Let us not let life have the better of us.

No 615 of Living Life Series 1

The root of all issues lies in the ego or self - the need to please self. 

Even not wanting self is to please self. There are those who think self is bad such that they deny self and even punish self thinking that self is bad. Thus they think that they have wronged and must be crucified. They crucify themselves not to save others but thinking they can save themselves. 

This is self-mortification and brings one away from peace of life. It is as bad if not worse than indulging in one's ego and making sure life works only for oneself and never mind even if to the detriment of others. 

Thus it is necessary to know the true nature of life and that ignorance or wrong understanding of life is behind all. 

If everything in life must come to an end, this does not mean that having them is pointless that we idle our time away and do nothing. That is self mortification or deprivation which would be inviting more woes than avoiding woes. 

If there is to be an end in all the good things in worldly life, then living it up to the nines may seem the answer to some. But alas this only makes matters worse as the one who indulges in life wants ever the more. 

Won't this create more strife and woes as well, more so when life and all the seemingly good things in life must end somehow. This is worse so if it ends abruptly usually to the so-called lucky few in old age. The abrupt change after many decades of good life can be a precipitous drop and hurtful to the core.

We cannot put off the day of reckoning which is the day good things in worldly life must end. We must be mindful in daily life that all good worldly things will not be forever. By doing so, we treasure life and these good things but do not greedily go for more than we could treasure. 

This is good balancing act and gives us the space in life to be aware of the beauty of life as it goes by. This translates to having a pace of life that is optimal to peace in life and allows time for leisure. 

We do not want to swing to life of nothing, doing nothing and wanting nothing. Wanting nothing is itself a want of sorts and is not practical and will cause issues rather than avert issues in life. 

Wanting more means to be in rat race and to find no time for the peace in life. This is far from desirable. The mother of all problems is our wants. Can't we just live life and move on in life, having some worldly blessings but not go greedily for more and more? 

That would be best and that will give time for us to notice and enjoy the smell of flowers and the wonders of life and nature. Then we will be at peace and neither want more nor want nothing. 

We will still need the little things in life and a little more to enable life in the way that gives peace and allow us to come to terms with the mortal nature of life and not expect immortality of the flesh. 

Let us know life better and not let life have the better of us. This the sages of old in China refer to as Tao. 

The wonderful part is that we do not need to be Taoists to have Tao or balance in life. By having Tao here and now, we reap peace and this peace cultivation elevates us step by step to sainthood not just in afterlife but even here and now. 

We often say we want a peaceful life. We wish to be at a place where there is no noise, no problem and no tough work. But this is not true peace. To be in the midst of all the chaos of life, and still be calm at heart is what "peace" is. 

This is what spiritual life or Tao is all about. Tao is in all religions and the basics of Tao is the same behind all religions. This is the inner truth the good lord Lord Bo Tien referred to when he descended in 1969 in Singapore.

Going against the flow

No 614 of Living Life Series 1

Once, the young Prince Gautama Siddhartha was out with his cousin when his cousin shot down a bird with bow and arrow. Siddhartha reached the fallen bird first and out of pity wanted to nurse the bird to health. 

His cousin wanted it as he was the one who shot it. Prince Siddhartha was adamant not to surrender the bird. He refused and in the end, they brought their argument to the elders. 

By conventional thinking, the bird belonged to the one who shot it but the young prince retorted that it should belong to the one who wanted to save it and not to the one who try to kill it. 

Siddhartha won the hearts of the elders and he had the bird. He nursed it to health and freed it to fly again. 

This story illustrates how the thinking of the Buddha to be was very different from the others. In fact he later said after his enlightenment that the dharma or doctrine is against the flow of thinking of society. One has to go upstream against the current. 

When he left his palace one day, he decided to lead the life of the holy ascetic after seeing that life was unsatisfactory with pains of birth, disease, old age and death. 

He followed the norms of holy men then by not eating and denying life thinking that this would lead to enlightenment. But he was famished and reduced to skin and bones. 

He had then five disciples after excelling from what he learnt from two teachers or gurus. As he was worst off, he decided that the prevailing ways then simply won't work. 

He decided to eat enough to care for the body and regain his health. He avoided luxury of princely life at one extreme and denial or mortification of life at the other. The latter that is self mortification or denial of life was the normal flow for spiritual life then, but it did not work. 

Ascetic Siddhartha went against the flow or current and went his own way which was to balance between the two extremes of indulgence and mortification. He succeeded and became the Buddha. 

This principle of striking the balance between extremes became known as the Middle Way. Like the bird incident, it is very much against the norms or flow of society expectations. 

To be at peace with life be it spiritual or otherwise, one has to forgo the two extremes and neither indulge nor deny life. Both ways are the ways of society even today. Both bring no peace in life.

To be at peace with life, spiritual or mundane, one might have to be different and not go upstream when every one is going downstream. One has to be different from the crowd. 

To be at peace, one has to go against the current or flow of society. One has to be different and not be in the rat race...

Likewise for a temple to succeed, it cannot be doing nothing or doing only what other temples have been doing for ages but not making the difference to the core spiritual good of men - in fact pandering to the opposite which is the worldly needs of men. 

One cannot be having concrete building and no activity. One cannot also be having hive of non spiritual activities (welfare and social work) which can of course be better done by community and grass root organisations. 

For a temple to succeed as a temple, it cannot be going along with the normal downstream flow of grass-root organisations but has to do what they don't do - spiritual activities not found in community organisations. This should be the main focus even for a temple in the name of the good lord Lord Bo Tien

On the writers and why they chose anonymity?

No 613 of Living Life Series 1

The writers collectively known as inner truth netizen 2 did wish before 2017 to remain anonymous so that readers do not mistake man as saint or God and God or saint as man.

Many are attracted to religion no less due to man at the pulpit and this is exactly why man at pulpit must not glorify himself but only the Word and God for the Word and God is one. Man is man and saint is saint. 

Man must ever be the humble servant like all the great men who became sages and saints

Lord Bo Tien says the Word or Doctrine is Him and his image embodies the Doctrine. He is not here to be idolized by men and to let men know who he is. He is here only to spread the Word.

One of the writers was born into popular Chinese culture and educated through Christian missionary school. That is a blessing and God-given. 

A labelled Buddhist this writer made the effort to know more of the teachings of Buddha and Taoism. But the differences between religions troubled him and he wondered what is the grand purpose to have so many religions and sects. 

Only after knowing Lord Bo Tien, he knew better and that is why he started this blog to share and to learn more on life and spirituality. He then understood why religions must differ and yet is one in truth and divinity. 

It has to do with yin and yang as depicted by the mating play of cranes below. Do not for once think they are battling each other. This may seem so but is not. Well, religions and sects are like that.

A heaven for every faith and a haven for everyone

No 612 of Living Life Series 1

For those who think that there is only one Heaven and only through one religion men can get to Heaven in afterlife, they may be seeing only through their own limited understanding. 

There is in fact a Heaven for every religion. This is for real.

The reality is that by the merits of the spiritual of a heavenly saint, a saint can create a heaven for his followers to be born into in the afterlife so that they can continue their spiritual learning and cultivation. 

Do not for once think that this system of many heavens will not work. It is like having one human world but many countries. But unlike the human world with many states, there is no competition between heavens but rather they are complementary and there is synergy of sorts between the various heavens at that level of Heaven. 

In fact the various heavens are at the level of Heaven just above the human level. 

There are many more levels of Heaven above that. Some are where the heavenly beings have forms like man but at the higher levels the beings are formless. 

The Buddhas are those who are even beyond the formless and their state is difficult to put in words. They are beyond attachment - clinging or wants in life. They exist but neither have form nor are formless. 

They are not just energy without entity but are coherent unlike energy in that there is consciousness of high level independent of the sensual - even beyond the mind sense.

At one stage soon after the descent of Lord Bo Tien in 1969, it was revealed by the representative of the good lord  that the good lord is in continuous meditation in the Sun. 

What about this for us to reflect on? There is no compulsion to believe what is written in this post but please keep an open mind. Do not say that there is only one way and only one Heaven. 

Do not say that there is only one religion for all. Do not say there is only one this or that. But we should understand such people who say so for they have faith and good intentions. They know not what they do and we need to know that. 

Have an open outlook and not close doors to better insight. This will be good for one and all. There is a heaven for every religion in the afterlife but remember to be happy here and now. 

We need to choose to be happy in our life as man even when we are assailed by vicissitudes. Then we can be in haven of peace here and now. 

This must be our choice - the choice to be happy. This is Tao. This is the way in life and for this to be, we can do so through any religion or sect or even decide not to have any. 

The point that there are many ways and many religions  but only one basic truth common to all is the mission of the good lord Lord Bo Tien. This mission will prevail. 

The basic truth is that we must choose to be happy and thereby be a sea of peace for ourselves and for others who come into our life. Aren't we too in a way a creator of heaven for ourselves and for others when we choose to be happy? 

We must be like the lotus
that brings on the beauty of the pond
which would otherwise be unappealing
and nothing but muddy water

There is a heaven for every religion and a haven in life here and now for everyone who chooses to be happy. Please share this beautiful message around the world and beyond. Omitofo.

  

A non-Taoist may be good at Tao.

No 611 of Living Life Series 1

It is more worthy to practice Tao than to call oneself a Taoist. Alas many who are denoted as Taoists are actually practicing popular ethnic culture. This is the reality we have to face.

There is a close parallel we find in the sayings of Lord Bo Tien. He says that it is the doctrine and practice of it that matters. He is not here to start a new religion or sect or to favor any. 

He is here to show that basic truth or doctrine is in any religion or sect. He did choose the setting of popular ethnic Chinese culture or religion to prove the point. 

He says that the image of him in his shrine at a temple in his name is the doctrine. He even said that the doctrine is his image. He who knows the doctrine knows him and he who does not knows him not. 

Sad to say that a very temple in his name may well be a temple where there are those who know not the doctrine and though seeing the image of the good lord will not know the lord. The one who is at another corner of the world away far away may well see and know the good lord even if he is not near an image of the lord. The far may be near and the near far. This did he say.

It is more worthy to know the doctrine or Tao / Way than to proclaim oneself a member or devotee of the lord. Alas many who are activists at a temple of the lord are actually practising popular social culture. 

Isn't this a close parallel to what is stated in first paragraph. It is more worthy to practice Tao than to call oneself a Taoist. Alas many who are denoted as Taoists are actually practicing popular ethnic culture. This is the reality we have to face.

Thus the mission of the lord to save souls may be undermined even unintentionally by those who are not in the know or who are not bothered to know more of the doctrine. This is for real though sad somewhat.

What is the problem? The problem lies in this. The problem is that the basic is the same in all religions and sects but over the years due to cultural and society needs, it is the tendency of men to elaborate it to the extent that the leaves cover up the trunk and the main branches till men only see the leaves and not the trunk and main branches. 

Go for the trunk and main branches but not the canopy of leaves though leaves and flowers are more attractive. This is what all need to do and remind themselves.

Thus doctrine is paramount. It may be more worthy to practice the doctrine than to proclaim oneself a follower, a Buddhist or Taoist. It may be better to be a non-Buddhist or non-Taoist but yet practising the doctrine. 

What is the doctrine? It is that there is God or Divinity and men need to cultivate goodness and purity by balancing the yin and the yang - the often conflicting and troubling vicissitudes and approaches such as gain-loss, honor dishonor and denial-indulgence of life. This will enable the peace in life. 

This is Tao. Even a non-Taoist can be adept in Tao and to be a master and teacher of Tao though he may not call it Tao and not at all a Taoist. A rose by any name is still a rose.

                Balancing of life, the yin and yang is the Tao. 

This is as depicted by feet on elements. 
Left hand in salutation bids us to persevere. 
Right hand holding on scepter reminds us 
that Tao is the way to save souls. 
The mission is to infuse Tao 
in men regardless of religions or sects 
or diversity of color creed and race 
as depicted by the multiplicity 
of color and hues of his armor. 
The above sums up the clarity 
for Mission to save souls. 
The lord saint is like the big ocean 
that reaches out to distant lands

Ji Gong and His Ministry of Love

No 610 of Living Life Series 1

Just the other day a  friend of the writer revealed how Ji Gong has been benefiting his family. His grown up child though intelligent had problem making it in life in further education and at work due to health limitation. Ji Gong told him that there was no reason why the child could not and asked for time to investigate. 

Weeks passed and months later, he told my friend with his classic smile and said, "Leave your child alone and worry not for your child." Taken aback but yet having faith in him as my friend had Ji Gong in his heart, he did as told. 

Months later the child was coping with life though in the way the child deemed fit. All was well but like Ji Gong, the child had to take a different path in life from others. What matters is that the child was happy and making progress in life albeit on a path unique for that child. 

The lesson to know is that Ji Gong always have a simple way out, nothing fanciful and magical and this is due to his insight and empathy. His miracles have won the hearts of the faithful not through magical or saintly prowess but through sheer insight and simplicity. 

He never insists at any moment for those seeking his blessings to believe him, to worship him before he would even think of helping. He helped willingly and was even humble to tell my friend that he needed time to understand what was going on as the problem of man might be complex but yet the solution is often simple. 

Of course he never said that the solution lies in simplicity but merely said that problems big and small will be no problems if Heaven opens the way. There is the need for him to come down to human level and to simple down to earth level for him to know what went wrong. 

When he knew, he just said with confidence and a characteristic smile as though dismissing the problem. He said, "Leave your child alone and ..." Indeed he was right and all is well for my friend and his child. 

That child is even happily attending church and Ji Gong has no issue with that and is even supportive. Ji Gong is above religions and sects. He is the friend of all and indeed a friend in need. He is a heavenly saint though and every inch a saint for sure. He is a friend and that matters more than his being a saint or buddha.  Omitofo

Ji Gong roams the world of beings and comes upon men who need his blessings. Blessings big and small he gives to make the difference in the lives of men. This is his way of reaching out to the world and his ministry is of love regardless of who we are. 

So long as we have the heart to know him and to seek him out, he will be there for us. This they say has to do with affinity and affinity brings us ever closer to saints like him.

They say he is a buddha no less and they also say he is with the gods. But whatever he is the fact is that he is a saint and serves men of all religions so long as there is the need. He often call upon men to pray to God the Jade Emperor or Amitabha Buddha  so that men can have blessings of Heaven and the Buddha Land. He wants no credit for his ministry of love for beings and men and defer credit to God and Omitofo (Amitabha) 

Issues big and small are no issues if men call upon his name and have him in his heart. This is like what he often says that what matters is the heart and not anything else - not what goes through the gut, not what we do or sometimes not even what we think so long as we have the heart to be better at being good, never mind if we are not yet good or far from good. He has no issues with men who are not good and in the wrong so long as he could bless them and make them be a bit more good. 

Let there be the call for Ji Gong by men and he will be with them so long as they have the heart to have affinity with him regardless of where the men and beings who call out to him may be. He is a messiah or savior who answers to the calls and woes of all beings and men. 

Let us all have Ji Gong in our hearts and at home. Let us not only receive but give love to one and all. Let us be part of his ministry of love and join him in outreach to all beings and men. Omitofo always and ever more. Praise God the Jade Emperor. 

Ji Gong in arahat pose at the home of the writer

Means end up as ends and the priest the new saint?

No 609 of Living Life Series 1

The scriptures of what the founder saint are in the gospel of the religion in his name but they are often stale and historical. To preach based on the literal reading of the scriptures will leave churches and temples with more empty seats. 

There is the need to focus attention on the present and what more on the charismatic priests and pastors. What they say will make more impact and what they do even greater impact. 

People see the coming to life of the founding saint through the stand-ins - the pastors or priests. While the founding saint or prophet do not sing and jump for joy in the house of God for that would be inappropriate, the modern lot find it appropriate, the charismatic leaders will do so and be more attractive than the founding saint of the old days. 

The few who do not jump and dance and who not scream aloud will be look odd and not in tune with the rest. In time worship and prayer takes the form of what the young of the present generation would like to have outside the house of God. 

This is good but yet not so. This is the way to bring the young to spirituality of sorts and hopefully they would be more serious from then on. But the means to the end may end up becoming the ends in themselves.

Questions will arise as to whose teachings are being propagated, the scriptures of the founding saints or the often personal anecdotal views seen through the eyes of the charismatic pastors or priests. 

People end up reading and digesting the speeches and writings of the pastors rather than going to the texts of the scriptures. Isn't this dividing men of faith among the leading pastors or priests of the day? 

Also, there will be dilution of the basics of doctrine of the founder saint and men will be detracted to the teachings of the pastor or priest instead. We need to go the upper source for clear water. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien did say. 

But we will have to go upstream and against the current. Few will be bothered at all to do that and end up regarding the means as ends. 

Lord Gautama Buddha stressed that the truth is against the flow or current. Lord Jesus too did not have it easy to correct the ways of the synagogues in his lifetime but he did what he could.

The means may be wrongly regarded as the ends and the pastor or monk may be wrongly regarded and idolised as the founding saint. Men may see the Buddha or Jesus in the monk or pastor. 

No wonder men must pull themselves together and go to the upper source if they want clear water and better know the doctrine and saint rather than to know the man at the pulpit and his enthralling stories. 

This would effectively mean that the man at the pulpit might inadvertently be rewriting the scriptures. Definitely, this could not be his intention and never will - never should be...

Means end up as ends and the priest the new saint? This would certainly be odd and thought provoking.

Thus even at Bo Tien mission or temple, notables like P. Philip, Chee S. H. and Chong Sim  have to leave the scene before the man each one was could be hero worshiped and idolised as though he is the new saint. For the same reason, Elder Ling, C.K. and inner truth netizen have to fade from the front and stay in the back scene. 

This is so that man in leadership do not end up being given the same attention as given to the lord saint. This is so that all realise that man is man and saint is saint, or rather God is God. This is the saying of all saints and prophets and reiterated by Lord Bo Tien 

Is religion for all, animals included ?

No 608 of Living Life Series 1

Religions think and shower concern for men but what about beings other than men. Are men the only concern of God and saints? 

If religion has soul for life, then surely religion must be concerned for the spiritual welfare of beings other than men. But sad to say even for those religions who believe in rebirths and that other life forms be it animals and birds are but some of the many forms of rebirth, they too are largely concerned with men and not other beings. 

Religions are by men for men, and beings other than men are not members of religions. Saints came to this world to save men but what about beings like animals? 

Dove is symbol of The Holy Spirit
but has it no place in Heaven
after death, not even in Hell?
This, if true, would surely be
a lapse in human thinking
and an insult to divine love
of God and saints

Don't they too live after death? Don't they have feelings and thoughts? The love and concern of religions for men is out of place if that same love is not extended to animals and other beings. 

Otherwise, we would have terms like a Taoist dog or cat or for that matter a Christian dog or cat. The love talked about in religions would not be true love if only for the human species. 

What type of God would only love men but not other beings? Wouldn't that be shallow thinking and blasphemy of God? All beings including animals like dogs can have the love of God and saints. Why should men think God and saints have love only for men? 

Perhaps it is time to think about bringing pets like dogs and cats to church and temples. Good idea if they can be baptised say in water. Dogs would like it but not cats. 

A holy dog praying alone
because it has no place
in the house of God
built by men. Is this true?

One common myth is that God creates man. Animals and everything else are there for man. Even Heaven and Hell are for men. What about animals? Do they have after life? Why is there the bias? 

Don't animals and other beings have rights to life? Yes they do, but why many men say to the contrary. Religions are for all, animals and other beings included. 

In the story of the Journey to The West, animal figures join the pilgrim monk to go to the West in search of scriptures. Isn't this more enlightening and good reminder that animals too can be in Heaven and even be saints. Omitofo.

Around 65 million years ago, when the dinosaurs went extinct, three quarters of the world's species went the way of dinosaurs. It was the world's fifth mass extinction event and due to a comet event.

The sixth mass extinction event will be because humans think the world and life is for them. Humans in year of 2014 and beyond may pose a threat to biodiversity and that is for real. They will herald the sixth mass extinction. 

Men do not even get down to think of accommodating other beings in this world, let alone share with them the institution of religion. Only men can have the scriptures and not other beings like animals. The farsightedness and insight of the writer of the story of Journey to the West is commendable.

So the next time we go to church or a temple bring along your pet dog or cat. Won't that be nice and praiseworthy as well as more wholesome? Omitofo 

Amitabha / Omitofo

But alas to some, religion is only for men and that is the norm. To them, it is far fetch to extend religion to animals. Animals do not have rights to religion. They only have animal rights which are different from human rights. But is that so? Care to know more? Then have more quiet time with God and saints and less noisy time in mass prayers with men. 

It is not about animal worship but about the chance for progression for all beings. All beings are capable of spiritual progress and that is yet to be an understanding for many men who know not what they do or rather what they think. They need to know better. Indeed they are poor souls. 

Worst still, there is flip flop reversal of sorts in thinking among men in east and west and that is adding to the complexity. What was right is now wrong and what was wrong may now be right. It depends on the context and the times.  

But such divergent views do add up to be whole like the yin and the yang. This is yet another insight into Tao - the inner truth that we should know behind life and religion that saints like Lord Bo Tien talk about. 

Lord Bo Tien

The right is wrong and wrong be right, the near is far and far is near, the circle is nothing and yet whole are examples of the many more there are in Tao philosophy which are common to all religions. One example in West is that the humbled will be exalted and the exalted humbled as said by Jesus. 

It is wrong and yet right for other beings like animals to be in religion. There is no paradox but both aspects or views do add up and reflect the truth and reality that animals and other beings have a place with God and saints but their path to spirituality is different and yet same as men.  Omitofo. 

There is for each and every kind, a path and kingdom of their own but all will meet as one the higher they go. That is why the symbol of Tao is of opposites coming together as one. There is synergy of the different beings and paths in that they crisscross or run alongside and do contribute to one another in some way. 

Beings, animals and men included, may be different but yet one in this world. While religion is by men there is spirituality and in a way religion even for other beings. Yes, there is religion or rather spiritual systems for all - animals included. Omitofo. 

But some men are somehow myopic and secluded from the wider world. They think only they as men deserve spirituality. They even think other men let alone animals and other beings cannot have the same blessings as them because these others do not belong with them. 

They are eager that others belong to their value system. Well, they will have to learn step by step and move up the divine value chain. God will have mercy on them for they know not what they do. Let them learn and be wiser from the learning. 

They do have good intentions and that is in itself good and worthy of praise and goodwill. We should rejoice in their good intentions and in a way be thankful. Do however let them know we may have to differ and this may be to their good as well as to our own good. Omitofo. 

We are after all in the same temple. The world or universe is the universal temple. Heaven is the roof. Religions are the pillars. All under Heaven is in the same temple regardless of creed, species, beings, color, form or whatever. Amen - that is so and so be it.

Spiritual cultivation - more is better

No 607 of Living Life Series 1

The last phase of life for many is old age. Illness of some form is part of the process of growing old. It is often a good fortune if the illness can be controlled and kept at bay. 

It is a reminder or to put it more bluntly a wake-up call for men to complete what they set out to do - not only in worldly matters but also in spiritual matters. This is more the case for the old but applies to the young as well for life is unpredictable and cannot be taken for granted. 

The complacent will not see the need for spiritual development of spirit and even for the many in spiritual society, many are there to take advantage or rather to take leverage of spiritual to fulfill instead their worldly desires. This is perhaps in part due to their superficial approach to life - not only of the after life but also of the here and now. 

Little are they aware that they may be shortchanging themselves and denying themselves the the opportunity for more bonus years to lengthen life for more spiritual cultivation - to have that more done to round up and be better off. 

They rather not be bothered and live life the way they know as though all will be well and what that happens to others will not be their lot. They would rather wait and postpone to next life to have spiritual cultivation. To procrastinate as such is a gamble. 

Poor souls are they as they do not wake up to the reality and nature of life and its insubstantial quality. This is common among many in the modern world of materialistic life. 

Even religions to be popular somehow may encourage people to just enjoy life here and now and just get by with life with what worldly gains they can have. It would seem that they rather leave the rest to the next life, notably in as far as Tao is concerned - how to be more attuned to the ways of God and saints. Popular religions will not go against the flow of society - the wants of the people.

But the path of enlightenment to be more God and saint worthy is tough and against the current. This did Gautama Buddha say not just once but many times. Thus there is the Middle Way and not the other two popular ways - indulgent popular way at one end and the defiant and ascetic denial way at the other extreme. Both popular ways are currently still options for current society even in religion. They are popular and more attractive to society.

Lord Gautama Buddha

Amitabha realized the difficulty for beings as noted by Gotama and decided to create by his vast merits Pure Land for those who call out to him, those who are faithful and yet weak and new to spiritual. Men can then cultivate spirituality in present life and continue to do so in Pure Land. Self effort is needed but help is at hand. This is a good combination of popularity and realism approaches. Namo Amitabha.

Lord Amitabha 

Lord Bo Tien adds that the flower should not be blamed for insects coming to it for nectar. A heavenly saint, a temple or a religion or sect should likewise not be blamed if people come for less or no spiritual intentions. 

Lord Bo Tien

It is good that such men come to a temple or saint, for otherwise they will be more lost. At least whatever spirituality they have in a temple or as result of associating with a saint is more than the none they might have if outside the temple or not associated at all with a saint. 

Thus the need for religion to be popular though at times questionable is not misplaced at all and there is indeed the need for religion to be attractive and popular to all - even to those who are worldly and not at all spiritually inclined. This is the will of God and saints. Omitofo.

Lord Wei to 

Ji Gong nearer to us than we think

No 606 of Living Life Series 1

Ji Gong is never far away and is nearer to us than we think. He is just a thought away. 

Moreover though a divine heavenly saint and no less a buddha in attainment, he resides in the world of men and more so in the hearts of the faithful. 

"What matters is the heart and not what one does or what goes through the gut." This he says. 

Have heart for him and never mind what we eat or do outwardly. What matters is the inside of us, the heart in us. No point trying to put a more-than-good front to impress men and worst still to impress the saints. 

Be what we are and can be. Show our true colors but endeavor to be better as person but this must be true to the heart. This must be what we are and can be for now. Then we will be like Ji Gong in his days as man centuries ago. 

He was what he was frolicking with children, monkeys and the street folks more so the beggars and the tramps. But this did not make him less worthy, less holy or spiritual but in fact reflected his humility. 

In fact, he appeared crazy and eccentric on initial impressions but when men then knew him they knew he has the heart of a saint - a Bodhisattva no less. He is with us and in tune with us so that he can be near us and know us. 

He does not stay up there and look down and help from afar. He is with us and still every inch or centimeter like a living man. Thus he is the Living Buddha. 

Many a devotee can feel his presence by the aroma of incense and liquor- Ngo Kar Pi to be exact when he comes round to be beside us and even in our homes. 

Have place for him and welcome him to our hearts and homes. Wear his pendant beside your heart but remember not to confine the pendant behind the fabric of your shirt but have it outside your shirt. He is a free spirit and the whole wide world is his domain. 

This is the way to have more affinity with him. Do strengthen the affinity with him.

The whole world is his home and your home too is his home. But mind you, he is a saint and yet like any man. He lives in us and is the Living Buddha - Ji Gong Huo Fo.

He prefers the world than a temple. If ever there is the temple of Ji Gong, dear friends, it is the world of men that is the temple - the universal temple. 

As described by Lord Bo Tien, the sky is the roof of the temple and all under heaven is in this temple. Religions are the pillars. Ji Gong is not confined to any religion and all men can have his blessings regardless of religions and sects or even if none.