Temple, Teachings and Truth in life

No 338 of Living Life Series 1

THE TEMPLE, TEACHINGS AND TRUTH ARE AS VAST AS THE GREAT OCEAN TO REACH OUT TO ALL THROUGH ALL RELIGIONS AND SECTS, THROUGH ALL VIEWS AND WAYS AND THROUGH ALL MEN AS WELL.

THERE ARE NO CHOSEN FEW AND WAYS.

GOD AND SAINTS LIKE LORD BO TIEN ARE LIKE THE GREAT OCEAN TO REACH OUT TO MANY A LAND AND MANY A MAN IN MANY A WAY.

THE ISSUES AND WAYS OF MEN WILL NOT AFFECT THE VAST OCEAN OF THE MISSION OF HEAVEN. THE MORTAL WAYS OF MEN SHOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN AS THAT OF IMMORTAL SAINTS.

THE INTENDED GOOD THAT MEN DO EVEN IN NAME OF GOD OFTEN HAVE MORTAL CONSEQUENCES.

THE OTHER DIVINE TRINITY ......

THE TEMPLE OF LORD BO TIEN IS THE WORLD WE ARE IN WITH THE SKY AS THE ROOF AND ALL UNDER HEAVEN ARE MEMBERS. RELIGIONS ARE THE PILLARS OF THE TEMPLE. LORD BO TIEN IS A MESSENGER OF GOD.

THE TEACHINGS OF THE LORD (MESSAGES) ARE THAT OF RELIGIONS. ALL RELIGIONS ARE GOOD HE SAID AND THEY SERVE MEN TO BRING ALL MEN TO GOD IN THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE WAYS

THE TRUTH OF HIS TEACHINGS IS IN LIFE. HIS MESSAGES REFER TO LIFE - HOW TO LOVE LIFE AND NOT LOATHE LIFE AND HOW TO HAVE PEACE AND NOT DIS-EASE. THE TRUTH IS BEHIND RELIGIONS - HENCE INNER TRUTH. THE DOCTRINE OF TRUTH IS IN THE IMAGE AND THE IMAGE IS THE DOCTRINE. TRUTH TOO IS IN THE BAGUA

IMAGE OF LORD BO TIEN

Balance in life of the events as depicted by the feet on elements is an ever on-going matter in our yin and yang world. To be steady in holding on to balance and  have inner peace come what may is depicted by left hand in salutation. To hold on to this divine way and to share this inner truth to the world through any religions  and sects is depicted by the right hand holding on to sceptre

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BA GUA

The Ba Gua is ageless and summarises the essence of the wisdom of the sages.  There is always cyclical ups and downs. But despite this we can have peace by balancing our inner self and have inner peace amidst the yin (passivity) and yang (activity) in nature and in life from birth to our last breath. Life will then be more whole, smooth and round like the Taiji.

Events in life and nature come in eight possible triplet sets of yin and yang the sages of old did want us to know. They are the trigrams. Let this be the  all pervading focus in meditation and mindfulness for us to have more inner peace  that is divine. We will then be one with God and saints.

TAIJI

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What is your take on mistakes in life?

No 337 of Living Life Series 1

Post dedicated to all who have erred despite having done good. One day of rain does not mean there is no sunshine. In life, there is always both rain and sunshine like the yin and the yang. Also every dark cloud has a silver lining. Do not be disheartened by men for God is with you even if men are not. These men may be no better than you though not in the same boat. All have erred and fallen short of the glory of God. Fear not the judgement of the self righteous. They too are not free from wrong. They may be further from God than you. The far may be near and the near may be far. This did Lord Bo Tien the messenger of God say, not once but over and over again. Read on and feel good. There is always hope and better days and many tomorrows to come. The exalted will be humbled and the humbled will be exalted. Praise Lord Jesus for saying this......Seek the shelter of God and saints. Lord Bo Tien says "With divine blessings, issues however big will be small if they cannot be no issues. Small issues will be no issue." Life is not just a bed of roses, and even roses have thorns. That's life. We need to contend with yin and yang....which too the lord messenger saint did remind in his last message through none other than the late P. Philip the golden wheel missioner who is no saint but every bit of a man like you as well. Cheers and read on and live on......for yourself and for your love ones. That is the nucleus of loving kindness and love for life which we must cherish for every moment and even on the day we pass on.

God Almighty and the saints of all religions

To err is human and to forgive is divine. 

Because, we can err, that is why we are still human beings and not yet in Heaven.

Even God or Divinity closes one eye and gives leeway as men are more short sighted compared to divinity. Men lack and need to develop insight and foresight.

If God is not benevolent, all will be sent to Hell not just at end of life but right now for the transgressions they made.

Men are more intolerant of  weaknesses of other men, and they tend to pass adverse comments, more so when they are in position to judge.

Because of man's shallow wisdom at times bordering on arrogance or even  high pedestal approach, man condemns fellow man when God allows him to learn and grow at own pace and time ---- even if it means man has to make more mistakes in the process.

This does not mean God don't care and won't lift a finger. He does care immensely and that shows out in benevolence to accommodate man's need to have free will and to learn and not be a puppet. A puppet does not live but the manipulator is the one who lives. Man must live and earn blessings

But if man learns not from his slips, man will face same music again and again, not just now but in future, perhaps next life.

Today, misfortune happens to some others for the slips they made. Tomorrow we may be the ones. This goes on and on like musical chair.

Let us be more benevolent of wrong other men may do. We too can at times be wrong. Let no life play out the game of musical chair and leave us lost and downtrodden

One flaw does not make a devil out of a man but a good reminder of his and our mortality and fallibility. The greatest mortal wound is not of body but of the spirit

Mortals will never be perfect when their flesh and blood can never be and more so if they are not strong in spirit. Even for those strong in spirit but not at divine peace, perfection is ellusive and ever seem to fade away like the horizon.

God knows and that is why He gives us many opportunities and many religions and sects. That is why we need to work our way in this life and perhaps in many more to be in Heaven and be enlightened to be with God and saints. For the Heaven we can have here and now is just the Heaven within us when we can be at peace with the yin and yang (the ups and downs) come what may.

Lord Bo Tien

We can do so by being atop and balancing the worldly contingencies, the yin and yang. This is depicted by the Ba Gua and the Taiji in the Ba Gua or even by the feet of Lord Bo Tien astride the elements.

Ba Gua with Taiji

King Yama

Even those in Hell can make good and come out of Hell with help of King Yama and other saints like Ksitigarbha. They nurture them to meditate and contemplate on good not just past good but intended goodness. That is the way for all beings to improve their lot spiritually. This includes the mortal lot that is us the homo sapiens as well.

Ksitigarbha Posat

Some may even say that immortals too can have errors of judgement. So what more for homo sapiens, my dear friends.......

Incidentally Ji Gong broke many of the rules of the Vinaya (rules of conduct for monks) as he ate meat and drank wine and he was asked to leave the monastery. That was a punishment of sorts based on human judgement of the monks in that monastery. But he bore no grudges and continued his ways and services to mankind and was acclaimed as Ji Gong Posat.

Ji Gong Posat, the Living Buddha

He showed immense benevolence especially for those who had been wronged and those who wronged others but who made good or at least intended to make good. Need more be said?

He believes that what goes through the gut is not important as what goes through the heart. We can cultivate perfections of the mind without being bounded by traditions and standard ways. Think about this and ask for His guidance. He  still lives amongst men though he is a heavenly saint and that is why he is Ji Gong the Living Buddha.

Be a judge unto yourself and worry not of being judged by others. Know thyself and be yourself in any endeavour in life, be it spiritual or otherwise. Ji Gong was able to achieve perfections and be saint just by being his own judge, by knowing himself and doing his own way.

Ji Gong and model after Ji Gong the Living Buddha. Better still seek his guidance. You would not be alone. He as well as all heavenly saints will stand by you and be with you.

Even the best of men too will be found wanting and blamed for transgressions of one form or other if not in their present lives, then after they have passed on. So dear friends, do not be dejected and throw in the towel but do see the bright side. Tomorrow is yet another day. There are many tomorrows to come. There is more to life than what you have gone through. The best is yet to be if you fear not the worst from men and look not back at your past especially your past slips in life.

"Namo Ji Gong Posat"

Saints like Lord Bo Tien allow those who have transgressions to make good and even be the leaders of men in temples and churches These men are not the better of the lot and are obviously not above board. They are very human and fallible. Though these men may often disappoint fellow men, the saints rather that they stay in their roles  and do some good than leave their posts and be lost to end up more bad. The benevolence of saints is boundless but that of men is often absent or at best paltry and pathetic.

Lord Bo Tien

Lord Bo Tien even said that we cannot blame insects from coming to the flower. The flower can be any temple or saint. Isn't that beyond normal human ways.....

"Namo Bo Tien Posat"

Taiji

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Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next world

No 336 of Living Life Series 1 

-- this write-up is inspired by and dedicated to Elder Ling Diung Kwong

"................. Many a pride cover those who achieve the light of enlightenment. But the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood. Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next world." (Quote from Golden Wheel Missioner - Png Philip)

For the finite number  of those who understand the true nature of life and know what should be done, the road to spiritual advancement is sure but needs effort and time. Along the way, there will be distractions and hiccups from the many others in society to dislodge them from the path well trodden by the sages of old. But to evade these many others in society, that is, to deny society and take off into the wilderness is not the way. For everywhere we go, we will be with life, nature and the universe and we can never run away but be with them somehow.

The pride of the one who knows truth and life often may make him want to tell others that they have erred or are not that right. But this pride can at times be misplaced and the more the wise one tries to influence others not ready to listen, the more he finds he is not heard and others may find him odd, stubborn, a sore thumb or rather a stick in the mud.

But he should contain his pride and do what he can to share the truth and the true nature of life. If after that, the many in the society are still not with him, he still can hold on to his understanding, hold his head high and have pride but ...... he should still be with them and be a candle of light and truth for them even if they are not with him. This is more so if the others happen to be his blood and kin.

Moreover, it is divine to treat the many others as kith and kin as well and to have their best interests at heart. Hopefully one day, things may happen and his efforts will bear fruit.

Others may misunderstand him and point fingers at him for being wrong, for wanting to stir up the mud and cause irritation which may even be considered  by these others as mischief by the wise one that is him. Fear not of being misunderstood but persevere and do what can be and should be.

But he should always mean no harm even if others disagree and feel he is doing them harm. Hold on to the pride of spirituality but do not let the pride run wild, get the better of the situation. Do contain it, treasure it and have quiet satisfaction or pride that at least one has understood and is on the way though a long long way.  But it is a sure way to spiritual enlightenement of being and release from rebirths.

Do what one can for those still far behind but often, no more than that. For if one tries to over do, one may be heavily misunderstood and be regarded as a trouble maker, up to mischief in the name of Heaven. 

Endure any gossips and any ill comments for that may be better than creating more gossips and ill wind. Hold fast to the truth and move on but from time to time gently prod others to move closer to more spirituality but don't go more than that.

Just do your part and leave the rest to providence. For that would be more than enough and you would have done allot for the good of the many and out of compassion for the world, albeit that little section or niche of your world.

Hold on to your pride but neither let your pride push you to run others down, nor let others run you down. Do your bit, a wee bit at a time and do what you can. Even if you do not succeed to convince and win others over, that's fine so long as you do what you can.

Don't join them to be not so right but don't leave or forsake them either, more so if they may be kith and kin or your brethren in life or under the same saint.

Let them throw stones at you but do not be hurt or wish to hurt.  For that should not be the case if you are indeed on the road of spirituality and wisdom.

Heaven and saints know though the men you want to help or change may not. Your reward and glory come from being right and being balance and at peace with life and with nature. Men and beings after all are part of nature.

Your rewards are heaped up for you by Heaven and will be reserved for you, either in the latter years of this life or the next.

Sages of old tell us to be with nature and life but not be thrown about by the vicissitudes of nature and life. We should be with nature and at peace amidst the yin and yang --- the joys and woes, the plusses and minuses of society at all times.

We must handle life as depicted by the seated image of Lord Bo Tien with feet astride the yin and yang and with one hand holding on to the truth of life and the other reminding that we be steady and stay focus at all times on the mission of life.

 "Namo Bo Tien Posat"

The wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood. Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next of world.



Gautama Buddha

For example, many frowned and perceived Siddhartha as drop-out of society when he gave up princely life to be an ascetic and beggar upon realising the sheer folly of worldly life. Why must men live blissfully unperturbed by problems of  birth, aging, illness and death and think that these affect others and not themselves?

He could not convince his five spiritual friends when he wanted to eat to sustain life for they thought he was weak in mind and had gone bonkers to eat, for eating meant then that he also had given up the way of the holy ones. They left him but he was sure of what he did was right and feared not being misunderstood. Endurance of even ridicule was necessary and was his innocent glory when he became the fully enlightened "Sama- Sam-Buddha".  Only when he became the fully enlightened Buddha, did they come back to him.

"Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sama sam Buddhasa"

Gautama Buddha

Truly, the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood. Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next of world. However, the wise are finite and limited compared to the rest. The wise are few and outnumbered  and outdone by the many others. The wise must endure and stay on course to be a blessing to themselves in the end and then to be blessings to those who doubted and ridiculed them previously.

Ji Gong The Living Buddha

Posat Ji Gong too was no stranger to controversy and to being misunderstood.

After the demise of his parents and in war torn times, he was distraught and uprooted. He became queer, and roamed the land from Tiantai to Linan in Zheqiang. Finally, he became a monk at the then Ling Yin Temple and was ordained as Daoji. Thus secluded, he focused his mind on spiritual development. He was determined to serve humanity and went about to lighten the burdens of living for the common man.

On the flip side however, he was still noted for his wayward behavior and often broke the Vinaya - the rules of conduct of the order of monks. He openly ate meat and drank wine. He frolicked with monkeys at the hillside. He sang songs with children in wine-shops. Instead of being in monks robes, he was always dressed like a beggar wearing worn clothes, hat, shoes and always with a fan in one hand and a gourd containing wine in the other. But appearance was deceptive for he was kind hearted and was always dead serious and ready to lend a helping hand to ordinary people.

The monks in the monastery where he was ordained were at wits end and tried time and again to make him toe the line but they could not succeed and had to ask him to leave the monastery to be on his own.

From then on, he perfected the way and became a saint. No one would doubt that. Many of the monks then initially thought he was hopeless as his eccentric outward behaviour was great concern to them. He was no showman and was living proof that what is important is the purity of the heart and not outward show. 

One can appear religious, prime and proper. One could observe even the outward ways of monks and the clergy but what is the point if the heart is far from perfect and pure. He knew the way and cultivated it but his eccentric behaviour of drinking, frolicking and even eating meat puts off many including the clergy. Yet he was of help to the many as he continued to perfect the spiritual way.

He did not allow his pride of knowing the way and being in the way got the better of him. He did not need to impress others by being showy and conforming to the norms. He developed himself in his own way and proved others had misunderstood him.

But being wise, he never fear of being misunderstood. He demonstrated that what is important is what goes through the heart and not what goes through the gut. He was considered useless and had to leave the monastery. But he was sure of himself and he attained enlightenment. He helped many in their problems. Endurance is certainly one's innocent glory in the next world. When he joined the world of posats and became Ji Gong the living posat, no one could doubt him anymore.

"Namo Ji Gong Posat"

Ji Gong Posat

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Let there be the sound of silence amidst the noise of life

No 335 of Living Life Series 1 

The sound of silence can be frightening and eerie to many but may be welcome to some hounded by the noise of the world. It is frightening if we run away from the hustle and bustle of life, more so if we run away from our very self and go for self-punishment and denial. It is welcome if we remain with life and live with the noise but not be affected by it. We need to respect and love life, more so our own

If men can have silence and yet live in the thick and thin of life, in the very noisiness of worldliness with all the hustle and bustle and their irritations, then it is a very different matter and at the apex of achievement at that. We will be with life and the jarring noise of life but we will have relative silence amidst the noise. We will have 'quietitude' amidst tumultous disquiet. That must be the only way. How can that be? Well there is the choice and men have freewill to choose.

Do we want our own soul to be deafened by the excessive decibels of life or do we go for the seemingly dead and haunting silence of going away or giving up of life? We will dread the way of life that has no life when we shun or try to escape from the excessive noise of life that drives us up the wall. We will need to be with life and yet contend with the noise but not be affected by the noisy noise.

Rather than running away and giving up life, let us have more of silence than noise in life, perhaps silent noise at that. We can wear earplugs or if need be ear mufflers to insulate ourselves from the noise of unrest and dis-ease in life. Then life would be more tolerable with relative silence and may even be more peaceful. There will be quiet peace amidst the noise and unease.

Then our mind can have more silence or platitude to assimilate the noise of life that sages of old refer to as the yin and the yang. We will be in harmony with the otherwise stormy rages of  life of yin and yang.  Sages advise that we be with life but not be overwhelmed by life, that we live life and not run away from life or worse still want to snuff out our own life. That will be most unloving and smacks of meanness and illwill to life not just others lives but our very own.

We do not want to get away. We want to be with life to see the beauty of life but not be consumed by the upheavels and noise of life. Then life would be peaceful because we could cut off the deafening noise to lower levels and be better able to be at peace and ease to see and know what life should be and can be, what we can have and what we cannot hve, to balance the two and be atop the yin and yang that abounds. This balance is aptly depicted by the feet of the lord saint atop the elements of life.

The yin  refers to the passivity and softer nature of life and the yang refers to the activity and harsher nature of life.  It is not that one is good and the other not good but both can be good if we are in control and in harmony with them and if we can go about this peacefully and with relative silence amidst the noise and banter of life.  We must be able to contend with the noise of life that comes from all directions and in various frequencies and magnitude. We must not be affected by noisy life. Yet, we must not be deaf to life nor to be deafened by the noises of life.

We must be able to have the often elusive peace and live life. If we cannot change the noise in life, we must not run away from life for there is no running away from life. We will live on and on, be it in this life or the next.

Instead, we must create that sound of relative silence amidst the noise of life by leveraging on ear plugs and mufflers that the religions of the world offer us. There is the same inner truth behind all religions and sects to allow us to meet the need for the sound of silence amidst the noise of life.

Life will always be noisy but the noise of life must not rob us from the joy of life. We must be able to hear, to talk and to communicate and to act amidst the noise of life. We must have more of the peace and joy of life and this has to do with the silence of our souls. We need to have inner peace and quiet by putting into practice the way to inner peace and silence amidst the deafening and demeaning noise in life.

The way is to be with life but not be at the whims and fancies of the ups and downs of life. We must be at the centre of the pakua or taiji of life and stand still and enjoy the serenity, peace and silence amidst the swirling yin and yang. We must allow the yin and yang to be balanced and complementary and to be whole and rounded.

True inner peace and silence come from being with yin and yang and not be away from them. The reason is simply because, nowhere in the universe here or beyond can there be no yin and no yang. We can have silence, peace and ease amidst the yin and yang that is amidst the noise of living and existing, here or in the life hereafter or beyond.

Then we will relish in the sound of silence amidst the noise of life and be with God and saints even whilst in life of flesh and blood and have more of this in any life form beyond that of flesh and blood, be it astral, form or formless, or mere pureness of the Pure Ones.

Let  there be the sound of silence amidst the noise of life. We must not just pray to have this but resolve and go for the silence of the God and saints. Such silence brings inner peace and paves the way to enlightenment and union with Divinity. It is the fruit of the Tao or Way.

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Freewill but not Freewheel

No 334 of Living Life Series 1




The greatest gift we have from God is freewill, without which we will be slaves to instructions or be robots under command. Without freewill, we will not be responsible for our actions. As the Taoist axiom puts it, "as in Heaven so also on Earth". We know that this freewill is the freedom to live but must take into consideration others' freewill to live as well. When extended to animals, this is referred to as animal rights. Perhaps this extends to all beings as well.


God gives us this freewill to allow us to choose and learn to be more like Him and His saints or at least to be a bit like Him. We can choose the long road or the short road or even to go in circles. God provides guidance but not dictate. The guidance comes as precepts and commandments at the mico level and as religions and sects at the macro level. 


There is freewill and variety in Heaven with saints galore and heavenly domains aplenty. But there is harmony and complementary synergy as per the will of God. This too must be mirrored on Earth as in Heaven.


But men being men will at times not agree that others can go their own separate ways. They will want others to be like them even if this means they need to instill fear and inject coercion to point of being near authoritarian or dictatorial. This is one extreme of the spectrum when men insist that they have the right to interfere and restrict others lives. They threaten others with fear, death, pain and hell fire if others do not see eye to eye with them.

This is not the way of God and saints but the way of demons and ignorant men driven and intoxicated by pride, bigotry and ego under the cloak of religious fervour or crusades. This as a trend may go awry to give rise to terrorism or bring about such in those at the receiving end.


Freewill is good but must have boundaries. We cannot have freewill to manage the lives of others and to force our beliefs down others throats even in the name of religions. That would be sheer bigotry. Thus the universal precepts introduced by Lord Bo Tien has as the second precept the need to respect what all saints preach in words, thoughts and deeds and all that are written. This refers to the teachings of the various religions and sects. We must respect the principles and values of the various religions and sects even if some of these may be very different and at odds with our own.

Lord Bo Tien reminded us that God reaches out to different beings and sectors of men and need various ways to help them in difficulties, bring them to God and ultimately to save their souls. Thus God allows for not one religion or way but many religions and sects. Dogmas and values may differ but the prophets are given the leeway to do what were best for the context of the times and situations.


For any religion, with the passing of time, the original teachings too may evolve or devolve to extent that will erode the pioneering zest and originality. This is however an issue though changes can at times be good to tailor to the changing times.


But if changes were misdirected to meet the worldly agenda of men rather than the mission of God and saints, then there is need for concern and to look back. There is need to rekindle the original fervour and spirit. This is what is referred to as going back to the basics or the inner truth.


But do note that men of faith can differ in how to present them and to hold on to the people in their fold so long as they not go for the agenda of men but the mission of Heaven. That is men of religions and sects can do more so long as they know and stick to basics


There is freewill to do what is necessary in the context of the times and the people but this must be in keepimg with the basics common to all religions and sects. The basic is to help all beings as beings have difficulties all the time. Over the long haul, it is to bring beings to God and saints and to save their souls from unending issues in life and from cycle of rebirths.


Freewill is in the will of God and His saints but freewheeling is a different matter and can end up adding to the difficulties and issues of men. The issues of men are many and plentiful. Saints like Lord Bo Tien often remind us that they are the very reason why there is need for the mission to help all beings men included.


There is need to provide not just one way but many through the various religions and sects so that every being has choices aplenty. A being can nearly always find one that is quite tailor fitted for him. He has the freewill to do so but he must be focussed. He must not freewheel and lost focus. He must be able to converge on the basics as he diverges and converges along the way and from life to life.




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In depth discussion on Messages before 1974

No 333 of Living Life Series 1

The messages are in black and commentaries and discussions are in blue. This 2nd revisit or rather indepth discussion is necessary as the pre-1974 messages are the basis of all the other messages.

There is tendency for each successive generation of any spiritual group to rewrite history and the awe inspiring perspectives and experiences of the pioneers are often forgotten or buried by time. This happens all the time due to human weaknesses and are to be expected but can be corrected. Read on and understand why Lord Bo Tien's mission is to correct this and bring out the inner truth

Below are the paraphrased and elaborated versions with opinions and views by inner truth netizen. The records of the first few messages are limited.

In his inaugural message a good half a century ago, Lord Bo Tien said: " From time to time in history, saints arose amongst men to lay down certain rules and regulations to help the masses lead better lives and to incline them towards GOD. "

"Over time, these rules become the tenets of an organised religion, but the idealistic spirit and motive, which prevailed during the founding saint's life time, changed gradually after his passing with arising of sects and differing sectarian styles."

"This is why often an organisation cannot bring out spiritual truth more effectively and closer to true nature of life unique to each individual in society. Life is an individual concern. Religion is always centred on life and a personal concern. Religious organisations often may end up over time as archaeological departments trying to discover the past."

"Therefore, I shall not attempt to establish any new religion, cult or organisation. But I shall rekindle and re-invigorate the religious thought* of all people and instill a higher understanding of life in them."

"Dogmas evolved over centuries after the founder's death frequently differ startlingly, unexpectedly, inadvertently and at times even uncannily in emphasis from the preliminary teachings for each faith and between faiths and sects."

"But the fundamentals of all religions and sects remain the same and enduring, because all originate from the same source -- GOD. Thus, when I deliver the GOD knowledge (Jade Emperor's teachings tau-li or tou-li), I shall neither comment (e.g. critique, judge) on existing religion nor commend (e.g. favor, prefer, highlight, be selective, be bias) any as the special one. All are unique and serve the divine plan in their own way."

"I want to turn man's mind away from being clouded by sectarian differences, so that man sees with clarity the truth in life. Man must cultivate insight on inner truth aspects that are common to and the basis of all faiths." 

"Be insightful though of this aspect. Every saint and prophet considered the times, the circumstances and the prevailing mentality of the people before delivering appropriate sermon. Every saint or prophet would deliver doctrines in the format and style best suited to the prevailing times, people and needs"

Many ways to life and bliss.

Many adherents of faiths are keen to share the passions of their beliefs with others. This is out of love and should be praiseworthy but at times can go overboard and unpleasant, more so when the practitioners of the beliefs are not rooted correctly in their practices and principles.

Simply doing good or charity is good enough for some but may be considered not good enough by others  who are more discerning and insightful. and who are at different levels of spiritual awakening. 

We may say  that in many ways, one man's meat is another man's poison. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder is one other saying. Some are more shallow and short sighted or even color blind. For many knowing a little is better than knowing more if that little helps them go the mile. For others, knowing more is of little use if they can only go by inches.

Some say believe and you will be on your way. This is good for many and allow for convergent thinking rather than be lost in divergent thinking. Others may say, test what they tell you as gold is put to test by fire and do not believe in mere heresay but this is alright and wholesome only if you know when to diverge and when to converge in your approach to life both spiritual and otherwise.

All ways have their merits and useful to different people and during different stations of their lives. Charity for example is always good and may be the only thing most should do. But many may be carried away by the wind, and drift away by mundane worldly agenda of men rather than that of God. Do remember that the mission of religion is beyond the short sighted agenda of societal men. The mission is to save souls from incessant rebirths due to lack of insight and divine focus.  But even for divine focus, there too are many ways to save souls and that's why we have many religions and sects.

There too are many ways to have spiritual reflection in the same one sect or temple. Simple prayer and spending quiet time is one way. Group prayer and adorations via hymns and even incantations are other ways.

There is also meditation either alone or in groups. Objects of meditation can differ. Techniques may involve concentration or one pointedness on one hand and mindfulness cultivation on the other hand. Some even employ both in varying combinations.

Be it worldly or spiritual life, there are many ways of going about them. This is the reality and will always be. We have been told through Snr Bro Philip that the kingdom of Heaven is not built solely for man. Nature has for each and every kind a deity and a kingdom of their own.

Likewise, Nature or Divinity too has for each and every being a plan for him alone. The simple reason is that the realisation of divine peace is not via only one path or way for all. Nature has for each and every being a guiding saint and an individualised path of his own (specifically tailor made for him). There are many ways to life and bliss. The path is somewhat different for various persons. It is individualised and unique for each being. You may say it is tailor made for him and will even vary for changing situations and focus in his life. Copy-cat path that works for John will not be as effective for Adam. The balance point for what brings inner peace to John cannot be identical for Adam. This way we can be at peace with life and tap into the bliss of nature.  

The precepts and doctrines need not be different but approach can be 

The precepts and doctrines in a temple or spiritual organisation may not be new and different from that of others. However, any new temple or church can have approaches which can appear to be very different and contrasting. This can give rise to concerns and opinions simply because that temple or church may not be readily understood and accepted

Yin and yang and the seated image

Brethren, decades have passed since the first descent of Lord Bo Tien. He has emphasised that He is not here to start a new religion or to display His glory. He came down as one of the Chinese Deities in keeping with the cultural background of the beings He has to work on. He is here to further Heaven’s will.

His is the Mission of Heaven. We regard Him as the Heavenly Saint. To Him, all religions are good. They are the pillars of the House of Truth. The Lord Saint discourages us from knowing more about Him, but He has portrayed Himself in Chinese general’s armour with sceptre in one hand. He rests His feet on two beings that represent the positive and negative in life------the yin and yang in life. His sceptre signifies His mission, which is the will of Heaven.

The control and the balance of the  active and passive previously referred to as active and negative pave the way to true peace and happiness. We should not be mentally affected by worldly contingencies such as praise and blame, gain and loss, honour and dishonour, wealth and poverty, as well as worldly happiness and sorrow. This will foster a balanced approach to life, which requires us to renounce self-centredness without denial of the self. We need to be in tune with Heaven but not be out of this world. We need to live in this world and stay connected with both heaven and earth, the yang and the yin elements in life.

We cannot be ego-centric but neither can we deny the self. Ego or self-centredness tosses us from the clutches of one extreme of worldly contingencies to the other. However, being selfless in approach to life does not mean that there is no self. We should not end up not valuing even our own being and self worth. That would lead to self deprecation and self denial or self-cruelty of sorts

According to Lord Bo Tien, we have to lead a balanced life by not being affected by the yin and yang of life but at the same time we cannot run away from the yin and yang of life. This means we have to carry on being what we are and with what we are in, but knowing full well that we are in the mundane world of yin and yang. We must live with the vissicitudes of life but not be affected by them. We must be at peace by being with life and not run away from life. We must be at peace with our being and with the yin and yang of life by balancing and being atop of the elements of life as depicted by the seated image of the lord saint with the feet of the lord saint balancing the elements.

The image of Lord Bo Tien speaks volumes of His Teachings. Those who know and practise His Teachings know Him. Those who do not will never know Him.

To seek the Inner Truth

Religions are the pillars of the House of God. The Heavens and divinity comprising God, the Pure Ones and the Saints are roof to shelter the beings under the heavens.

The pillars guide beings to the huge mansion and are the markers for the mansion, otherwise beings will not be able to know that they are in the vicinity or in the House of God as this house is omnipresent and yet many may not see or be able to know and be in the house.

The various religions shall spell out their own guidelines in the form of precepts, commandments or tenets. These will be formalised and be evolved as dogmas.

Each religion has it own representative of Divinity what some may call prophets, arahats or saints.

These saints will then have their own disciples, doctrines and regulations.

Each religion will manage and govern its own affairs, its own way of preaching and dissemination and will have own way of reaching out to the masses and how to keep the followers within their circles. Thus the various religions can fan out and reach out to beings in all corners. They can complement and at times compete for the good and welfare of the many. They are pillars for mankind and beings to lean on and to guide them to God and enlightenment.

The primary motive is to save souls (purification or enlightenment) and assist those in difficulties (compassion and love for beings)

Beings go through rebirths so as to improve themselves and progress from ignorance to enlightenment, from wrong to right and from darkness to light and from light to more light. Beings go from impediments and hindrances (nirvarana) to the ultimate rightness in divine purity and inner peace (eternalism or nirvana - enlightenment)

Rebirth is in the will of God and can take many forms and at all levels and dimensions. (Rebirth is part of evolution and is the expression of yin and yang of the universes here and beyond)

The classical axis of rebirth is the axis with animals and creatures on one side and mankind on the other side. (Of course, the reality is not that simplistic.)



The Precepts

The precepts adopted for the following of the lord saint are not new and are similar to most religious organisations. But for the lord saint, they serve to be basic moral markers for his following to comply with and one of the ways to hold them to the fold of the organisation. They are neither exclusive nor inclusive and do not supersede or are less than that of other organisations. They do not mean that they are the markers of a new religion. They make us stay away from gross deviations from the divine goal. They provide out of bound markers to ensure we do not fall out and be lost.

Many are saved from gross bad done in the name of God and saints just by observing such out of bound markers. The precepts ensure yin and yang factions in a religious group from denouncing one anothers' perspectives and enable them to co-exist even though they may not see eye-to eye on issues. Without observing the sanctity of precepts, coups in a religious institution could occur and new management may keep out other factions and write off the good works of predecessors. They may even re-write spiritual directions and replace them with human agenda to please men of societal standing rather than to be in harmony with God and saints.

Precepts in a way prevent men from worshipping man instead of God and saints. Men must not end up acting for God and saints. Precepts serve as markers to shepherd men to go along the right track.

Precepts no 2 and 6 deserve special mention. We need to believe what saints preach and we need to respect elders even if we do not agree or understand their ways. Sages have emphasized the need to respect elders. Elders include our ancestors and no civil man will run down and belittle them even if the elders are not right at times. Only nimwits and bigots may do so. Nimwits risk breaking the precept no 7 of NOT bearing false witnesses not just against neighbours but against all people - the elders included. They are in a way less savvy versions of the Pharisees in the Old Testament

They are listed below

1. I must believe in One God
2. I must believe in what all the Saints preach in words, thoughts, deeds and all that are written.
3. I must not kill.
4. I must not steal and do what is extremely bad to harm my neighbours or their belongings.
5. I must not covet my neighbour’s wife.
6. I must respect my parents and all those elder than me.
7. I must not bear false witnesses against my neighbours

Reminder on ' Who is Lord Bo Tien? '

No 332 of Living Life Series 1

For full article, go to  Who is Lord Bo Tien?

LORD BO TIEN

A heavenly saint from up high
The messenger of Heaven
For the divine Inner Truth
behind all faiths, sects and ways
Not here to start a new religion
But to rejuvenate religious thought
His temple is not limited to a building
The whole wide world be one temple
for the Mission of Heaven on earth
To spread the message of Inner Truth
The Sky and Heaven is the temple roof
Religions and sects are the pillars
of this one vast universal temple
His Mission is not Mission of Man
But the Mission of Heaven above
Men may not be ready and can wait
But heavenly ones are and cannot wait
To move on with the Mission for www
The whole wide world and web
All can come for the divine nectar
Even ants and insects amongst men
So blame not the flower and saint
when access open to one and all
Thus worship heaven and not man
In this open house of the lords
See neither the saint in man
nor the man in lord saints
Man is man and saint is saint





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Judge not lest ye be judged

No 331 of Living Life Series 1

God has divine wisdom to let men have differing ways each to do what he is comfortable and to take it from there. If only men can be like God and saints the world will be more peaceful

This post is yet another dedicated for Christmas

Men tend to judge and be opinionated but not God and saints. That is why it is said in the Bible that one must not judge others. Judge not lest ye be judged.

God has divine wisdom to let men have differing ways each to do what he is comfortable and to take it from there. If only men can be like God and saints the world will be more peaceful. 

Men always want others to be with them and if others are not with them, then they are considered as not for them. Thus there will always be bigots amongst men of religions who think that other religions are not of God and only their religion is of God.

Even with the same religion, there are various ways of approach. Thus when men extolled the virtues of their approach and run down others even if they are of the same religion, there will arise a new sect. Soon there will be proliferation of sects and deviation from the mean.

The mean is the religion centred on God through the founder prophet of the specific religion. The need for sects within a religion and within the same one sect, for different schools is testimony to the micro approach of men with disregard to the macro or helicopter approach. Each champions its own vision as the more correct or chosen one.

This is the same as in the story of the blind men and the elephant. One said the elephant is a snake when he holds on to the tail. Another who feels the body said the elephant is flat like the wall. All the blind men are wrong but yet right in their own ways. But if one blind man says the others are wrong, then he is a bigot but if he says that all are right and that they should value and integrate one another's  views, then a more wholesome understanding will arise.

Men of religions and sects should not be bigots but come together and share their experiences of God. That way a more wholesome understanding will arise.

Members of a temple or church should accommodate others within the church or temple who hold differing views and be more accepting of their differing views. By coming together, sharing and integrating their various views, there will be no bigotry and the combined picture of various views may even be more wholesome without need to discard or denigrate one another's views. Better not to judge one another but to accept one anothers' views. That is testimony to the wisdom of the saying attributed to Lord Jesus - Judge not lest ye be judged

As said earlier, God has divine wisdom to let men have differing ways each to do what he is comfortable and to take it from there. If only men can be like God and saints the world will be more peaceful. That is why the lord saint Lord Bo Tien said that the major religions and sects of the world can differ in ways of helping men and beings and to bring them closer to God through the respective saints. They need to have their own ways to appeal and to hold on to their followers. Lord Bo Tien said.

Lord Bo Tien

This is summed up as the Four Pillar Doctrine that stipulates that God has compassion for men and sends down his saints to start the various religions and sects in the four cardinal directions. Religions are the pillars in the House of God. The sky of Heaven is the roof of this temple or church of God. All pillars in the four directions are necessary for the House of God.

Likewise in a temple of a lord saint, all factions are like pillars and all are required to be pillars of the temple of that lord saint. Let not any faction dominate and say that others have no place. That would be bigotry in full bloom.

God has divine wisdom to let men have differing ways, each sub-group to do what that sub-group is comfortable and to take it from there. If only men can be like God and saints the world will be more peaceful and a temple of a lord saint would be more wholesome.

"Judge not lest ye be judged" is Lord Jesus's biblical gift of wisdom to the world -- a gift to light up our lives not just for Christmas but for every day as well. That way we will not be bigots but be loving to all even those who hold different perspectives of the same one God or of any of the heavenly saints. We need to love others and only then will we not judge others and only then will others not judge us. Love lights up the tree of life

The unbecoming judgement transgression we need to be wary off is to judge our elders and parents and to conclude they are wrong. Whilst we may not agree with their ways, we do not at all cost take punitive and detrimental actions against them for that would be disrespectful. 

We have to respect them as elders and find a way to let them know we cannot go along with them. This is in keeping with the precept in most religions that we respect parents and elders. Passing judgement and meting out actions against parents and elders is a breach of of the precept and breach of love and respect for elders - a breach of faith in God and saints.

To be judgemental is unkind to those who are at the receiving end and to be judgemental towards elders and parents is the limit of inhumane behaviour.

Certainly, do be mindful not to judge lest ye be judged. Above all, be humble and be mindful not to see the dust in others' eyes, when we cannot see the dust in our own. This too is another wise saying of Lord Jesus who taught men to love fellow men in the way God loves men.

Judge not lest ye be judged. See not the dust in others' eyes when ye cannot see the dust in your own. Then without being judgemental and self-righteous, it is easier to love and be loved, to give and to receive. This is the spirit of saints. Call this the spirit of Christmas if you like.  Let this spirit of Christmas be for all in every day of life and not just for Christmas Day. 

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Mission Statement Revisited

No 330 of Living Life Series 1

The lord saint's mission is not just charity. If this was so, then there is no need for the mission, for charity already exists in society and in many a temple or church. Charity is always right and necessary but is only one aspect to make the mission more whole like the Taiji with yin and yang.

Taiji The Great Ultimate

 

The mission is to save souls through the Inner Truth also referred to as the Four Pillar Doctrine. The doctrine is to bring a reawakening in the basic truth behind and common to all religions that their pioneers championed.

There is need to recognise that religions, temples and churches may be different but the inner truth behind is one and the same though this might have been buried by the passage of time

The mission is not about human and worldly agenda but about the wish and direction of GOD and Heaven to save souls NOT just through a new saint, a new religion or a new sect but through the existing saints, religions and sects including any new ones. (Do note that the lord saint did not initiate any new religion or sect)

God and saints and their religions

The lord saint is like a vast ocean that reaches out to many a land. The far may thus be near and the near may be far..... The lord saint said also that the mission is the Mission of Heaven and not that of man.

The decisive marker of whether the mission is that of Heaven or that of man lies in whether the doctrine is in the man. When there is doctrine, there is inner peace and love for all views and all men. Only then will there be the Mission of Heaven.

With the Mission of Heaven, there is peace and love for all even for those who hold differing views and faiths. With the mission of man, there is no infectious peace but only dis-ease due to exclusivity and partisan approach that will naturally add on to the many issues of men.

The issues and problems of men are many and plentiful. This did the lord saint said. With inner peace from balancing and harmonising the yin and yang to achieve the Great Ultimate, the Taiji, the issues even if present no longer perturb and ruffle the mind of the wise.

Why? Simply because with putting into practice the doctrine via the balancing of yin and yang like the feet of the lord saint atop and balancing the elements, there is peace like the calm lake. Big issues do become small issues even if they cannot be no issue, and small issues become no issue.

This is even more the case  and there is even more serenity and peace when we seek the shelter of saints as told to us by the lord saint. This is the inner peace that all must have in life. The candle flame of life sheltered by the saints will grow and glow ever more steadily and calmly.

Lord Bo Tien,
the messenger of God
for the Mission of Heaven

The doctrine is in His image and His image is the doctrine

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