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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!.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Better at what we know by knowing what others know

No 1109 of Living Life Series 1



When we are believers of one religion or sect, we should not end up thinking that we are right and others who believe in other religions or sects are wrong. That will speak volumes about our own shallowness. 

On the contrary, we should instead want to know more of what in other religions and sects are attracting people to them. We should learn from them and this will make us better in the belief, religion or sect we are in. This will make us better in what we are. 

This will make us realise that the basic doctrine of goodness is the same and learn from all religions and sects how to be better at this. This is the message behind the mission of the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨. 

The more we know, the more we are one with those in other religions or sects. We can be better at what we know by knowing what they know. Likewise, they can be better at what they know by knowing what we know. 

Ji Gong 济公 is a saint but he ate meat and drank wine. What is  it in him that many who are professed Buddhists or vegetarians don't know? They should know from him and be better at being Buddhist or vegetarians. He often said that what matters is not what one does or on's outward display, not what goes through the gut but what is in the heart or goes through the heart. One must have the divine heart. 

 You don't have to be a follower of Ji Gong 济公 to learn this. You can learn this from him and be better at what you are - better at being Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists or Christians. 

 One word of caution from Ji Gong 济公 himself. We should not ape him but understand where he is coming from. 

 Wine and meat through the intestines pass,
[while] Lord Buddha within my heart remains,
[but] common people, if they imitate me,
is similar to entering the path of demons.

– Chan Master Daoji (Jigong 济公) 

 We are supposed to be better than apes and monkeys. We should know how to think for ourselves and have insight through logic - Tao 道. But many in religious fervor just forget to think or just don't even want to think but just believe. 

 They often let the charismatic man at the helm think for them. They are won over just by salesmanship talk. It is not just a matter of trust but if we do trust someone, the more we want to make sure he is right and logical. 

 If he has erred, we would want to help him. We must voice this out and correct him. That would be more in keeping with our trust for him. That way, we make a better leader out of him. Come on, let us be frank. All must do the thinking and not just the leader at the helm who after all have not yet arrived though he may be better than most of us. 

 The saint Ji Gong 济公 certainly has his way to make us think and not just ape him. What matters is the heart, not what we do or what goes through the gut. He would rather be our friend and not lord over us. 

This would free us from awe of him and ensure that we think over what he did and what he said - not just believe because he is saint or because someone or some texts say so. The latter would be awful. Awfulness can follow when we are in awe of God and saints - or for the matter even a fellow human being. 

 Mind you, what good feeling we have to know that saints like Ji Gong 济公, Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 and Jesus would rather be our friends than be our lord and saints. They will not lord over us but please do not act as though we can call the shots and lord over them - put words in their mouth what we think they should do or say. 
Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨. 

We must learn from what others know whether they know the right way or the wrong way. By so doing, we can learn from them and be better at what we know and do. 

 Better at what we know by knowing what others know. That is what should be. We will be better at what we are - in whatever religion we may be in. This is achievable through any religion. This is what the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know.
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