Awareness of the two broad levels of spirituality

No 883 of Living Life Series 1

Let us light up our life with the understanding of spirituality, more so on Wesak Day and may every day be Wesak. We do not wait till Wesak or on any religious anniversary of any saint or sage to be spiritual minded. 

There are broadly speaking two levels of spiritual practice in any institutional religion. This understanding would explain why the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says the far may be near. 

Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨

The first and predominant level is of devotion and faith where belief in God and saints is what matters. We are saved by grace over and above good works.

Amitabha 阿弥陀佛 and saints save beings by grace

The other is for those who see beyond good works, belief and grace. We learn to have deeper spirituality and to grow the divine essence in us or what otherwise many would refer as the God or Buddha essence. 

We not only do good, avoid evil but we purify the spirit. We go beyond the need of pleasures of the senses though we do not deny the senses. 

Senses provide the pleasures of the flesh and the mundane. There are the five sense organs and they take on the corresponding objects. In addition, there is the additional sense with the mind as the sense organ and it takes on mental objects. 

Body works through five senses
Mind through the mind sense
Spirituality needs more than both
We need to go beyond the five sense doors
If this you understand 
then you are some way ahead

If we live to have pleasures of the senses, we cannot go beyond the first spiritual level. In fact the first spiritual level is propelled by the need for pleasures of the senses. 

The second or higher level requires one to go beyond the needs of the senses. 

But there is need to facilitate the needs of the body through the senses but not make pleasures of the senses as the priority - only as means to the end. Hope this is not too much to eschew. 

Anyway the first level of spirituality is better suited for the majority but one day all will outgrow this level. But all have to go through the first level before any chance to go to the second. 

In Buddhist culture, the grace of Bodhisattva allows rebirth at Pure Land to learn and cultivate so as to be better positioned to go to the second level. There are of course saints (Bodhisattva) in all religious institutions.  

Ji Gong 济公 is one but he is of all religions or you may say not of any. Like Bo Tien 武天菩萨 he is for all and favors none in particular.

JI GONG 济公

The two level approaches to spirituality is not unique to Buddhism but to all religions. So what is Buddhism actually antedates what Buddha taught. But the term Buddhism is used out of convenience and respect for the Buddha. 

You can actually cultivate what the Buddha taught without believe in the Buddha. It would not be wrong but may appear odd. You will end up better at whatever you already are and the Buddha will be glad for you. You are near to him though far from him. The far may be near. Didn't the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 say that?

Condemn not if you believe in love.

No 882 of Living Life Series 1

Let us live life without guilt and fear. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 reminds us that there cannot be love if there is at the same time guilt and fear. 

No God or saint will create fear in those who look up to them for guidance and blessings. It would be worse still if there be guilt. Guilt kills and stifles the spirit of life. 

In fact God and saints are out to remove fear and guilt so that we can be liberated to bask in love and have love for life. The word sin is a misplaced word. 

When we are in the wrong, we wrong others and not God and saints. When we harbor ill-will and self-interest, we hurt others and in the long run, we harm our own self-interest as what long term good can there be if actions are based on self-interest at expense of others. 

Condemning oneself or others is never good as it is rooted in despise, the wanting to run down, and wanting to put down self or others whoever is the object of ridicule. How can God or a heavenly saint hold such demeaning stance? 

Men may make them appear to be so but God and saints are not like that. It would be blasphemous to imply that such is the case. It would be bigoted to do so. 

But let us not be critical and empathize with such people for they know not what they do, or even if they do know what they do but still do so. We must love them and try to let them see the more noble viewpoint - from the angle of true love. 

We must share with them the need to love even the less lovable. Love that is partisan and not for all is not love enough. Love is for all even for those who speak ill of us and act against our interest. 

Yes, love is not blind and cannot be so. We should not be choosy but extend loving thoughts to all. That is divine love which we as men are capable off. 

We can be saintly if we want to and we can be with God and saints. Just be loving. Create no guilt and fear in others and above all we too must not have guilt and fear. We should not run down others and less so our own selves. 

We must love others as much as ourselves. We must love ourselves as much as we love others. This is the way to live life. Then bliss of heaven will be with us here and now and one day we will be even beyond the heavens that men talk about and yearn for. 

But one word of advice is relevant here. If we love life, we go for the bliss here and now. That is more useful approach than waiting for kingdom come and the promised land. Don't live as though life today is useless and futile and we will have to wait for the afterlife of afterlife. 

Love knows no limits and sets no limits. Love is not for select few or for the privileged some but for all. 

Condemn not if you believe in love for all beings. That is true love. How can there be love that goes along with hatred? 

How can there be love if with the same breath, there is talk of condemnation, guilt, fear and wrong? That is unthinkable but the unthinkable can happen at our doorsteps if we let our ego clinging have the upper hand and the better of us.  

Then even God and saints may be of no help to us for now. They will wait for us to open our eyes, wake up one day and open wide the doors of love to all. 

But love wisely and do not end up blind in love and be taken advantaged off. We neither wish to take advantage of others nor be taken advantaged off by others. Yes, we must be loving but we need to be wise.  

A celebration of life in Wesak with Ehi passiko - Come and see

No 881 of Living Life Series 1



In life, it is necessary to have an inquiring mind and it is exactly because the honored one did not just follow the norm but go beyond that he became enlightened beyond the standards and teachings in his day, that the world is richer by his teachings on how to go beyond mere acceptance and faith. 

He was born on 624 BC and that is pretty ancient and for that era, it was pretty upsetting not to conform. But he was humble, gentle and respectful to all. He was likable and that won him the respect of many. 

By having an inquiring mind, he adds to the understanding of the correct spiritual path and the answer to life ills and the round of rebirths that all beings are subjected to. 

He welcomes all to the call of Ehi passiko - Come and see. Thus life is about how to know more and find out more and to see the truths taught by the sages for ourselves and fathom the rationality behind. 

Let us celebrate life with the free spirit of Ehi passiko - come and see. Well, what better day to do so than Wesak Day which commemorates his birth, his enlightenment and his final ascent. 

Of course, it goes without saying that we should celebrate life with zest and free spirit not just on Wesak Day but on any other day. His message and call is for all and not just his followers. It is not just for people of any religion but for those who do not subscribe to religion. 

Come and see for yourselves what is said

Don't just accept 

Investigate

You have to verify 

Go to the song

Sing along

The lyrics are all there 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfq-OMaRxNI

Highlight above and click to go to site 

But at the end of the day

Decide what you want to do in life

What you think you need to believe. 

This in brief is the advice of the Buddhas and indeed all saints.  

Only some men will tell you to believe and not to ask why. Saints want you to ask why and not to believe till you are convinced. They want you to see things for yourself and not to accept on mere hearsay. Test the teachings as gold was tested by fire at least in the ancient days or perhaps by any means in modern days. This the Buddha did say. 

Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 adds that it is all right to have doubts. Doubts arise because people do not understand and when one day they do, that will be the day. They will gel even more with the rest and have more zest and faith to walk the way of God and saints.

Ehi Passiko - the song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfq-OMaRxNI

Highlight above and click to go to site

Ehipassiko come and see you’ll know

The Teaching of Peace the Teaching of Love
The Teachings of the Buddha is for all
Who want to be free forever more

But don’t just believe Investigate
Do not simply accept what you hear or see
Not even if it is uttered by ME

So don’t just agree you’ve got to verify
When you know that it’s good
And it’s praised by the wise
Then live up to it the rest of your life

Let the free spirit of the enquirer fly high like the Wesak flag not just on Wesak but on all the days of our life. Wesak is the celebration of the free spirit. Without the free spirit, how can there be progress in life be it spiritual or otherwise. Without the free spirit and free will, we will be enslaved, in chains and in fear.

Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says to all that what works for spiritual works well for the worldly matters of men. This applies to the need to ask and to be not afraid to ask and question. This free spirit must apply to religion and to mundane life. Have a meaningful Wesak. Fly the free spirit.

Loving Kindness - the Highest Conduct

No 880 of Living Life Series 1

Be one with the world and be at peace. Do not be in want and end up at odds with the world. Be blessed by being simple, humble and pure. That makes one pleasant to others and easy to please.

Bring out the Buddha nature in us and around us

That is the way to be one with one and all - to love and be loved. Serve and be served. Serve not to lord and control. Learn from others you are serving on how best to serve them. 

Do not impose and make others learn at all cost. Learn from those who can learn from you even before they can learn from you. This is the tradition of the holy ones. Empathize. Have love that is of 360 degree. 

Love is not one way traffic or others will end up as servants and you the master. Serve and be served. You too can be a holy one like the one in picture above. All it takes is to love and be loved. 

Loving kindness is the highest conduct and is universal to all cultures and religious traditions. It is the aspect of the inner truth behind all faiths that the good lord the messenger of God and saints Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 refers to time and again. The Buddha elucidates this comprehensively. Do have the habit of revisiting his discourse on Loving Kindness in our daily life. 

Do live in love - to love and be loved. For this, we must be good, not be bad and be pure - free from false views, clinging and ill-will. We must have good-will even to those with ill-will but we need to be correct as well - not be blind in meting out good-will. 

But we must be understanding, patient, tolerant and not expect instant Buddhas out of mere men. We must be able to stomach upsets and still want to help and to love. That is not easy and will be a balancing act of sorts. 

To love life and be loved by many, the Buddha adds that we must have certain qualities to begin with. We must be humble, gentle, upright, easily contented, simple in livelihood, and be easy to get along with (not burden to others). We can have family but must not be greedily attached to excessive family concerns, or we will be hassled and bogged down by overboard family concerns. We must let go (not cling) but yet belong to life and live life (see highlighted in red below). 

In the Loving Kindness Discourse below, the Buddha not only states the prerequisites for anyone to cultivate love for life and be loved in life by others, he goes further on the who and the how to extend loving kindness. 

Interesting point is that even if one who is new to the practice is angry with others, he should not wish harm or cause hurt to others. Of course, it is best to have no anger at all but well, let us be frank. Most of us still have anger. 

At least we must not wish harm. That we still have anger does not mean we cannot live in love of life - our own and that of others. We can always improve and make it step by step. 

The Discourse on Loving kindness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZBlHUL434o highlight the above and left click mouse to go to site  Karanîya mattha kusalena He who is skilled in doing good, Yantam santam padam abhi-samecca and who wishes to attain that state of calm (i.e. Nirvana) should act thus : Sakko ujû ca sûjû ca He should be able, upright, perfectly upright, Suvaco cassa mudu anatimâni obedient, gentle and humble.  Santussako ca subharo ca Contented, easily supportable (not a burden to others), Appa-kicco ca sallahuka-vutti with few duties, simple in livelihood. Santindriyo ca nipako ca Controlled in senses, discreet, not impudent; Appa-gabbho kulesu ananu giddho Not greedily attached to families. Naca khuddham samâcare kinci He should not commit any slight wrong, Yena viññû pare upava-deyyum so that other wise men might deplore Sukhino vâ khemino hontu May all beings be happy and safe, Sabbe sattâ bhavantu sukhi-tattâ may their hearts be happy. Ye keci pâna bhû-tatthi Whatsoever living beings that exist; Tasâvâ thâvarâ vâ anava sesâ weak, or strong, without exception, Dighâ vâ ye mahantâ vâ long, stout or medium, Majjhimâ-rassa-kânuka thûlâ short, small or large. Ditthâ vâ yeva additthâ Those seen (visible) or unseen (not visible) Ye ca dûre vasanti avidûre and those dwelling far or near, Bhûtâ vâ sambhavesi vâ those who are born and those who are to be born. Sabbe sattâ bhavantu sukhi-tattâ May all beings, without exception, be happy minded. Na paro param nikubbetha Let no one deceive another Nâti-mannêtha katthaci nam kanci nor despise anyone anywhere. Byâro-sanâ patigha-saññâ In anger or ill will, Nâññâ-maññassa dukkha-miccheyya let them not wish each other harm. Mâtâ yathâ niyam puttam Just as a mother would guard her only child Âyusâ eka-putta-manu rakkhe at the risk of her own life, Evampi sabba bhûtesu even so towards all beings Mânasam-bhâvaye apari-mânam let him cultivate boundless mind. Mettañca sabba lôkasmin Let thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world; Manasam-bhâvaye apari-mânam above, below and across Uddham adhô ca tiriyanca without any obstruction, Asam-bâdham averam asa-pattam without any hatred, without any enmity. Tittham caram nisinno vâ Whether he stands, walks, sits Sayâno vâ yâva tassa vigata middho or lies down, as long as he is awake, Etam satim adhitthheyya he should develop this mindfulness. Brahma metam viharam idha-mâhu This they say is the Highest conduct here. Ditthiñca anupa gamma sîlavâ Not falling into (wrong) views, Dassa-nena sampanno virtuous and endowed with vision (insight), Kâmesu vineyya gedham he discards attachment to sensuous desires. Nahi jâtu gabbha seyyam punaretî ti Truly, he does not come again; to be conceived in a womb. Etena sacca vajjena - Sotthi me/te hotu sabbadâ By the firm determination of this truth may I/you ever be well. Etena sacca vajjena - Sabba rogo vinasatu By the firm determination of this truth may I/you be free from illness. Etena sacca vajjena - Hotu me/te jaya mangalam By the firm determination of this truth may peaceful victory be mine/yours!

For more of life and Wesak

No 879 of Living Life Series 1

Wesak reminds us to live well in the correct way. We must be modest and of light livelihood. We must not waste life and go for none. We must not go overboard and go for the sky ending up broke and worse off. These are the two lifestyles we should steer clear off. We must live correctly by going the middle path. That way, we are better off. We go for blessings and not go for woes.

Live well and simply. Be of light livelihood and even if we have little, the little will be enough. Even if we have more, the more will not tempt us to indulgent life. There is more to store and buffer us for rainy days when the sun may not shine well on our lives. This is light livelihood we must have if we love life and treasure peace. 

For goodness sake, let us not add to the woes of life and be filled with trepidation and lament. Reflect thus. 

He who is simple to please will be more easily at peace. He has less wants and others find him less wanting. Life may not be a bed of roses but at least it is not a bed of thorns. Life will be more pleasant and he is easier to please. Others like to associate with him and in a way, he is wiser than those who are better endowed than him in capability, intellect and wisdom. 

With no tendency or time to lament, he handles life with zest. He energises life. He goes for blessings and be more blessed. He avoids evil, do good and purify the mind. He has no room for sloth and torpor. He is not in habit of idleness and lament. Idleness and lamentation sap away life and make one lifeless and listless. Go for vitality, vibrancy and zest instead. Be simple and of light livelihood and wants. That is the way to live and to breathe easy in life. 

Go for life. Have the penchant for more life. Life is a gift. Treasure life and be blessed by life. Go for the upside of life and not be downed by life. When downed, never allow life to leave us in tethers. Don't let fate make clowns out of us. Pick ourselves up and be whole. Move on and have the better out of life. 

Go for the upside and not be downed by life. Be a victor and not a loser. Be enlightened and lighten up life. This is how we should be and what Buddhas want us to be. Freshen up life by being good, avoid bad vibes, and be clear and pure in mind. Associate with and have company of the wise. 

Don't do bad. Be good and be more than good if we can. Be pure. Rare is birth as man. Strive on with diligence. This is the exhortation of the great Buddha. That's it and go for life and not die to life. If already down, surely you can resurrect life and be up and about again. That is the spirit and that is why we must have more Wesak days for all of days. Let us have the Wesak spirit for more of life. 

Whether you are a Buddhist or not, certainly this message of Wesak can benefit you to be a better at whatever-you-already-are. Better to be so than to be an inept labelled Buddhist. In fact, the world should not be divided by who we are but be one in truth and in peace. All faiths are one in wanting to save and to heal. 

This understanding is the very simple reason why the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 descended in 1969. The world must know the oneness of religions and cultures. 

Reference: Mangala Sutra - Discourse on Blessings

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IStf569X1rY
highlight above and click to go to site

How do we live well and have more blessings? This is dwelt with by the Buddha in the Discourse on Blessings.

What the Wesak flag means?

No  878 of Living Life Series 1

to know what the flag means

The flag bears the colors of 

the aura of the Buddha

The birth, the enlightenment and the ascent

On Wesak Day

From Wikipedia

The six vertical bands of the flag represent the six colors of the aura which Buddhists believe emanated from the body of the Buddha when he attained Enlightenment:

Blue (Nīla): Loving kindness, peace and universal compassion
Yellow (Pīta): The Middle Path – avoiding extremes, emptiness
Red (Lohita): The blessings of practice – achievement, wisdom, virtue, fortune and dignity
White (Odāta): The purity of Dharma – leading to liberation, outside of time or space
Orange (Manjesta): The Buddha's teachings – wisdom

The sixth vertical band, on the fly, is made up of a combination of rectangular bands of the five other colors, and represents a compound of the other five colors in the aura's spectrum. This compound color is referred to as Pabbhassara ('essence of light').

The flag must fly freely. The universal values the flag depict are for all and are free. They are common to all cultures. They constitute the inner truth behind all cultures. That is why all religions are one though different in their respective ways. This indeed is also the Inner Truth Message of the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨

Lord Bo Tien 
武天菩萨

The Blue symbolizes the spirit of universal compassion for all beings.

The Yellow symbolizes the Middle Way which avoids all extremes and brings balance and liberation.

The Red symbolizes the blessings that the practice of the Buddha's Teaching brings. 

The White symbolizes the purity of the Buddha's Teaching and the liberation it brings. 

The Orange light symbolizes unshakable Wisdom of the Buddha's Teaching. 

The Combination Color symbolizes the universality of the Truth of the Buddha's Teaching. 

God and all rejoice