The lord saint Lord Bo Tien has said that there is no need to run away from society but instead we should be with the thick and thin of society to practise Tao or Way to divine peace by balancing the yin and the yang, the odd and even, the feminine and the masculine, the rich and the poor, the passive and the active.
If we can do so and renounce the extreme of denial or giving up of life and the extreme of indulgence or excess of life, we can be better models for others to emulate.
 |
| The seated image of the lord saint with feet balancing the elements depicts balancing of yin and yang. The left hand in salutation bids us to be tolerant and patient. |
But to do so, we must be able to tolerate the incessant views of society that castigate us for not staying away from worldly or mundane life and for still having the worldly life.
Lord Bo Tien has however said we stay put in society and the very principles that augur well for spiritual life if applied to mundane worldly life will put us in comfortable worldly life and gains without dent on spiritual progress.
This in the modern world since his descent in 1969 this is the way to go, more so that the norms of society have been changing ever the more towards more of worldliness. We cannot give up worldly life. We must not unplug from this materialistic world but continue to be plugged into the world though of course moderated by Tao at the heart
It would be tougher to achieve Tao in an ever more worldly life but it can be done. Tao allows us to be plugged into the peace of Heaven on earth and we do not need to unplug from the world around us.
We do need to plug into the world though primarily into heaven. The heavenly way must lead and enable the former. There must be optimization or balance of yin and yang, worldly life being more yin and heavenly life more yang.
It would be tougher to achieve Tao in an ever more worldly life but it can be done. Tao allows us to be plugged into the peace of Heaven on earth and we do not need to unplug from the world around us.
We do need to plug into the world though primarily into heaven. The heavenly way must lead and enable the former. There must be optimization or balance of yin and yang, worldly life being more yin and heavenly life more yang.
The main obstacle is not worldliness and the attractions of worldly life but the mouths of men who can utter words that rock and bite at the heartstrings of the ones in the path of Tao. This they say is the quality of tolerance.
Can we tolerate the critical ways of society from every nook and corner? If we can and maintain the peace within our hearts, we are more solidly at peace. This would be better than the peace one gets by sitting cross legged like a hermit in the wilderness.
It is heartening to note that the lord saint has foresight to know that unlike our ancestors, few men of today can stay away and make it, for at every turn and corner, there are men and the trappings of men in the modern world.
There is need for Tao in society and not away from society. Otherwise, where else can we practise Tao and only a handful can make it.
Yin yang is not static but dynamic like the revolving globe. Yin yang balance is more exacting but the joy of being able to have the balance is that more satisfying and lasting. But we need to have tolerance and that much more we can have if there is more of tolerance.
Tolerate what others say. Tolerate the push and pull. Tolerate the nuances and sharp tongues of men and the vicissitudes that may seem to come and assuage us time and time again. Be ever more patient and tolerant. This is the pillar in the practice of Tao.
The root of the problem that plagues men lies in society itself. It may be better to stay put and make do by cultivating tolerance and making do with Tao in the thick and thin of society.
Even the lotus grows best in the muddy water. The men of Tao do better in the mud of society. They must tolerate the mud of men in society and if they do, they can make it and bloom in Tao like the lotus.
We can know better the source of problems of men by being with men and not staying away. Always go to where the problem lies and society is where the problem resides.
Even in any temple of a lord saint, tolerance is key and without tolerance, the subsequent management members may take things in their own hands and have no qualms at all in finding fault with the long respected temple head appointed and anointed by the lord saint.
There would then be pandemonium and the unexpected would happen. This would be the case if doctrine and Tao are considered no longer as important and the ways of men take precedence. There is need to know doctrine and its practice has to do with Tao.
Tolerance is needed for the practitioner of Tao more so if not yet saint. This would include almost all.
Have more of Tao with tolerance. One day of practicing Tao with tolerance in the thick and thin of society is better than a hundred days of sitting cross legged in the wilderness or in the attic.
The reality is that many who come to a temple have agenda other than spiritual and spiritual is only a cover for their agenda. But there are still those who are spiritual but they have issues with practice, more so with Tao and they well know they need tolerance.
But men are men after all and often cannot make it as yet. We too may be like that. So what next and what can we do. There is no need to stay away from the crowd and that would be running away from learning.
In the days of old, going into the wilderness was a solution. Today this is not practical and at every nook and corner, there are men and more of men. We simply has to be with men and with society.
If we have problems in the practice of Tao in society, do not feel lost but call out the name of Amitabha and be recharged spiritually. Then we can be better at it again and go back into the fray and practise Tao with more tolerance. We need to be tolerant and that way we can have better Tao.
Namo Omitofo
The root of the problem that plagues men lies in society itself. It may be better to stay put and make do by cultivating tolerance and making do with Tao in the thick and thin of society.
Even the lotus grows best in the muddy water. The men of Tao do better in the mud of society. They must tolerate the mud of men in society and if they do, they can make it and bloom in Tao like the lotus.
We can know better the source of problems of men by being with men and not staying away. Always go to where the problem lies and society is where the problem resides.
Even in any temple of a lord saint, tolerance is key and without tolerance, the subsequent management members may take things in their own hands and have no qualms at all in finding fault with the long respected temple head appointed and anointed by the lord saint.
There would then be pandemonium and the unexpected would happen. This would be the case if doctrine and Tao are considered no longer as important and the ways of men take precedence. There is need to know doctrine and its practice has to do with Tao.
Tolerance is needed for the practitioner of Tao more so if not yet saint. This would include almost all.
Have more of Tao with tolerance. One day of practicing Tao with tolerance in the thick and thin of society is better than a hundred days of sitting cross legged in the wilderness or in the attic.
The reality is that many who come to a temple have agenda other than spiritual and spiritual is only a cover for their agenda. But there are still those who are spiritual but they have issues with practice, more so with Tao and they well know they need tolerance.
But men are men after all and often cannot make it as yet. We too may be like that. So what next and what can we do. There is no need to stay away from the crowd and that would be running away from learning.
In the days of old, going into the wilderness was a solution. Today this is not practical and at every nook and corner, there are men and more of men. We simply has to be with men and with society.
If we have problems in the practice of Tao in society, do not feel lost but call out the name of Amitabha and be recharged spiritually. Then we can be better at it again and go back into the fray and practise Tao with more tolerance. We need to be tolerant and that way we can have better Tao.
Namo Omitofo
