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?
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| 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. "
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| 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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| 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.
