A pair of chopsticks may seem unappealing other than knowledge that easterners like Chinese and Japanese use chopsticks to eat. Interestingly it comes as a pair and both must complement so that the user can pick up food. There is balance and coordination needed to use them to pick up food.
Initially, concerted and conscious effort is needed but over time, this no longer requires conscious effort and it becomes a habit. When one is learning to eat, it can be a hassle and there will be dis-ease if one cannot use chopsticks when eating say chinese food.
But over time, when one is versatile with chopsticks, there is little effort needed. One no longer has to struggle and fight with oneself over the use of chopsticks and eating becomes a joy and there is peace.
The link below to You Tube entitled Chopsticks* will allow readers to refresh and appreciate how chopsticks are very much part of Chinese culture. It has to do with spiritual principles inherent in life and applicable to both mundane and spiritual life.
A pair of chopsticks may seem innocuous but it speaks volumes about the wisdom of the ancient sages. Chopsticks tell us about life and how we must master the art of living so that life is no longer a struggle and there will be ease and peace. Life will then be no longer an effort and we can be more productive and aware of life around us.
The link below to You Tube entitled Chopsticks* will allow readers to refresh and appreciate how chopsticks are very much part of Chinese culture. It has to do with spiritual principles inherent in life and applicable to both mundane and spiritual life.
A pair of chopsticks may seem innocuous but it speaks volumes about the wisdom of the ancient sages. Chopsticks tell us about life and how we must master the art of living so that life is no longer a struggle and there will be ease and peace. Life will then be no longer an effort and we can be more productive and aware of life around us.
Chopsticks come in many styles and can be made of different materials. That adds to the variety but whatever the differences or styles, they are still chopsticks and we need to handle them the same way to pick up food.
Chopsticks tell us about the art of living. We need to handle the left and right of life to move on. If we are not adept and still learning, it is admittedly no doubt an effort to use chopsticks and life or eating is no longer a joy, no longer peaceful as such.
The same applies to life in general both mundane and spiritual. Know the polarities and be very aware of worldly contingencies like praise blame, gain loss, honor dishonor, health ill health and what have we - male female, husband wife, odd and even, sunrise sunset etc.
The sages of old refer to these as yin and yang - yin for passive and yang for active. Even in use of chopsticks, one of the pair is moved more actively. There is the yang and yin of chopsticks.
We need to balance and be atop yin and yang to be at peace so that life can move on more peacefully. This is the yin and yang doctrine but we can also say that this is the chopstick doctrine.
Religions or sects may indeed differ and be of varying diverse styles and making like the various kinds of chopsticks. But indeed they strikingly and admittedly serve the same purpose of enabling peace in life both mundane or spiritual. Thus sages of old in China and Lord Bo Tien as well stress on yin and yang balance to have peace. This is immaterial of which religion or sect we profess.
Work life balance is one aspect or application of yin yang balance. It is the norm or principle of jobs in the mundane world.
Yin yang balance is as depicted by the feet of Lord Bo Tien gingerly but firmly applying pressure on the two polarities or elements. There is the art and need for coordination as well as doing it differently with progress of time and change of scenarios.
 |
| Lord Bo Tien |
Likewise in use of chopsticks, depending on what we are picking up, there is need for variation of pressure and style. Sometimes the porcelain spoon may have to come in to assist.
Readers should reflect that religious or spiritual principles are already in mundane life and culture passed down to us by ancestors. There is no need for written scriptures.
Life is the living bible. The doctrine is in life and life is the doctrine. No wonder, Lord Bo Tien says that his image is about life and his image is the doctrine. The doctrine is his image.
Last but not least, even within a temple of any religion, we need both the right and not so right to work as one for the peace and progress of the temple. We need the left and the right like the left and right of chopsticks to work together.
The pioneers and subsequent generations must learn to work as one. They must learn to work together effortlessly and that will be the day. This applies to any temple and no less to any Bo Tien temple.
Any Bo Tien temple anywhere in the world has to be the torch for other temples to emulate. Respect for elders is one of the precepts or pillars but respect must always and ever be two way. There is no doubt on this. Chopsticks must work as a pair and in synergy.
Do not end up having men in a temple being slap-sticks to one another - inflicting woes and making a big joke out of the temple. People in a temple must not be like slap-sticks to one another. But sometimes saying so and stating the obvious can be waste of time.
They are actually meant to be chopsticks to one another and please not slap-sticks. That would make them look like clowns. What a big joke that would be? It would be so unbecoming of any temple to devolve to such shameful state. It will become the talk of the town.
It would be a let-down to its saint and the doctrine of the saint of that temple. The men at such a temple would then not be able to stand tall, would crouch with bent knees and would have to hang their heads down in shame - tantamount to a disgrace some may say.
But such men have to learn and will be blessed by God and saints to remain in the temple to learn. If they don't learn what next? Why should we be concerned when God and saints are not?
A saint is like the great ocean that reaches out to many a shore. No amount of human mud will taint the ocean. This too did Lord Bo Tien say. Members of any Bo Tien temple have to do the saint proud that they are not mud, that they are not slapsticks but chopsticks.
The choice of chopsticks or slap-sticks is left to those at a temple. Can they act as one and not be laughing stock and the talk of town? What mission to talk about when the men cannot act in concert like chopsticks?
The issue is whether temples and churches like Bo Tien temples are chopstick ready for mission to save souls. God willing and men abiding, this should not be a problem. Omitofo
* Chopsticks
Last but not least, even within a temple of any religion, we need both the right and not so right to work as one for the peace and progress of the temple. We need the left and the right like the left and right of chopsticks to work together.
The pioneers and subsequent generations must learn to work as one. They must learn to work together effortlessly and that will be the day. This applies to any temple and no less to any Bo Tien temple.
 |
| A temple with no slap-sticks but only chopsticks that all can be proud of. |
Any Bo Tien temple anywhere in the world has to be the torch for other temples to emulate. Respect for elders is one of the precepts or pillars but respect must always and ever be two way. There is no doubt on this. Chopsticks must work as a pair and in synergy.
Do not end up having men in a temple being slap-sticks to one another - inflicting woes and making a big joke out of the temple. People in a temple must not be like slap-sticks to one another. But sometimes saying so and stating the obvious can be waste of time.
They are actually meant to be chopsticks to one another and please not slap-sticks. That would make them look like clowns. What a big joke that would be? It would be so unbecoming of any temple to devolve to such shameful state. It will become the talk of the town.
It would be a let-down to its saint and the doctrine of the saint of that temple. The men at such a temple would then not be able to stand tall, would crouch with bent knees and would have to hang their heads down in shame - tantamount to a disgrace some may say.
But such men have to learn and will be blessed by God and saints to remain in the temple to learn. If they don't learn what next? Why should we be concerned when God and saints are not?
A saint is like the great ocean that reaches out to many a shore. No amount of human mud will taint the ocean. This too did Lord Bo Tien say. Members of any Bo Tien temple have to do the saint proud that they are not mud, that they are not slapsticks but chopsticks.
 |
| Hanging head down in shame, crouched and bent at knees walking hastily away but still at same spot. We cannot run away from our actions. We must learn and be at peace with what we do We are not God and saints. |
The choice of chopsticks or slap-sticks is left to those at a temple. Can they act as one and not be laughing stock and the talk of town? What mission to talk about when the men cannot act in concert like chopsticks?
The issue is whether temples and churches like Bo Tien temples are chopstick ready for mission to save souls. God willing and men abiding, this should not be a problem. Omitofo
* Chopsticks
