What we need to have in a leader in a temple is not someone who is populist but someone who can see issues beyond the thinking of the group running the temple. He must be able to vocalise even if this means ruffling the feathers of the group. Unfortunately, for most temples, the majority are often not in the picture and would rather stay out of the management of the place.
This would somehow encourage a small group to enter and dominate the running of the place as during an annual general meeting, they can ride in even if there is no quorum. Moreover, it is all too easy to manipulate membership roll to a manageable size so that quorum can be met at annual general meeting. There is just the only need to remove from active membership all those who did not pay up annual subscription fees.
A good leader in a temple is likely one who has been in the picture since the inception of the temple. He is one who opens the doors of membership to all and not just to those who are on his side. This will however mean he let the doors wide open, even for those the lord saint Lord Bo Tien refer to as men who need to be inducted into the temple for being far from attuned to spiritual inclination - never mind if the men come to a temple like insects to a flower for nectar.
This would somehow encourage a small group to enter and dominate the running of the place as during an annual general meeting, they can ride in even if there is no quorum. Moreover, it is all too easy to manipulate membership roll to a manageable size so that quorum can be met at annual general meeting. There is just the only need to remove from active membership all those who did not pay up annual subscription fees.
A good leader in a temple is likely one who has been in the picture since the inception of the temple. He is one who opens the doors of membership to all and not just to those who are on his side. This will however mean he let the doors wide open, even for those the lord saint Lord Bo Tien refer to as men who need to be inducted into the temple for being far from attuned to spiritual inclination - never mind if the men come to a temple like insects to a flower for nectar.
They are the ones wanting in spiritual and it would be great relief to Heaven if they can be inducted, never mind if they come for personal and not spiritually related or correct agenda. A good human leader, more so if he is a pioneer and elder will welcome them and mentor them.
But often, such men are difficult to mentor. They will clamber for more limelight and will take on management positions in the temple. They will soon out speak and drown the voice of the leader mentor who more often than not have to be loud and end up being portrayed as nuisance of sorts. If the mentor leader tries to be louder, he would be asked to leave in one way or other.
But if there are crises, it is such leader mentor who dares to act and not be cowed. He will save the situation, more so in a relatively new temple. His strength and value lie in his conviction and he will often overrule and dominate those who dare not act.
For example, if the temple is on state land and has to be evicted and closed, he will overrule those in the management and stand the ground to negotiate with the law of the land and not give in. Often this will be more onerous than giving up.
Another scenario will often play out in a young organisation. The members are not of one mind and they often go helter skelter in different directions akin to being amok and going confused. It takes a level headed mentor leader to call the shots and calm the ground. He takes control and nurture the loose group of men.
Yet another scenario is when the authority of the land says that an aged home run by the temple should be closed down and its inmates disbursed to other homes because it does not meet legal procedures and have formal clearance to be aged home.
But often, such men are difficult to mentor. They will clamber for more limelight and will take on management positions in the temple. They will soon out speak and drown the voice of the leader mentor who more often than not have to be loud and end up being portrayed as nuisance of sorts. If the mentor leader tries to be louder, he would be asked to leave in one way or other.
But if there are crises, it is such leader mentor who dares to act and not be cowed. He will save the situation, more so in a relatively new temple. His strength and value lie in his conviction and he will often overrule and dominate those who dare not act.
For example, if the temple is on state land and has to be evicted and closed, he will overrule those in the management and stand the ground to negotiate with the law of the land and not give in. Often this will be more onerous than giving up.
Another scenario will often play out in a young organisation. The members are not of one mind and they often go helter skelter in different directions akin to being amok and going confused. It takes a level headed mentor leader to call the shots and calm the ground. He takes control and nurture the loose group of men.
Yet another scenario is when the authority of the land says that an aged home run by the temple should be closed down and its inmates disbursed to other homes because it does not meet legal procedures and have formal clearance to be aged home.
The natural reaction would be to bow down to the directions of the authority. But a mentor elder would object and ingeniously reverse the decision to give in. He will save the day and the aged home of the temple can move on under the umbrella of the temple.
Often a temple makes headway and have new big concrete premises because of the nurturing hand of the mentor. That is when bigger problems will arise. Those who take backseat and let the mentor have his way now feel the coast is clear.
The headaches and problems of setting up and getting new premises erected are over. They then decide to come into the forefront and get the mentor out of the way. You may say they have grown up and ready to stand on their own, but some will think otherwise.
The different scenarios above reflect somewhat the realities that unfurl in temples. If not for mentor leaders or elders, many temples or churches will end up not seeing the daylight or being diverted from the original purpose or mission.
One such diversion is in the form of commercial investment which has no direct bearing to the temple and to spiritual. This of course the perpetrators would say is to beef up the funds of the temple proper.
Often a temple makes headway and have new big concrete premises because of the nurturing hand of the mentor. That is when bigger problems will arise. Those who take backseat and let the mentor have his way now feel the coast is clear.
The headaches and problems of setting up and getting new premises erected are over. They then decide to come into the forefront and get the mentor out of the way. You may say they have grown up and ready to stand on their own, but some will think otherwise.
The different scenarios above reflect somewhat the realities that unfurl in temples. If not for mentor leaders or elders, many temples or churches will end up not seeing the daylight or being diverted from the original purpose or mission.
One such diversion is in the form of commercial investment which has no direct bearing to the temple and to spiritual. This of course the perpetrators would say is to beef up the funds of the temple proper.
Obviously this we must know has nothing to do with the financial involvement of the temple. A temple or church all will agree should have no business with business.
Supposedly the gains and the capital will flow back to the temple. That is however beside the point. The point as any temple pioneer or elder will emphasize is that a temple is for spiritual.
It should for instance not even need to hive off its welfare wing as a separate social entity with no spiritual bearings. The latter would then put the temple in quagmire. It will in an odd way strongly imply temple capital had been divested for non temple work. This may incur infringement of regulations of the land.
It should for instance not even need to hive off its welfare wing as a separate social entity with no spiritual bearings. The latter would then put the temple in quagmire. It will in an odd way strongly imply temple capital had been divested for non temple work. This may incur infringement of regulations of the land.
Lord Bo Tien wants all the world over to learn why temples and religions may fail to meet the mission of God in their respective ways. He wants us to know how on earth, temples and churches can err and create more problems than meet problems?
These are due to men who have questionable intentions in the name of spiritual cause. But, he did categorically say that we do not blame insects for coming to the flower for nectar. This is not the fault of the flower. Lord Bo Tien reiterated.
These are due to men who have questionable intentions in the name of spiritual cause. But, he did categorically say that we do not blame insects for coming to the flower for nectar. This is not the fault of the flower. Lord Bo Tien reiterated.
The outcomes of many a temple or church may be far from desirable but the fault lies not in God and saints. Fault not God for human shortcomings in a temple.
Blame not the flower for insects coming to it for nectar. The nectar of course is there to attract insects, otherwise insects will never come to it. Why would insects want the flower other than for the nectar?
It is alright for men to come to a temple for personal motives or agenda. Merely by coming to a temple, they stand a chance to learn and make good in spiritual - the chance one day to save not only their souls but also the souls of others as well. When this will be is immaterial for now but at least these men are in a temple and that is the important first step.
Meanwhile, we do indeed very much need good and even loud mouth mentors to push temple or church management away from pitfalls. Such mentors are rare gems and few to come by. That is the problem. Perhaps some may be right to say that we leave things in the good hands of the lord.
Lest we forget, we should not worry for a temple as the lord saint Lord Bo Tien did say that a saint is like the great ocean and no amount of problems or wrong doings of men in a temple of the saint will sully the good name and work of a saint.
A saint will have his way somehow as the mission of a temple is the mission of heaven and not of men. Each temple or religion has a mission that fits into the overall design and will of God and Heaven to save souls.
It is no big deal if some men want to usurp a temple for other purposes of non-spiritual nature. Their shortcomings will not mar the good name and mission of the saint at the temple.
Good men will leave because of the strong ill-wind of a few manipulative men but like what Lord Bo Tien said that an ill-wind will not blow forever. Good men will return when the wind abates. Good will prevail and even the men who created the ill wind will learn to be good and proper, if Heaven has its way. This is the will of Heaven.
Heaven will discipline and rehabilitate but never punish. This applies even to any fallen angel referred to as Lucifer or Satan in some religions and Mara the evil one in other religions. The ill-wind of the fallen angel will not blow forever but this does not mean there will no other new fallen angels and no further ill wind or storms after the calm.
We do have to reconcile with this and make do with the yin and yang - the alpha and the omega, so as to have more of peace than war of sorts. That is life.
There will always be shortcomings of men and beings, be it in a temple or in the world. Blame not God and saints for such shortcomings of men and beings in a temple or outside a temple.
Don't even blame men as well. Men have to learn and mistakes intentional or otherwise are part of the process of being men. God and saints know that. Though somewhat far fetched to some, that is perhaps why saints like Jesus said, "Judge not lest ye be judged."
In a strange way, all men will somehow be like insects coming to a flower for nectar when they go to a temple for blessings. God and saints still oblige and the reasons have been elucidated at length above.
Lord Bo Tien's parable of the insects and the flower is in many ways eye opening and worthy of our reflection time and time again. Didn't he even say also that the far may be near and the near far?
This applies to everyone of us. We may be at a temple or church for personal gain or nectar. We are near and yet in a way still far if we go there only for nectar.
But fret not, God and saints are loving and benevolent. They are not men but God and saints. They will accommodate our nonsense but to God and saints these somewhat ungainly ends of men like us are not and never will be considered nonsense but just that we are not yet saints.
Do not judge God and saints in the way many men will judge men. That will be belittling God and saints. Need more be said? If some still don't understand, let alone grasp this, let it be.
God and saints will still be with you so that you will still have more of what you want, though life will still be wanting even if Heaven can meet many of your wants.
Then you must want to know how to live life and have the peace. Then you will seek Tao or Way like sages of old.
Lao Tse is one such sage. Look at him in portrait below. Why is he riding the buffalo away from the frontier, from the small world of the imperial capital at ancient China to the much bigger world beyond?
Why did he bother to do so? There is obviously something we can learn from him and like him go for the bigger world beyond the limited small teacup world we know.....
Blame not the flower for insects coming to it for nectar. The nectar of course is there to attract insects, otherwise insects will never come to it. Why would insects want the flower other than for the nectar?
It is alright for men to come to a temple for personal motives or agenda. Merely by coming to a temple, they stand a chance to learn and make good in spiritual - the chance one day to save not only their souls but also the souls of others as well. When this will be is immaterial for now but at least these men are in a temple and that is the important first step.
Meanwhile, we do indeed very much need good and even loud mouth mentors to push temple or church management away from pitfalls. Such mentors are rare gems and few to come by. That is the problem. Perhaps some may be right to say that we leave things in the good hands of the lord.
Lest we forget, we should not worry for a temple as the lord saint Lord Bo Tien did say that a saint is like the great ocean and no amount of problems or wrong doings of men in a temple of the saint will sully the good name and work of a saint.
A saint will have his way somehow as the mission of a temple is the mission of heaven and not of men. Each temple or religion has a mission that fits into the overall design and will of God and Heaven to save souls.
It is no big deal if some men want to usurp a temple for other purposes of non-spiritual nature. Their shortcomings will not mar the good name and mission of the saint at the temple.
Good men will leave because of the strong ill-wind of a few manipulative men but like what Lord Bo Tien said that an ill-wind will not blow forever. Good men will return when the wind abates. Good will prevail and even the men who created the ill wind will learn to be good and proper, if Heaven has its way. This is the will of Heaven.
Heaven will discipline and rehabilitate but never punish. This applies even to any fallen angel referred to as Lucifer or Satan in some religions and Mara the evil one in other religions. The ill-wind of the fallen angel will not blow forever but this does not mean there will no other new fallen angels and no further ill wind or storms after the calm.
We do have to reconcile with this and make do with the yin and yang - the alpha and the omega, so as to have more of peace than war of sorts. That is life.
There will always be shortcomings of men and beings, be it in a temple or in the world. Blame not God and saints for such shortcomings of men and beings in a temple or outside a temple.
Don't even blame men as well. Men have to learn and mistakes intentional or otherwise are part of the process of being men. God and saints know that. Though somewhat far fetched to some, that is perhaps why saints like Jesus said, "Judge not lest ye be judged."
In a strange way, all men will somehow be like insects coming to a flower for nectar when they go to a temple for blessings. God and saints still oblige and the reasons have been elucidated at length above.
Lord Bo Tien's parable of the insects and the flower is in many ways eye opening and worthy of our reflection time and time again. Didn't he even say also that the far may be near and the near far?
This applies to everyone of us. We may be at a temple or church for personal gain or nectar. We are near and yet in a way still far if we go there only for nectar.
But fret not, God and saints are loving and benevolent. They are not men but God and saints. They will accommodate our nonsense but to God and saints these somewhat ungainly ends of men like us are not and never will be considered nonsense but just that we are not yet saints.
Do not judge God and saints in the way many men will judge men. That will be belittling God and saints. Need more be said? If some still don't understand, let alone grasp this, let it be.
God and saints will still be with you so that you will still have more of what you want, though life will still be wanting even if Heaven can meet many of your wants.
Then you must want to know how to live life and have the peace. Then you will seek Tao or Way like sages of old.
Lao Tse is one such sage. Look at him in portrait below. Why is he riding the buffalo away from the frontier, from the small world of the imperial capital at ancient China to the much bigger world beyond?
Why did he bother to do so? There is obviously something we can learn from him and like him go for the bigger world beyond the limited small teacup world we know.....
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| Storm in teacup? |
