Love life with it's imperfections.

No 785 of Living Life Series 1

It is often difficult for people to handle the  calamities of life, more so people of faith and religions. They often resort to the coping mechanism that this is the will of God and God will prevail. We should trust God and have faith in him. This is good but may still not explain the imperfections in life. 

But at least, it enables people to be at peace and move on. At least, there is no guilt in men who have to face calamities. 

People should not wallow in guilt and end up depressed with self blame and poor self esteem. They do not have to be downed and drowned by guilt of being wrong and sinful and thinking that God has punished them. The earlier they come to terms with calamities and be on top of the situation, the better it is for them. 

Guilt and sin complex is the very thing any life loving person should not have. Get over it. Self torment will not be of any good. It is silly for a person to slap himself. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) stresses on need to love life and loving life means accepting the problems and imperfections of life. Do not be weighed down by guilt. There is no sin as the lord says whatever we do will not wrong or harm God and saints but only harm and affect ourselves and others. Men reap what they sow. 

If men could not understand why life is so unfair to them and lament over it's imperfections, they should regard the setbacks and imperfections as but learning points. All can learn from the lessons of life, our lives and the lives of others. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) tells us. 

If people can learn from setbacks in positive way and not wallow in misery with plenty of self-blame, they will be better off. They will not be lacking in love for life and for God and saints. Love means to love life even in face of imperfections and problems. 

Love means to be comfortable with the downs of life so as to be more ready to harness the ups in life. Ironically, this means we need to accept imperfections and even be aware that the opportunities that imperfections and calamities do afford vast opportunities for us to learn and be stronger from the learning. We should love such opportunities to make ourselves stronger and be winners instead of losers.

Thus feeling of guilt is out. Self blame is out. Learn and make do. If problems are too overwhelming, at least leave things to God and saints. God and saints know best and do have faith in them. 

But better still of course is to be strong and come out on top. Let imperfections be the resources for us to learn and come out stronger and be on top of life. This they refer to as managing the ups and downs, the yin and yang of life and be wiser and more peaceful from the learning. 

But if we cannot do this, at least hold on to the faith that God will not fail us even if it appears life has failed us. The last thing is to blame God when God and saints did not and never even blame us for our imperfections. They do know we are imperfect and still learning and have long way to go. 

If there is imperfection or wrong in us, we are the ones who wrong ourselves but we will never wrong God and saints, for God and saints are above being affected by imperfect men and beings. It must be stressed that we wronged themselves and one another instead. 

God and saints have no anger and ill-will but we have if we are yet to perfect the peace of Tao or Way. They will not punish us and we do not hurt them in any sinful way. Sin means to harm God and saints. God and saints are above harm. 

God and saints are of love, always and ever more. We too must be of love so that we are like God and saints. Then God and saints are in us and we in them. 

Expect the worst even if we want the best

No 784 of Living Life Series 1

About half or more of what happen in life is sort of predetermined. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says is fate. 

Fate is based on the laws of God or Heaven and to many it can be incomprehensible. Why must and unpleasant event happen? Why can some one be better off than others in education or a job when clearly they may not be as good and capable. Well, it is fate again. 

But doesn't effort counts? Yes, effort is necessary and does go a long way but the outcome may be modified by fate. 

Fate, they say is due to God and of God. But please don't blame God and saints. Heaven has put together a system of divine laws. As we sow, so do we reap. 

We are however not the outcome of just what we do in this life but also what we did in past lives not only as individuals but also as groups. 

This would explain air disasters. With regards to deaths of closed ones in air disasters or calamities,  many would tell you thus, "You have to be strong. They are not ours, they belong to God." 

Well, God and saints put in place laws and systems which are not easily understood for men cannot look beyond the present life. We are not long sighted enough and we know not the past way back and beyond the present life. This in a way gives us sort of a clean slate to move on in the present life without being hung up by the past lives.

Thus the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that though God and saints will come to the aid of men when men seek them in prayers, there is an element of fate which at times cannot be helped. 

However, take heart that big issues generally can be smaller issues even if they cannot be no issue if we seek divine hand to come to our aid. 

But men cannot see the big picture and may not realize that there is more than meet the eye and life could have been worse. Yes, it could have been worse.

Let there be no excuse. Let us make do with what we have - our blessings and our lives. Well, in a way, whether one lives or die, only God decides. Long-lived or short-lived, only God decides. Fortune is also decided by God. 

This does put things in a nutshell. Do regard that this is what one can have and do not question more or be further drowned by our thoughts. Move on and make do. 

This is what God and saints want us to do. God helps those who help themselves. This is no double talking but just being complete in approach. There are two sides to the coin. 

We cannot expect God and saints to live life for us. We will have to live life ourselves. Do wake up and expect even the unexpected along the way. This is life. 

Do be prepared for misfortune even if we want fortune. Expect death as inevitable for one and all even if we want to live. Expect the worst even if we want the best. 

Then we will be more appreciative of whatever blessings we have in life and not take life for granted. 

Then we will not be too carried away by blessings and be let down badly when they are there no more. 

Then when we are down, we can still be collected and have some peace. When we are up, we too will not let our emotions have the better of us and send us up to cloud nine. 

We will have more of the calm the sages and saints refer to as peace or equanimity. Cheers but do be subdued and be at peace even amid cheers. 

Didn't Buddha reminded his followers especially the members of the holy order of monks to be mindful of death in every living or wakeful moment of life and to eschew and treasure every breath in peaceful satisfaction? 

Every breath moment has its arising and it's passing away. It is still useful and not a waste. The breath did die but so what? We should value it but not lament over it. Be aware of its death if we want to have the best of the next.

Steadily and surely, we go for the next breath and then the next in peace knowing the value of each breath, it's transitory nature and steadily and ever move on in peace and valuing each breath while it is there. 

When this will stop, it is immaterial but we must be at peace by expecting the worst even if we want the best out of life. That way we will never be disappointed and ever be at peace and at ease with life. 

Expect the worst of a breath even if we want the best of the next. That is wise and is life, isn't it?  Be it breath or what we have in life, that should be so and so be it - amen is the word isn't it? Peace be, peace be, for you and for me.

One exploit of Ji Gong (济公) in his life as man

No 783 of Living Life Series 1

One story of Ji Gong (济公) while he was man tells us that Ji (济) was about to be taken to task by a gang of Chinese officials. They were furious at him for exposing and spoiling a scheme they were hatching. 

They sought him out and rained blows at him only to realize thereafter that they were beating up not Ji (济) but one of their own instead. Ji (济) was instead off to one side and watching the fun. As usual, he was drunk with Chinese wine and spouting some oddities. 

This riled them more and made them pounce on him again, only to find that they have been beating each other instead. They end up bloodying themselves and making a joke out of themselves while Ji (济) was resting nearby looking on at how the officials had taught themselves a lesson. 

This incident be it myth or reality is typical of the many exploits of Ji (济) as man. He seemed to have the knack to break all rules. He would dive into the thick and thin of trouble, but coming out unscathed and not only that, he would be somehow clean and seemingly not involved. He would somehow be watching from a distance.

He was able to point out that the many who boastfully claimed to uphold the rules and ways of men might in fact be the opposite of what they were at heart. The unscrupulous rich and well placed might at times get what they wanted to the disadvantage of others. He was able to expose their true nature and motive. He was adept at making them teach themselves a lesson or two and be better off from the learning.

To those who know him, he is a saint, no less a living Buddha but to those who don't know him, he is an eccentric mad monk drinking and dancing in the streets of men. He was after all expelled from one of the largest monasteries in old China - the Linyin (灵隐寺).

But what matters is that he is able to dance into our hearts and show us that what matters is what goes through the heart and not what one does or what goes through the gut.

He teaches us to see through unscrupulous men and not be coerced into their schemes or be at their receiving ends but to see through them and make them come clean by making them turn their own schemes on themselves.

In today's world of 2014 and beyond, there are those who used the mantel of religion as a front for their less than religious agenda. They will be their own undoing and they will then come clean.

We might perhaps aspire to be a little bit like Ji Gong (济公) by doing just enough to ruffle their feathers but yet stay on the side line to watch them teach themselves a lesson or two. Well, well please have second thoughts for none of us is a Ji Gong (济公).

How can we be as wise as Ji Gong (济公)? If this is so, then desist and leave others alone. Fate and retribution will catch up with them. The laws of the land will reach out to them as well if they go too far. Do not play God or saint when we are not even up to the mark as humans. Sometimes even animals like dogs may be better than us... sad isn't it?

Lord Ji (济公), Lord Ji (济公), do guide us to be a wee bit like thee. But at no time should we deceive ourselves we have arrived and are thee. 

God wants us to think and not just believe

No 782 of Living Life Series 1

If a leader of a community tells that only he is right and others wrong, then something is wrong if the people would just buy his thinking. If the society is matured, that society will not end up saying that there are no other leaders except that leader. 

If followers of a sage insist that only their sage is right and other sages are wrong, then something is wrong if people would just buy their thinking. If the society is matured, that society will not end up saying that there are no other sages except that sage. 

If there is respect for others, men should not tell them that they cannot think for themselves and must take what are said as gospel truth. It is when there is little or no regard for the capability of others that some men insist that others should just believe and all will be well. They will be saved by just belief and by the grace of the sage.

This is like the authoritarian regimes and the empires of  the long past when only the dictator or emperor was right and had the sole right to think for others. Others had better not think for themselves or they would face ridicule.

The Buddha instructed that people should not just believe in him but should question what he had preached. His teachings should be tested like gold was tested by fire in the olden days.

The good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that it is alright to have doubts and doubts arise because people don't understand and want to know more. There is no need to ridicule them as they would be better off once they understand and know more.

If a concept is too simple and cannot withstand question, then it may not hold water. It may be too good to be true. Only way to make many accept the simplistic thinking is to say God says so and therefore all must accept as gospel truth. Did God ask men not to think and just to belief? He never did but men did and that is the problem, isn't it? 

Never say God and saints say so. Know that God and saints wants us to think and to reason. That is the way to really know them and to save our self and ultimately our souls. It is only by thinking and reasoning that we will be immune to the unscrupulous among men and not be misled by such men who used the name of God and sages in vain. 

In fact, this is so true and we should think even more and apply reasoning to life, more so to spiritual matters. Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) adds that he who knows the dao li 道理 (reasoning, logic or doctrine in Chinese) knows him - in fact knows God and all saints. Doctrine is logic and reasoning. Logic is doctrine, isn't it?  

If one only believes and don't think, how can one know doctrine which is reasoning when one decides to put reasoning aside or be cowed into putting it aside. It is an affront to basic human dignity and decency to tell a person not to think and reason. It is often the tool of those who want to make the crowd do their bidding. But why do this using the name of God and sage? Won't this be a disservice to God and sage instead? 

The top down or patriarchal approach of old Chinese culture had become the undoing of the people by creating the closed mindset. People simply just followed what the parents or grand parents said and did, more so in spiritual traditions and festivals. They said that God and sages wanted people to do this and that. 

People ended up following traditions blindly and never bothered to think. Descendants soon thought the ancestors were superstitious and dumb in the head. Isn't this pathetic just because people did not heed the need to think and know the dao li 道理? 

Do not add to the polarization of society

No 781 of Living Life Series 1

One sure way of unifying people across nations and races is to unify them with religion. That is how empires in the past like the Chinese Empire of old China did. 

But the religion which they use to enable this is not just any imported or organic religion but it was a cultural combination of the teachings of various sages both local and foreign to China. 

Often, this was initiated by the emperor and the imperial court. This enabled the emperor to be held and revered as divine and as the equivalent of God The Jade Emperor. 

Thus in the China that emerged from the era of the dynasties and later with the opening of China to the world, many could not really place what religion they belonged to. 

Often, if their orientation is more on a Buddha, then they would be inclined to say they are Buddhists and if more to the deities and gods that are part of ritualistic popular Tao, then they are Taoists. If they are more focused on Confucius, they are practitioners of ancestral worship and Confucianism. 

The label of a religion came into being because of Western influence and the need to answer the question, "What is your religion?" The answer would be odd if it is, "We are Chinese and we follow Chinese culture." To many who don't understand, they would think the Chinese are not answering the question. 

Race or ethnicity was then everything. Religion as an identity was a relatively new concept introduced by the external Western influence. Basically, the thinking was that if what others believe in is good, then this would be integrated into the culture of the people. 

Nowadays, nationality, ethnicity and religion vie for the top spot in as far as identity of the people is concerned. Won't this add to the existing divides and add to the polarization of society the world over? 

Let there be oneness amid diversity. Let people the world over believe in all religions and decide on the sage or saints who best deserve their focus. This was as what the ancient Chinese did. 

The oneness of spirituality and truth across conventional religions is central to the teachings of Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) since his first descent in 1969 at Woodlands Singapore. All religions are good and we should revere all heavenly saints and their teachings. 

Let not religions polarize society and one sure way not to do so is to believe in all sages and saints regardless of religion or sect. This is the teaching of the good lord. 

Do not add to the polarization and segregation of society and create more problems for the world. The problems and issues of men are many and plentiful. This the good lord too did say.

Spirituality is one but religions more than one

No 780 of Living Life Series 1

Let us be more open and logical about religion, not that religion is not open or logical when in fact any religion in the world is profound and rich in teachings. The point is that it is very necessary to keep an open mind and be able to think through and be more mindful as well as to think independently. We must also learn to understand teachings in context. 

The unfortunate part is that the moment a man says he is a member of a religion, it is expected of him to toe the line and echo what others believe. Isn't there double talking or double standards of sorts - conflict between to believe on one hand and the other to question and be convinced? Often, this is made worse when applied in new contexts different from that of the lifetimes and localities of the sages

But like it or not, men of religion expects others in their religion to believe and not to question. The scenario may result in the unthinkable. In time, many may just ape what others do and know not what and why they are doing. They might even add more to what are being done and they say these are what are traditions. Others have been doing so and why must we not do so. This become the justification. There is no need to know why and to understand at all.

This too often happens in Asian cultures like the Chinese. When one day, some others point out to them that they know not what they do and perhaps are pointless in carrying on traditions, they wake up and decide to give up and join the bandwagon of those who point out their blindness in religious practice. This is good and we should be happy for them but then are they jumping from the fire pan into the fire? There are always two sides to the coin.

In fact, the great founders or sages that have religions created in their names were not conformists and blind followers. They did not set out to say that existing religious thoughts and ways were wrong but they found that there were much to be desired. 

They wanted to improve on the thoughts and ways of the day and they did so. They were not starting something new. That was not their primary intentions. 

But after their passing, men insisted that what they had taught were something totally new when what they the sages wanted was to improve on what was existing and as such the existing old teachings. The sages wanted to show that there is more to the spiritual culture of their societies. They wanted to add on new dimensions and approaches. 

Men in society who were the followers of the sages in their so-called cleverness and brainwave proclaimed religions. What their sages taught were to be new religions and what that were existing before what they taught were the old religions. 

The reality is that the sages did not have such intentions. What they the sages wanted was to improve on the thinking and ways of men in spiritual matters. The sages wanted to uplift the richness of the spiritual culture of their community or race during their lifetimes. 

Thus if sages like Buddha and Jesus are here today, wouldn't they be surprised and taken aback?  Well, this is a matter of opinion. 

The sages wanted to improve the spirituality of the community they lived in. They succeeded but men generations later had better ideas. They created and divide men - with the believers of the old as belonging to one religion and the believers of the new as another. 

If only men can just drop the need for religious labels and just embrace whatever beliefs and practices as well as whatever sages that can benefit and be blessing to them, this world would be more wholesome. 

For example, in the field of science, is there such categories as Indian science or Chinese science. Why can't we handle spirituality without categorization and divides?  After all, spiritual truth is one regardless of communities, and simply knowing and understanding one another's ways enhance our grasp of spirituality. 

But the moment we use the labels of religions, it becomes a sad state. Many expect members of religion A not to believe in the teachings of religion B. This is the folly of men out of devotion to their sages but not the making or wish of the original sages. Religion is in a way the making of men and not the making of God and sages.

Do understand spirituality cannot be divided but perhaps division is a necessity of men for them to show they are different and they need to be different. 

Truth is one but men may come from differing angles and be divided as religions. Religions are the making of men. There is oneness of God and truth behind the religions of the world. This is the Inner Truth Message of the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). 

Truth or Spirituality of sages is one but religions of men are many. This is the reality we have to live with but we must be mindful and conscious of this reality. There is the parallel in the saying that humanity is one but yet the races and nations of men are many. We do have to contend with reality but still hold on to oneness, be it of men or of truth behind religions of men.

Look more from the angle of culture than religion

No 779 of Living Life Series 1

By right, the teachings of a sage if embraced by a culture should be integrated into the culture so as to enrich it and not be stand alone, let alone displace the culture of the person and replace it with a new culture. If for example, he is a French, he can never be a Jew even if he can speak the Jewish tongue. 

Any new teachings introduced to a community must co-exist and complement the teachings of other sages in that race or culture of that community. Thus the teachings of Buddha complemented and enriched that of Taoism and that of Confucius so much so that it is of little or no value to say in old China that one is a Buddhist, Taoist or Confucian. 

In fact Hindu gods and sages became embraced into Chinese culture so much so that they became distinct gods and deities in old China with new legends and myths. Jesus too is to be found in the pantheon of gods and saints in Chinese culture though this integration was found distasteful and frowned at by others. Chinese remain Chinese though they accept teachings of sages from other races and speak their tongues. 

On a more realistic note, the term religion is more a Western concept that may lead to the believer of Christ who is a Jew be viewed as different from that of another who is not a Jew. 

Likewise, it may lead to the believer of Buddha who is an Indian (Hindu) as different from the believer (Buddhist) who is not an Indian. Of course, the cultural context of belief in Buddha would differ in some significance in the two categories of believers. 

It may be best to drop the term religion so as not to cause divides but as it is already an accepted convention, the word will continue to be used out of convenience. 

It is better to think in terms of social-religious culture of a community instead so that we know that a person of a certain race or mixed race is of that race or community. 

It would come then as understandable if an Indian revers Buddha or Goddess of Mercy as much as they do for Rama or Krishna. This does not make them any less Hindu or Indian or any more Buddhist just because they worship Buddha or Goddess of Mercy. 

The teachings and culture of believers of a sage if embraced by another race should be integrated into the culture of that race and not alienate those of that race from their culture and make them behave like they are no longer of that race. 

Let us be open minded and not let religion divide men. Cross cultural exchanges do not displace one culture with another but enrich the original culture. Thus in Chinese culture it is the norm to embrace the sages of other races as part of the culture of Chinese. This has been borne out by the march of time. 

The teachings of all sages should be respected and this is the view of the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) who emphasizes on the oneness amid the diversity of religions.

Religions are man made and have their own dogmas to hold on to people and to appeal to different people so as to reach out to more people.

But let not people be divided in the name of religion. It is alright to learn and believe new aspects but let this new learning add on and enrich the person and his culture - definitely not rob him off his cultural background and richness.

At Bo Tien Temple, Christmas is celebrated even though it is a Buddhist and Taoist orientated Chinese temple. It has become part of the culture of the temple. Christmas has become part of culture of Chinese regardless of professed religion.

Some of the members and devotees at the temple are professed Christians but that has not stopped them from supporting the good works. Many too are not Christians but still rejoice in Christmas and the love of Christ. Christmas has become integral to the culture of the people of the temple and the land. Cheers. 

The Three Wise Men and The Three Gifts

No 778 of Living Life Series 1

This is one of the many articles or posts on Christmas written mainly for those who are not Christians but still celebrate Christmas. By right, the teachings of a sage if embraced by a culture should be integrated into the culture so as to enrich it and not be stand alone, let alone  displace the culture of the person and replace it with a new culture

This is like in old Chinese culture
where food offerings,
gold and money, incense and perfume
are offered to nobles and sages .
But nowadays not practiced
as frowned at as inappropriate.
Flowers and fruits will do
as good gestures of respect.
Churches today too
have virtually no offerings
at the altar save for flowers.

Three wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus who was born in a manger on Christmas Day. 

They were guided by the Star of Bethlehem. The poinsettia flower depicts that star. 

Let the spirit of Christmas, the celebration of life too be born and be renewed in us on Christmas Day. 

Then the three wise men too will bear the three gifts to us as well - God, The Word and The Man. 

This corresponds to Divinity, Doctrine and Dedicated Clergy at the pulpit. Doesn't this ring a bell or two? This trinity is characteristic of all religions and cultures. Merry Christmas.

Good old Santa

No 777 of Living Life Series 1 
This is one of the many articles or posts on Christmas written mainly for those who are not Christians but still celebrate Christmas. By right, the teachings of a sage if embraced by a culture should be integrated into the culture so as to enrich it and not be stand alone, let alone  displace the culture of the person and replace it with a new culture

Let the Christmas Spirit be there every day of the year to remind us all of the birth and greatness of Christ who was born on Christmas Day. Christmas Day bells ring each year to remind all to give and receive as Jesus too has given to us and received our hopes and aspirations. 

Let us live in and follow in his footsteps to give and to receive, not just on Christmas Day but on every day of our lives. This is the spirit of the saints and if we can live up to this, we too will be saints of sorts not just in time to come but a wee bit saintly even here and now.

Good old Santa makes the day for us on Christmas Day. He brings to life the spirit of love and be loved - the spirit of giving and receiving that is Christ the lord. There is no strings attached and he gives freely and openly to one and all regardless of faith and creed. 

This is the same loving kindness that sages of the East talk about - the love that is beyond self and never discriminating as all are family and kin to God and saints. This then is true love - that is divine and heartwarming.

All regardless of sect or faith are so blessed by God and saints. Good old Santa proves to us this is true more so on Christmas Day when people of all faiths and creed will rejoice in love and be loved.

Through the dirty and narrow chimney, Santa will come and squeeze his way to bring us cheer and love. Nothing will stop him and his mission of love. How many can be like him to go to such extent to shower us his love? 

We too must be like him. Even if we receive, we too must give. Let no obstacles mar our spirit of love for life and for all men. Isn't this the same love the religions of the world talk about and want us to have - not just to receive but also to give?

Let us welcome Santa to warm our homes and be at the fire place to be with one and all, so that there will be cheer for even those who are in the harsh winter of their lives. 

Santa, O Santa please come into our lives not just on Christmas Day but every day. Teach us how to be Santa to one and all as you are Santa to us today. 

Living life and moving on in life in peace

No 776 of Living Life Series 1

No one knows better about God and saints than the person himself. No one can really tell a person how good it is to experience goodness other than the person doing so on his own. 

Others may tell him the wonders of their belief or experience but there is nothing like the person experiencing and believing on his own. No two persons have the same experience of the same religion or sect. "To each his own" seems to be true in every way. 

But it is also true that no one can say they can go it alone. They must act as one and as a group but even in a group, "to each his own" seems to be true as well. Everyone needs support of society and family in one way or other but every individual has his own life to lead. 

He can only see his life mirrored in some way in the lives of others and decide if he would like to have the same. But it would never be exactly the same. Life is like that. 

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) exhorts that we learn from the lives of others - the good and not-so-good. That way we do not make the same mistakes and can be more good than whatever good we already have. 

While we cannot expect others to run our lives, let alone live our lives for us which is impossible, we can work as a group and within the group, the good lord says there will be those of different skills and capabilities. Thus we can look to fellow beings for blessings. We can be blessings to one another. 

This is in addition to asking for blessings from God and saints. But mind you, we have to live our lives and help ourselves. This does not mean we do away with help of fellow beings or the blessings of God and saints. This does not mean there is no element of fate as pointed to us by the good lord.

Helping ourselves means living life and making the best out of life with help when help is necessary and help comes our way. No man is an island to himself. Many too need to be married and all need family and kin. 

For living life, we must be able to have that peace even in the here and now and not wait till tomorrow or worse still till kingdom comes. We move on in life and go for the peace of the moment.

It matters not if we get what we want tomorrow. We may get a little, part of it or all. We may even get none. The most important is to have peace of the moment and whatever we do must result in more peace and calm of the moment. 

If we go for too much or expect too much, we may suffer from it and will be far from peace. If we go for nothing or for broke, we are lost, heart broken and not at peace. 

Get life moving but always be focused on having peace of the moment. This requires balance of the polarities and contingencies of life, the yin and yang as depicted by the feet of the good lord Lord Bo Tien balancing and resting on the elements in his seated image. Nothing like having the peace of moment and moving on in life in peace as well. 

Isn't this what all religions are about but couched in different terms and scenarios? Religions too must go on their own but yet they have to work as one in a way. They always have to be so, otherwise there will be less of peace among men. 

Since 1969, the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) emphasizes on the oneness of religions but reminds that religions will always stay different and have their own dogmas and rules to attract and hold on to the diversity of people the world over. There is need to have different ways to capture attention of people and to meet their needs so as to bring them to God and saints - to save their souls. There is need for global approach.

Unlikely ones more likely to succeed spiritually

No 775 of Living Life Series 1

Have we ever wondered why animals are referred to in the religious stories from the East and that despite being animals, they can achieve spirituality beyond what the common men can achieve ?

They have animal nature but this has not stopped them from going far in spirituality or at least associated intimately with temples. The holy cows of India are not to become household jokes of men. They labored and toiled the rice fields and they provide milk and more. Elephants too help in logging and transport. They are the pets of many temples and revered in temple precincts. Monkeys help to pluck coconuts. Monkeys and snakes too are temple inhabitants. Sheep and goats have their contributions and they too serve and provide welfare for men. 

Lao Tse of China traveled on buffalo back upon his retirement as the imperial librarian of the then Chinese Emperor. He is central figure to early Taoism and mind you, the faithful buffalo is his closest companion and the buffalo is not even a man. We can say with certainty that the companion buffalo was more devout than any man. He did not choose a man but a buffalo.

The monkey god in the Journey to the West portrays that even with animal nature and tendency to kill and persecute evil beings and men, this had not stopped him from enlightenment. 

He, the Great Sage is like many religious men nowadays often self-opinionated and too sure of self and ever ready to say that others are wrong - even going to extent of damning them to hell. But the committed monkey in the epic story is able to be better than men and achieve spirituality and be a saint. 

If he can, surely those religious people who are ever ready to condemn others too can if they have the passion and will be able to achieve true spirituality and be saints. 

The animal in men may make them lousy followers of a religion. Though they make a mockery of religion by despising and persecuting others, they may arrive and in a way the chosen ones. 

As what the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says, "The far may be near and the near far." The animals in men may be why men who are far from even being humane as men are able to be near to Heaven when they are by the animal in them far from Heaven. 

The animal in men need not be the undoing of men. It needs not be a liability but can be an asset but for the present and for some time to come, society may view them as odd and unlikely candidates for true spirituality.

Small wonder that in Chinese culture, every man or woman is born in a year of an animal in the Chinese Zodiac. Every person is identified to an animal.

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Spiritual fellowship - the good and the bad aspects

No 774 of Living Life Series 1

While the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) has given the main salient spiritual values which are applicable across religions, there are also aspects of life he said that we could learn from the strengths and weaknesses of fellow men. We can learn from life and society. Life is the living gospel. 

He also said that the banding together of people like sand particles to from a concrete pillar is good but this is only good if for good reasons. Yes, fellowship is good if this can foster more spirituality and peace in men. But if this fosters conflicts and problems, then such fellowship is far from good and better not to have. People are better off staying alone and aloof of one another. 

Modern men can strangely often be shallow and go for fellowship in a house of God and saints often for the wrong purpose. Their fellowship can go awry if it is such as to distant them from elders and parents, from families and colleagues at work. 

The fellowship robs them off the time and resources, compromising their capability to fulfill their rice bowls or jobs. At times, even health is compromised and everyday, they rush from home to job, to religious gathering and then late home to sleep. 

They don't even have time for themselves, for sleep, rest and personal recharging. This kind of fellowship is not good and the individual is simply so rushed and not having a peaceful pace of life. 

To have good fellowship, we must as advised by Gautama Buddha associate with the wise and honor those who are worthy of honor. We must also work and stay in a suitable locality. We must not separate religious life from family and working life. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that we must be able to practice the spiritual principles not just at allocated time for religion but in every moment of daily life outside religion. 

For example, we must be mindful of the arising and passing of our thoughts not just during meditation, but in every moment of life outside meditation and the house of God. We must kindle and foster this mindfulness in others so that more can be calm and peaceful. Then our fellowship is there even at work, home and not just at the house of God and saints. 

We may then spend less time at a house of God or at work. We will have a more relaxed pace of life, not rushing from pillar to post and ending up having less of the moments of peace. 

Some leaders of religion often want their congregation to have more time together at a house of God than at work or with the family. They are afraid that they will go astray. 

They may sadly end up encouraging escapism, denial and cult. They ensure that their people have less time to think independently, let alone cultivate mindfulness and have more of peace. They go for mental captivity and not mental liberation

These people end up feeling insecure if they don't gather together. At times due to cult-like fomentation, they band together as though waiting for the last day or preparing for that day to come in the distant future. They want to be well prepared. This paranoia is not what should be, or is it? 

But social activities with the gathering of like minded moral or religious based people will always be of some good in the secular sense. They afford interaction of people and people will learn from interaction and mature faster, learn to give and take and be more pleasant as individuals. They generally become more appreciative of life and others.

But the central motive must be of some moral good, never mind if the spiritual emphasis or story is too simple and odd, bordering on fantasy and leaves many unanswered questions. This is so long as the emphasis appeals never mind if it may not even be in tune with science and may border on fairy tale fantasy and over simplicity. 

Often religious societies which take pride in depth of wisdom and philosophy are often not in tune with and far removed from the masses. The vast majority of the masses just cannot go along even if there are many who can appreciate. 

There is the need to meet the needs of the many who will go for fellowship that appeals and that may not even be ideal. Thus if a house of God or saint is like a community center, disco or a place for party and merry making but contained within some honest to goodness basic moral religious parameters, such a house of God or saint will catch on and be the in-thing. 

But after some time and in due course, the more discerning and wise will realize and have the wake-up call for higher wisdom. Then it will be a different matter altogether. Isn't this the case since time immemorial?

This too is a house of God
but open to all religions -
for the fellowship of all
religions, sects and creed.
But the social bond for now
may be not tight though there