No 770 of Living Life Series 1
It is interesting to note that religions originated in mainly two areas of the world one in the present Middle East and the other in India.
But religions did not get prominence based on the clergy or priests of religions in the early days but only when the rulers of big empires came into the picture and championed religions.
For example, Emperor Constantine of Roman Empire was the first to champion the church when his predecessors even sidelined the church which faced persecution by the empire. With his patronage the church did spread its wings to all Europe and through the empires of the colonial masters - the British, Dutch and the French. The church from thence on took on a dominating and assertive role that is in great contrast to the previous timid and subdued role.
In the East, there was Buddhism and Hinduism, often intertwined as part of Indian culture. But it is through the spread of Buddhism to the Chinese Empire that the teachings of the sages of India gain prominence, more so with the direct patronage of the Chinese Emperors.
There is also a cost to pay for the spread of Buddhism in the East in that it becomes integrated into the folk and popular religion of The East, be it that of China or South East Asia.
There is no or little of Indian culture but instead plenty of Chinese culture and perspectives instead. This is the reality but to some unbelievable.
There is also a cost to pay for the spread of Buddhism in the East in that it becomes integrated into the folk and popular religion of The East, be it that of China or South East Asia.
There is no or little of Indian culture but instead plenty of Chinese culture and perspectives instead. This is the reality but to some unbelievable.
Obviously both centers of religion would not have been effective if there was no patronage of the rulers of the adjacent great empires. But such patronage meant that there will be additional changes made to belief, traditions and practices.
Western culture took control of the church and Chinese culture and view point took over Buddhism or rather combination of Buddhism and Hinduism. This is such that to the uninitiated what is Buddhism outside the Indian peninsula looks more like a different religion.
There are even many Buddhas unheard of in India in the early years though the basic teachings are the same. Even if the Buddhas were indeed heard off in early India, they had new names outside India.
Western culture took control of the church and Chinese culture and view point took over Buddhism or rather combination of Buddhism and Hinduism. This is such that to the uninitiated what is Buddhism outside the Indian peninsula looks more like a different religion.
There are even many Buddhas unheard of in India in the early years though the basic teachings are the same. Even if the Buddhas were indeed heard off in early India, they had new names outside India.
The seeker of truth must therefore go upstream to the upper or original source for clear water. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) did say to us in 1969. They must go for the common or basic teachings of the founders or sages of religions. This is referred to as the Inner Truth message of the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨).
The assertiveness, the dominance and the cultural richness of religions are mainly due to the ancient emperors and rulers who lent the weight of their empires to religion. These may not in any way be attributable to the personalities of the founding saints or sages or the effectiveness of efforts of the countries where they lived in.
Whether this is indeed so is a matter of opinion and history will be the best judge. Will it be still the case that a rising economic giant of a nation will be the vehicle to enable a great religion to spread its wings even more than before?
Whether the change brought on by the patronage of a ruler or empire is necessarily better for the religion is also a bone of contention. Perhaps, there will be both desirable and not so desirable outcomes.
All religions are good. What were said or done at a time and place were said and done in context and must not be interpolated to another time, place and context.
Religions too have to be changed to fit the context, time and place. It does not mean change is not good or that fundamentalism is the way to go. The intention of emperors to make impact on religion of the day must be taken in correct light.
But the men in the street must go for the basics and principles and try to make sense of them in their daily life. They must go to the upper source of a river if they want clear water or to put it more conventionally, they must purify the water if they want clear water.
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| Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). |
Whether this is indeed so is a matter of opinion and history will be the best judge. Will it be still the case that a rising economic giant of a nation will be the vehicle to enable a great religion to spread its wings even more than before?
Whether the change brought on by the patronage of a ruler or empire is necessarily better for the religion is also a bone of contention. Perhaps, there will be both desirable and not so desirable outcomes.
All religions are good. What were said or done at a time and place were said and done in context and must not be interpolated to another time, place and context.
Religions too have to be changed to fit the context, time and place. It does not mean change is not good or that fundamentalism is the way to go. The intention of emperors to make impact on religion of the day must be taken in correct light.
But the men in the street must go for the basics and principles and try to make sense of them in their daily life. They must go to the upper source of a river if they want clear water or to put it more conventionally, they must purify the water if they want clear water.
