No 1337 of Living Life Series 1
Many Chinese while calling themselves Buddhists and Taoists are content with very basic devotional practices. All they want is to have blessings for worldly life.
The spiritual life is for the clergy and priests - those who are celibate and away from family.
It is not surprising that they may end up losing interests and go for group devotions. This is better provided by churches.
Many then flock to churches where they can have fellowships, social gatherings and be blessings to one another. This is only natural and may even be better for them especially if they are young.
In fact, those who are far from Buddhism or Taoism may end up near as then they may get to know the truth common and behind all religions.
The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says plainly that the far may be near and the near far.
The traditionalists who merely have simple devotions and don't even think of doctrine or truth may be more remote to truth than the ones who give up traditions and go to churches where doctrine and not just devotion is touched on. These people may be far but are nearer to truth or doctrine.
What may happen if the few more doctrine orientated in a temple decide to stay put in a traditional Chinese temple and criticise the majority for not going beyond devotion and doing charity. They will end up as sore thumbs and pain in the neck for the majority.
This has happened in Chinese temples and even in churches when churches are too social and devotion orientated and not more doctrine orientated.
If they are wiser, they will just leave others alone when others are not ready for doctrine. They should perhaps even leave the temple or church and go where they can be with more like-minded others.
Yes they may go far away but are more near to doctrine than those who stay put and are near. The far may be near and the near far. Give this some thought.
Do not go for labels, more so religious labels like Buddhists, Christians or what have we. Just be truth seekers and if in the process, there is need to jump boat, please do so.
But do so without fanfare and irking others and do accept and love all. After all, we are one big human family, aren't we?
Family comprises people of different interests and approach though there must be common interests. We cannot expect all to be of one kind. That would be far from being kind to others. We are not of one kind but many.
A family will often comprise people with different religions or denominations. This is to be expected and not an excuse to divide the family. During the lunar or solar new year celebration or even Christmas or Vesak, people of all kinds and colors (like in Vesak flag) come together to remind themselves they are family.
The inter-religious organisation in a country is a reminder that all are of one family and nation.
The spiritual life is for the clergy and priests - those who are celibate and away from family.
It is not surprising that they may end up losing interests and go for group devotions. This is better provided by churches.
Many then flock to churches where they can have fellowships, social gatherings and be blessings to one another. This is only natural and may even be better for them especially if they are young.
In fact, those who are far from Buddhism or Taoism may end up near as then they may get to know the truth common and behind all religions.
The good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 says plainly that the far may be near and the near far.
The traditionalists who merely have simple devotions and don't even think of doctrine or truth may be more remote to truth than the ones who give up traditions and go to churches where doctrine and not just devotion is touched on. These people may be far but are nearer to truth or doctrine.
What may happen if the few more doctrine orientated in a temple decide to stay put in a traditional Chinese temple and criticise the majority for not going beyond devotion and doing charity. They will end up as sore thumbs and pain in the neck for the majority.
This has happened in Chinese temples and even in churches when churches are too social and devotion orientated and not more doctrine orientated.
If they are wiser, they will just leave others alone when others are not ready for doctrine. They should perhaps even leave the temple or church and go where they can be with more like-minded others.
Yes they may go far away but are more near to doctrine than those who stay put and are near. The far may be near and the near far. Give this some thought.
Do not go for labels, more so religious labels like Buddhists, Christians or what have we. Just be truth seekers and if in the process, there is need to jump boat, please do so.
But do so without fanfare and irking others and do accept and love all. After all, we are one big human family, aren't we?
Family comprises people of different interests and approach though there must be common interests. We cannot expect all to be of one kind. That would be far from being kind to others. We are not of one kind but many.
A family will often comprise people with different religions or denominations. This is to be expected and not an excuse to divide the family. During the lunar or solar new year celebration or even Christmas or Vesak, people of all kinds and colors (like in Vesak flag) come together to remind themselves they are family.
The inter-religious organisation in a country is a reminder that all are of one family and nation.
We will always never be of one kind but of many. How we try to, we will always be never of one kind even in a family, church or temple. Accept and embrace this. This is how we should live.
We should not only live and let live but go beyond this. We should love others for what they are and we can learn from them as well so that we and they can be better. This is more wholesome, isn't it? This is the way to progress and move up the ladder to more lofty life. This is the age-old aspiration during every Chinese New Year celebration
