Be the angels and saints of Heaven and Earth - not demons

No 908 of Living Life Series 1

All will agree that Heaven is a much better place than Earth. But the good there is in Heaven too can be found in some way on Earth. There is happiness in both places. So the saying goes too that, "As in Heaven, so also on Earth." and not just "As on Earth, so also in Heaven."

But if people indulge only in happiness, soon what is happy is no longer so but boring. But at least in heaven, this seems to last in perpetuity. Then again the boredom will set in and in Heaven, this can be even worse - many times more than on Earth. 

Yes, happiness can be boring and bothersome. Those who meditate will know that the peace and joy of meditation is as long as it last. This will be so, be it on Heaven or on Earth. After some time, there will be the issue of what next.

Saints be they in Heaven or on Earth go for pleasures beyond the senses. On Earth there is the five senses and the mind sense which takes on mind objects and pleasures. In Heaven, the predominant sense faculty is the mind and this takes on the mental pleasures. 

But then boredom will set in unless those in Heaven turn their focus or attention in serving those below Heaven or decide to start anew perhaps be reborn again. The same applies to the rich and affluent on Earth. Their lives will be boring if they do not help those who are less fortunate than them and indeed if they do not do so, they will find life boring like those in Heaven. 

They need to help others. They need to love others as much as they love themselves. Thus the problems of Heaven are the same as on Earth but manifestly different yet the same. 

If those in Heaven only love themselves and no one else, then they will be not loving to others. Then they will care less for others and when they do so, they end up as demons in Heaven. 

Even on Earth, there are the rich who care only for themselves. They end up making the lives of others miserable so that they can be better off. They do so passively by not lifting a finger or actively by making gains at the very expense of those in need

Likewise those men of religion who guard their religion religiously and denounce those who are not with them may end up making the lives of others miserable with fear, threats and isolation. They may cause divides in families. They are like their counterparts in Heaven. 

But luckily, be it on Earth or in Heaven, most are not like that. They turn their attention to help others without bargain - without barter trade. They expect no personal gain as well. They will not insist that others be with them before or after receiving help from them. These are the true angels and saints of Heaven and of Earth - not demons in disguise and camouflaging as angels and saints.

Like what Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that life is the living gospel and we must learn from the conduct of others and associate with the angels and saints in beings and not the demons in them. We too must be the angels and saints of Heaven and of Earth. 

There is in most of us the angel and saint as well as the demon in us. This is so long as we are not good enough at doing good and avoiding the not-so-good. This is so long as we have not purified the mind from ignorance and be awakened or enlightened. 

The path of purity is in every religion. There is oneness in religions in this aspect as well as in many other aspects of spirituality. This is as emphasized by Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨.  

Heaven is a state of mind

No 907 of Living Life Series 1

The road to happiness and blessings start with feeling happy and having sense of blessedness. Only then will we be on the way to more happiness and blessings. 

We must see life itself as the very reason to be happy. We must see life as blessing itself. To be alive and to be able to live is reason enough to be happy and to feel blessed. 

We should never feel down because we have less. We should be happy with what we have for the less we have is good enough, never mind if others have more. 

Contentment is the greatest wealth and wealth attracts more wealth. Contentment livens up our life and more will come our way. 

But do not go for all. Decide what is best and go for less if we can. It comes down to how we want to be happy. Be peaceful and simple in life and in needs. 

Let not life and worldly or even spiritual needs take over our being and be in charge. We should take charge of life and our needs. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 exhorts us to learn from life. Know and be happy with life here and now. Be aware of what we take for granted and feel that more blessed. 

Life itself here and now is the heaven we often ignore and it is ironical that we ask to be in heaven. When we want more and more and never count our blessings, we end up yearning for heaven in afterlife when we can have heaven with whatever life we have now. 

Religions of men are by men and when men want heaven beyond what they can have now and in the present life, they proclaim the heaven in afterlife. Heaven in afterlife becomes the yearning. 

Happiness or heavenly life is a state of mind. If we do not have the correct state of mind and do not feel happy to begin with, even if we are in heaven in afterlife, we will feel cheated and think that well, we are not in heaven. 

Heaven is a state of mind. Let the here and now be the heaven and we will have the bliss of the saints. Be happy and we will attract more of others who are happy and we will infect others with happiness. That will be heavenly, isn't it? 

Just take a closer look at the photo of Buddha above. You could be the Buddha in the photo if you are happy even with less trappings of human civilization. See through life and you will be happy. Happiness follow you wherever you may be. Happy people too will be with you. You will ever make others happy and have more happy people to make you happier. 

Heaven is a state of mind. If you don't have this happy state of mind, you may think that you are in hell when you are in heaven. If you have this state of mind that you are in heaven, you will experience heaven even in hell. 

To Ji Gong (济公), this is ever so true. He experiences heaven while on Earth with men. He rather have the heaven on Earth and in Hell than be in Heaven above. At least, he could bring happiness to those on Earth and in Hell and that would be more heavenly than staying in Heaven. 

Where angels fear to tread

No 906 of Living Life Series 1

There are those rare few who rather start a new temple than join an existing temple. What makes them like that? 

The reasons are many and one reason is that there is a new saint or deity but why not have a shrine of the new deity in an existing temple? 

Well, this may not meet the needs if there is a new purpose like that of Bo Tien Temple 武天宫- to show that there is oneness of religions. For that, there needs to be a new temple. 

LORD BO TIEN
武天菩萨

It would have been easier to add a new altar of a new deity to an old temple. But to start one anew is like going for what angels fear to tread. 

The pioneers of Bo Tien Temple 武天宫 did exactly that in 1969 and went the way where angels fear to tread. They started a new temple without land and without money in the kitty. 

With only a handful of mostly national service men, they started off - headed by Philip Png as spiritual medium and Inspector Ling Diung Kwong as administrative head. The rest they say is history. 

Then there are of course many names like Pete Kong, Jeffrey Kong, Chee Sin Hee. Michael Wong, Michael Aw, David Tay, Cynthia Goh, William Chew, Yap Ah Hwa, Henry Lee, Ivy Goh and Tay Chong Keng. They too contributed in no small measure. 

Insp Ling in undated photo

Today a concrete temple stands to showcase their efforts. They went the way where angels fear to tread. With a place to call their own, what more can they want to spur them and others to greater heights for the good of the many... 

Hopefully, they will not just fold arms, cross arms and rest on their laurels. The temple has more to be done to co-opt others in the mission of oneness of religions. But alas the old timers are in their twilight. Others must come to the fore and indeed there are these others. It is left to them. God and saints bless them. Surely they will. 

6 Fourth Chin Bee Rd, Singapore 619708 

Do visit this temple if you can.
It will be a pilgrimage of sorts
for readers of the Living Life Series.

Meet the likes of the pioneers like Elder Ling
and catch up with the success story 
that is Bo Tien Temple 武天宫

Who you meet there and 
what he has to tell you depends on affinity.

Just like there is diversity yet oneness of religions,
there too is diversity yet oneness in 
what the temple can mean to you
and what the man you meet there can tell you. 

But do see from the angle of the oneness of views 
just like there is the oneness of religions.

People in temple or society are never meant to be same.
That they are different do not stop them from being one 
in mission of upholding the oneness of religions and sects

Be like God and not just like God

No 905 of Living Life Series 1

Whoever says man cannot respect another man is wrong as many men are grateful for the good works of fellow men. That is how ancestor worship comes about. This is in a way still respect for elders taught by sages of religions and is worthy.

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to go further than that. He says that man can learn from the good of other men and can also benefit from the skills of another man. But what happens if a good man passed on to the other world. How best can men remember him and venerate him for his good works? 

Believe it or not, some worship him but this is unthinkable when even God and saints don't want to be venerated and worshiped. But isn't it respect for elders of sorts? Well this is true. But what is more important is that men understand the doctrine of life that man stood for, be he God, saint or a fellow man who had passed on. 

That is why God says that he is the Word and the Word is him. Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says likewise that the Word is in his image and his image is the Word. 

Of course, who are we to stop men if men want to worship even men, After all, this is just adoration and transferring of merits to the ones they want to venerate. 

Would it not be better to learn from the good points of God, saints and fellow men so as to better our lot? That would be far more commendable and appropriate.

It is far better to learn how to be like the gods and heroes than to worship and idolize, regardless of who these gods are, be they men or saints. Do not idolize but admire the goodness in them and be like them. 

Do not idolize God but admire the goodness of God and be like God. Do not just like a person or individual but be like him in his goodness. Let the goodness of God be mirrored in us and in our lives.

Liking God is not enough. We need to be like God. Be like God and saints and not just like God and saints, let alone worship and idolize. 

At Bo Tien Temple 武天宫, we may like the likes of men like David Tay, Philip Png, Tay Chong Sim, Chee Sin Hee and Elder Ling Diung Kwong. 

David Tay ever so young
and smiling for the camera.
He rather not be called elder
for that would make him feel older
and there is no such term as young elder
He is ever so young at heart.

If we do like them, we should be like them in the good they have done and in the goodness they have in them. Be like them and not just like them. 

But do not be amazed if we are told that there are those who worship the great Chee for he had taught and benefited them. Indeed, he had and that is the truth. He had done good in his lifetime. He had moved people and captured their hearts. 

They should be like him and not just like him in the same way as all should be like God and not just like God. God never want to be worshiped. It is men who want to worship him. 

Men should learn to be like God and other good men without idolizing and be carried away by idolatry. Perhaps some disagree. If so, it may still be alright if they know what they are doing and where they are heading. They will still be blessed somehow. 

God is all embracing and accepting. Only men who think they know more than other men may not be so. That is why men must be like God and not just like God. 

Oneness of religions with oneness in prayer

No 904 of Living Life Series 1

The oneness of religions is the primary emphasis by the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 and what better way to show the oneness than through the universal prayer.

To all heavenly saints, I greatly adore.

I believe in your existence 

and thy glory is in the thought of men.

I seek for thy protection and guidance

so as to live better for the times to come

Life is fraught with uncertainties and this is the problem. Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 adds that the issues of men are many and plentiful. 

While we may cultivate the spiritual life and be saints one day, we need the guidance and protection of all heavenly saints. 

This is more so when we know that the only certainty of life is uncertainty. 

We should not take life for granted as like what the good lord also said that calm sees like storms do not last forever. Calm will return after a storm and then another storm will come. 

We must waste no time in mastering the balance of yin and yang (the dual nature of life) and have the equilibrium of peace of spirit come what may. Then we will be enlightened and be saints one day. 

Meanwhile, let us have peace for the moment and be saint of the moment. Go for the peace of the moment even if if we cannot yet have the lasting peace of the saints. Cheers.

Who are the blessed ones?

No 903 of Living Life Series 1

Blessed are they who though know little (spiritually) are faithful and are honest and peaceful. They are more fortunate then those who know allot and are the select few who are the pioneers of sorts of a house of God. 

They are far though near compared to the less fortunate who know little but are able to be good despite the handicap. 

No wonder the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that the far may be near and the near far. 

Who is less good? Is he the one who does wrong but helps to maintain a house of God or the one who claims to do no wrong but does nothing to maintain a house of God? 

Who is more blessed? Are they those in Heaven and who are complacent and despise those in hell or are they who are in Hell but have learnt?

You don't need to be clever or spiritual to know the answer. 

But having said that, the good lord says that all are near and yet far in some ways. 

"As on Earth, so also in Heaven"

No 902 of Living Life Series 1

Asian culture is such that there is great respect for God who has a host of heavenly saints with him. 

Unlike the Western concept of God, he is not the creator of all in the universe. That is the difference but this does not make him less respectable in any way. 

In Chinese culture, he is the ruler of the universe of heaven, earth and hell. He came down from the supra-universes to rule the universe we know. 

There are three supra-universes each with its supreme Pure One. God was sent by the First Pure One to oversee the universe we know - specifically to do what he can to mitigate the imperfections which are there. He is not responsible for the imperfections as he is not the creator of all. 

Chinese refer to him as the Jade Emperor 玉帝. He receives advice from and work with the sages of religions like the Buddha and Jesus. 

This system of rule or governance of the universe mimics what is on Earth where governance is by rulers. There is the common saying in Chinese culture of "As on Earth, so also in Heaven"

There is diversity in heaven like on Earth. Just like on Earth, there is oneness despite diversity. Unlike in heaven this oneness is not as ideal as it should be. 

That is why the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 descended in 1969 in Singapore to awaken humanity to the oneness in diversity of religions. This is so that the world we know will be more like what is in heaven. This is his mission on behalf of heaven. 

Making it for the lower and higher callings

No 901 of Living Life Series 1

When we think we have arrived, we find that we are actually starting all over again in another phase of life. The end is the beginning and the beginning is the end. 

But what if we heck care and decide that we don't even need to go for anything and just leave society and be with nature and God and saints. Well, think again as to be spiritual is even more lofty than just to be human and to be with the world of mundane. 

If we cannot attain the lower calling, how can we attain the higher calling. All prophets from Buddha to Jesus were able to meet the lower calling before they go for the higher calling. 

But the problem with many is that they get stuck with the worldly calling and never had the chance even to think of the higher calling. 

There are those who think they can do away with the lower calling and go direct into the higher calling. 

Even those who became monks in childhood need to learn the ropes of worldliness in a monastery before they can better know and be adept at spiritual know-how. 

They attend to mundane worldly needs of the monastery like house keeping and area cleaning. It is in attending to the far from spiritual aspects of life that prepares one to be near to spiritual matters. 

The far may be near and to be near one must first be far. In fact those who do not attend to lower calling first are never able to be prepared for the higher calling. 

If they go direct for the higher calling and think they are near to spirituality, they may not make it . They may mess things up and be worse off. They may think they are near but are far from spirituality. 

The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says that the far may be near and the near far. 

There is often the need to be far before one can be near to spirituality. How can one succeed in higher calling if one cannot make it for the lower calling? 

We can learn spiritual values from young and apply it to achieve the lower calling and if it all go well, then proceed with same values for the higher calling. 

The very values for spiritual will work for both callings. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know.  

Know the world well first and by knowing the world we will be in better position to know spirituality. Know how to be man before we can learn how to be saint. 

Fellowship even in oneness of religions

No 900 of Living Life Series 1

Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 reminds that while God and saints can bless us, we too can be blessings to one another. That brethren is fellowship. 

The fellowship of religions too will be blessings to humanity. It is blessings by men for men and will deserve more blessings from God and saints. 

This will add to the oneness of religions which is what the good lord wants all to realize. This is the mission he set out for in 1969 - to awaken the oneness of religions. 

Religions are fellow institutions of men. They are by men and for men with the purpose of reaching out to more so as to save souls. 

Fellowship even in oneness of religions makes fellowship even that more complete and wholesome. This is the alpha and omega of fellowship. This is universal fellowship - the ultimate fellowship. 

Such fraternization is eschewed by God and saints in the heavens above. Humanity need to have such ideal as well. Then they can be capable of not only more complete and wholesome love among men but for all beings. 

Love makes the world go round. There must be love of religions for one another. There must be that ever more wholesome divine brotherhood and camaraderie. Religions must love one another like brothers of same family. Brothers need not be alike but they are still family. Even twins are never exactly alike.

Religions must go beyond mere detente and co-existence if they are serious in wanting to bring hope, peace and salvation to all men. Religions must not end up as vehicles of entrapment to worsen the woes of human imperfection. Men can aspire to the perfection of God and saints and be able to be with God and saints one day. 

Men must not only praise God but be more like God and saints. Then men can be with God and saints.  Cheers. 

Going beyond mere good

No 899 of Living Life Series 1

It is good to do good but doing good and avoiding evil is not good enough. There is need to go beyond. Some say we must be saved by grace. 

Well, whose grace? It is the grace of God and saints. Doing good is always good but it is even more good to do good with a noble and wise mind and not out of personal or selfish interests. 

It is not that good to do good to please oneself to get fame and credit. It is also not so good to do good to please God and saints. We need to purify the mind. 

We need to have no clinging to greed, wanting more and more of worldly pleasures. This includes pride in self and acclaim out of doing good. Such attributes limit the goodness of good acts. 

Doing good for others at expense of own basic life needs is denial and not having some goodness for self. This is not good. We must have goodwill and love for life - our own and that of others. 

For goodness sake, even if we cannot be good, at least we must not do bad or evil. Bad is rooted in ill-will or hatred. It is also rooted in preference for our own good at expense of others - sort of ill-will as well.

The twin ills of the mind is clinging and ill-will. They are rooted in turn to false views. 

False views or ignorance not only bring on clinging and ill-will, it also deludes us. For instance, believe in no life after death is one false view. There is a whole range of false views. The other extreme is the false view of believing in eternity after death - be it eternal heaven or hell after this present life. 

This can be compounded or made worse by thinking we just belief in God and saints and we will be saved. No God or saints can help us unless we help ourselves, unless we embark on purifying the mind from wrong views which bring about clinging and ill-will. 

Doing good, avoiding evil and purifying the mind is the common sense approach to life and to spirituality. It is advocated by all saints and all religions. This is the backbone of all religious traditions and thoughts. This is the inner truth common to all religions - the common basis. Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 descended in 1969 to awaken all to the common inner truth of religions. 

Do not forget this basic doctrine or Word. Many say that the Word is God and God is the Word. Thus followers of Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 too are told by the good lord that the Doctrine is in the image and the image is the Doctrine. 

We need to live in doctrine. We need to go beyond mere good. The way to do so is to purify the mind which is to live in the Word or Doctrine. 

Bo Tien Temple 武天宫 where the action is

No 898 of Living Life Series 1

Will you be there?  

6 Fourth Chin Bee Rd, Singapore 619708 

A gateway to all saints and all religious traditions through the messenger of oneness of religions Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨.

From a humble beginning