may be a small step but it is all that boy needed to know and do to be big in spiritual in time to come, be it in present life or in afterlife.

The five precepts are: do not kill, do not steal, do not tell lies, do not commit sexual misconduct and do not be intoxicated. 

The five precepts and for that matter the precepts of any religion 

go some way to ensure peaceful and fruitful life, both spiritual and secular. The individual will also be peaceful and pleasant to others and will bring out the peaceful  and pleasant side of others.

Inner truth netizen would like to add that one can belong to any religion or even if none but as long as one's beliefs enable one to go for the little joys in life, that would ensure that one's life is peaceful, pleasant, comfortable and fruitful in every day of life.

Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. Is this an overstatement? Dear readers you have to decide for yourself. Cheers and once again God bless.

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What is Tao?

No 253 of Living Life Series 1

道

Tao is the basic eternal principle of the universe and is the source of all phenomena - of being, non-being, and change.

The many perspectives of the word Tao

There are many perspectives to the word "Tao". 

(i) Simply put, it means channel, road, path or doctrine. In many of the belief systems, Tao is used in its sense of 'way' as the right, correct or proper way of living or being - a means to achieve the end of attainment, perfection or of full coming into being. 

(ii) At a more philosophical level, Tao can be roughly thought of as the flow of life in the universe, or as some essence or pattern behind the natural world that keeps the universe balanced, ordered and in equilibrium. It is related to the idea of basic or primordial energy or qi - the essential energy of action and existence.  

(iii) Much of classical Taoist philosophy revolves around cycles. Cyclical continuity of world of nature is in contrast to the linear, goal-orientated actions of human beings. Buddhists refer to this goal directed actions as volitions which are actions based on attachments that will bring on moral consequences. The issue is how not to do so and yet be at peace and flow along with the universe without creating ripples and stir up currents in life.  In short, we must not crave for the ups when down or rave over the ups when having them

Tao in relation to Heaven, Man and Religion

Tao means a road or path --- the way in which one does something. This can be in relation to (a) Heaven, (b) Man or (c) Religion.

(a) The Way of Heaven appears beyond normal human norms and expectations, sometimes appear somewhat odd or even harsh. When autumn comes, no leaf is spared because of its beauty and no flower is spared because of its fragrance. A heavenly saint, like a flower, will not stop ants amongst men from coming to him for nectar of goodness. This did Lord Bo Tien remind us in one of His latter anniversary messages at Bo Tien Temple in the early years.

(In heavenly terms, beings(men) like gods should not go not for gain or loss, neither self gain nor others gain but mere balance and peace as one's gain should also be others' gain and others' gain should also be one's gain. Gain and loss are not as important as peace of spirit when gain and loss are immaterial but to be at peace with opposing contingencies of ups and downs of gain and loss is best. This is sometimes referred to as equanimity and the highest level of this is part of enlightenment. This is neither about running away from life of gain and loss nor being tossed about by gain and loss but to do what is best and flow along in peace)

(b) The Way of Man is procreation and self gain.  Procreation after all is self gain for man. Of course, there are more to the Way of Man than this two. With regards to self gain, few men will be like flowers to even let ants amongst men to come to them for nectar but not the case for God and saints.

(c) The Way of Religion. There are many religions and sects. Each religion or sect has its own Tao, its doctrine of the way in which life should be patterned and with which adherents need to be in conformity.

Classical Tao in Taoism

One such religion with various evolved schools of thoughts arose in ancient China and deals with Tao based on rich Chinese cultural heritage. It is known as Taoism. The word Tao meant 'the way the universe works'. 

The pa kua is a symbol used to represent the Tao and the attainment of perfection of peace of living through Tao.

Pa kua

The Inner Truth behind Tao in religions

Tao or Tou (Way) is referred to by Lord Bo Tien as Tou-li. Tou-li is the doctrine of the way and is the doctrine of life and the universe symbolised by the pakua.

Lord Bo Tien reminds that all religions, different as they may be, have the same basic truth of God or Divinity. He refers to the common underlying tou-li behind all religions as the inner truth doctrine and that each religion can have their additional guidelines, dogmas and precepts to elaborate and add on to the basics covered by the inner truth doctrine. This is so that each can hold on to their followers and enable them to succeed and be enlightened through their respective religions.

The guidelines and dogmas need not be the same, otherwise there will be only one religion and not many. Many religions and many sects in any one religion allow God to reach out to more beings. There cannot be only one way but many ways to do so, just like there are not one type but many types of beings amongst men.

Basically, the inner truth refers to the need to find peace in the cyclical world of ups and downs and in the world of opposing yin and yang.  We have gain and loss, honour and dishonour, wealth and poverty and self denial or deprecation and over indulgence and the list of opposites can go on.

We find peace by being with and yet not affected by yin and yang. We should neither run away (deny) nor must we be swept round by yin and yang.

We can do so by being at peace with life and the universe  and merge into the peace of God and saints through any religion or sect. 

But we do not run away from life when we are at peace. We move on in life and yet stand still like in the centre of the pakua amidst the cyclical yin and yang.

We must be able to balance the worldly contingencies of the opposites in life (such as gain and loss, praise and blame, fame and defame, upsets and jubilation) as depicted by the feet of the lord saint balancing the elements in his image. 

We must hold on to the tou-li of God in the same way that the image of the lord saint holds on to the sceptre of  truth of God with the right hand.

The left hand in salutation in the lord's image bids us to stay the course and be steady in balancing the yin and yang.





Lord Bo Tien

   

Saying it in ways more than one

Let the Tao be in your life and you can reap the Tao in any religion of the day.  We can say this in many ways

Let the 'the way the universe works' be in your life and you can reap the  'the way the universe works' in any religion of the day.

Let God be in your life and you can reap Godliness in any religion of the day. 

Let the Holy Spirit be in your life and you can reap the Holy Spirit in any religion of the day. 

Let Lord Bo Tien be in your life and you can reap his presence in any religion of the day. 

Lord Bo Tien is not here to start a new religion or to draw you away from your religion but to be with you in your life in whatever religion you are in or even if you have none.  He is here to help you reap the Tao in your life through the religion or belief system of your choice.

Cheers. God bless.






The Pa kua - Tao symbol at Bo Tien Temple shrine floor
Photo captured by BWY from upper floor.
Note the reflection of conical glass housing

  

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