LIVING LIFE SERIES 1

A BO TIEN (武天) MISSION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED ON 28TH SEPT 2010 BY INNER TRUTH NETIZEN 2. THE MISSION IS TO SHOW THE WAY TO HOPE, INNER PEACE AND ULTIMATELY SALVATION FOR ALL BEINGS. THE PURPOSE IS TO SAVE SOULS. IT IS WAY BEYOND NORMAL GOOD WORK LIKE CHARITY AND WELFARE ACTIVITIES. NO ONE SHALL BE SAVED BY GOOD WORKS ALONE BUT BY MORE THAN GOOD WORK. THERE IS NEED TO BE IMBUED WITH THE BASIC DOCTRINE COMMON TO AND BEHIND ALL RELIGIONS AND SECTS. LIVE IN DOCTRINE. DOCTRINE IN LIFE IS PARAMOUNT.

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The Living Life Series is dedicated to Lord Bo Tien (武天菩萨). The doctrine is in His image. The image is the doctrine. He who sees, understands and effects the doctrine sees and knows Him. He who does not see, know and effect the doctrine sees not and knows not the saint even if the saint or His image is beside him. The far may be near and the near may be far. Let the doctrine and the saint be part of our life. The lord saint in your life can be any heavenly saint of any religion, sect or school. The doctrine of truth is behind all and this is the Inner Truth that leads all (regardless of their religious affiliation or even if none) to inner peace and heaven on earth here and now and not just in the after life. The ideal worship and devotion is to know and effect the doctrine of God and the saints. The best gospel is the gospel of life. We learn from our life and the lives of others. The true temple is the world we live in. The sky is the roof of the temple and religions and sects are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven are in the temple. Needless to say that all the saints we know are in this temple. Ji Gong Posat too is no exception. The whole wide world and web is the temple and must be regarded as a sacred place --- a temple for living and learning. It is more important that everyone that counts plays a role in this universal temple if due focus is to be given to the Mission of Heaven. Men must not be distracted by the agenda of men and end up serving the mission of man. That would be a far cry from the Mission of Heaven. We worship God and saints, not man however good that man may be. There should be no hero worshiping or idolizing of man whether he is a charismatic pastor, priest, monk, medium or lay leader. We don't even idol worship the image of any saint but reflect on what the image stands for. - the doctrine in the image. Omitofo 阿弥陀佛!.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

We need yin and yang even for a spiritual organisation

No 318 of Living Life Series 1

In any organisation, there should not be any need to get rid of one or more persons because of the alleged devils in them when they are likely good in other ways.

There is no need to replace them with others who later too prove to be devils in their own ways though they too have good as well.

All must co exist, be allowed to do their bits and they must balance one another like yin and yang.

There is need for mutual respect and to know everyone can contribute in their respectve ways. Differences need not get into the way.

Differences need not be impediments to healthy relationships so long as respect is there for each person's worth and everyone is worthy somewhat to the organisation.

There is no need for a man to lord over other men for that would be somewhat uncouth and lowly like wild animals in a pack with alpha leader and pecking orders.

All have their individual places in the eyes of God and saints but they may be different and everyone is unique person in his own way with yin and yang aspects - range of attributes ranging from strong to weak.

To have that mutual respect there must be precepts to govern behaviour and for followers of Lord Bo Tien, there are precepts as well. Do go to The Precepts (left click your computer mouse)

Precepts if broken affect not God and saints but the ones who cannot keep them.

One notable precept is the precept to respect elders and parents even if they may not be so right in certain aspects. If there be respect especially for elders, there will be bonding and fraternal fellowship. All are family after all.

Then even amongst same or similar age groups, there will be respect for one another's feelings and views.

The differences will always be there but by being tolerant, patient, accommodating and benevolent for differences and perceived wrongs, there will not be ill-will but good-will and cheers amongst men. Won't that be nice?

We do need yin and yang even for a spiritual organisation or a temple. There must be balance and equilibrium amongst various interests groups and amongst people with contrasting human or personal agenda. This is as depicted by the feet of Lord Bo Tien balancing and atop the yin and yang of life.

There is much to learn from the different approaches and levels of understanding. We learn from the strengths and shortcomings of different people in say a temple and can end up wiser from the learning. The ability to cope with opposing stands is in itself a learning opportunity. We learn how to accept, accommodate and to understand differences. Life and contrasting nature of men are part of the gospel of life. All these the lord saint said in his messages from before 1974 to 1984 through late Bro Philip

Lord Bo Tien - Doctrine in His image and image is the doctrine

Ba Gua (Pakua)

In 1984 message, Lord Bo Tien pointed out to the Taoist Octagon or Pakua, which showed two fish-like symbols the yin and the yang. Both must exist and if there was only one, then there will be no balance and peace. Man must seek the inner peace through balance of yin and yang. A temple or organisation must find balance in the yin and yang elements of people that constitute the temple. Only then will there be peace and harmony.

Read (by clicking mouse) article 315 dated 28th Oct 2011 -Revisit of 1984 message of Lord Bo Tien

Also read Damnation is not the way of God and saints

The Pakua (Ba Gua) takes centre stage
at shrine hall of Bo Tien Temple

The need for yin and yang elements of people in a temple is depicted by the yin and yang dragons below. They support the pearl. The pearl is the doctrine, the inner truth common to and underlying all religions. It is lighted up like a torch or flame as the doctrine lights up the life of beings, more so those in a temple or spiritual organisation.

"He who know the doctrine knows the saint and he who does not will not know the saint even if the image of the lord saint is there at the temple 365 days in a year." This was said by the emissary of Lord Bo Tien in a few of the lord saint's messages. Thus He said that the "far may be near and the near may be far". What matters is the doctrine and how to live in the doctrine and be the embodiment of the doctrine

Lest you forget

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. Mere mention of a 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 to be idolised. Do not put him on the pedestal and make a monster out of him.

MAY ALL BE WELL AND HAPPY

May all be well and happy. May they have peace. May our departed friends and kins be well, happy and have divine peace. The main writer wishes the best for all for those near and far. Our kins may be far when they had passed on to better lives but they are near though far. He remembers and wishes his parents Mr Siow Soo Koh and Mdm Tay Hung Siang, his uncles and aunties like Mr Tay Koon Huay, his cousins like Mr Tay Chong Sim and his friends like Mr Philip Png well and have abundance of life. May they be rich in spirit for without such ancestors, there will be no posterity - no us and no you and me. They have blessed us and we must blessed them in return forever and ever.