For the many, Heaven comes first, not sainthood

No 714 of Living Life Series 1

To have a religion is one thing but to be spiritual is yet another. To find peace and shelter in a heavenly saint is good but to be spiritual, one must go beyond this. 

But to tell a man that he has a long way to go will not do. It is better to tell him that all is well so long as he believes and that is all he needs. 

It is just like a child starting out in nursery school. All we need is to tell him it is good to go to school and there is no need to tell him what he has to go through for the next decade or more to get a degree or diploma. He would simply not understand and if he do es understand some years or so later, he would just be overwhelmed, floored and may even throw in the towel.

For religion to succeed and reach out to the masses, it has to be that simple and even elementary and if possible appeal to the fantasy, never mind if this means there is no mention of the many steps to achieve ultimate spirituality. 

Just simply say that one should believe and leave to God and saints and then surely men will be in paradise not only in afterlife but in the present for heaven will provide if only men will believe. 

When things don't turn out as well, then reassure that there is the good intention of heaven behind why things don't turn out as expected. Just place their hearts and trust in heaven and be happy even in disappointments. 

Thus the elementary and simple approach will work wonders and this seems to be the only good and yet simple way to bring peace to the masses.

The Bodhisattva approach is something like that though way better. Why is this approach better? 

Sentient beings are wallowing in the throes of the ups and downs of life. They cannot on their own unchain themselves from the world of ups and downs. 

They need help to get some goodies and sweeteners and feel that all will be well in this life, only to find that when the next waves of downs come again, they seek more sweeteners. And if there is no solution in sight and they realize life is a bed of thorns, they can look forward to the Pure Land of Amitabha in afterlife. 

This Pure Land is in heaven created by Amitabha and many a Bodhisattva. At the appropriate time, a Bodhisattva or saint will motivate the individual not just to get sweeteners and be in heaven but to actively understand the need to go beyond sweeteners and the worthwhile elementary approach offered by the initial inception into a religion. 

For religion to reach out to the many, it has to be simple, awesome and appealing to bring more to God and saints. Thus it may have to side-step the spiritualism that many who need to go beyond popular religion must undertake. Heaven is for the masses who are not yet ready to cultivate sainthood. 

Heaven is relatively eternal but it is just for men of religion to have sojourn, feel good and be motivated to go for sainthood. For this they have to undergo more rebirths be it in heaven or in the world of men or even in hell. Reality can be not appealing and that is why religion that harps on this is not a winner of the hearts of the many. 

Going beyond popular religion is not for the many. Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that religions are the pillars of the universal house of God with Heaven as the roof of the house of God. Religion offers easy road to heaven but sainthood is another matter. 

Religions are the pillars for men to hold on to, so that more can get closer to divinity and one day cultivate sainthood. Sainthood and heaven are miles apart but for many, heaven comes first.

Sainthood beyond religion must start with the first step, often an elementary one. Religion provides this and the rest depends on the individual whether he is ready and can move on to the next step or steps. 

For the many, Heaven comes first way before sainthood. But why not cultivate it even now and be in heaven in afterlife even if not yet a saint? Well, it is a matter of choice. Without religions and the promise of heaven by grace, many will be lost for sure. 

Ever the problem of the blind men and the elephant

No 713 of Living Life Series 1

It is strange that men are like the blind men and the elephant. Each blind man will think that the elephant is what he felt and nothing else. The one who feels the flank will insist that the elephant is like a wall and the one the tail will think it is like a rope. 

So with religion, be it with regards to God and the after life, each will vouch that his experience is the correct one when the reality is that every one just has a limited but not complete experience. So one will say he is right and others are not. 

So isn't it pathetic that society may argue till kingdom come with regards to religion and God. Perhaps all could share their views and try to reconcile their combined views to better know life, God and religion. To be better in one's religion may well mean one has to know and be better in others religions. 

In the world of today, this seems to be the answer and the only way to know God better and to have better grasp of life . But there will still be some who thinks they can see for others and if others do not agree, then woe be to them. Isn't this the way of ignorant men? 

Even for the same one religion, there are many perspectives and as such, many, in fact numerous sects and denominations. People cannot even agree to what to believe even for the same religion. How on earth can people say that their one religion is exclusive and others are misleading to men? 

This is perhaps one added reason to admit that no one religion or sect can claim exclusivity and say they alone are correct and others not so. Even people of the same religion do not see eye to eye. 

The very presence among men of denominations can be telling about a religion. Even with any specific religion, people can have varying perspectives. This again is evidence of the blind men and the elephant phenomenon. 

To know a religion better, it is good to compare notes and know the various sects or denominations. This is far wiser than to hold on to view that one's denomination is correct and others' not so.

To further know religion better, it is better to know others' religions in addition to one's own. That way, one can value add and be better informed and wiser. 

Learn from one another's strengths and weaknesses and that way we can be better off. Life is the living gospel. This is the exhortation of Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) who says that religions are the pillars of the universal temple with heaven as the roof and all are in this temple.

Like with other aspects of life, if we want others to believe, respect and love us, we must believe, respect and love others. There is oneness despite pluralism of society. This oneness is unmistakable. 

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) descended in 1969 as messenger through the late P.Philip not to start a new religion but to show the oneness of God and divine inner peace through all saints and religions.

How can men of any religion be credible enough if they go round telling others that only their religion is the only religion for men? They are no better than the blind men in the story of the blind men and the elephant. They are as credible as the blind men could be. We must accept them for what they are and understand why they are like that. 

Like what Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says, we can learn from the strengths and weakness of fellow men and they are not just our fellow men but our brethren. There is therefore ever the more reason for us to learn more through them. 

God is great to afford us this opportunity to learn and to be wiser from the learning. We can be a blessing to them in that respect and one day we can enlighten them as much as they can enlighten us in the same way each of the six blind men can add to the knowledge of what the elephant is like in the story of the blind men and the elephant.  

Connect with the here and now, not the hereafter

No 712 of Living Life Series 1

Must men be so simplistic to think that life is a fairy tale even when life as man is not? Many think they know all about God and the life after death when they do not even know life before death, when they do not know enough of the world and the universe we are in and when what they know of God and after life is so simple and often too good to be true. 

Is God and life after death so simple compared to the life and world we have before death? Men must truly search their hearts and reflect. Men must know and understand life here and now. 

Men must know why they are what they are and why they are different from one another. Even if they know somewhat, there is yet more for them to know and men must change their outlook in life as life unfurls. 

In the process, they must find peace of the moment without which life will be onerous. But at times, many do find peace in the confidence they have that Heaven and God will provide. That is like it or not both the answer and the problem. The answer begs more questions and raises more issues and problems. 

Religions are at times like that. They hold on to views that are beautiful and fairy-tale like. These do serve their purpose. 

But when views differ from religion to religion and from person to person, there is need for men to reconcile as to why this is so. Men must not look too far if they want to find peace. 

Know life here and now and be at peace with the ups and downs - the yin and yang. If this habit of peace can be improved with God and saints as backdrop and to fall back to, then we are much better off than living in dreams and the fairy tale and over simplistic stories of life after death. 

Know life now and be at peace. That way we are better off and need not hold on to the dream of better life hereafter. Take care of the present. Learn from the past and be prepared for the future. Be rooted in reality and live in the real world - not day dream. A bit of dreaming is good but too much is another matter. 

While religion at times touches on fairy-tale like stories of life after death, and often dogmas of God, saints and heaven are necessary, it may be difficult to direct men to such focus. Men must not live as though their purpose is solely to live for the life hereafter. 

Thus houses of God nowadays have out of necessity to make men connect to the here and now rather than to the life hereafter. This is achieved through lively social rather than pure spiritual fellowship. There must be joy and celebration of life of the moment through songs and stirring music as well as pomp and gaiety that connect men to the present. 

Most importantly, the crowd must view the charismatic leader at the pulpit as the stand-in for the sage or heavenly saint even though the leader is just the servant - a servant leader not a stand-in for the sage or saint. But the weakness of men may still bring ill repute and problems as well. 

Thus the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that man is man and saint is saint. Do not see the saint in man and the man in saint or else there will be misgivings aplenty. Men must learn from life and not go for the stories of the sages and heavenly saints. Life is the living gospel - the Word. He who knows the Word, knows the lord saint. He who claims to know the lord saint is far and knows not the saint if he knows not and lives not in the Word. 

The lord saint reveals to us precious little of himself. He would rather that we know the Word - the basic inner truth behind all religions. 

He is not even here to start a new religion or sect. He descended in 1969 and after less than 13 years and leaving us the Word, he faded away into history. 

He is present through the Word found in all religions. If we know our individual respective religion well, that is what he hoped for. Then he is with us even if we do not worship him. There is no need to. 

Some say he is for the pioneers but really, he is for all who knows the inner truth and see the oneness of religions. This matters more to him than anything else. The pioneers are supposed to assist him in seeing to the realization of the oneness of religions among men.

What God and saints want to see in men

No 711 of Living Life Series 1

The focus in spiritual is not on God and heavenly saints but on what they wish for men and beings in the three realms of heaven, earth and hell to have. 

God as ruler of the three realms need to see to the peace and well being of the three realms, mind you even hell. 

It would be of no help to God as ruler of the three realms if beings like men just fawn on him and think that they can get his favor by doing so. Isn't that trying to get his favor? We cannot go down so low and resort to getting his favors by flattery. 

We don't even fawn on the ruler of the land but join hands with him so that we can see to the good of one and all. Likewise we must work with God to see to the peace and well being of the three realms. The ruler of the land may need praise but not God if he is God. We join hands with God to make his rule of the three realms pleasant. 

Even the good lord, Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) stresses that he descended in 1969 and the years after not to display his divine majesty or to be one more deity or heavenly saint for men to idolize and be crazy about. 

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨)

He is here to save souls through letting them know the Word or Inner Truth that is behind all existing religions. He is the Word and the Word is him. 

Live in the word and be saved. Do be the embodiment of goodness of the Word. Be pure at heart and mind. Do good and avoid evil. Be right and correct in thinking. 

Balance the yin and yang, the polarities like gain and loss, honor dishonor, praise blame and be at peace that God and saints have. Do not go crazy with the good lord but the good lord would rather we live in the Word - what sages of old in China refer to as Tao.

Tao

Tao too is in his image. His feet on the two elements depicts the need to be atop and balance the yin and yang so that beings can be seated at peace. 

Doubt is good and not against God

No 710 of  Living Life Series 1 

Man can be irrational when it comes to religion, more so when they are driven by faith and not by logic. To have hold on the crowd, leaders may insist that logic is wrong as this will make men doubt God and the messengers of God. 

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) realizes that this will be the problem and reiterates that those who have doubts should be welcome as family. People doubt because they do not understand and once when they do understand, they will be that more closer to God and the lord saint. Those with doubts should not be made to feel guilt and fear.

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨)

There is no need to compel and there is no need whatsoever to instill even an iota of fear so that people be cowed into belief and question no more. This is not what God and saints want but is a quick fix by men at the pulpit so that people will love God and be blind in their love. 

Love must not be blind but with eyes wide open and not eyes wide shut, otherwise it will only last as long as the romance with God through man at the pulpit is there. 

It is this type of human over-zealousness that creates problems and intolerance of any belief and approach that stands out to be different. In the final analysis, all are derived approaches based on God and heavenly saints who though are different are yet one. 

Religions are like that and though they are different, they are yet one in God and divinity. All can arrive at divine peace - inner peace.

But men are not one even if they are of the same religion and that is why there are several thousands of denominations even for any one religion. The existence of denominations itself is somewhat telling, perhaps somewhat embarrassing to some adherents of a religion who wanted to insist at all cost that only one is right. The very existence of plethora of denominations to them may do no justice to God. 

This is a weird and unenlightened view. The truth of it all is that God knows that men will have doubts and will want to view things differently from other men. Only a truly wise and all-knowing and understanding God knows that. Men who try to think for God will however often not know. This is the problem, isn't it?

That is therefore the very rational basis why we have myriads of denominations in a religion and why we will not have only one religion for the world but many. This has to do with doubts and doubts can be healthy. 

Doubts do certainly augur well for the good of the many and should be accommodated and not denounced. Doubt is not evil. Without doubts, there will be no forays into new thinking and research to break new frontiers of knowledge. 

Open arm approach to doubts will foster the flourishing of many different perspectives of God and salvation. God allows doubts so that men can probe further and learn. God is open minded. Men too must be open minded.

Men must not be like stick in the mud and insist that there is only one way and no other ways. Doubts make the man for what he is and brings out the many differences of men so that more will know God and be saved. 

God knows that doubt is good and is not wrong or worse still a sin. Not to believe, that is to have doubt is not wrong or sin. Sin is hurting God. Is not God above hurt by men if he is God? 

To believe blindly with eyes wide shut is of no long term value as this will only foster mass hysteria - mass day dreaming. When men do wake up from mass dreaming and come to senses, they may feel cheated and leave the house of God built by man for men.  

Always back to square one of cult culture

No 709 of Living Life Series 1

The attraction in a village or community is very much pivoted on the personality of the current human head and not the notables among the ancestors. But the village head to cement his support base has to marshal the people around him by aligning himself around the ancestors. 

To put it more bluntly, he is actually placing himself in front of the ancestors, so that the people will see in him the whole lineage of the ancestors behind him. That is a smart move - a very streetwise and savvy one at that.

This is the way of society since time past and will be for a long time to come though not in the same setting. We just have to look around and look beyond what is presented to us - beyond what we see.

Modern day churches and temples are run in similar fashion. Though the declared emphasis is God and the sage or saint of God, the focus may still be in a living human figure. 

If the human figure leading the flock is not charismatic and attractive enough, how good the saints of God or God is often does not help, and there will be no crowd. Some say that this is due to the cult mentality in humans and like animals, there is the pack or flock mentality. 

There will be need for alpha figure to rally the pack or if you are using a flock of sheep analogy, there will be need for a sheep dog. That is why in scriptural history, there is reference to men as sheep and God as the shepherd with a saint of God as the sheep dog though the term dog is never used and may be derogatory. 

In a traditional Chinese temple with medium culture and the invitation of a heavenly saint to speak to men through the medium, the attraction is supposed to be God and saint - not man. Like it or not, the people in the temple will end up seeing the God or saint in that man. 

This seems innocuous initially but will grow to be what outsiders see plainly as cult practice - the adoration of a human being in place of God. It must be stressed that the cult leader will still refer to God and saint as his backdrop. 

In time, his human weaknesses will of course break through, and disillusioned men will feel cheated somewhat. There will come the point that they blame all on medium practice and abolished this altogether, cutting off one known avenue to communicate with God and saints. 

This will seem good and wonderful but then this may allow one or more adventurous or unscrupulous men to take over to rally people together. Among the few, one will try to be the master and he will be the one to speak for God and saints. Well, isn't this coming to square one? 

It is and yet it don't seem to be. Take for example Santa Claus. He is on everyone's lip come Christmas but he is not Jesus or God. But no one will even say he is a cult figure and without him, the beauty of Christmas will be down by many shades.

More of life from managing yin and yang

No 708 of Living Life Series 1

Where there is Heaven, there must be Hell. Without one, there will not be the other. Life will not be complete and will not revolve with only one or the other. We need bitterness and sweetness often at times even in the same breath.

Where there is good, there must be the bad. We won't know what is good if we don't experience the bad. There is often the bitter sweet experience in life.

Where there is yin, there must be yang. Where there is fire, there must be water. No life as we know it is possible if there is only fire or water. 

There is the passive and the active in every aspect and experience in life. Without one, there will not be the other. 

But are we to be troubled because we cannot avoid one or the other? We must somehow live with both. Can't we be whole and at peace by living in the midst of both?

What we need is not just to do good, or to avoid evil but to be atop both by purifying the mind - not to purge it of yin and yang which is impossible but to still the mind by coming to terms with them and be at peace and pure come what may.

We must be at peace with what we have, with what we need to have and with what we should not have but still have. We must both steel the mind as well as still it, if we ever want a mind pure and free from the crutches of yin and yang and yet with yin and yang.

The way out is to be mindful and mindfulness must go hand in hand with wanting to be at peace but not upset if we are not at peace as yet for that would add to the lack of peace. 

Wow or woe is due to interplay of yin and yang. How we manage the yin and yang determines the outcome. Life is about yin and yang. Come to terms with them and be at peace. 

The next time, you feel good, don't be elated but keep the peace. The next time, you feel bad, don't be down but stay level headed to keep the peace. 

We can have more of life by managing yin and yang. Do we need a religion for this? It would be good but not a necessity though we need to seek the shelter and guidance of God and saints so that issues big and small will be no issues. 

At least any issue will be less of an issue even if they cannot be no issue. Didn't God and saints like Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) say so?

There is the duality of good and bad
even in the men in the temple of a lord saint.
More can be gained by managing
the good and bad, the yin and the yang,
but not by getting rid of men deemed bad.
God and saints do not do so
but instead accommodate them
as even the good has bad
and that is why God is for all
and more of life the temple will have.
The man at the helm may be good
but yet bad and not saint of a man.
This is to be and always will.
After all in some ways, the good lord says 
that ants do come to a flower for nectar.
Blame not the flower.
But most importantly, 
do not take matters into own hands
and act for God when God 
won't even lift his hand
to hurt an ant...?

Correct approach to Religion and to all Religions

No 707 of Living Life Series 1

The religion in the modern world of 2014 and beyond has a more difficult job if they want their adherents to be more right spiritually and to win more adherents. 

This is due to globalization and what one says on God and saints are readily picked up and may be that more easily misunderstood and misconstrued by others who are not meant to be the recipients. 

There is usually no ill-intentions whatsoever but human nature is such that there will end up some ill feelings somehow. Well this is being human and this is not helped by the ever more increasingly interconnected society we have. 

That is why the early pioneers of the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) were told that it is better for a person to remain a good Christian than an inadequate Buddhist, or to be a good Muslim and stay being Muslim. 

Lord Bo Tien
(武天菩萨)

The good lord also says that he was and is not here to start a new religion or sect or to favor any. He had out of necessity to be in a Chinese temple set-up when he came down in 1969 in Singapore. 

He is not here to add to the many heavenly saints or sages that the world has. That is why he tells little of himself but more of the common or inner truth behind life and all religions so that men will be better at their respective religions. 

People must be closer to and appreciative of the respective sages and saints of their own religions and cultures. They must not be uprooted from their culture and society they grow up in and know best. 

They must also understand that though other religions are not the same as their own professed religion, they play useful roles in society to make men more God or Heaven worthy in their own special ways. They must learn to be more supportive of the efforts of other religions and rejoice in the good they do. 

All these is so that there is more peace of spirit in all beings and among all beings, not just humans. Peace is the beginning of all that is good, it also colors the middle or the process for more good. Peace in the ultimate sense is also the reward and the end-all. 

With regards to a religion, if it promotes peace, peace will return manifold more. Anyone who promotes peace gains more in peace from others as well. 

Religion if managed on platform of peace is a blessing to all not only for the followers but for all. Religion if mismanaged may end up dividing men in name of religion and bring chaos rather than peace. 

There is yet again the issue of fine balance of yin and yang - of the approach to one's religion and to that of others' religions. This must be based on the overriding and pervasive principle of peace of God in the highest and on earth peace among men as epitomized by the spirit of Christmas which is for men of all faiths - regardless of faith. 

It is indeed as plain and simple as that and must men make it complicated and learn the hard way? Sow the seeds of goodwill among religions and among men and all will reap more goodwill and peace. God knows even if some who lost their heads don't. They are the poor souls and they need our help...

Confucius (孔夫子) says

Confucius (孔夫子) says, "Life is really simple but men insist on making it complicated." 

God is all about peace and plain honest to goodness goodwill. "Heaven is to be one with God." This Confucius says as well.

Confucius (孔夫子)

Glory, Gory and God

No 706 of Living Life Series 1

If God the Jade Emperor is the ruler of the three realms of heaven, earth and hell, does he need glory from men? If he needs glory, then he is less God and more man. 

If God is kind and loving, do we need to fear him even for the wrong we do. Any transgression or wrong if ever we commit is to the detriment of ourselves and other men but hurts not God who after all is above even disappointment as He is God.

So, why is there all the talk of being God fearing and worst still insisting that others too must fear God to extent that some may even exact pain and fear in others so that they too will submit to God and be forced to love God?

But can love be forced? Can we force others to love God? Can we persecute others if they don't love God the way we do, worse still justify gory in the name of God? No religion will do this.

Is there a place for glory and gory in the name of God? Do not taint the good name of God and heavenly saints with reference to glory, gory and what have we. They have to do with men but not God and saints who are above the need for glory and have nothing to do with gory and fear. 

But the house of God and saints does attract men to come to it like ants coming to a flower for nectar as said by the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). Men come to a temple or to any house of God for nectar of personal gains and this has to do with subconscious need for glory by men. Some even think it is glamorous to be a leader or pastor of men in a temple.

This is not exactly wrong but definitely not right as well. Men being man will at times go to extreme and exact what they expect fellow men to do. They may want others to do their bidding in the name of God. They usurp the position of God. 

They end up acting and speaking for God and saints. What they do may be ungodly and unworthy of God. What they do unfortunately can be to extent of exacting fear and gory. They wrongly think they bring glory to God that way. That is the problem with some men - fortunately or unfortunately only some men. 

Sigh... and in the very first place, God and saints do not need to be glorified - the very same way cave dwellers of old glorified and feared thunder and lightning in days of old.

Be a free spirit like Ji Gong (济公) and make it

No 705 of Living Life Series 1

Going for benefit of the many is the declared goal of the many in religion. But the opposite may at times happen. Men of religion may go for their own benefit when their stated intention upfront is to go for the benefit of the many. 

It is just like saying to prestige club members that if they don't sell the required or x numbers of memberships, they will lose their membership. What have some men of religion gone of course? 

Is God or a heavenly saint somewhat insecure that he needs more people to adore him, otherwise he will feel he is less God or less of a heavenly saint? Certainly, this is not the case. 

It is perhaps the unconscious projection of some men who are insecure and who find security in numbers. To them, it may be all a numbers game. 

Ironically the more numbers they may have, the more numbers they may lose. The houses of God may end up empty and desolate because they may simply drive people away by their enthusiasm 

People want to be in control and not be controlled. People want to be liberated and not be tied down in chains. Religion is to make men feel liberated and at peace with others and with themselves. But some men so passionate about their faith want to captivate and imprison the hearts of men rather than liberate the free spirit in men. 

That is why religion may sometimes get its sums all wrong and some men of religion may need to sit back and ponder how to get things right to win the hearts of men. Never should they be carried away and end up going for the overkill. 

Instead of liberating men from persecution, they end up persecuting those who are not for them or not with them. This don't seem right. 

They should be peaceful and so peaceful and pleasant so that their very presence among men will attract attention. People will wonder what makes them different and how to be like them. What makes them what they are? People will then want to be with them. 

They will realize that the only way to be with them is to be like them - peace loving and pleasant. The way to win hearts and minds is to be peaceful and pleasant. 

One proven and innovative way is to be merry and to sing and dance away in the house of God but not all will concur. But a better way is to live in the Word or Doctrine of Tao to have this peace. 

This doctrine is in every religion and has to do with love and how to make this prevail despite the hustle and bustle, the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations and in short, the yin and the yang. This is the message of the messenger of Heaven - Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨).

We need to be atop the elements of yin and yang as depicted by the seated image of the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) with feet balancing the elements two...

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨)

We need to be like Ji Gong (济公) who felt captivated by the harsh rules and regulations of the monastery, who felt so stifled with no space to breathe and live easy, no way to be at peace and end up far from peace. He left the monastery as he refused to conform and did not want to be tied down by norms. 

He would rather be a free spirit than in a temple. He ate, he drank he too danced and was his merry self. He wanted not to be chained and controlled. He was also no slave of and subject to control by indulgence or excess. He wanted to be liberated and be in control. He wanted to be happy, to count his blessings and to bless.

Ji Gong (济公)

He was and is a picture of peace. What matters he says is what goes through the heart and not what goes through the gut or what one does. He is pure at heart, at peace and with God, though not with men at monastery who stuck to rules and who wanted to control and not lose control but somehow still not right and proper.

Heaven is when one is with God rather than with men in the name of God. No wonder Confucius (孔夫子) says that Heaven is here and now if one is with God. "Heaven is to be one with God." 

Confucius (孔夫子)

Next best thing beside enlightenment and religion

No 704 of Living Life Series 1

In the richness of oriental philosophy, the ultimate is to be enlightened so that we can be like the Buddha but not all can even understand why there is the need and few can reach enlightenment at any one time and even fewer will ever realize that it takes many lifetimes in Heaven, on earth or any where else. 

Enlightenment is not about going to Heaven but about not having to be reborn again and again be it in Heaven or otherwise. The basic principle is simple but the practice that leads to it is not as simple. 

Many are simply still not motivated even if they understand the principle behind it. They just want to carry on in the life of worldliness and leave things to the next life. 

They leave to God and saints. They are happy to leave to God and saints to bless them and to be in Heaven in the afterlife by just believing in them and riding on their vast merits to have sojourn in heaven in afterlife to begin the spiritual cultivation. 

The few who know would wise up and do so now in this life. They would rather be with God and saints in this life and learn to be like them instead of waiting till afterlife to be with God and saints to learn to practice the way to have inner peace by cultivating the way of God and saints. Many would rather procrastinate and leave till the afterlife. 

Instead of having heaven here and now, by being one with God through cultivating inner peace amid the yin and yang, they just surrender themselves to God and saints and hope that by the grace of God and saints, they could cultivate inner peace in Heaven in the afterlife. 

They live by grace and by grace and merits of God and saints, they have the promise of being in heaven in afterlife to learn. This is the next best which is to wait till afterlife and not do so now in this life to cultivate the way to enlightenment. 

The few who know better go for the here and now. They cultivate inner peace here and now not just by believing and having faith but by being like God and saints and be one with them. 

As Confucius (孔夫子) puts it, "Heaven is to be one with God." But why wait to be in Heaven in afterlife to be one with God? Why not do so in this life and to be with God. Heaven is to be one with God. 

Confucius (孔夫子)

We can have inner peace of Heaven in this life by cultivating it here and now not by mere faith but by cultivating the Way or Tao. This involves balancing the yin and yang and not being affected by them in this very life as depicted by the feet of Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) balancing the elements in his seated image.

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨)

Having considered the points thus far, should we go for the best thing or still go for the next best thing. Well, the choice is yours. For many, it is still the next best thing - the seemingly easy way out. They think thus that heaven and enlightenment can wait till next life. Life here and now cannot wait. 

But no matter what view we hold, the next best thing will always be here to stay as an option - and perhaps a more important one at that. After all, half a loaf or even bread crumbs will be better than none. 

Even any Bodhisattva or heavenly saint will tell you this is so, otherwise how are we to reach out to the many to improve their lot - spiritually.... 

The saints strive to create more heavenly oases in heaven for as many beings to go to in the afterlife to begin the serious cultivation of inner peace. They relentlessly do so through the various religions and through various sects and spiritual schools. 

But even then, why not now and why wait till then? Many are not prepared and the next best thing will have to be the main option.  It is alright to approach at two fronts. 

Go for both the next best thing as well as cultivate enlightenment here and now. This is not wrong but well, we may say pragmatic and the best of both worlds so to speak. 

To take this even further, there will surely be many who learn from more than one religion and revere the saints of many religions. What is wrong with that? 

This has become the trend and the trend will blur the lines of religions. After all, religions are man made and the delineation of religions too are man made. 

In time, more will become followers of all religions instead of a specific religion. This will of course upset the fundamentalists in any religion but can they stop the wave of change that will sweep the world and change the global religious landscape? 

This too may be the next best thing to having distinct religions but may not be necessarily wholesome due to lack of guidance and holistic peer influence. 

The second coming of God through a prophet coming down to us as man will be better served by the next best thing that sweeps the world. He will have an easier time to unify men under Heaven to have the peace that is what God and saints stand for and that they want all to have. 

This is the end and should the end justify the means? The means must never end up as the end. Breaking up families, persecution and terror cannot for example bring divine peace. 

The concept of God by men is enigmatic but yet not

No 703 of Living Life Series 1

The world is never perfect and men are not born equal. That is the nature of life. Men are born not equal. Men do not die the same way. Even in death, men are not equal. 

Even the very concept of God and creation is never the same in the different religions, and even for men of the same religion or church, the understanding differs somewhat from man to man. 

The one who believes in God may be in contrast from the one who don't but still the belief that right will prevail underpins the universality of the goodness that some refer to as God - even in the one who believes not in God. 

To God believers, everything has to do with God but this raises more questions than answers questions. This creates more doubts than clear doubts. Is it then that God is in everything? Well, this to many can be a question that has no answer. 

As the followers of the greater wheel of Buddhism puts it, everything is nothing and nothing is everything. This sounds odd but holds true to those who are more mindful but confusing and even illogical to many. 

What is anything when that thing is for the moment, but the next moment it is not the same thing as changes do occur. Well in whatever way we look at things, one aspect stands out and that is right will prevail. 

To many, this is the same as saying that God will prevail. Though the general gut feel is that God or call it Divine Presence is everywhere, God seems to have hands off approach leading some to think that there is indeed no God. 

But then, the scriptures of religions point out that the Word or Doctrine is God and God is the Word. If God has left the Word, and the Word represents him, then he is present through the Word and operates as the Word.  

Even Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that after the first 13 years from his descent in 1969, he will not need to come down through a medium like the late P. Philip as he had explained the Doctrine of Heaven, the Word of God and saints common in all religions. (But he mentions of the rare exception when all the men in his temple are one and in harmony.)

Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨)

Based on this inner or basic doctrine or truth, all religions arose with more derivatives of the basic doctrine and these derivatives make religions distinct from one another and yet same in basic doctrine - the doctrine of basic goodness and that good will prevail. 

But where there is goodness, somehow bad too will prevail. Without the two to contrast each other, how else would light be of any use to illuminate darkness? How else would we know the darkness if there is no light? 

Like all things of life, there is the yin and the yang. If there is light, there must be darkness in life, even in any religion of men. Silence does not mean there is no God and saints. Noise and clatter will not be what God and saints want to have but as they are atop the yin and the yang, they will prevail amid noise and clatter. They will be there even in silence and in noise. 

If God is in everything and in nothing, God is in every aspect of life and nature - both the nature and life in us and the nature and life outside us. If we can be one with nature and life, we can be one with God. 

"Heaven is to be one with God" This is as said by Confucius (孔夫子). Confucius (孔夫子) is right in saying so, as by being one with God we can be at peace in everything and in nothing. 

Confucius (孔夫子)

It is in a way same as saying we can be at peace come what may in the world of yin and yang. Like God we must be with yin and yang but at peace with yin and yang by being atop and balancing the two. God and saints alike have mastery of this inner peace. 

We too must be like God and saints. Then we are one in God and in Heaven here and now. But we must be men first and be men of God by being like God and saints. 

We cannot be without yin and yang but we can manage to have peace even with yin and yang by being atop and balancing them like the feet of Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) in his image with him seated.