LIVING LIFE SERIES 1

A BO TIEN (武天) MISSION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED ON 28TH SEPT 2010 BY INNER TRUTH NETIZEN 2. THE MISSION IS TO SHOW THE WAY TO HOPE, INNER PEACE AND ULTIMATELY SALVATION FOR ALL BEINGS. THE PURPOSE IS TO SAVE SOULS. IT IS WAY BEYOND NORMAL GOOD WORK LIKE CHARITY AND WELFARE ACTIVITIES. NO ONE SHALL BE SAVED BY GOOD WORKS ALONE BUT BY MORE THAN GOOD WORK. THERE IS NEED TO BE IMBUED WITH THE BASIC DOCTRINE COMMON TO AND BEHIND ALL RELIGIONS AND SECTS. LIVE IN DOCTRINE. DOCTRINE IN LIFE IS PARAMOUNT.

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The Living Life Series is dedicated to Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). The doctrine is in His image. The image is the doctrine. He who sees, understands and effects the doctrine sees and knows Him. He who does not see, know and effect the doctrine sees not and knows not the saint even if the saint or His image is beside him. The far may be near and the near may be far. Let the doctrine and the saint be part of our life. The lord saint in your life can be any heavenly saint of any religion, sect or school. The doctrine of truth is behind all and this is the Inner Truth that leads all (regardless of their religious affiliation or even if none) to inner peace and heaven on earth here and now and not just in the after life. The ideal worship and devotion is to know and effect the doctrine of God and the saints. The best gospel is the gospel of life. We learn from our life and the lives of others. The true temple is the world we live in. The sky is the roof of the temple and religions and sects are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven are in the temple. Needless to say that all the saints we know are in this temple. Ji Gong Posat too is no exception. The whole wide world and web is the temple and must be regarded as a sacred place --- a temple for living and learning. It is more important that everyone that counts plays a role in this universal temple if due focus is to be given to the Mission of Heaven. Men must not be distracted by the agenda of men and end up serving the mission of man. That would be a far cry from the Mission of Heaven. We worship God and saints, not man however good that man may be. There should be no hero worshiping or idolizing of man whether he is a charismatic pastor, priest, monk, medium or lay leader. We don't even idol worship the image of any saint but reflect on what the image stands for. - the doctrine in the image. Omitofo 阿弥陀佛!.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Man is the problem and not God

No 593 of Living Life Series 1

Though all men may have great regards for God, men differ in understanding of and approach to God.

The ancient West had projected the characteristics of the Earthly Emperor on God. Thus men cannot idolise anyone except God and must fear him. Every event in life, they insisted have some bearing with God.

If for instance men were sick and dying, men would have questioned why God had forsaken them. But instead of answering the question directly and appeasing such men, these men were told that they lacked faith and they should not doubt. They would be told that their ill-fortune would be the setting for goodness in the afterlife or that they should not question and doubt God.

Such ways of relating to God are suitable for many but not to all. It is best for those who want peace and devotion and tired of the world and they simply do not want to question or strive even in spiritual matters. They had enough of the problems of life and creating or fermenting problems in spiritual would be taboo as well.

They only want to have peace in life through God. Heaven will bless them for sure, never mind if others do not see eye to eye with them.

Thus far we have been having an insight on the age-old Western approach to God. What about the Chinese eastern approach or concept?

The Chinese concept is very different. The sages of old in China said that "As on earth, so also in Heaven." God the Jade Emperor like his counterpart the Emperor of old China held sway on the lives of men but he is no ultimate creator but only the ruler of Heaven, Earth and Hell.

He can bless his subjects and decide where they go and what they can have. But though loving, he cannot stop the vicissitudes of life like ageing, illness and death. Thus there is no contradiction of why he let men suffer the vicissitudes of life when he is all compassionate and loving.

Without this understanding, men may be cheesed off by the offer of paradise only after death by God who is portrayed as all powerful but could not provide relief till after death - the divine promise of Heaven in afterlife.

This does not mean God is illogical or an enigma but that it is men who have illogical and incorrect notion of God. That is the problem. God is not the problem. Man is the problem.

In the age-old Chinese concept, God and his host of saints in his court are kind and loving. They are not responsible for the ills of men. But they can ease the problems somewhat and share with men the way to have more peace in life not only in afterlife but here and now. This is the Chinese forefathers concept of God which is more befitting and realistic.

God as ruler of the heavens, earth and hells is the arbiter of life. God is the patron of the Way or Tao - the way of balancing of yin and yang (the polarities) that yield divine peace. He too as ruler is still cultivating and perfecting the Way.

Thus far we have outlined the differences in concept of God between West and East with focus on the ancient Chinese approach. Hopefully, readers can come to a better conclusion of God, who he is, what we can expect of him, and possibly what God can expect of us.

There is obvious impact on spiritual from the differences in concept of God. One view is of God the creator and the other of God the ruler of Heaven, Earth and Hell.

As far as the perennial controversy surrounding the God ideal is concerned, the problem lies with man and not with God. Man is the problem and not God.

That God is not the ultimate creator in no way makes him less God to men. Men do need God, saints included. Amen - that is so and so be it. Isn't that the meaning of the word 'amen'?

If men do adore the monarch even if he or she is no creator and not even the direct ruler but constitutional monarch, how much more would men adore God the ruler of all Heaven, Earth and Hell?

Man is the problem and not God. Man has wrong notion of life, of God and of the true nature and the basic purpose of life as well as the roles of religions. Religions should ideally be complementary and augmentative to one another.

We are like God in many ways and not just in image. But God is far superior and blessing to all beings in Heaven, Earth and Hell.

God is no condemner of those in Hell and with his saints, God too will spare no effort to enable beings to upgrade and leave Hell.

God is the benefactor of all beings, not just men. All are the beneficiaries of the rule of God over Heaven, Earth and Hell. Isn't that good enough and need we expect more from God? But indeed though good enough, God will do more.

God would be a contradiction of sorts to himself and an enigma if he is the ultimate creator. If he is the ultimate creator, then the creation is imperfect and his trying to rectify the imperfection would leave much to be desired but is acceptable to many out of sheer faith and respect which is good and praiseworthy.

That God is involved in creation is no doubt but he is perhaps no ultimate creator. The universe and beyond is the ultimate creator in form of primordial energy from which arise the supra-universe and the manifest universe.

The latter is where God is the ruler supreme of Heaven, Earth and Hell. He is the first to manifest in the manifest universe and he brought on the rest in the manifest universe.

But man is his headache and for sure God has problem in managing this headache. Buddhas and saints make the headache more amenable to intervention.

Lest you forget

Do not make the mistake of idolizing any man who tells you about the Word. He is in the same boat as you even if religion refers to him as a religious leader. Mere mention of a religious leader is as good as encouraging idolising of that man. Why must there be hierarchy in religion? Hierarchy is conventional but may end up as liability rather than a necessity or asset. There should be no caste or hierarchy system in religion. No one is to be considered above another in religion. A religious leader or follower is a servant to serve you and not a leader to be idolised. Do not put him on the pedestal and make a monster out of him.

MAY ALL BE WELL AND HAPPY

May all be well and happy. May they have peace. May our departed friends and kins be well, happy and have divine peace. The main writer wishes the best for all for those near and far. Our kins may be far when they had passed on to better lives but they are near though far. He remembers and wishes his parents Mr Siow Soo Koh and Mdm Tay Hung Siang, his uncles and aunties like Mr Tay Koon Huay, his cousins like Mr Tay Chong Sim and his friends like Mr Philip Png well and have abundance of life. May they be rich in spirit for without such ancestors, there will be no posterity - no us and no you and me. They have blessed us and we must blessed them in return forever and ever.