The Ji Gong principle of life we should all have

No 492 of Living Life Series 1

There is a reason to cheer if men can think only of good for all the whole year and not just at the start of the new year. 

God and saints would like to set the ball rolling by sweetening their mouths and giving rather than receiving. To those who give like the gods, more will they receive. Do give more in life than just receive. 

Let us be like the gods and sweeten our mouths, speak good of others and think good of them. That should be the way in life and not just for the new year at the beginning of Spring. 

Cranes depict the joy of Spring

Let there be spring in life throughout the year regardless of the ups and downs we have and regardless of the seasons we face. Let there be a spring in every step and let us put our hearts to bring cheer to all whether near or far. 

The far may be near if men can think well and bless one another without restraints and without constraints. Then they are like Amitabha and saints or even Moses, Jesus and the lot. 

Lord Bo Tien

Lord Bo Tien says that the far may be near and the near may be far. But near and far do depend on what we think and not on the event of the here and now. We may be far from the gods but we are near to gods if we have them in our hearts. 

Ji Gong

Ji Gong wishes all to be well and happy in whatever life they may be. What matters he said is not what goes through the gut or what one does but what is in the heart. If there is the heart in all that is good for one and all, there resides the godly or Buddha nature in the heart. 

If one can see through life and have cheer come what may, he has the joy the gods want all to have on Chinese New Year. It is the joy that we should have and can have through out the year. 

Let the enduring values enshrined in the lunar new year be in our hearts throughout the year and year on year. Let us value, eschew and celebrate life. That should be determined by the heart and not by what we have or what are around us, or by what others tell us but by the goodness of our heart. This is the Ji Gong principle we should ever have. Omitofo.

Good to be and good to have

No 491 of Living Life Series 1

What have the two saints Ji Gong and Bo Tien in common with respect to temples? It is good for men to be in temples and good for men to have doctrine common to and behind all religions. But can we have both?

Ji Gong the emblem of free spirit
ever so care free and with the world

It is good to be in a temple but what is good to have, you may not get in a temple. Why is this the case? The lord saint Lord Bo Tien has even said that even in a temple under his name, this will likely be the case as well. Let us revisit his inaugural message in 1969. 

Messages before 1974

In his inaugural message a good half a century ago, Lord Bo Tien said: " From time to time in history, saints arose amongst men to lay down certain rules and regulations to help the masses lead better lives and to incline them towards GOD. "

Lord Bo Tien

"Over time, these rules become the tenets of an organised religion, but the idealistic spirit and motive, which prevailed during the founding saint's life time, changed gradually after his passing with arising of sects and differing sectarian styles."

"This is why often an organisation cannot bring out spiritual truth more effectively and closer to true nature of life unique to each individual in society. Life is an individual concern. Religion is always centered on life and a personal concern. Religious organisations often may end up over time as archaeological departments trying to discover the past."

"Therefore, I shall not attempt to establish any new religion, cult or organisation. But I shall rekindle and re-invigorate the religious thought* of all people and instill a higher understanding of life in them."

"Dogmas evolved over centuries after the founder's death frequently differ startlingly, unexpectedly, inadvertently and at times even uncannily in emphasis from the preliminary teachings for each faith and between faiths and sects."

"But the fundamentals of all religions and sects remain the same and enduring, because all originate from the same source -- GOD. Thus, when I deliver the GOD knowledge (Jade Emperor's teachings tau-li or tou-li), I shall neither comment (e.g. critique, judge) on existing religion nor commend (e.g. favor, prefer, highlight, be selective, be bias) any as the special one. All are unique and serve the divine plan in their own way."

"I want to turn man's mind away from being clouded by sectarian differences, so that man sees with clarity the truth in life. Man must cultivate insight on inner truth aspects that are common to and the basis of all faiths." 

"Be insightful though of this aspect. Every saint and prophet considered the times, the circumstances and the prevailing mentality of the people before delivering appropriate sermon. Every saint or prophet would deliver doctrines in the format and style best suited to the prevailing times, people and needs" 

But the basic problem with subsequent generations of men in any religion, sect or temple is that they thought they know best and want their way. They would take over the helm and put their mark and would say this and that are how things should be. They would say that the pioneers and historians have made mistakes. The interesting point is that the congregations would believe in them and go along. 

But while they would have done some good by making religion or the temple more in line with the contemporary or worse still the wishes of the masses who are often rather ignorant, they end up distorting and misappropriating the  mission and doctrine behind the mission. That is sad but unavoidable. 

Lord Bo Tien has said that we should not blame God and saints for men who come to a temple or religious body to helm it but sadly hijacking the temple or religious organisation for a very different agenda or mission but yet saying it is still very much the same original mission of the pioneers. 

They would often come as heros to save fellow men but end up serving their own needs and agenda rather than the needs of men and the mission of Heaven. The men far from being saved may be taken for a ride

The lord saint says that ants and insects are attracted to the flower for nectar. Blame not the flower for ants and insects coming to it. 

He also said that men would not be able to get to the true teaching of the founders by accepting what religious body or temple would have portrayed as what they indeed peddled to the masses would have been changed not just once but umpteen times, as temple or religious body changed hands with every successive generation. 

Each new generation would claim they are the chosen ones. They are like what the lord saint said that there would always be new men to helm a temple if the old could not make it. This is even so for a temple set up under his good name. 

The new are like the new subcontractors to undertake the mission. But if they are doing right, this will be good. But what if they distort, corrupt and misdirect the mission. They may be like insects coming to the flower for nectar and that will be problem. 

This has indeed been the problem with temples, sects and religions. That is why the lord saint Lord Bo Tien says that we must go to the upper stream for clear water.

It is good indeed good to be in a temple but what is good to have, you may not get in a temple. Why is this the case? This post should put things in the correct light The lord saint Lord Bo Tien has even said that even in a temple under his name, this folly of men will likely be the case as well.  

It is good to be in a temple or religious body but what is good to have may still be elusive unless men can go to the upper source for clear water. Men must be that ever more discerning to know men from God and saints. 

They must also not view men at the helm as representatives of God and saints. They must not end up worshiping men instead of God and saints. No wonder the lord saint Lord Bo Tien says that it is far better to know the Word or Doctrine than to know men for the Word is God and saints. 

Thus the lord saint did allude to the fact that those who are running a temple may indeed be far though near and the far from the temple may be indeed be near if they know the Word even if they do not set foot in a temple. 

The divine mission undertaken by Heaven with Lord Bo Tien as messenger is to save souls by revealing the need to know the Word behind religions of men. It is the mission of Heaven and not of men. Men will not make it come out right. Only Heaven can do so.

But alas, the lord saint did say that a collection of candle flames is better than individual candle flames. It is however true that in a temple, rare indeed can we find good candle flames in the very first place. 

In fact, good men, the lord saint did say, may not withstand the strong wind and will be blown away. But the wind will not blow forever and good men will return.

Another saint Ji Gong in his life as man in China of old had to leave the monastery for the wind of condemnation of him was too strong. He was not given the robes of a monk, wore beggar's rags and was expelled. But he knew the Word, the clear water at the upper source and not the polluted water downstream. 

Ji Gong

He prevailed with the adage that what matters are not what goes through the gut or what one does but what is in the heart. So what if he broke many of the norms of monks. He ate meat, drank wine, sang and danced with children, frolicked with monkeys and slept with beggars. 

He is however better than men who may end up like insects and ants coming to the flower like what Lord Bo Tien said of some of the many men in temples and religions. 

It would have been good for Ji Gong to be in a temple or monastery but he went for what was good to have which is the Word, and the Word is God. Good to be is different from good to have.

Till this day and age, he exemplifies going for for the Word which is the good to have. He went for the the universal temple - the world at large. As what Lord Bo Tien said, the world or universe is the true universal temple. The sky or Heaven is the roof of the temple. The religions are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven is in the temple. 

Ji Gong and The Da Peng Bird - Myth or Metaphor?

No 490 of Living Life Series 1

The Da Peng bird is a mythological creature considered even a demon but all who know will realise that all those with angelic powers or great resources but have weaknesses are demons of sorts. Even priests who decide how men worship can be demonic as well. 

The term 'demon' can often be a rather misused word. Any human with weaknesses can be a demon of sorts and bigots like to type cast others who disagree with them as demons or possessed by demons. That is sheer odd. 

The creature was mysterious in that it could transform from a giant fish to a great bird and vice versa. Kun referred to the fish form and it lived in the northern sea of a domain of Heaven. Peng was the bird form and it had wings with colors of the skies. When storms brew in the northern sea, the Kun would change into Peng and fly to the southern sea of Heaven. 

One of the many legends has it that in his past lives, while cultivating in the Buddha’s teaching, Ji Kong was said to be a reincarnate of arahat (saint) with magic powers. 

He chose to be a holy fool who portrayed qeer ways, often crazy and weird to provide a cover for his real identity as the incarnate of the Taming Dragon Arahat (Xiang Long Luo Han, 降龙罗汉) -- one of the eighteen legendary arahats. Thus this would enable him to undertake the mission set out by Amitabha Buddha for him to find the escaped Da Peng Bird (大鹏鸟). 

Is the story of Ji Gong and the Da Peng Bird a myth or a metaphor or both? Let us dwell on the matter. 

This is no Da Peng Bird or is it? 
How pleasant one looks depend on
the inner self or spirit, the purity 
and peace one could cultivate. 
Da Peng Bird will not be as pleasant
though many demons may look majestic
and charismatic but still with sinister air 

The Da Peng bird is a very gigantic bird that arose from a mammoth fish in Heaven. Though it is so big that an earthly bird like the sparrow cannot reach what it could ascend to, in essence, it has the same nature of a bird like the sparrow. 

Likewise, beings in Heaven may have the powers and abilities of angels but may have the same weakness as humans. If they have the weaknesses of men, then they are demons of sorts. 

Da Peng bird resides at the borders of Heaven and upper echelons of Hells where demons with powers of angels reside. In their previous lives, they have done both good and bad. They then would be born as demons with powers of angels but weaknesses of men. 

The mythological bird has been incorporated in 
7 computer games and depicted as above

When the Da Peng bird breached the confines of Heaven and entered the much diminutive Earthly domain, many demons with powers of angels followed through and were reborn as men in high positions due to past lives good karma. They took on lives with so much endowment that they were leaders of men, not only at non-spiritual establishments but at spiritual ones as well. 

They preached the same religions of men and sang the same tune but ensured that they controlled the minds of men and harvested what God and saints would otherwise not do. They are often even that more charismatic than many of the wise.

They would call others demons and want to save them from the Evil One but are in a way themselves demons or influenced by evil of sorts. They need to be corrected and saved. Many may think demons need to be castigated but they too deserved to be saved and be with God and saints. 

Ji Gong was born as man and took on the crazy eccentric behavior both as camouflage and as bait. This was so as to be with men at large in society so as to expose the devious ways of men who still resorted to demonic ways of their past lives though now they were reborn as men from the good they did in past lives. (By the way, all have both good and bad in past lives.) They misled men in the name of goodness of God and saints. 

Graphic depiction of Kun fish about to transform to bird

Ji Gong was designated to handle them and to bring back the Da Peng Bird and the demons to their confines at the lower borders of Heaven and the upper echelons of Hell where many powerful demons held sway. 

To this very day, he is still doing his mopping up and prophylactic mission. His main operative method is to show for others to know and emulate that what matters is not what one do or what goes through the gut but what goes through the heart. Look at the hearts of leaders and make sure they lead with heart and no less. 

God or Buddha is in the heart and not in men at the pulpit. Truly, good men at the pulpit do not want to be seen as Buddha or God. Many men at pulpit would rather be seen in rags and tags like Ji Gong but with heart of gold. 

They are poor yet rich and not rich yet poor. They do not and should never ever at all enrich themselves but instead they enrich the congregation they serve. 

This is like Ji Gong who is depicted as beggarly in beggar's robes but yet a god of wealth in places like Taiwan and South East Asia.

This post will of course ring a bell. Lord Bo Tien did say that there will always be ants and insects coming to a flower for nectar. There will always be those who come to an organisation in guise of serving the mission of that organisation but time will reveal that they come more for the nectar of personal gains. 

Lord Bo Tien

The lord saint Lord Bo Tien says that we should not blame the flower for insects coming to it. Even if they are demons in guise of the holy and pious, some leading men of religion (who are like ants coming to flower for nectar) more than others deserve the chance to be in the house of God to make good. Whether they can make good is the issue. 

Men should not blame God if they are misled by such leaders who thankfully are few and rare. Men have eyes and they must not end up not seeing with eyes wide open. Perhaps they see not because their eyes are wide shut. So, who is to be blamed? 

But there is need to wake up men to be true to the calling, true to the heart. It is the heart that counts. See through the men at the pulpit and know them by their heart, not by their charisma or showmanship and by what they do and say. Learn from Ji Gong.

Ji Gong and the Da Peng Bird is more than a story, more than a myth and more than a metaphor. Omitofo

Is there a lesson behind the story of Goldilocks?

No 489 of Living Life Series 1  

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks. She went for a walk in the forest. Pretty soon, she came upon a house. She knocked and, when no one answered, she walked right in.

At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge. Goldilocks was hungry. She tasted the porridge from the first bowl.

"This porridge is too hot!" she exclaimed.

So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.

"This porridge is too cold," she said

So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge.

"Ahhh, this porridge is just right," she said happily and she ate it all up.

Obviously for hungry child the hot porridge is too hot to have and for the cold porridge, it is too cold to be tasty. 

Just like in life, what we have must be comfortable for us, not too much or too little, not excessive or bare. This some refer to as the Middle Way. But it is not exactly halfway but in between. 

The sages of old in China refer to as the balance of yin and yang the polarities in life. Sometimes, the balance involves more of yin or more of yang. The comfortable point that brings ease and peace is an ever changing point. This is as reflected by Trigrams of Bagua.

It is not as simplistic as in the story of Goldilocks, otherwise all will be Buddhas and saints. Moreover what is comfortable balance for one may not be so for another. Also for the same person, the point ever changes and shifts with time and circumstances. 

Nevertheless, the story of Goldilocks is worthy of mention and is one way to teach the young children how to move on in the world, how to make life wholesome, how to balance life without running away from responsibilities and without going for too much and be overwhelmed. 

Even the image of Lord Bo Tien with feet astride and atop the elements shows unequal stepping or balance of elements. The balance point is not the midway of sorts. "The doctrine is in the image and the image is the doctrine." This did the lord saint say.

Lord Bo Tien

Good must go round like the merry go round

No 488 of Living Life Series 1

Let the year go round with joy and prosperity. Let happiness go around like the merry go round. 

Ji Gong went round the country side in life as man instead of being confined in temple of man. This was so he could bring good to men all around. To this day, he goes on his merry go round to bring cheer and goodness to one and all. He will never be tied down to a temple or by the rules or dogmas of men in the name of religion. He is ever care free as can be. 

Ji Gong on his merry go round
to bring cheer to men all around

Goodness must go around in a circle. The good Earth too rotates around so we have blessings of night and day. 

This is yet another manifestation of yin and yang which we must balance and make good our life here and hereafter. The good we have we must balance for more good to be. This is as depicted by the image of the good lord Lord Bo Tien with feet on yin yang two. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien
with feet on yin yang two

Yin and yang like fire and water must work in dynamic harmony and tandem, like the revolving globe below.

Peace on Earth and glory to God and saints. May the peace of yin yang synergy bring more bliss to one and all, more so to those who tread the way sages of old in China refer to as Tao.

Lao Tse retired from palace archives in old China to have more of peace by going beyond the frontier riding a buffalo into the horizon of life.

Omitofo always and ever more. He bestows peace in Pure Land to those who call out his name. 

Then Tao they can take up to greater heights be it in Pure Land here or in life here after. Pure Land is the here and now. Wait not till death to be there. Omitofo.

Credible, Tangible or Gullible. Does it matter?

No 487 of Living Life Series 1

Men are strange in many ways. In the name of God and saints, men often profess love for all but yet say that if others are not with them, then they are against them. But instead of saying they are against them, some say they are even against God. Some think they are credible. Perhaps, those who say so are gullible. 

But it is in the will of God that religions and sects have the right to hold on to their flocks in any way that is necessary. This will go the mile to ensure they do not stray and are devoted to God and saints. 

Lord Bo Tien

Lord Bo Tien in explaining that all religions are one in God, did say that religions will have their own dogmas or ways to hold on to men and bring them to God. 

Men are separated from God by the wrong or hindrances. It would take more than logic to bring them to God. Dogmas are necessary. 

Dogmas however differ from sect to sect and from religion to religion. What is tangible and acclaimed in one sect or religion may be considered less or even unwholesome in another. This boils down to the issue of credibility. 

Many religions and sects have narratives written in their gospels that are often like fairy tales. But such narrations awe the followers and bring on the fantasy as well as liveliness and sparkle in their lives. This would be better than pure dry philosophy that bores and stifles, leaving no or little room for child-like fairy tale life. 

The creation of the universe is one of them. Certainly the prophets cannot explain the reality but could plug the growing curiosity of men by spinning tales of faith. 

Fantasy was and is employed to bring awe in the minds of men in relation to the exploits of immortals and saints. One example is that of Monkey God or Hanuman. 

Beauty and belief are in the eyes of the beholder. But the realms of truth with regards to Heaven and saints are often complex and unsuitable or even unpalatable to men. 

Men would not appreciate but if men are instead told fantasy that befits their times, they could accept. Religions and sects just have to appeal to men to make them more good and closer to Heaven. 

It is not matter of credibility or how terribly untruthful stories in gospels are but rather the intended purpose and how effective they are in rousing the devotion and spirituality in men. It is not question of tangibility but appeal to the child and imagination of men.

But men who want to go the mile and cultivate more spirituality, must as Lord Bo Tien did say, go to the upper source for clear water. Otherwise, that which work and awe them may impede and hold back their spiritual advancement. 

Ji Gong was in his time as man, one who captured the fantasy of men. He was incredible in that he appeared to break all the norms of behavior of monks in monastery but he still made it as a saint.

He was unkempt, danced, joked, drank wine, ate meat and frolicked with beggars and monkeys but yet he was compassionate, more helpful and appealing spiritually than some monks who put on outward show but who did not practise even an iota from the heart. As we knew, he was nevertheless sadly enough disrobed and expelled from the monastery. 

Ji Gong

But he was Ji Gong after all. That he was expelled matters not to him. He needed to be himself and the values he eschewed. Though incredible, he was credible and what he did became a tangible role model for men. It is so even in this day and age. 

We don't have to have "holier than thou" approach to be like a saint. We just need to be true to self and put our hearts in practice of our beliefs and not shout aloud to the world that we are holy.

Ji Gong was more than holy but did not act holy. He was eccentric and crazy in ways but a saint no less. He was and is the Living Buddha and also considered a Taoist deity par excellence. 

He was incredible but yet credible. Men loved him. That is the reality and that is indeed awesome. He helped us even if we are not keen on matters of God and Heaven. There is no bargain as such.

He appeared to have no tangible behavior befitting a monk but his attributes are intangible, coming from the heart and spirit in him. Monks and many men then were gullible to echo what some say that he was an outcast until he showed conclusively through many miracles attributed to him that he was a saint. 

He believes till this day that "what matters is not what goes through the gut or what one does outwardly but what goes through the heart." Spiritual cultivation is one that involves wholeheartedness. We put our hearts in it. It is simply that. It is the heart that matters.

Nowadays, men of religion and of any temple must learn from Ji Gong. Men must be true from the heart and not act "holier than thou" but rotten in heart with greed ill-will and false views towards fellow men, condemning fellow men just because they do not sing the same tune and are not "yes" men. 

They may even condemn a father figure in a temple and expel him when that person has been invaluable in the past. That is absurd and unthinkable.

That person may well be a wee bit like Ji Gong in some ways and no less someone without whom the the temple would not be there in the first place and without his continued guidance and patronage, the temple will go to the dogs. 

Often, like Ji Gong that elder is one who is noisy and abrasive, often speaking his mind and heart. But alas, such an elder has heart of gold and without him, the temple will not be. 

Do think why this post is titled, "Credible, Tangible or Gullible. Does it matter?" Do meditate on this. Do think why Ji Gong is often not in favor of having temple in his name. 

If Ji Gong has his way, he would not have anything to do with any specific religion for he is with all religions and for all men regardless of religion, creed or race. In a way, he is above religions of men by men. He is of God and saints.

That is indeed Ji Gong. He is incredible yet credible, intangible yet tangible. Men, more so men of religion, are at times gullible but he is not. He is not taken up by the antics of men especially some "holier than thou" type, like some monks and priests. 

Such men may well helm temples and sects but that is no loss to men but instead a gain of sorts. As what Lord Bo Tien did say that we can learn from the lives of men, their good and not so good points. 

Then we know God and saints better and the doctrine they stand for. Such men present us the opportunities to learn from the gospel of life. We should be thankful to them. 

We should reach out to such men and let them see the dust in their own eyes though this is often difficult and a tall order, as what Jesus would want us to know. Help them for they know not what they do.

The lesson we learn is this. Be true to Tao and not act as if we already have Tao. Tao is the Word or Way. It has to do with being atop and balancing worldly contingencies, like praise blame and gain-loss. This is as depicted by the image of Lord Bo Tien with feet atop the elements. With Tao, there is peace unaffected by the ups and downs in life - the yin and yang.

Omitofo

Truth behind men who are the reason for religion

No 486 of Living Life Series 1

The men who became the seeds for religions as we know today were the very ones who found the prevailing religious practices in the days of old wanting and lacking. 

This post draws on the truth behind men who are the reason for religions and why religions today should not end up doing what the great men did not want men to do in the name of religion. 

Men in history who became the focus of religions were actually people who expressed distaste and disdain with the ways of those who were religious in their days. They were the very ones who felt that the principles of religions or religious culture were wrong and misleading. 

Buddha Gautama as Siddharta was one. As an ascetic after leaving life of prince, he was nowhere near the peace he wanted by fasting and eating only roots. This was the prevailing practice of spiritual teachers then. He found the answer by renouncing asceticism and he became the historical Buddha. 

He was not even a vegetarian as he ate what was given when he went alms begging. But truth being told is not as simplistic as we think. Vegetarianism is good for very different reasons but Gautama was no vegetarian. 

Then we have Lao Tse who worked for years till old age as the palace librarian in China. He was upset with the strife that was rife in society more so with the well off and powerful. The worship of status and power was everywhere. 

Men had to bribe the authority be it at level of men on Earth or in Heaven to win the favor or reprieve of punishment. This left a bad taste in him and he called it quits in old age and rode on a buffalo into the wilderness from the frontier of the city. A frontier guard asked him to leave behind in writing his thoughts. 

Lao Tse leaving the frontier 

This became the earliest writings of Taoism and though very much unintended, he became the pioneer of Taoism. In fact, what he wanted was the peace in retirement by going into the nature and be in harmony with and merging with nature. He wanted to share this with men.

Men in veneration of him immortalized him. They even made him appear domineering figure and exerting divine will over men to be religious. 

There is no doubt that he is an immortal and worthy of veneration but men are even in this day and age too carried over by their adoration of him to the extent that he is even considered above God and one of the Three Purities in the Supra Universe beyond the Universe of Heaven, Earth and Hell that are overseen by God. 

By doing so, we may lose the essence of his approach to life and this is indeed what he would not want or wish for. This is often the fault of men and not the fault of saints like him.

Ji Gong

Then we have Ji Gong who as man became a monk in a monastery but was expelled for not abiding with the norms and behavior of a monk. He was not even worthy of wearing robes and was asked to leave. He was a pain in the neck.  He was disrobed.

He had a mind of his own and found it distasteful for religious men to put on a good image upfront but which was not backed up by cultivation from the heart. 

He believed that "it is not what we do or what goes through the gut that matters but what is in the heart." He was chided for eating meat, drinking wine, impropriety and eccentric crazy behavior. 

Jesus in his time as man frowned at those in synagogues who spoke from a high pedestal. He was not liked by notable leaders of synagogues. But some men today may still use his name to instill fear and make small the men who do not submit to the teachings made in his name. 

This may make some men to misperceive him when he believed that men must be meek. "The exalted will be humbled and the humble and meek will be exalted." 

But the flip side is that it may still be alright for men to use his good name or the good name of any saint in any way they deem fit, as long as goodness prevails for all in the end. 

This is the uniqueness of religions which defy the odds and often multifaceted. No one is wrong but everyone is right even if they do not speak the same tune as others or the saints. 

It is still pertinent to remember the universal prayer Lord Bo Tien taught, "To all heavenly saints, we greatly adore. We believe in your existence and thy glory is in the thought of men. We seek for thy protection and guidance so as to live better for the time to come."

Lord Bo Tien

Lord Bo Tien also reminds us to look for the upper source for clear water and not to accept what men of institutional religions tell us as the gospel truth. 

Moreover, the lord saint said that the true gospel is in life and we have to learn from the strengths and shortfalls of men, more so in men of religions.

The lord saint also said that it is alright for religions and prophets to propound dogmas and beliefs that differ and may be contradictory with that of other religions. 

Religions have to have their own ways of holding on to their flocks so that they can be with God and saints and go the needed further step to cultivate the Way or Tao by being more discerning. This is in all religions. 

Men must cultivate in-depth spirituality by balancing and staying atop worldly contingencies as depicted by the image of the lord saint with feet atop the elements. Sages of old in China refer to these as yin and yang e.g. fire water, gain loss etc. The image is the doctrine and the doctrine is in the image. This did the lord saint say. 

The highlighted in blue constitute the various aspects of what Lord Bo Tien refers to as The Inner Truth behind religions. The lord saint says that existing religions and sects are good enough. There is no need for him to start any new sect or religion. His mission is to inculcate grasp of The Inner Truth in whatever religion or sect we are in. 

Omitofo.

Life rotates and that is why we live and die

No 485 of Living Life Series 1

The world rotates on its axis. Our life too rotates. Every rotation brings about changes. This is life. 

There is day and there is night. There is up and there is down. There is birth and there is death. There is joy and there is sorrow. Birth is joy but it too is death from life before. The sorrow is the joy and joy is the sorrow. The rotation of life brings both joy and sorrow. 

Why is there bitter sweet taste in life? Better to be at peace with both than to be both happy and sad. This is the choice of saints, more so when rotation of life is in keeping with the will of God. 

Rebirth is needed to keep life going. Rebirth is the will of God to keep life going. This is as stated by Lord Bo Tien. Without life upon life, how is man going to learn and to be better off from the learning. 

Rebirth is due to rotation of life and it keeps the world busy and going. This is not so that men will die again but so that men have more chances to learn and learn. Practice make perfect but the flip side is that many tend to day dream and just waste life away. This is a waste of time. Wake up and be good. Know the ups and downs of life. They are the yin and yang. 

They are intertwined like fire and water to make life whole, complete and round, and to make life go on and on in lasting fashion. Fire and water like birth and death are opposites but yet complementary. This is tiresome and the fate of our lot. When will we learn and stay atop the yin and yang of life. 

God puts in place the system of life which we refer to as nature with its cause and effect - karma. Nature has life of its own and is impartial. God and saints put in place this impartiality for beings to live in and to learn to liven up life by handling the yin and yang. 

If we succeed, life may still rotate but we stay atop and have peace despite the rotation of life. One day, we rotate no more and we be saints. This will enable us to be with God and saints. 

We do not have to be in Heaven just to come down again and again. Going to heaven is not good enough. Be a saint and not just be in Heaven. 

Be at peace come what may. Don't bother if life still rotates but be sure to have peace and stay atop the ups and downs. Sainthood is the goal but suffer not and lose the peace just because we are not yet saints. 

Overcome the bitter sweet taste of life when life rotates by cultivating Tao and have peace of the saints even before sainthood. Life rotates and that is why we live and we die. With Tao, we have peace even if we still live and die. 

Life and death are of no consequence when we have peace moment by moment. Life may rotate but we do not rotate with the world. We stay on top of the world of life. 

Tao is as depicted in the image of Lord Bo Tien with feet above the elements. Tao is in the image. The image is Tao. The left hand in salutation bids us to be steadfast in Tao. Tao is the doctrine as designated by the scepter in right hand.