One of the greatest wonders of men is the misrepresentation of God and creation. Men conceptualize creation as though it is like fairy tale for children.
Well it is good that it is so simple and had to be simple so that even young children could understand and learn to love God and saints and be awed by them.
Men think that there is only one Heaven and one Hell. Earth is between the two. That to be born as man in short life of average 60 to 80 years determines eternity in Heaven and Hell is a bit far fetched and simple. This is perhaps simplification of reality.
But who can verify for sure what is indeed the reality? It is beyond logic and ability of men to explain to young minds that the reality is much more elaborate and complex.
How do we explain that there are many lifetimes of any one individual? How do we explain that if life as man is very short and finite, life in Heaven or Hell is like eternity but not yet eternity in that it is much longer but still finite?
Some are in Heaven even for short while and may have to return to Earth or even to Hell. The good or bad that we do as man do not give us the right to everlasting life in Heaven or Hell.
In any case, no man is only good or bad. No man is wholly worthy or wholly unworthy of Heaven. As we sow, so do we reap. What some men sow cannot be identical to what others sow.
Such complexities are difficult to teach to a young kid. Kids only understand and are attracted to fairytale-like concepts. But men too generally are child-like in their relation to God and saints. This is a good attribute.
Thus what gospels depict of life, rebirths and heavens and hells must be attractive to this psyche of men in general. Men like to think that it is simple to go Heaven. Just believe in God and do good to his name. This will be good enough to be worthy of Heaven in eternity.
No one in right mind will find fault with this approach. Life is already so onerous. In any eventuality, why must we make religion more complicated?
Let religions be capable of capturing and creating wonders in men. So what if its concepts be like fairy tale?
Never should we mind if the concepts are far from reality. Lord Bo Tien had said that the far may be near and the near far. What matters is that a desirable outcome can come about, never mind if the beliefs are far from true or precise.
Never should we mind if the concepts are far from reality. Lord Bo Tien had said that the far may be near and the near far. What matters is that a desirable outcome can come about, never mind if the beliefs are far from true or precise.
What matters is that these awesome and simple beliefs are able to please men and soothe the spirit of any man. It would make it easier for more men to seek refuge in Heaven.
If Heaven is that more elaborate than Earth, and if the reality is that this should be the case, then it will be very daunting to the troubled minds of many a man. Men want happiness to be forever and expect that if they go to Heaven, this should be forever. It may be better not to make them think otherwise.
But nothing is forever and man goes to heaven only to continue the step by step journey to sainthood or enlightenment - sainthood or what some refer to as buddhahood. Nothing is forever, safe for sainthood.
But if spiritual development take ages and numerous lifetimes, then this can be disconcerting. It is just like telling a kindergarten child that what he should know is what doctors of philosophy know. This would completely floor the young mind.
Thus while nothing is forever, it is alright and necessary to tell men in the complicated warp of life as man that life in heaven and hell is forever, or as some would vouch as eternal.
Nothing is forever except sainthood. But even Buddhists find this daunting. That is why Amitabha created the Pure Land in Heaven.
Spiritually, we need to cultivate one step at a time like a child in school going from one level of school to another and not look too far ahead.
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| Buddha Amitabha |
Amitabha is well aware and helps us even as men so that we do not need to wait till death to be in Pure Land. In Pure Land, we will undergo further cultivation of the Way or Tao.
In short Tao is the ability to handle the vicissitudes or worldly contingencies like praise-blame, gain- loss, etc. Sages of old refer to this as balancing of yin and yang. This is depicted by the image of Lord Bo Tien with feet on the elements.
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| Lord Bo Tien |
Other religions have their own ways of simplifying things so that men can be attracted and not be overwhelmed. Lord Bo Tien says that prophets and religions have their own ways of holding on to people and bring them to the fold of God and saints. The dogmas and beliefs of religions may differ and had to differ so that more men all over the world can be brought to God.
We need simple concepts to attract men to the fold of Divinity, just like we need to teach young children simple concepts which are far from the reality and complexity of the knowledge they will know in tertiary level.
Yes, nothing is forever except sainthood but many should be told otherwise till they are more spiritually cultivated to know and to grasp.
May God and saints of all religions guide men step by step so that men can have more of heavenly peace here and now and not feel let down that it is a long long way ahead.
Amitabha is one of the saints of saints who do his utmost part. Namo Omitofo.
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| Amitabha and the saints in the Pure Land surveying and reaching out to the world |
