During the lifetime of Ji Gong as man centuries ago in old China, the monks at the monastery thought Ji Gong was crazy and a fool. They professed to know better but history bore witness that they should have known better that Crazy Ji was far from being the fool. He was and is the Living Buddha.
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| No Buddha is ever like him. Does not even look like a monk but is no less the Living Buddha |
Whoever thinks they know better may need to face the truth that they still have a long way to go and it is no consolation that they know more than others or act as though they are better.
That is why the lord saint Lord Bo Tien did say that members of a temple like that of any Bo Tien Temple should capitalize on one another's strengths.
That way they can like the amassing of candle flames shine out even better the life for other men to take. They can learn from the little good and skills of one another and that obviously is good for all.
Additionally they can learn from the mistakes and weaknesses of one another and that will prove to be beneficial and a credit to one and all. There is also the likelihood that our brothers or sisters in the temple will wise up and be better.
There is less tendency then for men to come to the temple like insects to the flower and even if some still do, blame not the lord saint for such men in the midst, just like we should not blame the flower for insects coming to the flower for nectar.
In the first place, do admit that there are hardly anyone who does not come to a temple saint for favors, personal gains of some sorts. But be aware of some who try to outshine and take the limelight.
Invariably, these are the few who will come as champions for the rest. They claim they could speak for God and saints and they attract the limelight and all men who need to reach out to God and saints will somehow think they should kowtow and be subservient to them.
It is with this in mind that the lord saint did indicate that there must be yin and yang balance through having a council of elders so that no one or two could steal the limelight and overshadow the lord saint to blind others to the awesome love of the saint.
The awesome love even ensures that the men who come like insects to the flower too are never considered outcast but would receive much leeway and attention of the lord saint.
But other men must open their eyes and learn from life, their own lives and the lives of others, more so the lives of men who are like insects to the flower.
Such men can move mountains of men even if they might mislead them but this is as life would be but which men must learn not to succumb to.
Men must wake up and balance their lives, the yin and yang and move on in harmony and peace come what may. This is as depicted by the feet of the lord saint balancing the elements.
This is as explained that what we experience, learn and have in a temple of today are like the downstream of a river where the water is not pure and have many contaminants and additions.
The wise who climb the ladder of life must make use of the downstream derivatives to go to the upper source for clear water as encouraged by the lord saint. This is the way of the wiser ones.
But all who are wiser than many too must start as fools. They must start at the downstream before they can go against the current upstream to the upper source for clear water.
In fact, all are learners and it is invariable that wise ones must start off as fools. All must be at the downstream before they can trace their way to the upper source for clear water.
All men are both fools and wise ones along the way of life. The issue is how we cultivate and balance the polarities of life, the yin and yang.
That way we move from darkness to light and from light to light. That way we move upstream and reach clearer and clearer water.
But it is against the current and is an uphill task. "Precious and short is life as man. Strive on with diligence." The Buddha Gautama did say.
Ji Gong had an uphill task as man centuries ago. He had to show that "what matters most is what is in the heart and not what goes through the gut or what one does."
He ate meat and drank wine but he might appear to be crazy and like a fool but he wasted no time and resources in cultivating the heart. He might be a fool in eyes of men but proved to be lesser fools than the wise. He is the Living Buddha.
Ji Gong had an uphill task as man centuries ago. He had to show that "what matters most is what is in the heart and not what goes through the gut or what one does."
He ate meat and drank wine but he might appear to be crazy and like a fool but he wasted no time and resources in cultivating the heart. He might be a fool in eyes of men but proved to be lesser fools than the wise. He is the Living Buddha.
Omitofo.
