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!.

Monday, February 23, 2015

The fifteen days of Chinese New Year

No 823 of Living Life Series 1

If you are Chinese, it is best to know the roots of Chinese culture by knowing what the Chinese of yesteryear do during the fifteen days of the new year. Then ruminate on how these can be relevant in the society of 2015 and beyond.

If you appreciate being Chinese, you have to know what it was being Chinese in yesteryear, otherwise you might not "recognize your home when in front of it."

This was a phrase often used by those who are ingrained in Chinese ethnic culture and by the pioneers and ground representatives of the mission started by the good lord Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨).

Even the good lord descended in a Chinese culture milieu to set up a Chinese style temple in 1969 to show the richness of the same basic truth of all religions and saints behind Chinese culture.

In fact, we can find in Chinese culture a better understanding not only of world religions but of the creation of the universe and insight of the various heavenly hierarchy and trappings.

Whatever our race or ethnicity, let us all be wise and be in tune with the wisdom of our ancestors. That way we will be better positioned to appreciate the culture and wisdom of those of other races and ethnicity.

We will learn to adopt culture beyond that of our own race and integrate it into our ethnic culture. That has happened time and time again, hasn't it? Christmas is a good example with the joy of giving and receiving but usually in kind rather than in cash.

Incidentally the founders of any religion never impose their ethnic or racial culture on believers. Thus a Chinese Buddhist observes Chinese culture and an Indian Buddhist observes Indian culture. But the culture observed often imbibes many aspects of other cultures though still staying predominantly the same old culture.

Let us now have a bird's eye view of the fifteen days of Chinese New Year and learn about the folklore associated with each day. We will understand why the third day is a rest day with no visiting in the old days and why on the seventh day, Chinese celebrate it by eating a soup with seven types of vegetables - why seven types and on the seventh day?

Below is from

http://www.chinesenewyearday.com/ChineseNewYear

Do click to read more of how people celebrated the fifteen days of Chinese New Year in yesteryear.

Chinese New Year Day 1: New Year Celebration

Chinese New Year Day 2: Son-in-Law Day

Chinese New Year Day 3: Mice Wedding Day and Red-Dog Day

Chinese New Year Day 4: Welcome the God of Stove Day

Chinese New Year Day 5: God of Wealth Day, Open Business Day

Chinese New Year Day 6: Clear-Water Master Day (God of Pig Day)

Chinese New Year Day 7: The Human Day - everybody's birthday

Chinese New Year Day 8: The Completion Day

Chinese New Year Day 9: The Birthday of Jade Emperor, King of Heaven

Chinese New Year Day 10: The Eating Day

Chinese New Year Day 11: The Break Day

Chinese New Year Day 12: The Diarrhea Day

Chinese New Year Day 13: The Death Anniversary of General Kuan Yu

Chinese New Year Day 14: The Lantern Decoration Day

Chinese New Year Day 15: The Lantern Festival

Another source on lunar new year. Left click computer mouse and click relevant to go to site
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/chinese-new-year-festivities.htm

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.