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This image depicts his position when he first descended to make himself known. This must have happened as early as 1970
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| This original image highly consecrated and sacred should be open to public and not put away (locked) in museum This may symbolically imply putting aside the doctrine for the image is the doctrine and the doctrine is the image. The lord saint said so. But if this is so, then the image is not the issue but the doctrine is. What men do to image is secondary to what they do for the doctrine. What is right is merely in the minds of men Perhaps, men should not be too imaginative and go awry in thinking. |
The first ever 12 inch high sitting image made of teak wood. In front of this image, Lord Bo Tien descended to give his sermons for no less than 13 years.
This highly consecrated and sacred image had been put away from free access public devotion in the museum room and under lock and key.
On special case by case request, those who wanted could get the key for access to the image. Rightly the permanent easy access to this sacred image might have been re-instituted.
In the old temple, after moving out of the main shrine, it was kept in another shrine at the back - designated as the psychic or spiritual shrine.
It would be sad to put it away under lock and key but some of younger generation generally are nowadays more open minded and liberal. This is perhaps evidence of the generation gap. A new generation will often have different approach and priorities.
This highly consecrated and sacred image had been put away from free access public devotion in the museum room and under lock and key.
On special case by case request, those who wanted could get the key for access to the image. Rightly the permanent easy access to this sacred image might have been re-instituted.
In the old temple, after moving out of the main shrine, it was kept in another shrine at the back - designated as the psychic or spiritual shrine.
It would be sad to put it away under lock and key but some of younger generation generally are nowadays more open minded and liberal. This is perhaps evidence of the generation gap. A new generation will often have different approach and priorities.
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Several 8 inch polymarble images that were consecrated in 1974 or 1975. They were taken up by close members and devotees. They evoke feelings of purity of purpose in life and in mission. There is need to go for the core teachings and values common to all religions and sects. There is need to adopt a pure outlook and go for the white and not the black aspects of religion and its practices. There is need to go for the common interests of members whilst being mindfully aware that members differ in many other areas.
Like it or not, they do come for many other agenda as well. They can sometimes be likened to insects coming to the flower for nectar and not for the beauty of the flower. We should not blame the flower for insects coming to it. Lord Bo Tien said thus in one of the latter messages just before 1985.
Because of this, the flower may wither after insects get their nectar for personal gain but seeds that come after pollination will spread the learning of the mistakes to the rest of the world.
People do take up religion for personal gain and there is no denying of this reality but they must learn to grow, go for and glow the purity of religion as depicted by the white polymarble image. This is the mission for which Lord Bo Tien is the messenger of God.
Hopefully, there will then be less of wolves in sheep's clothing in temples, churches and religious institutions. Such individuals may misuse their various positions as temple leaders, church pastors, priests and monks.
Such individuals may be viewed by some as the scourge of religion but they are the very ones which saints and prophets want to attract to their fold to change them to be more balanced in approach --- more God-centric and less self-centric. Thus the balancing act as depicted by the feet of the lord saint (in the polymarble image) on the opposing elements or agenda.
Admittedly, everyone wants personal gain and this is a reality. Those who do not are either fully enlightened ones or denying life (running away from life and society)
Like it or not, they do come for many other agenda as well. They can sometimes be likened to insects coming to the flower for nectar and not for the beauty of the flower. We should not blame the flower for insects coming to it. Lord Bo Tien said thus in one of the latter messages just before 1985.
Because of this, the flower may wither after insects get their nectar for personal gain but seeds that come after pollination will spread the learning of the mistakes to the rest of the world.
People do take up religion for personal gain and there is no denying of this reality but they must learn to grow, go for and glow the purity of religion as depicted by the white polymarble image. This is the mission for which Lord Bo Tien is the messenger of God.
Hopefully, there will then be less of wolves in sheep's clothing in temples, churches and religious institutions. Such individuals may misuse their various positions as temple leaders, church pastors, priests and monks.
Such individuals may be viewed by some as the scourge of religion but they are the very ones which saints and prophets want to attract to their fold to change them to be more balanced in approach --- more God-centric and less self-centric. Thus the balancing act as depicted by the feet of the lord saint (in the polymarble image) on the opposing elements or agenda.
Admittedly, everyone wants personal gain and this is a reality. Those who do not are either fully enlightened ones or denying life (running away from life and society)
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| One of the six inch replicas of the four feet image that was burnt . This was painted over and now resides at the home of the writer. The photo of this replica is used to grace the various Living Life Series so as to keep alive the memory of the big image that was burnt and sent back to Heaven. The return of the image to Heaven will happen when there is paucity of doctrine focus and mission. The presence of the replica of this image in Living Life Series augurs well for the doctrine focus and the mission through the w.w.w. |
Several six inch wooden image replicas of the unpainted 4 foot image that graced the new temple at Jurong. Alas, the big image was burnt and sent back to heaven just because there was crack at base.
This was despite earlier reiteration and emphasis by Lord Bo Tien that a wooden image would in time crack but this should be of no concern as what is more important is the meaning - the doctrine in the image.
The doctrine must be in the hearts of men and must be the only basis of the mission. Where there is no doctrine, there will be no temple and no image, for the doctrine is the image and the image is the doctrine. The building if any will then be an empty shell devoid of doctrine thrust and mired down by human frailties.
It will then be no no longer exemplary and distinct to shine the way for other temples. It will then be one of the many. Isn't this obvious and the plain truth that we have to know and be concerned? The lord saint would not let this come to pass and even if this should happen, it would not be for long.
This was despite earlier reiteration and emphasis by Lord Bo Tien that a wooden image would in time crack but this should be of no concern as what is more important is the meaning - the doctrine in the image.
The doctrine must be in the hearts of men and must be the only basis of the mission. Where there is no doctrine, there will be no temple and no image, for the doctrine is the image and the image is the doctrine. The building if any will then be an empty shell devoid of doctrine thrust and mired down by human frailties.
It will then be no no longer exemplary and distinct to shine the way for other temples. It will then be one of the many. Isn't this obvious and the plain truth that we have to know and be concerned? The lord saint would not let this come to pass and even if this should happen, it would not be for long.
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The majestic five foot image of Lord Saint that graces the new concrete temple at Singapore. It was never consecrated via the normal consecration procedures of the past and was just em-placed with simple ceremony.
But, mind you if you think this was a lapse, the age-old consecrated five archangels of the lord saint was placed in front of the image. The religious advisers of the temple had instituted corrective actions that are thoughtful
But, mind you if you think this was a lapse, the age-old consecrated five archangels of the lord saint was placed in front of the image. The religious advisers of the temple had instituted corrective actions that are thoughtful
The awesome-looking image was specially ordered to replace the cracked image that first graced the closing years at old Woodlands premises and later came over to the new Jurong premises. It made members feel good because it is big and good looking.
But it is the doctrine at the heart and not the image that matters. Man being man will ever prefer to have a better looking image. This is very understandable when most men are not properly rooted in spirituality and doctrine.
No wonder the lord saint said that the far may be near and the near far. He also said that his doctrine is the image. It is the doctrine that matters, not the image.
No wonder the lord saint said that the far may be near and the near far. He also said that his doctrine is the image. It is the doctrine that matters, not the image.
The doctrine is in the image and the image is the doctrine. Do not mistake that the lord saint is a general just because the image depicts him to be one. This Lord Bo Tien did say.
The colorful armour depicts the many races, cultures and people of the world. The coming together of diversity in oneness is awesome, beautiful and colorful.
The dragon seat is the seat of the holy spirit of God. The lord saint is carrying out the will of God.
The stepping and balancing of the two elements of yin and yang do remind us that life be it spiritual or mundane depends on balancing of the soft and hard aspects - the yin and yang. This is central to Tao - the Way.
The divine scepter in his right hand is the instrument of the mission entrusted by God to the lord saint to bring about awareness of the same truth and way in all religions and sects.
The left hand in salutation bids us to be steady and to persevere. He will clear the way for the faithful so that they can attain and maintain the divine inner peace in both spiritual life and worldly life via balancing yin and yang.
The colorful armour depicts the many races, cultures and people of the world. The coming together of diversity in oneness is awesome, beautiful and colorful.
The dragon seat is the seat of the holy spirit of God. The lord saint is carrying out the will of God.
The stepping and balancing of the two elements of yin and yang do remind us that life be it spiritual or mundane depends on balancing of the soft and hard aspects - the yin and yang. This is central to Tao - the Way.
The divine scepter in his right hand is the instrument of the mission entrusted by God to the lord saint to bring about awareness of the same truth and way in all religions and sects.
The left hand in salutation bids us to be steady and to persevere. He will clear the way for the faithful so that they can attain and maintain the divine inner peace in both spiritual life and worldly life via balancing yin and yang.
The original standing image and pose is the pose he came down with to open the way for the mission. His divine spear cleared the path for setting up the mission on earth. Once set, he would be seated as depicted by the subsequent images.
It must be put on record that whenever the lord saint descended, he would be preceded by The Great Sage Tai Seng commonly referred to as The Monkey God. After all the Great Sage is reputable as the divine one who paves the way for doctrine mission. The purpose of the descent of Lord Bo Tien is tied down to doctrine mission.
The mission of Lord Bo Tien is doctrine based - to invigorate the grasp in all religions and sects of the same inner truth of God and divine peace through mastery of yin and yang, not avoidance of yin and yang which is not possible. This is the same as saying, there must be mastery of life, not running away from life.
How can anyone run from life or deny life? Inner peace will come about with balance of yin and yang, the mastery of life, be it spiritual or mundane.
Indulgence in life of the mundane or worldly kind is the other extreme to be avoided beside the denial or running away from life.
Indulgence or clinging to life too will result in no peace but more unrest in life as one would hanker for more and end up restless with no peace.
Thus the stepping on and balancing of elements in the image of the lord saint aptly depicts this balance in life of yin and yang - the avoidance of the two extremes of denial of life and the indulgence in life.
It must be put on record that whenever the lord saint descended, he would be preceded by The Great Sage Tai Seng commonly referred to as The Monkey God. After all the Great Sage is reputable as the divine one who paves the way for doctrine mission. The purpose of the descent of Lord Bo Tien is tied down to doctrine mission.
The mission of Lord Bo Tien is doctrine based - to invigorate the grasp in all religions and sects of the same inner truth of God and divine peace through mastery of yin and yang, not avoidance of yin and yang which is not possible. This is the same as saying, there must be mastery of life, not running away from life.
How can anyone run from life or deny life? Inner peace will come about with balance of yin and yang, the mastery of life, be it spiritual or mundane.
Indulgence in life of the mundane or worldly kind is the other extreme to be avoided beside the denial or running away from life.
Indulgence or clinging to life too will result in no peace but more unrest in life as one would hanker for more and end up restless with no peace.
Thus the stepping on and balancing of elements in the image of the lord saint aptly depicts this balance in life of yin and yang - the avoidance of the two extremes of denial of life and the indulgence in life.
