The journey is the reward

No 565 of Living Life Series 1

"The journey is the reward." is a Tao saying. 

Life is the journey. Treasure even the moment. 

Even a moment of peace is moment enough. 

There is learning in every moment, 

either in the moment or sometime after. 

Life is like that. Journey is no bane to us

 but ever will be a gain in the end.

Round and round we may go 

but this will have to stop one day 

when we unlearn and learn

from the many turns of the journey.

Just find peace even in the wrong we do 

We will and its matter of time.

We will be better off that way 

and more moments of peace we will have.

Matters not which religion we choose

or even if none we have for now

For the journey is the reward

and not a pain in the neck or ass for all 

but a sweetness for us to taste and behold.

The reward is the journey of life

 and that is no understatement for sure.

Pain is joy and joy is pain

but we must find peace in that

if we are men of Tao.

Never be defeated by pain 

or be deceived by gain

but be atop the yin yang swirls 

if we can and where we can

along the journey of life.

Without life, how to learn 

and be better off from the learning.

No pain no gain and no gain if no pain

The journey is the reward for sure.

Calm follows storms like yin and yang

but the man of Tao stays afloat

with guidance and shelter of saints.

Issues big and small will be no issue 

Small issues will be no issue 

and big ones will be small for sure

if saints have their way for you.

But there is element of fate

which we must accept

as one way for us to learn

to have more peace in the end.

Storms are no sob stories

They will not last forever

A strong wind will stop one day

Calm will return to the fore

and goodness will prevail

These did Lord Bo Tien say

He added that men of Tao

in the journey of life

must handle the mountains, seas, 

scotching sun and drought of life.

The reward is in the journey

when deep into the woods of life

men reach the gateway 

for more life in Tao.

Digging further aground in life,

men will strike the spring of water

to quench their thirst for peace

amid the toil and unease.

There is reward in the journey

to be able to have peace of the moment

amid obvious lack of peace around;

Peace by handling the yin yang 

double polar dragons in life

So that man can be the pearl

to be supported by the double dragons.

For this to be, 

journey must ever be

for the journey is the reward

that is and ever will be.

Let all journey on and on

till they be saints and more

in the very journey of life

for the deserving ones in life.

Let men deserve to journey on

for the journey is the reward

as stated in the book of Tao.

Thanks to the good lord

Lord Bo Tien the saint of saints

for bringing awareness to us

of life as a journey yet a reward.

"To all heavenly saints we greatly adore

We believe in your existence 

and they glory is in the thought of men. 

We seek for thy protection and guidance 

so as to live better for the time to come"

May we journey through life better.

The journey is the reward.

Relish every of its moments.

Be at peace for the moment.

 That's the way to live life.

As is said time and again

More quote on the journey of life

How do we know we practice Tao correctly?

No 564 of Living Life Series 1

Tao means we are at peace by balancing and being atop the ups and downs in life. Tao means we are still with life and society but at peace with life and society. Tao means we are at peace amid the absence of peace around us. 

Are we at peace with life in the correct way? If we are so, most or some of the time, then we are on the path of Tao. 

"The journey is the reward." is a Tao saying. Life is the journey. Treasure even the moment. Even a moment of peace is moment enough. There is learning in every moment, either in the moment or sometime after. Life is like that. Journey of life is no bane to us but ever a gain of sorts in the end. Just find peace even in the wrong we do and be better off that way and more moments of peace we will have.



How do we know we practice Tao correctly? 
The questions we must ask are as follows:- 

Are we better off or worse off ?

Can we do with more of life activities and yet have the same peace or even more of peace? 

Are we depriving others in our life in some way?

Are we shortchanging the lives of others to get our so-called peace? 

Do we feel neglected by others in some ways? 

Are we ruffled and not at peace when problems surface? 

Is our peace so fragile that even the words of significant others can breach the peace? 

Is life less rewarding though we think we have the peace of life?

Are we restless somehow even if we have peace by having less of things in life ?

Is life still too simple and boring or too complex and tiring? 

Do others find us misfits or sore thumbs or do they treasure our very presence? 

Are we still rushing around or idling around though we think we are at peace?

Do we feel loss of control of life despite obvious gains ? 

Do we ruffle others when we speak? 

Do we have to run away from people and events to be at peace? 

No 563 of Living Life Series 1
 - recommended reading courtesy of Living Life Series


Extract from research by Michael P. Garofalo Red Bluff, California at http://www.egreenway.com/taoism/queen.htm 

"The Peaches of Immortality

Queen Mother of the West
Xi Wang Mu, Hsi Wang Mu,  西王母 Saint Shou (Longevity)   
 

Research by
Michael P. Garofalo Red Bluff, California
 

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"The Peaches of Immortality are Ripening
The Queen Mother of the West Sits on High.
'Nobody knows Her beginning, nobody knows Her end.' "

"The Eight Immortals on a Journey
The Peaches of Immortality must be carried to the Banquet"

"This happy saint of longevity, Shou, holds the Sacred Peach, a dragon staff, and a gourd filled with a Longevity Elixir. Flying around him are bats, and a crane at his feet, both symbols of longevity and/or immortality. The long white beard and long ears of this old man are also frequent symbols of wisdom and longevity."

Discussion by Inner Truth Netizen:- 

HOW THE PEACH SYMBOLIZES TAO?

That the eight immortals needed to fetch the peaches of immortality to the Banquet for immortals belies the fact that immortality even for the immortals leaves more to be desired. They need to extend their immortality by consuming the prized peaches. 

This may be more a figure of speech in that they needed to cultivate the Way and to have more peace by balancing the yin and yang even as immortals to reach higher levels of immortality. They needed to come together to cultivate the Way or Tao. 

The concept of eternal life in Heaven is a myth and life span in Heaven though long and near limitless is still limited till the immortals can attain more of the peace of Tao and be like the Pure Ones and the Buddhas. 

As life fluctuations, the ups and downs (the yin and yang) in Heaven are less in magnitude, almost minimal, it may be more difficult to improve further in Tao than for beings on Earth. They have to have intensive reflection and meditation on the problems of life, not so much of their own but mainly those of lesser beings - the mortals like men on Earth. 

They have to be involved and to be immersed in the lives of mortals somehow - in helping mortals to be better in Tao and to lead better lives even before they make progress in Tao - the divine peace in life. 

The story of peaches at the Peach Garden is attractive one for those who do not understand Tao. The qualities of peach calls to mind the same attributes required for Tao - the balance of opposites the yin and the yang such as the sweetness and sourness of life. 

The taste of peach is a good balance of sweetness and sourness as well as its texture is neither hard nor soft but somewhat crunchy. Tao is like that. 

Whilst the masses could not understand the concept then in old China due to lack of mass education, it is still possible to let them have concept of Tao by using the peach to pass the message of Tao. That is indeed ingenious but time takes its toll and why the peach is able to convey Tao is forgotten over time.

The story of the peaches of immortality is also the way to attract the masses to be devotional and to seek guidance of God and saints for better lives to come and to eventually tread on the Way of Tao by having the balance approach to life. 

It appeals to children and to those not ready for serious spiritual except for devotion and how to be good in words, thoughts and deeds in daily life. 

Ultimately, to be good is to depend on the saints of religions to guide and protect us till one day we can tread on the sublime path and have Tao. It is the ultimate way to live better for the time to come as stated in prayer taught by Lord Bo Tien. 

Lord Bo Tien taught this prayer for all men regardless of religions or even if none.

"To all heavenly saints, we greatly adore. 
We believe in your existence 
and they glory is in the thought of men. 
We seek for thy protection and guidance 
so as to live better for the time to come."

The peach is the fruit that embodies the attributes we must have to attain sainthood but while Tao is still to ripen in us, the saints above will need to tend to us - the fruits till we ripen. The saints must tend to us while we are not yet ripe in Tao. Then we will be truly immortals. 

We must grow the peaches of immortality in us and we must seek all the heavenly saints of religions to tend to us so that the peaches of immortality will ripen in us.  


ATTENDING BANQUETS OF IMMORTALITY

We can then have the right to attend at least in spirit the Banquet of the Saints where we share peaches of immortality with the saints and get tips from them on how to better grow and nurture our peaches. 

Those who are more motivated can hold their own banquets of immortality on Earth with fellow wayfarers of Tao and invite heavenly saints to grace the occasions. 

We certainly can be saints or immortals in the making, Who knows that we might have the rare privilege to rub shoulders with the likes of the Saint of Immortality Shou and be given further the enhancing elixir of longevity which is an aspect of immortality. 

Saints of religions are all worthy of reverence

No 562 of Living Life Series 1

There is need to respect the saints and prophets of all religions and this is a cornerstone principle of the message of Lord Bo Tien. They have the love and welfare of beings at heart. 

Each saint or prophet has teachings which must be respected and some of the teachings are unique to a particular religion. This is necessary to enable a religion to hold on to their followers. 

The purpose of all religions is to bring people to God and saints - to save their souls. Religions are not out to compete but to augment one another's effort - not to negate one another's good work. 

Believers of the lord saint respect and worship the saints of all religions without exception and without prejudice. This is summed up in the universal prayer. "To all heavenly saints we greatly adore. We believe in your existence and thy glory is in the thought of men. We seek for thy protection and guidance so as to live better for the time to come."                                           

Followers of the lord saint can be adherents of any religion or sect and they learn to be better in grasp of religion more so in their respective religion by learning from the lord saint Lord Bo Tien. They worship not just the saints of their religion but of all religions. Followers can also be free thinkers but who believe in God and all saints. This differentiate them from atheists.

The ideal scenario is one where everyone belongs to one whole. The sky or Heaven is the roof. Religions of men and run by men are the pillars. All men and beings are in the same temple though aligned to different pillars or religions. 

God and all saints in Heaven shelter men and beings in this universal temple which is the world. One religion is as good if not better than another in its own way. This provides choice and variety to attract more to God and saints so that more can know divinity and be saved - more can find peace in life and in Divinity. 

God and saints of all religions are worthy of reverence. Men are not worthy of reverence. Man is man and saint is saint.

When can we be like the lilies in the field?

No 561 of Living Life Series 1

Worry not and envy not. What we have is not as important as what we have at heart. If we feel good, we will be good. If we have a good heart, even if we have little that little is enough and life seems good. 

But to give up life and go for broke is not right. There is not even the heart for oneself. To go for the sky even when in abundance is not right as well. One would live life at punishing pace. Where is the heart for self ? 

The splendor of the lilies is a wonder of nature. Few men can match their splendor even though men can have more but still feel they have little or less if they want ever the more. Some in despair, throw up their hands and just give up. They ain't broke but gave up all and end up broke. 

Why all these when just be content and make good what we have and can have. Treasure what we have and can have. It is God's will or as some say fate. But do not resign to fate or just say God is the problem and so do nothing but just give up. Be content and try to make good in life with more but withing means. 

The lilies do not have to toil and spin. They just have to live off the ground and the air. They do no more. Their lot is assured. Even King Solomon cannot match up with them in peace and splendor. They can find satisfaction, peace and fulfillment. Can you? 

You can and you will if you can live off what life offers you and make good. You can be like the lilies of the field but few can make it that way because they envy and they worry when can they be like the others. That is the problem in life for the many. When can men be like the lilies in the field?

Isn't this what Gotama Buddha taught as well? He said that we neither deny life and go for nothing or broke nor do we overindulge and go for more than all we can have. No rat race and no dropping out of life. Just live off the ground and the air like the lilies Jesus talked about. 

This same spiritual aspect of life is found in all faiths and sects and is the very reason why Lord Bo Tien set out in 1969 to tell men that the same intrinsic truth and doctrine is in all religions and sects. 

This is the inner truth which is behind all and cuts across all. It is the basis for the Mission of Heaven he is entrusted with by God - to save souls through their respective religions and sects. 

There is need to awaken men to this truth and it is best to do so in their respective religions and sects. No need to uproot the lilies of the fields and transplant them elsewhere. They may not thrive as well. 

When can we be clothed (endowed) like the lilies of the field?

Balancing life for more peace

No 560 of Living Life Series 1

From the moment we are born, 

it is obvious that life is a balancing act 

if ever we want the peace and no unease. 

There is adding and subtracting

so that there be less pain and more gain

and that exactly is life isn't it? 
How often we balance as we may
and yet fall often to our dismay. 

When we are children so they say,

parents help us to balance 

and ease the pain of growing

and balance the gains if they can. 

Then when life seems not nice,

To God and saints they turn to

for better gains and lesser pains. 

But God helps those who help themselves

So we are back to square one again.

Isn't this odd and quaint they say,

if God and saints really want to help.

Then why the need to add to the pains
by holding back and not giving help?

But alas God knows more they say.

So shut our gap and make hay and haste

While the sun shines over our heads.

But ever be at peace in all we do

even if obvious no balance we have 

to gain more of the peace they say.

It was Buddha of old we are told

who found no peace but woes instead

when he punished his body fast with fast

only to be scarecrow for men and all

Also for self and that is bad. 

He decided to eat and be fit

To sit under the big tree of Fig.

With that he found peace to sit

long and good to be Buddha 

we know for all days from the day.

Balancing is a must  they all will say,

not just to be under a tree or in life,

but in any event or life now and then.

Then peace ever more we will gain

Which sages of old in China

will say is and ever will be Tao.

But let no one be sad and feel that bad 

that they find no peace at that

if Tao is far and yet to have.

What matters is the here and now.

A moment of peace is a moment 

to have and to add for more to come

of peace till we arrive at more of Tao. 

Alas by having the moment of Tao,

we have already arrived at road of Tao

So have the peace of mind to be at peace

amid the sea of unease and dis-ease

of the ups and downs, the yin and yang

that even sages of old had to face.

Let there be Tao and there will be

more of moments we can call for peace.

A moment of peace is good enough

for more to come to add to the peace.
This we have by balancing life.
Life is always a balancing act
for us to have more cheer in life.

It is the balancing of yin yang
as depicted in the image
by the feet of the lord
atop the elements