Anything goes in the name of God but face the law of the land

No 1568 of Living Life Series 1

Bo Tien 武天 stresses that we obey the laws of God and the laws of the land and not use God as justification to break the laws of the land

A temple somehow may attract unthinkable men to start the temple and run it. This can give the impression that God and heavenly saints do not exist. 

The obvious impression is that God or heaven saint does not exist but are the creation or the concoction of such men to impress and win over the gullible. The word will go round that men created God in such a temple. With time people wonder if God or a heavenly saint exists

Devotees children who grew up with the temple and get educated will be embarrassed to be associated with the temple and the temple will age and dwindle with those who started it and used it to justify whatever wrong like adultery, smuggling and illegal betting they did. 

They ended up glorifying themselves and gloating over their transgressions. They never feel the guilt and in fact even boasted that God and heavenly saints have whitewashed their wrongs. Their "sins" are taken away by God and saints. These become their prowess. 

Their wrongs were never wrongs but became right and proper. God and heavenly saints have taken over their misdeeds and more blessings they will have. 

God has absolved them and they even rationalised that if they undergo penance like walking over fires and bathing with salt and flower petal water, they are cleansed and will be clean. 

Bo Tien 武天 pointed that if God or a heavenly saint so wished, even criminals and unthinkable people can be co-opted to run a temple. 

He says that a temple is like a flower which can attract ants and insects to it for nectar. 

The new borne much polished style of temples appear to be much better and above board. But beneath the exterior and impressive image of well heeled institutions, there too can be moral rot with misappropriation, holy wives and money changing hands under the table. 

All these are often done thinking that they will have the favor of God. These happenings take place with no guilt. Many feel they have God behind them. With God behind them, there is no conscience and anything goes in the name of God. Anything is possible. 

Anything goes in the name of God and even if wrong is no longer wrong but right. Instead of bribery which is taboo, there is love offerings but such offerings do not end up with God or with charity but in the pockets of men. Charity even if present is only the excuse. 

Bo Tien 武天 says  all should know this. Man is man and God is God. Anything seems to go in the name of God. But Bo Tien 武天 adds that spiritual consequences may not be obvious in this life. There is the law of the land to contend with in this life. There is no escaping as such. 

Obey the laws of God and also the laws of the land. Bo Tien 武天 stresses on these two aspects. We must never use God or heavenly saint as justification to break the laws of the land.

Thinking aloud - same or different? More choices?

No 1567 of Living Life Series 1 

We go to a Chinese temple. Just believe. Do what others do. Ask no questions. Donate to temple. Sometimes it is called oil money to keep the oil lamp lighted up. This is the tradition. 

This is how to give to God or heavenly saint. But God will never need money. Only man will need money. Nevertheless, do not think too much. Go with good intentions. Have no doubt on what we do if we can. Our life is like the oil lamp. Keep it burning. Life must go on. 

Bo Tien 武天 says that the oil lamp represents us. The image if any represents the heavenly saint and what he stood for, rather than who he is. 

The big urn for jos sticks (usually at the first hall facing the frontage) represents God - the Lord of the Sky. Some children think God as the grandfather up there. Doesn't all these ring a bell? 

Very similar practices in various cultures but outwardly different. Tithes instead of oil money. Instead of image in front of devotees in the main hall, there is the pulpit. 

Instead of urn outside, there are songs and hymns with speaker systems to send praises to God above -  the father up there and the father of all men. 

Well, the differences lie in the culture or religion but still the same despite the difference. This opens up floodgate of choices. Isn't this good? More will be attracted to God with more choices.

Bo Tien 武天 says that the same principles of devotion takes different forms in different cultures, times and religions. Behind the devotion is the same underlying need to be good and pure at heart -  to have inner peace. The same inner truth is in all religions cultures and even in different time eras.

We must think aloud - same or different? More choices to widen our perspectives of life can be good for many but not to some who are not ready. 

We need more religions, more sects, and more temples of all kinds to widen our perspectives of God and spirituality. 

We can learn from all to be better at being what we are, better in the religion or sect or temple we are in, or perhaps even change religion sect or temple to be better inspired. All these are in line with what Bo Tien 武天 has been telling us.

Christmas Chinese New Year Tree is here to stay

No 1566 of Living Life Series 1

The Christmas Chinese New Year Tree is here to stay. It expresses the common goodness behind Christmas and Chinese New Year and calls to mind the oneness of goodness that underlies and is behind all cultures and religions. 

Bo Tien 武天 refers to this common goodness as the Inner Truth. 

Both Chinese New Year and Christmas celebrate life, peace and joy to one and all.

There is obvious continuity of the two and this is a reminder for all to be happy and harness blessings with each phase and month of the year. 

The past is history, the present is a present and the immediate future is reason to celebrate and be good at being better than what we are and can be. Isn't this what religions and cultures all about? Bo Tien 武天 reminds us on this. 

Always have reason to be happy and to celebrate. Be ever aware of the blessings. Let not our problems overcome us. There will always be reason to be happy and to celebrate.

The gift of Inner Truth is there for all

No 1565 of Living Life Series 1

When we are down we turn to God. When we are up, we praise God. 

Bo Tien 武天 says that problems of men are many and plentiful. 

When we are down and have many issues at hand, we cannot even handle all the small issues. With God's blessings, small issues become no issues and big issues become small issues. 

But there is the element of fate which we have the moment we are born into the present life. 

With God on our side, we can compensate for fate by having other blessings of life. 

The greatest blessing of the blessings is to know the truth of life. There is the common truth of goodness behind life regardless of our culture, religion or society. This Bo Tien 武天 says is the Inner Truth. 

We have to be good and pure at heart never mind if what around us are not good and pure. We have to have inner peace in the world in us even if we cannot find peace in world we live in. 

The gift of Inner Truth is there for all.

Keep boats afloat even if not seaworthy

No 1564 of Living Life Series 1

Do not rock the boat and cause it to sink. At least, there is the boat to carry people across the water. 

Do not judge others for doing the not so savory in the name of God. At least they are maintaining the boat and running a temple. They may not have the right doctrine or purpose. But at least they are able to do some good in a temple. 

If they are not around, are we sure that there will be better people?Most likely at best other people of the likes of them will emerge to fill the void. But there is risk that no one will keep the boat of a temple afloat. 

Bo Tien 武天 asks us to learn from life - the good and not so good aspects. 

Temples like flowers will always attract people like ants and insects to flowers for nectar. This Bo Tien 武天 wants us to know. 

Without people coming for nectar of worldly fame, name and gains, temples will be empty. These people who come to temples are the ones who actually need to be at temples. Why?

Though they are far, God and any heavenly saint do want them to be at temples so that they can be near. The far are the ones who need to be near to God and saints. The near who know better can be far from temples but yet still near to God and saints. 

Bo Tien 武天 says there is truth in life and we can learn from life to be better than what we are. Let us do so and encourage others to do so. Live and let live. Never be too self righteous and end up rocking the boat. The boat may well sink. Better to have a floating boat than a sunken boat. 

Bo Tien 武天 says that the way man thinks may not be the way of God and saints. Man is man and God is God. See not the man in God and the God in man.

God not the excuse to short change others

No 1563 of Living Life Series 1 

Claim no favored position. God not the excuse to short change others

Never make religion the excuse to do what we cannot otherwise do outside religion. Religion is not and never should be the excuse to underpay our clients or employees thinking that it is our right because God would want to bless us, never mind if in process we short change others. 

God does not only love us but everyone as well even those not in the same religion as us. Love by God is not love for selected or privileged few. Even the criminal condemned to death row will receive the same love as what we expect from God. 

We too must have the same love for life not only our own but the lives of others as well. Then we are like God or any heavenly saint and have God in us and we in God. 

Bo Tien 武天 says that we love others, care for their welfare and uplift the life of the needy not to get a standing in society for ourselves, to get the nod of notables in society or even to impress God. 

We should do so and expect no return or even blessings in process from God, man or society. But if we expect blessings and returns as though we are having transactions, there is still good but not good enough. 

No one not even God should be our excuse to short change others, thinking that we are entitled for more blessings because of our favored position with God, man or society. 

Why will God or any heavenly saints favor any selected group and have a privileged few? Knowing this, make no excuses when we want ourselves to gain and others to lose. Why cannot there be a win win situation for all? Surely this can and should be!

God not the excuse to short change others. But there are men who make use of God's name in vain and as the front or excuse to take advantage of others. Is this awful? But to many, this is not awful but in a way awesome because they are the chosen ones. This can be the case. It is matter of mindset and views. 

Many in a Chinese tradition temple may think that way. This somehow is not avoidable but has to be accepted. Those who are not in tune with this approach can learn from such approach and be wiser and better off from the learning. 

Bo Tien 武天 says there is truth in life and we can learn from life to be better than what we are. Let us do so and encourage others to do so. Live and let live. Never be too self righteous and end up rocking the boat. The boat may well sink. Better to have a floating boat than a sunken boat.

Many questions in life but no answers

No 1562 of Living Life Series 1

If there is no man, will there be religion? If there is religion, can there be no man? 

Can there be religion in heaven? Can there be religion in hell? 

Do animals who can think and act like men though not up to level of men have religions? 

The answers if any will beg further questions. There are many more questions but no proper answers and only more questions will follow.

Why must there be religions? Why must there be God? Are men more civilised because of presence of God? What if civilisation of men is by men and not by God? Will there still be actions and reactions, consequences of thoughts and actions? Will there be lawlessness if there is no belief in God? 

Why must men try only to be good only if there is God? Why must there be fear of God before one will be good? 

Some say God is about love and nothing with fear. Then why must there be heaven and hell? God or even any sane person who believes in love should not even want to even consider that there is hell below. Why wish hell on those whom we don't like? 

Why not wish them well, love them and change them so that they will not create problems and hell for others even in this life? 

Is God, hell, heaven the excuse of men to impose the need to be civil and not to create problems? 

Will problems still be there with or without God, heaven or hell? 

Must God or any heavenly saint exist and display divine might before there is love and peace among men? 

Bo Tien 武天 says that it is immaterial who God or any heavenly saint is but what matters is to know what divinity stands for. 

Be good from the bottom of the heart, be sincere and be peace loving. Have inner peace to have love for life, to accept the ups and downs, the yin and the yang, the good and far from good. 

With inner peace come what may, we are at ease even if what around us is not. 

With inner peace, we do not greedily go for worldly gains only to be let down and be in hell on earth when these are no longer with us. 

No need to ask questions and find excuses in life before we can be good and at peace. In life, there are many questions and no answers. 

Bo Tien 武天 says it is good to have doubts. Doubts arise if people do not understand. Once doubts are clarified they will understand better. 

If questions asked beg further questions and there is no ultimate answers, then such questions too are due to doubts. Once people understand why many questions on life only resulted in more questions, this too will set their mind thinking. 

What is the solution to life? The solution lies in inner peace. Inner peace is the goodness that is behind and common to the teachings of all saints and sages. Bo Tien 武天 refers to this as Inner Truth. 

Bo Tien 武天 says that the problems in life are many and plentiful. While we can help one another and other beings in heaven and even those in hell can help us, there will still be problems in life. The solution is still to have inner peace.

The Secret of Divinity is no secret to the wise

No 1561 of Living Life Series 1

The secret of Heaven
is no secret at all

The beauty of heaven is more than the beauty of Earth. 

The beauty of one country can be better than that of another. 

The beauty of concrete jungle is less than that of the real jungle but man made beauty can outshine nature at times. 

But what is more beautiful is the beauty in the hearts of those with inner peace. 

They bring with them the inner beauty anywhere they go and such beauty is far better than nature and man-made wonders. 

The beauty of the inner universe in the hearts of those at peace can even be more beautiful than the beauty of heaven and comparable to the beauty of the hearts of some of the divine inhabitants of astral heavens. 

This is the secret of divinity that is no secret at all but appears to be secret as men lost in worldly trappings see not the simplicity of true higher heaven in the hearts of men. 

This is what Bo Tien 武天 wants us to know regardless of our religion, culture or society when he says truth is simple but difficult to perceive. 

Because it is difficult to perceive though simple, men say the secret of heaven cannot be revealed. 

The secret of Divinity is no secret at all. It remains a divine secret and not within grasp by those blinded by worldly desires and trappings. They can only say that the secret of Heaven cannot be revealed.

No Paradox of Awful men and Awesome God

No 1560 of Living Life Series 1

Still green and new to religion
Read on to the end to know why

Do we go to  a temple? Do we not go to any? What is the intention of going to a temple? What is the intention of not going to a temple? 

How religious can we be by going to a temple? Are we not religious by not going to a temple? 

Why go to a temple for fellowship and neglect friends and kin on weekends when we are not working? Why not rest and give support to elderly parents? 

Why go to temple and tell the world that we need fellowship in God? Can we not have fellowship in God by being with parents, siblings and close friends on weekends? 

Who are we trying to impress by going to temple on weekends? Is God only present in a temple and not elsewhere? 

Will God not know how we think and how genuine we are in our relationship with him when we care not and instead run away from home and friends on weekends? 

Some even have the cheek to insist that they can pray for their kins, elders and friends by going to a temple? Who are they kidding? 

Isn't that rationalisation to justify what would otherwise be illogical and not so becoming? 

No wonder, Bo Tien 武天 says that life is the greatest religion. There is truth in life. 

He also says that a temple is like a flower which attracts insects and ants to it. 

Such is the awful ways of many men and they claim God is awesome. Isn't this a paradox of awful men and awesome God? 

You may think so but this does not need to be the case. At least such men are near to God in a temple though far. Bo Tien 武天 says the far can be near and the near far. 

Many who think and judge others as green and new to religion are in fact still green and new as well.

Cannot make all happy with us but can be happy with all

No 1559 of Living Life Series 1

Men instead of complementing one another may end up trying to outdo one another and to speak ill of one another. This will result in "oneself for oneself" mentality. Religion was and is still able to overcome this. 

But once any of the religions becomes more organised instead of individualised, there is less of the "God and individual man" axis and more of the "men against men" axis even within the same religion or temple. 

This is truly pathetic when men bring to a religion the ills of worldly society where even the big brother no longer sacrifices for others but will ask what can he gain if he is to work for the benefit of others. 

Alas, thankfully, it is good to know that life is always cyclical and the big brother will end up being replaced by one of the others who will become big brother. 

Small brother will take on big brother role and eventually benefit more of the others. It is not a question of what we could gain but what we could do for others. 

But when we lose and no longer have the resources to spare, what do we expect? We will like to gain rather than to give. Isn't this the nature of life and what worldliness is all about? 

Is there a way out of this? Yes, there is if we care to think calmly and be mindful - to meditate on the issue. 

What matters is that we cannot make everyone happy but we can be happy with everyone even those who try to have the upperhand over us. 

If we have peace at heart, we are able to display peace and even those whom we don't like, we no longer don't like them but are able to feel sorry for them and are able to learn from their wrong to be even better than what we are. There is spirituality in life and life is the greatest religion. 

This Bo Tien 武天 wants us to know and realise and we will be better at what we are and in whatever culture, religion or sect we are in. 

In the process, we not only light up the divine light in us but able to kindle whatever residue of divine nature or light in others. Let there be more divine light in us to bring out the divine light in others.

In simple language, we cannot make everyone happy with us but we can be happy with everyone if we have the divine light of inner peace in us. 

We will then shield ourselves from the ill-effects of worldliness in society and in religion. We will steer clear of being entangled by big brother and small brother mentality. 

Such issues there will always be but we should not be affected and we can be happy with all and perhaps make some wee bit happy with us. 

Such worldly issues Bo Tien 武天 says are referred to by ancient China as the yin and yang. We must be at peace and be happy even with yin and yang.