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!.

Friday, February 20, 2015

On the central theme of Lunar New Year

No 820 of Living Life Series 1

Let us get it right with regards to Respect for Elders and there is no better occasion to do so than the Lunar New Year. The celebration of the Lunar New Year is centered on respect for elders. Elders are givers and we are the receivers of blessings on this festive day.

There is a saying of common Chinese men in the street that puts the problem of lack of respect for elders squarely and bluntly. "Those who do not view elders as elders are those who don't even recognize their own home."

They often do not know how to give way to elders but compete with and challenge them instead. They do not even have the grace to let elders have some leeway.

They are not uncommon even in a religious organization. In fact, like what the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨) says that ants and insects are attracted to the flower and we should not blame the flower for ants and insects coming to it. Sadly, religion will always attract more of the undesirable than the desirable but perhaps this is the reason why religion is for in the first place.

If such characters have some sense of religiosity or morality, they will likely be graceful towards elders, and will humor the elders even if they do not see eye to eye with them and even if they find a elder an eye sore and a pain in the neck.

Respect for elders means to be at peace with them even if they have erred and no longer assets to society. Respect for elders would include society at large trying to please the elders without going along with or perpetuating the perceived wrong of the elders.

No matter what, men should always give way to elders and let them to have the seat and have their say. But this may not be the case.

If some men cannot accommodate them, and are adverse to them and find them too opinionated, they must realize that they have a problem. The problem may well lie more with them than the elders.

That is the very reason why the sages of old advise us to always be kind to elders by at least just having a listening ear for elders but where possible, we must accommodate them and their views. This, all right minded will do unless somehow they lack grey matter, common sense and do not know how to go for the middle ground by having give and take mentality.

We must get it correct with regards to Respect for Elders. Lunar New Year would be meaningless if there is no respect for elders and we must be reminded on this.

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.