The land not heaven takes precedence...

No 1376 of Living Life Series 1

Any religion will do? Why is there the need that others take on your religion? Will this be better for mankind? What has become of the principle that individual should chose how they live life? 

We cannot make everyone think and live the way we think and live. The answer is obvious but some simply turn a blind eye to this.

Will individualism and free choice lead to chaos? Will influencing and coercing others to think and live the way we think and live succeed? Will this too lead to chaos if overdone? 

Well, pluralism is there to stay and is encouraged by the law of the land. It too must not infringe on the laws of the land. 

Even if the laws of the land seem to contradict the teachings of a religion, people of religion must give to God and saints what is due to God and saints, and to the land what is due to the land. Saints like Jesus and Buddha specifically said so. 

This is echoed by Bo Tien 武天 - man is man and God is God. As long as we are in the flesh, the laws of the land takes precedence over that of God and saints. 

We are still man and far from being no longer man. We must ever be mindful of this. We are in the flesh. We are still in the kingdom of the land and not in the kingdom of God and saints. 

God and saints want us to be better at being man. The teachings of God and saints cannot and should not be used to contradict and incite disregard for the laws of the land. This is so that there will be peace in the land; and with peace, life on land will be pleasant. 

Those in Heaven give to God and saints what is due. Those on Earth give to the land what is due. The ancient Chinese saying "As on Earth so also in Heaven" echoes this sentiment

The land not heaven holds sway for those in the flesh. Religion must respect the government if it is to be a true religion - true to the need for people to be good and correct. 

The land not heaven takes precedence till our last breath and as long as we are alive. God and saints will never stand in the way of the authority of the land. 

But some men did use and would continue to use the name of God and saints in vain - to speak ill of the authority of the land. They do injustice to God and saints. They disgrace God and saints. 

The humble and pure Jesus won the hearts of many a man. Jesus never behaved like he was king but many in his time treated as though he was the king of the Jews. This irked the authority of the land and resulted in his being criminalised and had to be crucified. 

There cannot be two rulers or kings in the land - a lese majesty or treason issue punishable by capital punishment - death.

Let all obey the laws of the land. God and saints will be proud of us for doing so. The land, not heaven, takes precedence for us - all of us. 

Why far though near to Divine even in a religion

No 1375 of Living Life Series 1

We hear so much of Bo Tien's 武天 reference to the river and its upper source. But often we do not think deep and far enough. We are only good enough to accept what is said as the gospel truth and to question or think we are told is not respectful. But is this the case? 

Let us once again think out of the box and question. Bo Tien 武天 says what all saints and sane men would have said. It is alright to have doubt and not to accept. Doubt arises when we do not understand. Doubts allow us to know better and more and more. We will become better and not worse off. We will be closer to divine. Doubt is never an issue that we lack faith and confidence in God and saints

To enable many to fathom the pitfalls of any religion and why such pitfalls cannot be done away, Bo Tien 武天 had to refer to the river and its upper source. For water at the upper source of a river to reach out to the land it serves, it must travel downstream and along the way be polluted. How else can it reach the land? 

For the teachings of a saint to reach the majority in the land, the teachings need to be revised, altered and changed by add-ons (the pollutants) to make them more in tune to them - their worldliness and psyche. 

Religion is the result of the basic teachings of a saint made more worldly and may often be changed beyond recognition. People who are worldly will only be attracted to religion if it is worldly. Why? Well, they want more of the world rather than more of heaven and the divine. 

They go for status and stature in religion the same way they go for status and stature in the world outside religion. Religion becomes part of the world and is the world - hardly any different from the world. 

In addition to status and stature, there is the need for wealth and the need to have more of the materialism and senses that plague the world. 

They want money. They want fame. They want adoration not just by opposite sex but by those of the same sex and homosexuality becomes not an issue but alas, though odd, to be accepted and indirectly condoned or even blessed somehow. 

Is this what religion should be? "No" and of course all men of religions will say so upfront. 

But to bring in the crowd and to be in tune with the ways of the world, what else can be done except to "join them if you cannot change them from the word 'Go'." 

Thus religion meant to change the world ends up being changed by the world. How else can people identify with religion? 

To go for the upper source of a river, most must go to the downstream to have any chance at all to go to the upper source. 

But once in the stream, they are so won over, and sad to say, they win over religion to flow downstream and be worldly rather than go upstream to be divine and pure like the clear water at the upper source of the river. 

That is how religion may can bring itself more closer to the masses through downstream worldliness so that the masses can identify with religion. 

Many end up as far from God and saints though they think they are near. So did BoTien 武天 say that the near may be far. 

But religions are still the only bet or rather the main way and often the only hope of bringing the masses to the divine. Let them wallow in the ways of the world even in religion. Surely one day they will want to know more when they realise they are not going any nearer to God and saints. They are far though near.

Why dominate or be dominated? Be free and at peace

No 1374 of Living Life Series 1

The problems and issues of men are many and plentiful. Bo Tien 武天 did say. Deducing or inferring from what he said, it is obvious that it is no easy task (a problem of sorts) also to ensure there are no problems - to go upstream to the upper source for calm and clear water. Many just flow downstream with the current. 

It is better to go upstream against the current and if this is a problem, then it is a happy one and therefore not a problem. The pursuit of pure and clear peace (the upper source) cannot be said to be a problem but the solution to all problems.

The solution cannot be a problem. The satisfaction of not being dragged along downstream with the majority is indeed a joy in itself. There is the sense of release, emancipation and of getting on top and above the yin and yang of life - the ups and downs. 

We come out on top of life and not let life be on top of us. We are in control in the driver's seat and not be driven, swept away and bashed around. We become like God and saints when we try to be in control of life rather than be controlled and at mercy of life. 

We do not need to dominate and be dominated. We set ourselves free. We are with life and with religions but free ourselves from religious bigotry and controversies. We are not dictated by crowd pulls and push. 

We let others to be free to do as they think fit for the moment. We give the gentle nudge but do not harass them if they are not ready. We try to help them along if they happen to enter our life of the moment while we go for more of the inner peace and purity of the upper source - the pure inner truth behind all religions and life. 

We are with life and not running away from life by having more of the peace in life day by day. We stay on top and be in control of life - not be dominated and yet not to dominate others. Dominance is not good in life, more so in religion. 

Why dominate or be dominated? Do have the peace and be free like the dove - which is symbolic of the divine spirit. 

This applies also to life beyond religion - to couples and to children. 

Wives should not dominate and henpecked husbands. Husbands should not control wives with iron fists. Then there will be more peace and matrimonial harmony and peace. We may say this is a manifestation of that ultimate inner peace

Children should be taught at the earliest opportunities on the principles of life and should learn to be able to think for themselves and to think on their feet. 

If we love them, we should set them free after helping them to pick up the tools of life. We should not be dominating and domineering. That will not work well in the long run.

Dominance not good, more so in religion

No 1373 of Living Life Series 1

God and saints will not permit any one interest group to rough shod their ways over the other groups and dominate the scene at large - threatening the peaceful functioning of other groups. 

If they do this to nature, there will be global warming and lack of homeostasis with resulting upheavals of sorts. Nature will realign itself to exact retributions of sorts. 

Thus the ego tendency, self-righteousness of one group or their drive to dominate over other groups will threaten the very survival of not only the other groups but also themselves - they who think they have right to dominate all other groups. 

This is the law of nature (call it by any name if you like) which acts to try to get the balance and peace - the yin and the yang which the sages of Tao in old China referred to. This is also referred to by Bo Tien 武天. 

God's love for anyone group does not give the right for that group to dominate and disturb the others. The godly or god-loving ones may well end up undoing their very love for God and saints. 

They end up as being ungodly though their intention is to be otherwise. Humanity will ever have such problems and history will repeat itself and bear witness to the shortcomings of men - more so men in the name of love for God and saints. The world will be a Shangri La or paradise of sorts if there are no such problems. 

God's love, love for oneself and one's religion

No 1372 of Living Life Series 1

When we love others, we cannot do so by not being loving to ourselves. When we love ourselves, we cannot do so by hating others for not being like us. We cannot care less for others who are not with us. We must strike a balance. This may seem a sweeping statement to some. But do read on... 

We love ourselves so that we can love others better. We love others so that we can better love ourselves. 

Jesus is depicted as loving others who did not love him. He even said that they should be forgiven for they know not what they do. He was depicted as saying this even while on the cross. He felt for the Roman centurions who mocked him. He felt for the criminal on the cross beside him. 

He loves others who were not in his following, not because he loves his followers less but that he loves them more. 

Likewise like all saints, we should love others who don't even love us, not because we love ourselves less but we love ourselves more. 

We could not afford to have hatred and ill-will for others, for that is sure way of harming ourselves. That is sure way of creating impure thoughts and less of inner peace in us. 

Thus people of a religion must love those in other religions, not that they love their religion less but that they love their religion more. 

This is divine love that we see in God and saints. On this note, let us think that surely God and saints should feel for and be concerned for so-called people who transgress not that God and saints are lacking in wisdom but that their divine wisdom enables them to love those far from them and those who have no love for them. 

God and saints love them all the same. They discriminate not between the good sheep and the bad sheep. They discriminate not between the good eggs and the bad eggs. 

God and saints love those who are not their followers, not because they love their followers less but that they love them more. 

Thus people in religion if they love their religion should love other religions not because they love their religion less but that they love their religion more. 

Love must not be bias and one sided. There must be balance as depicted by the feet of Bo Tien 武天 atop and balancing the elements. 

We must love our children equally. We must love our parents equally. Let there be no equity in love. We love those who are not as good, not because we love those who are good less but that we love them more. 

Bo Tien 武天 loves all and even loves those who are not good and even do injustice in his name. This is not because he loves those who are good less but that he loves them more. 

Thus you may find people in a temple of a saint who are not as worthy running the temple than those who are good and should be the ones to do so. This applies in any religious institution. 

Often, we find it obvious that the not-so-good seem to be more blessed by God, not because God loves the faithful less but that God loves them more. 

Do you get it? If not it is alright for now and we should love you and help you to grow in your love and wisdom - to grow your insight into God's love, love for oneself and one's religion. 

The place of myths and mystique in religion

No 1371 of Living Life Series 1
This post is meant to challenge a person to think and not just to believe and to follow. You may think the writer is talking no sense and if so, this is no issue

It is often not enough for people to accept a religion merely for the good that religion talks about. People will want more than that. 

They want to hear what are pleasing to them. They want God and saints to show how great God and saints are. But frankly, God and saints do not need to show how great and mighty they are. 

Then why are we hearing so much of the miracles, greatness and might of God and saints? Well, people want might, greatness and what they cannot have. They yearn for all these because of their ego and if they cannot blow up their ego, they will want to see these in God and saints. 

They find solace and great satisfaction in the greatness of God and saints and this is subconsciously consoling them for what they could never have enough. They even want to be children of God and saints so that they can inherit the greatness and might of God and saints. This is what they perceive. 

But God and saints have no ego as big as many men. They are without need for greatness and might. They want no wealth in gold, paper money and properties. In human terms, they are without any wealth, properties and have no need to show greatness or might. No need to burn money, give offerings, tithes and what have we. 

Bo Tien 武天 says that he descended since 1969 not to show how great he is or who he is but to show that what we need is to be good and good enough to be pure - without need for this or that and without need to deny life as well. 

His image is not him but portrays that what matters is not the shiny and colorful armour but to be at peace by being on top of ego needs at one end and not denying existence or life at the other end - as depicted by the feet on top of the elements. 

People are like the multiplicity of colors as in the attire of his image. All should come together as one though of different colors and shades and yes indeed they will be impressive. 

But however impressive, what matters is that all must focus on being atop of the yin and yang of life - the elements of the worldly life. 

This matters that much more than being mighty and impressive. But alas the religions as we know them somehow have been derailed by people. 

Instead of the peace and purity all need to pursue, like suppressing ego and delusions such as need for greatness at one extreme and need to destroy and be nothing at the other extreme, many simply go for more of the same in the world outside religion when they go to a religion. 

To make matters worse they add myths of miracles, greatness and mightiness of God and saints to religion - the very attributes which are not encouraged by the original teachings of religion. They mystify religion and is there the need to do so? 

Will people only go for and be carried away by the myths and mystique? This seems to be the case. Think about this. 

Are not the great incidents men refer to in religion counter to the laws of nature? If indeed they are, then they are either myths or miracles. These may seem to caste a spell and hold people in awe for the present. But, of what use are these in the long run. 

Do they make saints out of men? Do they go far to make men be more sane and down to earth - more pure and more good and learn more from life. Life is the holiest of the holy texts - so it seems. 

But what is meat to one may be poison to another. What is meat to a person may be poison to the same person at a different time and health status. 

So please do not just accept what is written above. Think through. Is there really the place for myths and mystique in religion? There is and yet there is not. Is the writer talking no sense? 

This post is meant to challenge a person to think and not just to believe and to follow. You may think the writer is talking no sense and if so, this is no issue. The issues and problems of men are many and plentiful. Bo Tien 武天 did mention this. 

He also says that we can even learn from others, be they right or wrong. Even those whom we think are wrong or not so right can teach us a thing or too as well and enable us to be more right.

Inner truth behind religions and life

No 1370 of Living Life Series 1

What is the mission of religion? Why are there religions? Are we to accept that religion is poised to show that one is better than another? 

Well one religion cannot make it to serve all. Well, the preference and likes of people do defer. What is better for some will never be better for others. 

Thus even in the same religion, there will be sects and in sects, there will be schools. There will always be differences. 

God and saints must reach out to people in many many ways but the basic or inner truth behind all be it religion, sect or schools will be one. This the good Bo Tien 武天 refers to as the Inner Truth. 

Even then, the way people look at inner truth may be from certain aspects and therein lies the problem. 

How to be good? To be good is what is behind all. Moreover we need to be ever more good - to be better than good all the time. There is always more room to be good.

There is plenty of room to learn. Life as it unfurls from birth to death is there to for us to learn and the lessons of life vary from person to person and in the same person, from time to time. 

There is no end of learning on how to be good. This is the inner truth of what is behind life and religions. 

Focus on inner truth and not on what men tells you. Even what men tell you about the holy texts can in fact end up more voluminous than the holy texts. These can end up as the new holy texts. This would be absurd but that again is how to reach out to people and bring more to religion. Is there a better way?

In fact, the so-called original holy texts are the collections of many views of the early followers of a religion. Many take this as the Word. Even this is simply too complex and we will fail to see the inner truth. 

Often we end up derailed, distracted and diverted and we end up seeing not the inner truth. That is life. That is religion though not meant to be like that. 

Often, religion portrays the myths as historical and ignore the actual historical facts. What we know of religions are more myths and it would be not easy to decipher or see through the facts, let alone the inner truth behind religion. 

It is undeniable that it is the myths that are magical and enthralling - that captivate the hearts. The magic or holding power lies not in the facts but in the myths. Myths may not be truthful but at times can still lead us from passion to mindfulness of the true nature of life - the inner truth behind life and religion. This is of course not typical

Myths can capture the imagination and make us think more than myths. We can be spurred on to see through what is real and eventually see through the true nature of life - the inner truth. 

That is why Bo Tien 武天 reveals next to nothing about himself except for what he wants us to know - the inner truth basic and common to all religions and cultures. 

It is better for us not to know about a saint or prophet. Even if we know, the facts will be forgotten and what we pass on will be the myths. Better to know the Word a saint or prophet stands for - not who he is and what he looks like - lest we end up fueling more myths which are at best exaggerations of what is and was though often far from the facts.

Bo Tien 武天 and the Inner Truth behind religions

No 1369 of Living Life Series 1

When we read religious texts, it is best to understand the context and times which resulted in a prophet or saint saying what he said. 

Then and only then will we better understand why at one time, it is said in the old testament bible "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" and in the new testament, it is said that we offer the other cheek if slapped on the right. 

Well, in any religion, we must understand and grasp the context. If we do not and put up various statements said at different occasions and places by a prophet or any person, we can easily end up giving impression that the prophet supports a view that we are pushing for. 

That is why the Buddha says we not believe in mere hearsay or what is written in the texts and worst still what others nowadays put together to support views that are far from what the prophet or saint would want us to know. 

What preachers say are often quoted from the texts, put together in juxtaposition or proximity to convey views that may be distorted but which attract the attention of the crowd and bring in more crowd. 

Bo Tien 武天 even goes further and wants us to go behind the written texts and their context. Bo Tien 武天 wants us to go for the basic truths behind the texts in any religion. 

He further wants us to find for ourselves that if we are correct, we should be able to decipher out the same basic truth in all religions. This he refers to as the inner truth. 

What is this inner truth? He says that his image is the truth and the truth is in the image. The image is not him but the portrayal of the truth - the Inner Truth. The image tells us nothing about him but just what is the inner truth. Many other posts have elaborated on this inner truth but mind you, these remain the understanding of the writer. Readers should be able to do better. 

What then is the inner truth? It is simple and yet profound as many fail to know it. They are lost in the polluted water that flows downstream. To get clear water, they must go against the current and go to the upper source. This Bo Tien 武天 wants us to know. 

You can say that the inner truth is about being good and pure. But what then is being good and pure. This is commented on and elaborated by the various religions. We know better about this if we learn from all saints and all religions. 

But many of us are simply not ready. We will end up confused and it is better to stick to a specific religion and know the basics though the understanding of the basics may not be as good as when we can pick up the various perspectives of the basic or inner truth by studying other religions. 

That would be more wholesome. Alas we have to be pragmatic and this means many should go for only one religion and make do. That is why we need many religions. Inner truth is one but religions need to be many for very practical reasons.

Let us be like Ji Gong 济公 and Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯

No 1368 of Living Life Series 1

How do we bring religion closer to the people who need religion most - people who would never be more involved however much we try to do? 

Well, we can avoid telling them the serious religious principles which would otherwise bore them and put them off. We concentrate on how to please them more so their senses. We bring them from the world of society out there to the house of God and saints to experience more of the world out there and to show them that this will be even better in the house of God and saints. 

They will get more of the world in a religious context. But isn't that defeating the core purpose of religion - to awaken them to think more of what is the ultimate purpose in life? 

The ultimate purpose is to know that there is more to life than we know. But why flood people with more of the world in religious context? Isn't this ironical?

But seriously, is there the need to give up with the world - to renounce the world? The answer is that we can be with the world but be able to see through life. 

Take a leaf from Ji Gong 济公. He gave up the family life and wealth to become a monk in a monastery, only to return to the world of society to drink, eat meat and be merry. He renounced the monastery and the conventional life of a monk. That is why he is never depicted in yellow or saffron robes but in green or grey rags of a street wanderer. 

Ji Gong 济公

But mind you, he preferred the life life that is carefree without family and kin. His family was the people. He did not follow rules and convention, and what people expected of a religious person. 

Ji Gong 济公

Instead, he cultivated the purity of the heart or spirit. What matters is not what we do or what we eat or drink, how we dress and so on, but what matters is how to learn from life, be in control and be pure? 

We have to learn and learn. The purpose of life is to learn and be pure. We have to spin our life and not let life spins us around. Be on top of life and not let life be on top of us. Be master of life and not let life and the pleasures of life be our master. 

Thus Ji Gong 济公does not go round controlling people and dictating how and what they should do. He sees the goodness in everyone and find ways and means to bring out more good in such people - for everyone must be better at what they are regardless of religion, culture, race and what have they. 

This is exactly what Bo Tien 武天 wants all to do. This is the mission he set out to do in 1969. 

We must see this need to bring out the best in all and not end up bringing out the ugly side of humanity in the name of religion. Popular religion tends to end up bringing out more of the ugly side of man. 

Pastors and monks end up doing the unthinkable (e.g. deepening their pockets, have harem of wives) in the name of God, saints and religions. Let there be Ji Gong 济公 in everyone of us. 

Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯 the duo who had to go to hell but ended up as gods of hell (to be exact guards of hell) are revered by many because they had pure hearts while they were alive as men in China. They would rather help people and save them from being forced into opium addiction while alive as man. They were persecuted for the good they do. 
The loving kindness of Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯

Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯

After death, they continue to help people though they are in hell. Aren't they saintly even though they are depicted in ghastly fashion as hell guards because of the way they died ? 

Let there be like Ji Gong 济公 and Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯 in everyone of us. Let us have a good heart and not be concerned with what we have, we look and what others expect of us and how we want to impress others. 

We do not flow downstream with others but pick up the courage to go upstream for clear water. Bo Tien 武天 says that men of religions can only be really good if they are prepared to go upstream and not just follow the crowd. 

Bo Tien 武天

Flowing downstream with the crowd and with convection is never good enough. Few are able to be better by going upstream to the upper source for clear water. This will be not the norm and the roots of religion began with prophets who disregard the norms anyway. 

Most who go out of the norms end up doing the wrong things and that is the problem. Thus how many could be like Ji Gong 济公 and Dua Di Ya Pek 大二爷伯? If we can be just a wee bit like them, that is already good enough, wouldn't it? 

Focus on truth and not God, saint or Bo Tien 武天

No 1367 of Living Life Series 1

Bo Tien 武天 says that in time to come people will forget him and think he does not exist. That does not matter. 

What matters is that we know what he stands for and not what great feats he can do to demonstrate his saintly or godly majesty. 

To him, what matters is that we know how to be better at being good, not only in the religion we are in but also in life. 

Obviously, we will be better Buddhists if we are Buddhists, and we will adore the Buddha and take refuge in the Triple Gem of the Buddha, the Dhamma (the truth of life) and the Sangha (the holy order of monks). We will be better in the truth - the Dhamma which is the pivot of the Triple Gem. The Buddha and Sangha will be meaningless if there is no Dhamma.

If we know truth, we will be better in the goodness of whatever religion we are in - more pure and clear - not flow downstream with polluted water.  

The truth of life is in the world and in all religions. All we need is to go upstream against the current to reach upper source for clear water. This is what Bo Tien 武天 wants all to know and certainly not who he is and what he looks like. 

It is not at all an issue not to focus on Bo Tien 武天 but instead on the goodness he wants us to be better in - in whatever religion we are in. Not focusing on God or saint is not an issue at all but not the case if we do not focus on the truth. 

Yes, to be blunt, this may sound blasphemous. Forget God or saint but not the truth. Forget the truth and just focus on God or saint is however an issue to contend with. 

That is why many say God is the Word and the Word is God. See the Word in God and saint. Know the Word and we know God and saint. 

See God or saint but blind to the Word is not what should be. We will never know God or saint that way even if God or saint is in front of us. We will be far from God and saint even if God or saint is beside us. 

If we know the truth and live in the Word, we will be surrounded by God and saints. 

That is why Bo Tien 武天 says the near can be far and the far near. Thus those who are not Buddhists but belong to another religion may be near to Buddha if they are in tune to his teachings and practise being good and pure.

In life, we must focus on the good in us and in others - more so our good values and their good values. We must not focus on the bad in us and in others. 

By focusing on the good, we bring out more good in us and in others. We must focus on the good of culture and religion and bring out more of the good in culture and in religion. 

We must not focus on personality and end up bringing out the worst - personality cults. We must focus on the good in persons and nurture and bring forth more good. 

Zen followers do not focus on Buddha but on goodness. That is why some even satirically say there is need to "kill the Buddha" thought and the idolising of the Buddha or God or saints. Will that spell the end of the road for religion? On the contrary, that will invigorate and expand religiosity. 

Vesak and the Gift of Truth

No 1366 of Living Life Series 1 

Vesak reminds us of the Buddha and the best way to honor the Buddha is to grasp what he taught and understand that what he taught will make everyone a better and a more sound person in whatever religion or culture he or she is in even if a buddha he or she is yet to be or buddhahood never cross his or her mind. 

The Buddha did say that Sri Lanka has the credit of preserving for many centuries the early original teachings of the Buddha and without the holy lineage of monks there like Ven Bellanwila Dhammaratana, the world will not be able to have such blessings. 

No wonder the Buddha says that his best gift to the world is the gift of Truth. This gift is for all. There is no string or condition attached. We can continue to be who we are and to be in our respective society, community and culture. 

We do not sell our self to him to accept the gift of truth. In the first place and in reality, self is an illusion and brings about delusion - makes us lose touch with the ultimate reality. 

We are not nothing and at same time we are not unchanging. How can we conceive of an eternal unchanging entity - the self. We certainly are what we are and will be. But there is no unchanging self. 

When we can grasp this, we are on the way to enlightenment - never mind when this will be. But when we know this, we can taste inner peace and will be on the road to even more. We will at least be saintly in a way even if we are no saints as yet - just like the late elder George Koh Beng Chiang. 

The teachings and values highlighted by the Buddha were and are not new. They were there even before the historical Buddha. There were many enlightened ones and saints before him. 

They were and are present in all cultures and religions. But it was the Buddha who was able to package them excellently as the Dhamma. This is his gift of Truth to all. Many must hold on to this gift dearly not only on Vesak Day but all the time. 

Bo Tien 武天 wants us to know that the same truth is to be found in all religions. This he refers to as the inner truth which unfortunately many could not see clearly. 

Even many Buddhists fail to grasp because they were just flowing along downstream with the additions and what have we. They obviously fail to discern the basic or essential teachings. 

They too must go to the upper source for clear water - for the early and original renditions of the Dhamma. They must go to Sri Lanka and the venerable ones from Sri Lanka. 

The house of God rejects the likes of Ji Gong 济公?

No 1365 of Living Life Series 1

When we go to a house of God or saint, we must be well dressed and it is considered disrespectful not to do so. 

But who wants us to be well dressed? It is the people and not God. They say that it is disrespectful to God. Well, then what about those who are not well off and the poor.  Are they not entitled to be in a house of God just because they cannot afford to dress well? 

Not only must we be well dressed in a house of God, we have to conduct ourselves well, not lie on floor in a house of God when we are tired. That will raise eyebrows and invite rebuke. 

Well do we need to put an outward front when what we need to have is to have a good heart and be pure and at peace with life and with God and saints? 

The saints of God are not attired to the nines and in fact wear humble robes often not flattering at all. What matters is what is in their hearts - not what they do, how they dress and present themselves. 

In his days, Ji Gong 济公 was chided for behaving badly and not dressing well. His robes were ragged and tattered and far from presentable. 

He did not carry himself well. He rolled and laze around on the floor even in a holy place. He was unkempt. He drank wine and ate meat. He was a monk in a monastery and they asked him to leave. 

But unlike many of the presentable monks then, he was clean and pure at heart though not outwardly in the way he dressed and he was not up to mark and norms of behaviour expected of a holy man. 

But who is more saintly? Were the monks then more holy and saintly than him? He was and is but not the many others who took the great efforts to impress others - alas only to put on an exterior. (...though of course only a few were back sheep and many have no bad intention. It was just that they had to follow convention) 

Do we therefore not take a leaf from Ji Gong 济公 and be good and saintly at heart? 

What is the point of flowing along downstream with the crowd and be one with the crowd. As remarked by Bo Tien 武天, it is more important to go against the current and go upstream to the upper source for clear water, to have pure heart - never mind if in the process we fail to dress well and observe decorum. 

This is not to say that we purposely irritate others by being unkempt and unbecoming in conduct and behaviour, but that we need to spend more effort to have pure heart - to go to the upper source for clear water. 

We of course are far from being Ji Gong 济公. Ji Gong 济公 had his purpose. His body language was a wake up call for many to be more sincere in wanting to be good, pure and saintly. 

Appearances help but what matters more is how we are at heart. So long as how we dress or behave does not cause illwill and hurt to others, we can dress casually. Others may not like it and think we are not classy enough for the house of God. Are we disrespectful to God if we do not dress to the nines?

Well, they are like Pharisees in the days of old. Do we need to be like them or be concerned with their remarks? We don't need to but we don't have to go all the way out to rile them. That would be tantamount to belittling ourselves and disappointing God and saints. 

Others who put up a front to impress but are not up to the mark at heart are far though they think they are near to God and saints. The near may be far and the far near. 

This was pointed out by Bo Tien 武天 who is a saint but has no intention to want us to regard him as one. No need to know that he is saint but to know that what he teaches is applicable and in all religions. He refers to this as the inner truth in life and in religions. 

If the house of God is more a house of men, then it would reject the likes of Ji Gong 济公. This is because men fail to make the difference between man and God. Man is man and God is God. The ways of men are not the ways of God and saints. Bo Tien 武天 too reminds us of this.

Can one be religious, yet not have a religion?

No 1364 of Living Life Series 1

Can a man of religion be not religious? Can a man without religion be more religious than many who profess a religion? 

The far may be near and the near far. Didn't Bo Tien 武天 mention this? 

Other saints too do not draw the line and insist that only those with a religion can be religious. They never insist that we belong to one before we can adore the saints. People of course may do so but not saints. 

But mind you, usually it is those of religion who are more likely to be religious. 

Can one be religious, yet not have a religion? Well, it is not the norm. But what matters is that he aligns with purity and goodness that is of God and saints. It is better to be pure and good than to worship God and saints. 

The Word is in life. The Word is God and saints. He who knows life knows the Word. He is near to God and saints though he may appear far. 

Bo Tien 武天 adds that like God and any saint, he is the Word and the Word is him. The Doctrine is the saint and the saint is the doctrine. 

He who knows the Word knows God (or saint). God (or saint) is the Word. The Word is in all religions in some way and is also in life outside religions. 

Room for food for thought on helping others?

No 1363 of Living Life Series 1

Helping others is not for helping oneself. Do not for instance run an aged home to glorify oneself. It would be insincere that way. 

But there is still good done for others. Bo Tien 武天 did say. 

Few help others without thinking of self. Many simply think of self gain before they decide to help others.

But if one goes overboard to help others and sacrifice his own needs, it is another matter. Some cannot help themselves and they badly need help themselves. In either scenarios, it is obvious. How to help others if one is of no help to self? Can still be done and justified, but perhaps not ideal and not as effective. 

There will always be exceptions to the norm. For instance, a dying person who cannot solve his own predicament may still be able to help others even before his last breath.

Never however help ourselves at the expense of others. This is the worst scenario. At least, there must be some good fallout for others around. But this is still not good. Helping others eg charity is not as simple as it seems. Let this be food for thought. 

Never imply to others you help that there is no free lunch and that they must give you some benefit otherwise you will not help them. That would be unbecoming and manipulative. Do you really want to help?

But ironically it is alright to help others to be in the same faith as you as this will help you secure a place in paradise. This is good and what is expected. This scenario runs counter to norms of common logic but can be very helpful to the those who want to convert others to their faith and to those who are converted. Conversion in their eyes is the best gift and help they can give to others.

But isn't there room for second thought? Some say no need to as this is the call of divine. Some refuse to answer this question and simply tell you that the best conversion is from not so good to more good conduct - never mind if conversion to another faith is involved or not at all. 

Perhaps it is better for some to stay put in their original religion but to know better and be better in the religion than to be maladjusted to another religion - be better at what they are. This is stressed by Bo Tien 武天.

Last but not least, it is blasphemous to question what is in the holy texts. But when the holy texts inspired by elders stress on that God and saints need to be glorified for the good they do for us, well then what is so wrong for men to want to benefit and glorify themselves otherwise they would not be so motivated to help others? 

Isn't that more reason for food for thought on helping others? There is more to it than just a simple equation. Well, men are mortals and mortal ways may not be up to the mark with regards to immortals. Thus God and saints like Bo Tien武天 remind us that God (or saint) is God (or saint) and man is man.

Men must not try to think like they are immortals. No easy answer to life and even an issue of helping others can be contentious. It depends on the person and the context and station of life he is in. Insight and foresight must not be lacking.