Never should a temple rest on its laurels

No 452 of Living Life Series 1

Thus have we seen that when a temple or church starts off without a building to its name, the camaraderie of the people is ideal, full of warmth and oneness. This is not that this is likely since they are in small in numbers but that there is that critical oneness of direction and purpose - more so oneness of hearts. All gather because of the common interest and this is usually centered on the lord saint for which people gather and a temple is born - never mind if there is no proper roof or shed.

When the temple of the lord saint came to be soon after his descent in 1969, the lord saint Lord Bo Tien did opine that what he wanted was people and not a building. The temple went into the open with only a shelter and pillars to support. Till this day and age, he still says that it is people that make the temple, not a building. The temple has done well for him to rejoice but more can be  done and must be done to save the souls of men. 

Any temple is the people who receive the love of a saint and who in turn love others to want to do more. Inspired by saint, the spirit of brotherhood and love is there. They help one and all who are in need. 

But when the temple comes of age and a concrete building and more is there, the majesty and pride of success go to the heads of men and heads do swell. This is more so when worldly success in concrete terms of a grand building stirs up the innate and silent personal egos in men. 

Men then let their egos take over unabashed. Egos rear their ugly heads and morph into into insects to claim the nectar of worldly ends, fame and gains. The men who come ward off any dissenting voices and competition that may be. Instead of one, many factions come to be. The rest we know is sure to come. 

Instead of being one voice despite diversity, there will be many split voices that jar and mar the peace. This is the road and fate of temples of men but not temples of God and saints when temples rest on their laurels and forget to kindle the flame of mission of the lord saint. The mission is beyond societal ends and gains, beyond joining hands with powers that may be but ever galvanizing them to serve the mission of the saints. 

It may not be that bad to want to claim part or whole of the pie to oneself and deny access to others, for men are men and not saints for now. But please when will men grow out of this and let the pie of divine love to grow and grow so more can come and share. 

This is the way Heaven would be glad to see in temples one and all, regardless of sect or religion that may be there to serve Heaven for the goodness of all. 

Never should a temple rest on its laurels even if it is straight and right to the dot for when complacency sets in, ugly ways of men will come to the fore. A temple should never sleep or it will go the way of men.

Well, this is because men are not saints and egos they have that can bring woe and change a temple to temple of men instead of temple of God and saints.

Need we say more. Omitofo. 

Omitofo never say men are wrong but will help men even before they can make good and do less or no wrong. He will never instill fear, guilt and threat. The word 'sin' is never on his lips. Just call his name and we will be blessed in the way fit for us and not in the way we deem fit. Namo Omitofo always and ever more. His Pure Land above is for one and all to be there to learn ever the more. But learn we must even here and now...and not wait till kingdom come.