No 316 of Living Life Series 1
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Taiji of the Bagua with complementary yin and yang
in holistic balance (at times opposing though)
aptly reflects the need for wholesome
completeness of mission in an organisation
or even divine purpose of life in wider society |
In 1981, the first year after the first 12 year cycle, the lord saint instructed the then elder EL (Ling Diung Kwong) to effect the history in writing for the group mission effort and stressed. "All must work with one heart and there will always be the way forward."
Read article 313 dated 27th Oct 2011 - Revisit of 1981 message of lord saint.
Below is the personal perspective as perceived by inner truth netizen 2.
The need for mission history is critical since Elder Ling is ageing - age 76 in 2012. The trials and tribulations in the pioneer years must be recorded. Otherwise the experiences of pioneers would not be known to the many who come after them. Waves upon waves of events happened so quickly in the early years and they were intertwined with the numerous descents of the lord saint Lord Bo Tien and his representatives like Mou Chi Sun. Without a book on the diary of events and the archaeological documents, history would run risk of being lost and rewritten.
This history should be a documentation of spiritual milestones of the mission of that group in the first 12 years. This has to do with the mission and not with any institution or organisation or with their individual members' histories.
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Elder Ling Diung Kwong ay age 76
Photo taken in 2012 |
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Elder Ling in his youth.
Photo taken in 1980 |
Granduncle Ling (age 76 in 2012) had distinguished himself as elder founder of the group. He was a senior police officer in the pioneer years of the nation and provided that much needed impetus, credibility and reputation to kick start the mission and give it an earthly foothold to put it on course. The concrete foothold of the group is testimony to his labour of love though he is of course, one of the team of notable pioneers.
Alfred Toh Teck Kok was other notable person who pioneered and headed the charity wing to wide outreach from initiation at around 1989 to 2006 when others rode on the limelight and extended the good work.
Charity is however one practical aspect of the mission to help those in difficulties and ultimately to save souls through any religion or sect.
Inner Truth netizen 2 was a mere student when elder Ling was instrumental in setting up the administration for the mission group of the lord saint.
For many years, he was the executive leader of the one singular group that he grew old with, while late Snr Bro Philip was the spiritual leader at the other pole. He was entrusted with his role by the lord saint.
He was benevolent and helpful to the many young during the early years of the mission. He had guts for which some might be uncomfortable with. He was known to hold very firm and independent views, at times rigid though. That is unmistakably his signature personality trait which had augured well for lord saint's push for the mission.
His ideas were far far ahead of the times of any organisation though apparently seemingly incongruous with the prevailing sentiments of a run-of-the-mill organisation.
He often went for stark simplicity in what any spiritual group should be and would prefer to advocate that any group does away as far as possible with as many of the age old paraphernalia of culture and traditions.
He is an advocate of change and a fervent believer that a spiritual group must lead by example by instituting changes towards stark simplicity to promote more simple religiosity and not toe or be beholden to bewildering ancient cultural practices.
As early as a few decades ago, he believed a spiritual group should be one above the many others to be exemplary and not be one of the many.
Many who disliked his style in the past did indeed silently respect his forcefulness and forthrightness. But they would prefer he go slow, not go against the stream and flow along with prevailing sentiments.
His forthrightness has endeared him to the lord saint though this same forthrightness may be perceived as bluntness that may not go down well with some in any group
But this is to be expected as there need to be different segments in society in the yin yang universe. There is usually no consensus of opinion amongst men, only wholeness of diversity of opinions. This should be regarded as wholesome state for any society.
The mission must reflect the yin yang nature of the world and not be dominated by myopic tunnel vision of anyone or segment. That is why there is one God but many religions and sects under God and many groups in one sect or school.
There is one world but many countries in the one world we are in. The countries are as different as yin and yang but yet make the one world we know and by knowing the differences, we know the world even better and love this world even that more.
There is only one group, but there must be many people of different viewpoints and approaches. The capability of any managing board to be inclusive and not exclusive, to be accommodating and not intolerant makes the world of difference to more broad based success and mission of any group.
Elder Ling was incidentally one who was explicit and vocal with his views but will work with all and accommodate but there was perhaps room for more magnanimity and benevolence towards so-called detractors.
To surmise, it must be said that in 1981 message, Lord Bo Tien told Elder Ling "not to falter to fulfill the Mission. Heaven will guide him in his meditation to achieve peace and happiness" (direct verbatim reproduction from page 30 of the year 2000 publication edited by Peter Kong Meng Sin on the lord saint's guidance. Also go to post 313 dated 27th Oct 2011 - Revisit of 1981 message of the lord saint and read the details.
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| Who is referred to as the unpolished diamond by the lord saint? |
Do note that Elder Ling welcomes those in the service of a specific mission of life who want to know more of his perspective to reach out to him. There is no need to agree with him on all scores but you will have a better grasp of what you may already know.
Didn't Lord Bo Tien remind us to learn from one another and from the strengths and weaknesses in our own lives and the lives of others? Life is an open book and a living gospel. He would like us to know.
Elder Ling is all for this as the guiding principle in our lives for we need to be mission orientated and purposeful or face the prospect of being lost and aimless in life. Don't miss out on life and don't let life give you the miss. Don't harbour the conviction or even the mere hunch that there is mischief amiss.
Don't see the devil or dust in others' eyes when we cannot see the dust or devil in our own. Don't see the devil in your fellow men though they may not be saints. There is more to it than meet the eye.
The far may be near and the near may be far. This the lord saint Lord Bo Tien did say. Cheers indeed. Everyone has his role and place in the mission, even the insects that come to the flower for nectar and cause it to fade. For the flower cannot deny the insects. Lord Bo Tien had said this as well.
But why not tell the insects to go easy and protect it for as long as can be. This is the unenviable role of the appointed gardener. But alas there must be new flowers. This is the way of providence. Can the gardener succeed? Yes in a way and yet not in the long term. There is always the long and short of a story. It depends on how you see things.......But the lord saint will provide for all who come to the flower even if they come with differing agenda. The way of saint is not that of man. This again the saint did say and is a learning point to improve wisdom beyond that of man. Let this be food for thought.
The way of Elder Ling has its place in any mission but to be effective, there must be dialogue, give and take and some consensus to be different and yet the same as based on the need for yin and yang harmony and complementation amidst obvious differences.
This is the higher level perspective and insight based on the messages of Lord Bo Tien on the inner truth of life common to all religions, institutions and groups --- not at all specific to a particular entity.
This is consistent and congruent with the need for respect of elders for the benefits they contributed and the potential value adds they can provide for the future of the organisations. They will continue to contribute even if they are far from perfect and not infallible. The likes of Elder Ling will be pivotal and necessary for the long term good of any society or institution. Some say they too can learn from the young but it is more likely the young can learn more from them.
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