The far may be near and the near may be far. This did Lord Bo Tien say.
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| Lord Bo Tien |
Pioneers of any mission or spiritual organisation, elders included may think they are near to their prophet or saint. But do not be surprised that those in subsequent generations who know not the early days may in fact at times too be near even if they knew less of the doctrine and the history.
Often, they are the ones who want to be different and will not buy the thinking and ways of the pioneers or elders in their respective temple or church. This does not mean they are lost or in the wrong. On the contrary, the reverse may be true.
It really boils down to simplicity and pureness. For religion has to be simple and spirituality is not the purview of the know-allot. Generally speaking, the elders and pioneers of any temple or church are the ones who know allot but they are not representatives of God and any saint. They too are humans.
It depends on the heart and if there is the heart and the commitment, knowing little is no disadvantage. In fact, the little we know if we know it well and practise it well is better than knowing allot and being muddle headed, conceited and with eyes looking at the clouds. But do not misconceive that those more into doctrine will be conceited and muddle headed. This may not necessarily be so for many well versed in doctrine.
God and saints must address the needs and feelings of the whole range of human society and beings. The doors of Heaven will never be closed to those who cannot cope with more or simply who are not ready for more doctrine.
Often, for the majority of men and beings, only simplicity will open them to God and saints. There must always be simplicity and openness to new ways and ideas. Most of these ways must be simple and down to earth to be fathomable and meaningful to the many. Religion will only put people off if it is complex and daunting to the many
God and saints must address the needs and feelings of the whole range of human society and beings. The doors of Heaven will never be closed to those who cannot cope with more or simply who are not ready for more doctrine.
Often, for the majority of men and beings, only simplicity will open them to God and saints. There must always be simplicity and openness to new ways and ideas. Most of these ways must be simple and down to earth to be fathomable and meaningful to the many. Religion will only put people off if it is complex and daunting to the many
Men of any religion or of a temple or church should want to be with society and close to society and do things that may on surface seem to be driven by society agenda rather than spiritual. For sometimes and often, divinity must be peddled out in small doses with sugar coating to make it that more palatable and easy to assimilate. Societal agenda is the sugar coating. Only then will a temple or church be acceptable to the many and be able to reach out to more and not frighten away the masses.
Pioneers and elders being fundamentalists and obviously usually and more likely more into doctrine may press the wrong buttons and undo the very good work they have put in. They must however not lose heart. There will be some who in time will want to go the mile for doctrine. But religion must be simple to be accepted and doctrine must not be forced down the throats of people. Religion has to be like society and not appear to be something out of this world of society. Religion has to be simple if it is to reach out to the masses.
Pioneers and elders being fundamentalists and obviously usually and more likely more into doctrine may press the wrong buttons and undo the very good work they have put in. They must however not lose heart. There will be some who in time will want to go the mile for doctrine. But religion must be simple to be accepted and doctrine must not be forced down the throats of people. Religion has to be like society and not appear to be something out of this world of society. Religion has to be simple if it is to reach out to the masses.
This reality, like it or not, can be very true for any mission, any temple and any church. There is need to be simple, to be humble and to be accommodating and to present religion in the way that society can identify with. There is need to make a temple plain and down to earth something akin to what men in society is accustomed with. Only then will a temple be welcoming and not frighten away the folks in the streets.
Do not be upset if others do not see eye to eye with you, even if they are elders and more in the know. Respect them for their contributions and there is no need to be subservient and to think that you must believe in what they say. But there must still be that respect of sorts. They are rich in resources spiritually.
You may disagree with their ways but let them be what they want to be but you should ever be what you want to be and what you want to do. Never be in the clouds and think you can be a priest, monk or a saint today when you cannot even be a civil man of society with less wants and more peace with society. Many of the pioneers and elders may give this impression of high pedestal approach. Hardly a decimal few could be a monk, or priest, let alone end up as saint though all can be on the path to salvation and to better their souls in some way.
The far may be near and the near may be far. Be ordinary and be with society and be at ease and peace with society and its ways. Do not try to change society over night and think that you can do better than society. Learn from life and you will not regret and be confused.
Have the heart for life and for society. Have the heart for God and saints. The lord saint Lord Bo Tien stress on love and for all to take heart. Love life and take heart that those who go to the saint wholeheartedly, the saint doth know. Those who seek his blessings, the saint will come to them and facilitate the needful though there is element of fate and self effort will ever always remain the main cornerstone for spiritual enhancement. But however low down in spirituality or even if none for the present, there is always hope and the way forward.
Doctrine is in life and we learn from life - the events and experiences in life. Spiritual cultivation must be in steps, one step at a time. Do not try to leap frog and do not bite off more than you can chew by combing the books and written scriptures.
Go for what you can be comfortable with and even a little is adequate. Be simple and be what you are and can be. A temple too is the same and must be more like the society it serves and not be unlike the society for which it is set up.
It is always the heart (commitment) that counts, not how clever and how capable one is, be it for mundane life or spiritual life. All depend on the heart. When there is the heart, there is sincerity, fellowship and brotherhood of men. Then there will be no or less hypocrisy and less camouflage of social agenda under cover of the cloak of spirituality.
Remember that no one is a saint at least for now and for many life times to come. Everyone has erred and has done right but what is important is to try to be better by commiting his heart to goodness. Even with imperfections, such a person with a good heart will find more peace amidst the trials and tribulations of the yin yang world even if he cannot be atop and balance the duality of life - the yin and yang as symbolised in the ba gua
In whatever man sets out to do, be it spiritual or otherwise, man must have heart and love for life. It is the heart that makes the difference. That is so and so be it.
Have the heart for life and for society. Have the heart for God and saints. The lord saint Lord Bo Tien stress on love and for all to take heart. Love life and take heart that those who go to the saint wholeheartedly, the saint doth know. Those who seek his blessings, the saint will come to them and facilitate the needful though there is element of fate and self effort will ever always remain the main cornerstone for spiritual enhancement. But however low down in spirituality or even if none for the present, there is always hope and the way forward.
Doctrine is in life and we learn from life - the events and experiences in life. Spiritual cultivation must be in steps, one step at a time. Do not try to leap frog and do not bite off more than you can chew by combing the books and written scriptures.
Go for what you can be comfortable with and even a little is adequate. Be simple and be what you are and can be. A temple too is the same and must be more like the society it serves and not be unlike the society for which it is set up.
It is always the heart (commitment) that counts, not how clever and how capable one is, be it for mundane life or spiritual life. All depend on the heart. When there is the heart, there is sincerity, fellowship and brotherhood of men. Then there will be no or less hypocrisy and less camouflage of social agenda under cover of the cloak of spirituality.
Remember that no one is a saint at least for now and for many life times to come. Everyone has erred and has done right but what is important is to try to be better by commiting his heart to goodness. Even with imperfections, such a person with a good heart will find more peace amidst the trials and tribulations of the yin yang world even if he cannot be atop and balance the duality of life - the yin and yang as symbolised in the ba gua
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| The Ba gua |
In whatever man sets out to do, be it spiritual or otherwise, man must have heart and love for life. It is the heart that makes the difference. That is so and so be it.
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| Bo Tien Temple at Woodlands Singapore in the old days a simple temple the people could identify with and be inspired. Those were the good old days. when even the less literate and limited in resources and status can be spiritual and leaders of sorts. This did set the stage for better days now and in the future for the Mission. |
