No 1447 of Living Life Series 1
All religions are different but still one in promoting goodness and peace of spirit in all. All religions are one and we must learn to be one in all religions.
We must be able to see beyond, behind and go to the upper source where the same clear water of truth is present. Bo Tien 武 天 says that to get natural clear water, we must go to the upper source.
We must read between the lines and fathom the in depth but simple philosophy that is present and inherent.
The problem faced in promoting any religion is that there is need to act and not wait till people are ready. Do what can be done to bring religion to as many but in a simple way. This will then enable those who want to know more to get to the root or upper source of the teachings.
We must be able to see beyond, behind and go to the upper source where the same clear water of truth is present. Bo Tien 武 天 says that to get natural clear water, we must go to the upper source.
We must read between the lines and fathom the in depth but simple philosophy that is present and inherent.
The problem faced in promoting any religion is that there is need to act and not wait till people are ready. Do what can be done to bring religion to as many but in a simple way. This will then enable those who want to know more to get to the root or upper source of the teachings.
There is a flipside to proliferation and getting quick results. The same problem is present even in life outside religion.
The problem we face when we try to go for quick results is that we often forget to be mindful. We end up assuming and jumping to conclusions. We end up doing what would get us what we want now but we create the need to do other actions subsequently.
We solve the immediate problem. But our solution creates more problems for us to handle. This is why it is said thus by Bo Tien 武 天. The problems of men are many and plentiful.
The problem we face when we try to go for quick results is that we often forget to be mindful. We end up assuming and jumping to conclusions. We end up doing what would get us what we want now but we create the need to do other actions subsequently.
We solve the immediate problem. But our solution creates more problems for us to handle. This is why it is said thus by Bo Tien 武 天. The problems of men are many and plentiful.
The story of Adam and Eve is worthy of mention. When there is lack of mindfulness and in the hustle and bustle of life, we never give a second, let alone more thoughts. We may miss and not pick up the profound philosophy behind it.
Adam wanted to eat the apple and the apple was there. He just ate and felt satisfied. Immediate problem is attended to effectively. But if we care to think more deeply, there is the lack of inner peace and this resulted in his being mindless - to put it bluntly. This creates problems aplenty.
Isn't this the Genesis way in ancient times to teach inner peace and mindfulness to common people during the ancient times. These are people of the masses who were not in the ruling educated elite class of the king or emperor in the old days.
This is one good example that if we examine carefully, we can find the same teaching of inner peace in all religions and in life at all times.
The authors of the Genesis were mindful to provide the simplest way to promote this, not just for their times but for generations to come. This is the only way to pass down the teaching through simple story for the benefit of many generations to come.
But men tend to take the story literally and create more ignorance and doubts. This too is example of solving problem but creating unintendedly more problems.
The authors of the Genesis should be credited for being resourceful in using a story that is attractive but will still pass the message of the need for inner peace to those who come after them several centuries later.
The story will still be effective for the future but people in modern days who are educated must read between the lines. As for others more so the children, it is enthralling and more than a good fairy tale which many want to consider as real. One day, more and more will appreciate the deep doctrine or truth behind it.
This inner truth is in the story and also in all religions. But we tend to see the differences and not the same oneness of the teachings in all cultures, in all times, and in all religions. There is the inner truth. The inner truth is the need to have inner peace. This is the universal truth.
There is need to transmit truth and reality through simple down to earth concepts that even those with no or little education or time to spare could accept. This applies to any aspect of life, religious or otherwise.
Good leaders of society and nation have to do so. If they are to dwell into the intricacies of what they meant to do, however correct and sound they are, the policies will fall flat for few will understand or have time to digest.
Support is needed from the start. There is need to reach out to the people and masses from the word 'go'. They need to know how benefit will come to them almost immediately. But the more important is the long term benefit which needs belt tightening and some degree of austerity or biting the bullet.
To deliver the long term desired end, there must be immediate sugar coating to sweeten and wow the lives of men. Many are too tied up with the daily affairs of life to have time to think beyond the instant sweetening they get here and now.
They are too involved in the nitty gritty woes of life to think beyond. What they want is immediate sweetening of any sorts. That goes without saying. Tomorrow and the future can wait. That is the lot of the many.
If leaders of any land, society and nation know that, they will deliver long term sound policies but always introduce them with immediate sweeteners. The same would apply more to leaders of religion. That is the way to go if there is need to reach out to the many and win them over to religion.
Religion cannot go direct to the core or inner truth and if this is done, religion will not appeal to many except for a handful. What appeals is what many stand to gain for now and this is about sweeteners. Religions do differ on this but are one in the core or inner truth - the need to cultivate inner peace in life.
There is the need to transmit truth through sweeteners which can take the form of simple promises - stories that appeal to emotion and the easy way such as believe and by grace be saved. This may give mistaken notion of just idolising or hero worshipping God and doing nothing more - no need to go further than that.
But to the more discerning, they go not for the literal meaning but for what is more than literal.
They can be saved by God if they believe and live in the truth of the need to have inner peace and be like God.
Many are not so mindful and many have not more than an iota or two of peace. They fail to have the time and a more settled mind to realise that there is the condition attached to being saved.
They forget and just do not bother to grasp how God can save them - that there is the "if" or condition. They just want the simple stories and that is how religions could attract them. Religions transmit truth through simple stories. How else can God and saints bring the masses to religion?
There is need to appear to give people what they want - the simple stories and easy way out. But once the many are in religions, God and saints will do what they can to awaken many to have insight of the truth.
The many come to religion but are far though near. One day, they will be near to truth though far to begin with. Bo Tien 武 天 says this, didn't he? He did. He says the near may be far and the far near. It is just a matter of time and context. Isn't this true?
Adam wanted to eat the apple and the apple was there. He just ate and felt satisfied. Immediate problem is attended to effectively. But if we care to think more deeply, there is the lack of inner peace and this resulted in his being mindless - to put it bluntly. This creates problems aplenty.
Isn't this the Genesis way in ancient times to teach inner peace and mindfulness to common people during the ancient times. These are people of the masses who were not in the ruling educated elite class of the king or emperor in the old days.
This is one good example that if we examine carefully, we can find the same teaching of inner peace in all religions and in life at all times.
The authors of the Genesis were mindful to provide the simplest way to promote this, not just for their times but for generations to come. This is the only way to pass down the teaching through simple story for the benefit of many generations to come.
But men tend to take the story literally and create more ignorance and doubts. This too is example of solving problem but creating unintendedly more problems.
The authors of the Genesis should be credited for being resourceful in using a story that is attractive but will still pass the message of the need for inner peace to those who come after them several centuries later.
The story will still be effective for the future but people in modern days who are educated must read between the lines. As for others more so the children, it is enthralling and more than a good fairy tale which many want to consider as real. One day, more and more will appreciate the deep doctrine or truth behind it.
This inner truth is in the story and also in all religions. But we tend to see the differences and not the same oneness of the teachings in all cultures, in all times, and in all religions. There is the inner truth. The inner truth is the need to have inner peace. This is the universal truth.
There is need to transmit truth and reality through simple down to earth concepts that even those with no or little education or time to spare could accept. This applies to any aspect of life, religious or otherwise.
Good leaders of society and nation have to do so. If they are to dwell into the intricacies of what they meant to do, however correct and sound they are, the policies will fall flat for few will understand or have time to digest.
Support is needed from the start. There is need to reach out to the people and masses from the word 'go'. They need to know how benefit will come to them almost immediately. But the more important is the long term benefit which needs belt tightening and some degree of austerity or biting the bullet.
To deliver the long term desired end, there must be immediate sugar coating to sweeten and wow the lives of men. Many are too tied up with the daily affairs of life to have time to think beyond the instant sweetening they get here and now.
They are too involved in the nitty gritty woes of life to think beyond. What they want is immediate sweetening of any sorts. That goes without saying. Tomorrow and the future can wait. That is the lot of the many.
If leaders of any land, society and nation know that, they will deliver long term sound policies but always introduce them with immediate sweeteners. The same would apply more to leaders of religion. That is the way to go if there is need to reach out to the many and win them over to religion.
Religion cannot go direct to the core or inner truth and if this is done, religion will not appeal to many except for a handful. What appeals is what many stand to gain for now and this is about sweeteners. Religions do differ on this but are one in the core or inner truth - the need to cultivate inner peace in life.
There is the need to transmit truth through sweeteners which can take the form of simple promises - stories that appeal to emotion and the easy way such as believe and by grace be saved. This may give mistaken notion of just idolising or hero worshipping God and doing nothing more - no need to go further than that.
But to the more discerning, they go not for the literal meaning but for what is more than literal.
They can be saved by God if they believe and live in the truth of the need to have inner peace and be like God.
Many are not so mindful and many have not more than an iota or two of peace. They fail to have the time and a more settled mind to realise that there is the condition attached to being saved.
They forget and just do not bother to grasp how God can save them - that there is the "if" or condition. They just want the simple stories and that is how religions could attract them. Religions transmit truth through simple stories. How else can God and saints bring the masses to religion?
There is need to appear to give people what they want - the simple stories and easy way out. But once the many are in religions, God and saints will do what they can to awaken many to have insight of the truth.
The many come to religion but are far though near. One day, they will be near to truth though far to begin with. Bo Tien 武 天 says this, didn't he? He did. He says the near may be far and the far near. It is just a matter of time and context. Isn't this true?
