Idolise no man who speaks the Word

No 1467 of Living Life Series 1

Do not make the mistake of idolizing any man who tells you about the Word. 

He is in the same boat as you even if religion refers to him as a religious leader or follower. 

Mere mention of religious leader is as good as encouraging idolising of that man. 

Why must there be hierarchy in religion? 

Hierarchy is conventional but may end up as liability rather than a necessity or asset. 

There should be no caste or hierarchy system in religion. 

No one is to be considered above another in religion. 

A religious leader or follower is a servant to serve you and not a leader or person to be idolised. Do not put him on the pedestal and make a monster out of him. 

Image of God or any saint is everywhere and in us

No 1466 of Living Life Series 1

The image is not Bo Tien (武天) but what he stands for.

The image is the doctrine and the doctrine is the image. The doctrine is in all religions. 

Bo Tien (武天) is not in any religion but yet he is in all religions and in life. 

God or any saint is like that as well. God is everywhere not just in religion but beyond religion. 

God is in us as long as the doctrine of inner peace and the focus of this is in and behind what we do. 

Man is made in the image of God and God is made in the image of man holds deep meaning for those who see beyond the obvious and the substantive world.

The state of no self does not mean no values

No 1465 of Living Life Series 1

There is one talk by Master Sheng Yen  on the topic The state of no self (GDD-874, Master Sheng-Yen ).... www.youtube.com

http://youtu.be/zJ2Vs-Jr1N4

Do highlight the above with left click of computer mouse and then do right click the computer mouse to choose "Go to http://youtu.be/zJ2Vs-Jr1N4 "

He stresses that the state of no self does not mean no values or principled life. 

Master Sheng Yen
Founder of Dharma Drum Mountain
Born 1930
Passed on 2009 at age 79

His talk explains why people in same religion, church or temple, or even the same work place will always not agree though they have supposedly common view or goal.

Even the supposedly common view will change with time.

So, never say 'I' or say 'We' or even say 'You' but say 'Is this the case' or 'Can this be so?' Don't put self or ego in what is said or this will bring out not only the ego in us but also the ego in others as well. When ego is brought into the picture in what is done or believed, unpleasantness follows and this will make God or any saint seem so unpleasant - full of ego and more.  a devil than God os saint. The ego or self in humanity can undo the goodness that is God or saint.

That is why Bo Tien 武 天 says that the common truth in religions if understood earlier will bring all together regardless of religions creed or culture. His approach to religion is simple but easily misunderstood. Truth is simple but appears profound due to the makings of men. Truth is difficult to perceive. Men tends to bring the ego into the picture and cause divides.

Fault of religion arises from the real idolatry

No 1464 of Living Life Series 1

Practise what God or saint stands for and have the God or saint in us. 

Idolise not men, church, God or saint nor what he stands for. That would be what many do and what God or saint does not want in us. 

Go for inner peace and not dream or idolise the need for inner peace. 

Do not join others in idolatry and when men idolises God, his Word and not effect the Word, men end up divided and claim and counterclaim who are right and who are wrong. 

They end up all wrong and far though they claim to be near to God. They idolise God, his Word and the men who claim to be for God. Such idolatry makes them far from God. 

Bo Tien 武 天 says the near may be far, didn't he? The fault lines in religion arises from idolatry not in form of a statue but in a global sense that is even worse than taking a statue to be God or saint. 

Religion tends to attract those who would otherwise be not the ones to be in religion. But it is for such people that religions are meant for. 

They may be far from ideal for religion but are the very ones God or saints wants to win over.  Yes in truth they may be far but they are near and dear to God and saints. Bo Tien 武 天 says that the near may be far and the far near. 

The image is the Doctrine
and the Doctrine is in the image.
What matters is not to idolise
even the Doctrine
but to live in the Doctrine.
We must be the living examples
of the Doctrine.
Doctrine in us means
God or saint in us