Let there be no 'prophets' of doom and gloom

Learning Point No 273

In the inaugural message, Lord Bo Tien said, "Remember though that every prophet considers the times, the circumstances and the prevailing mentality of the people before his public sermons. he therefore preaches doctrines that are best suited to such conditions." The Inaugural Message

During the lifetimes of the prophets, it was the social problems where they were that often decided how they the prophets delivered their doctrines.

 

The over dominance of the Roman Empire and the over bearing nature of Jewish culture made it difficult for Lord Jesus to speak forth views that were not according to the over all mainstream and the flow. He had an uphill task and had to go against the flow.

 

His human family were not anywhere near him when he started his ministry and sermons. Strong words were used that He was the Son of God and no one then would enter Heaven if they did not depart from the norms of that era and time. All these would be needed to drive home the point and to break psychological barriers then to take on beliefs that were otherwise considered really that unthinkable.

 

There were fears in the men then and Lord Jesus had to speak more forcefully and strongly to break them from the prevailing fears and the oppression. Lord Jesus succeeded. In reality he was a gentle  and divine person ever  empathic and trying his best to be compassionate.  

 

He had no ill will towards those who held the predominant beliefs then and which he wanted the people then not to go along. When he spoke out against the wrong practices and beliefs, he had to be forceful so as to help the people then to overcome the fear of oppression and dominance.

 

He feared not the authorities but did not openly oppose them. In fact, he said that men should give to Caesar what was due to Caesar and to God what was due to God. He had done well then and beyond. Indeed too, Jesus  is a Messiah for many a modern man in 2012 to let them be liberated from fear.

 

But unlike the men during his lifetime on earth who were oppressed and subdued, the men in Christ in 2012 were not oppressed or dominated. On the contrary, they are pervading, respectable and influential as well as much loved. They carry the torch that is very bright and over powering to get the attention of non-believers.

 

They have been effective and able to win over many men but at the same time, their messages do tend to be seemingly overpowering to point of creating fear for non believers and fear is considered good and needful to win more to believe in the Lord Jesus. This approach in year 2012 is based on  good intentions but to some, it may be somewhat like the approach of gloom and doom.

The Buddhists in modern times too have at times over stress the need to give up the worldly life and the body so that men may reach enlightenment. Prince Gautama in his life  was appalled by the great suffering of the commoners outside his palace - many dying on the street, many in dire ill-health.

 

This scenario is not as bad now and in fact men in the year 2012 are much better off. But to preach message of doom and gloom that men must give up the worldly life and forgo the bodily and worldly needs or face suffering is a bit odd and inappropriate, more like the gross ascetism in the lifetime of the Buddha.

 

The message that all are suffering and to rid themselves of the suffering life as man, all must be monks or renounce all vestiges of worldly living to be saved is bordering on gloom and doom when in reality men in 2012 are many fold better off than in the times of Guatama.

 

Men of religion must consider the times and not package and deliver the messages of their religions in the same way as during the days of their founders or prophets, otherwise they may give the impression that they are prophets of doom and gloom, and end up tarnishing the divine intention of their founders.

 

Buddha in Hell for a purpose

Learning Point No 272

 

The Great Gautama Buddha is one of the many enlightened ones who have benefited many beings not only human beings with his doctrine but beings in all realms, even those in Heaven.

Indeed it is a compliment to his followers when the lucky few who have died and returned from death gave testimony that they saw Buddha in Hell amongst the fires of Hell.

Why is He there? Has He done wrong or sinned?

He is there because there is the need to save beings who have yet to be enlightened and whose spirits or souls are burning with the fire of ill will, greed and ignorance. (Incidentally, as a buddha, He can be at more than one place at anyone time. You can say that he is omnipresent.)

Even Lord Bo Tien will not hesitate to manifest in Hell in addition to other realms to save or at least mitigate the sufferings of those in Hell so that the fires of attachment, false views and anger in them may be doused and they be liberated from the fires of Hell within and without them. Much depends on the ability of beings to make good. Buddhas and saints provide the initial push.

Thus the lord saint Lord Bo Tien did say in 1975 at Sitiawan that the far may still be near and those far from God and the saints (the pure ones)  too are indeed near and dear to divinity. They are never separated from God and saints at all times. (Lord Bo Tien's 1975 Anniversary Message  and The Three Sitiawan Pointers )

In fact, dear readers,  they are the ones who are most lost and need the most help and guidance. Even Jesus will not condemn or damn them but will be with them if they request for He said, "Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door will be opened..." This is the manifestation of divine benevolence.

Only men who think they are the highly worthy ones may at times damn them to beyond salvation. In the name of God, these men adopt the very high moral ground and say the souls of those who have erred stay put in hell forever and ever --- and cannot hope to be salvaged. God and saints never said that but some men amongst us would do so. How sad can that be?

God will still forgive them for they know not what they do or say. God will help them to be more open and loving, more so to those who are more lost, especially those in hell on earth or Hell below.  

For now, they seem arrogant and are like insects that come to the flower (parable by Lord Bo Tien in 1984 - Historical version of 1984 birthday eve message of Lord Bo Tien Chor Choo at Philip's residence). Having secured the divine nectar, they take on the mantle of divinity and pass judgement on behalf of God. They forget that men should not judge lest they too be judged. You may say they are bigoted

Pray for them to mend their ways and all will be more blessed. Forgive them and God and saints will be filled with admiration for you. For you would be like Buddha and saints who even manifest in Hell to save the otherwise difficult to save.

God and saints do not give up with bigoted men but extend compassion and benevolence to them that they may mend and make good. In a way, they are the prodigal sons who want to go their way and not go with God's way.

Let there be peace within

Learning Point No 271

The lord saint Lord Bo Tien said that the beauty and joy we have in this world is imperfect, like the flower which is beautiful but the parts that make it may not. This is like all of nature. That of nature is not satisfactory and may bring pain to those who are not cultivated in doctrine The truth is that one must be at peace, come what may. Do what need to do and not give up for we are part of the world. Leave the rest to God and saints. Do keep the peace within so as to better weather the ups and downs of life, the yin and the yang. Then we have the God in us and be with God always. We will be like the lotus amidst the mud and water of life.

Do not join in the squabbles and mumbles of society but do not deny that there are such. Be at peace like the lotus beautiful and serene amidst the mud and without the mud of life, how can we learn to be at peace? You can be the beacon of serenity to move others to do likewise. This dear friends is the way to change this world so all may one day be saved and be with God and saints above.

There too will up the perpetual mumble and rumble even in a mission related temple of the lord or in any church or temple of any sect or faith. For the many who come are those in want and cannot be content with what they can have out there and do come to appease their wants in a temple or house of God and saints. They are like the mud and water.  From them, you can learn to grow and glow in serenity like the lotus amidst the mud.

Let not our hearts race or miss a beat, be it in happiness or in sorrow. Let our hearts be calm and steady come what may.  Don't wait to rush and rush to wait. Don't do things in haste but at good pace. Neither try to do more than we can, nor laze around and wait till kingdom come.

Thus we will neither need to huff and puff nor moan and groan. Adrenaline rush is not to be the norm and tardiness too is not to be our habit in life. Then surely, our hearts will be at peace and we are on the way to be with God and saints. There is no place for brawls, scowls and howls when peace resides in our hearts.

 

Men and not God and saints create religions

Learning Point No 270

The prophets of religions never create religions. They merely gave the Word and the Word is the doctrine of how to be good enough in life to be drawn towards God and saints. They present the doctrine in way most suitable and applicable to the times.

 

If these are presented in same way over the centuries, this would be inappropriate and not impactful and perhaps even somewhat not rational to the changing times and context (eg the concept that life is suffering when many in affluent West are having apparent obvious material plenty for the year 2012 though having economic recession as well)

 

No prophet has ever said that they are starting a religion and that those who believe in God and saints through them are the members of that religion. It is men who draw the line and create religions, not the prophets.

 

They inject the religious thought in the culture and traditions of men and once woven, the practices would appeal and draw men closer to one another and to belong as a group. This then became religion but over time, culture and traditions must evolve with that of society.

 

The religion that we know today in the name of a prophet is very different in ways and emphasis from the days of the founder.

 

Buddha never said that he is starting what is known as Buddhism and never did he say that there will be sects of people who believe in what he said. Religions are man made but doctrine is the same ever always though people often could only recognise the packaging and not the basic truth that often is buried and perhaps even sort of alienated by the packaging which is the religion of the day.

 

Effectively men and not God and saints create religions. If the founders are alive today, they would be surprised that what they seeded and started have grown to become the many and varied institutions they never dreamt off. This need not be not good but can be good.

 

This is the reason why Lord Bo Tien had to be tasked with the mission to rekindle the basic religious thought and enable men to dig into the religions of the day to arrive at the message of the founders. He is not amongst us to start a new religion or sect. (The Inaugural Message)

 

Religions have become archaeological centres or finds for men to dig into  and investigate so as to arrive at the inner truth behind them that were buried over the centuries.  

 

But do remember that religions and sects will always evolve with times and change to fit the social context. Otherwise, religions would be alienated from people and men will have less opportunities to be God centric. But once they are in religions, whether they make it or not is a different matter.

Whilst culture is needed to make a religion that more people orientated, culture can be the very reason men of religion do not grasp the simple and plain truth of God because men though are attracted by culture, they are also lost in culture and distracted by culture to be able to see the simplicity of truth that the founder of their religion wants them to grasp, not just know...

Men and not God and saints create religions. What that binds them and bond them is the ever changing culture of religion but to be saved, they need to go beyond culture and men.

Even more is required than belief and faith in God from and based on the perspectives of their fellow men. They should not just go with the bidding and pervasive opinions of fellow men but must be able to go beyond and have oneness with God and saints. For that, fellow men are not part of the equation other than at initial levels.
 

Related post in Series 1
When will men wake up and learn?




 

Twilight glow or gloom is up to us.

Learning Point No 269

When men reach their twilight years, the best they can have is the peace of life and they view worldly matters differently from before. They are more macroscopic than microscopic in approach. In a way and on the balance of things, they would have done well enough to deserve the twilight of life. Many others who were less fortunate had their lives snubbed off before twilight.

The twilight years often cast a yellow glow often either gloomy yellow, sort of dirty yellow or jaundice, to the many who do not grow the divine light in them, or a resplendent glow of gold to those who have and who can bask in the golden years.

The latter must however continue to grow and glow the golden wisdom to be ever closer to a better life to come. The wisdom has to do with insight that the best of life and nature is still not perfect compared to that in Heaven, and this provides the platform for the awakening to the eternal beauty of God and saints in life.

Twilight glow or gloom is up to us. The glow that we can nurture in life is a spiritual one and this is more so in twilight years.

The opening paragraph of the 1983 message of Lord Bo Tien is worth reflecting on. "The saint said that human beings did not create Heaven. Take a flower, it can  be beautiful on the exterior. However, the internal parts of the flower may not be beautiful. Hence Nature's creations such as this flower are not perfect. What is created by nature is also not static and changes could take place." Historical version of the 1983 message of Lord Bo Tien ...

 

 

 

The divine nectar is not just for the goody two shoes

Learning Point No 268

Let us refer to a paragraph from the year 1984 anniversary day message of Lord Bo Tien. "He says that His descent tonight is like representing that of a flower because of its purity and as it is created by nature. A beautiful flower is created by nature and ants will break on the flower for its nicer nectar for food and not because of the wrong doing of the flower. This is nature's way of survival and existence." Historical version of 1984 birthday eve message of Lord Bo Tien...

  

Lord Bo Tien like any heavenly saint will not blame men from coming to his temple for nectar for personal gains as this is to be expected of all men and comes naturally to all men. 

 

This is nature's way of survival and existence, of which all men are part of. This enables a heavenly saint to have such men around him, men who otherwise have no affinity or liking for doctrine, let alone want to learn, know and practise the doctrine (tou-li). 

 

If after having worldly gains as result of divine nectar, the doctrine still makes no impact on them, the saint should not be blamed for this. On the contrary, we should realise the benevolence of the saint for giving blessings without strings attached but out of goodwill for all beings.

 

The divine nectar dear readers is not for the goody two shoes but for all. Therefore do not be taken aback if there are wolves in sheeps clothings  in a temple or church.

 

They can even take on roles of leaders and be pastors or monks. Though, they have done wrong, the good that they have done would never be possible if they have not been the pastor or monks.

 

But of course, God and saints would have wished they fared better. God and saints do not seem to pass judgement on them. These men have done wrong but so have they done right in other ways.

 

Judge not lest ye be judged. Didn't the lord Jesus Christ said that. The fallacy of men often is to be myopic and to see things from the high moral ground and to say that all good men however good are corrupt and bring them to their knees.

 

If this is carried too far and if men are blinded by their egos and adopt the high moral ground, lo and behold they see not the dust in their eyes but only the dust in others eyes. Isn't this a well known biblical quote attributed to Lord Jesus.

 

The men in the street of ethnic Chinese cultural background would say that if we point one finger at others, at least three fingers will point back at ourselves. The divine nectar is not just for the goody two shoes.

 

In fact, the goody two shoes do not exist. All are not perfect and have erred in some way and all have fallen short of the glory of God and saints.

 

If divinity are like those who adopt the high moral ground and pass judgement on the weakness of otherwise good men, all will not be worthy of Heaven and all will be destined for Hell.

 

 

 

Related posts in Series 1 and 2
When will men wake up and learn?
Men and not God and saints create religions

 

The Divine Nectar is the Panacea of Life

Learning Point No 267

We can make some spiritual progress but like it or not, we have long way to go to be a perfect one. Trying to rush matters will not help and can result in a fall of spiritual standards or worse still the spiralling into the abyss of degradation.

 

If we have to walk with a crutch, do not do so without one. For some the crutch can be a talisman, for others a win in 4 D or lottery, or perhaps some social advantage, much to the chagrin of the elders or pioneers of a temple.

 

The elders or the holier than thou may scorn at them but the reality is that nectar helps many to make it better in the non-spiritual world and this nectar therefore is the pull for many to go closer to the flower of divinity and one day be imbued with doctrine to be pure and one with divinity.

 

Many are like insects coming to a flower. This is at least better than being totally astrayed and lost in the wilderness of life.  (Refer to the third last paragraph of Historical version of 1984 birthday eve message of  Lord Bo Tien... )

 

We should not have one too many sacred cows in our approach to life, be it spiritual or mundane. Otherwise, we will not have access to God's blessings in the many ways, religions and sects.

 

This is one aspect of the Four Pillar Doctrine of the lord saint that religions in all cardinal directions are one in God though different in their respective ways.

 

The panacea for the ups and downs, the storms of life often is the proximity of a temple or church. The temple or church is invariably an outlet or refuge even for the many who are remotely spiritually inclined. There will always be one temple or church in any remote vicinity of the world of man.

 

Saints and prophets do not require the precedence or prerequisite for men to know the doctrine before men can worship or believe in them. Men only need to believe that the saints can be blessings to them. 

 

Often the saints will always shower their unconditional love and compassion for men and are benevolent to even those who have strayed from the straight path in life. They do not set any preconditions  and will liven up the lives of men by providing blessings to shine up their life, be it in health, wealth, family or job.

 

These have nothing to do with doctrine affinity and grasp but have to do with earthly comforts of men. For without comforts as starting point, how can there be progress.

 

Everything starts from love for life and to kick start this, there must be less strife in life. The saints provide the blessings of mundane nature and these may be considered divine nectar which enhances the social milieu of life by nourishing, enriching and kick starting the lives of men.

 

But how men progress from this point is decided by the men themselves, whether they go the shorter route or go round in circles. The saints can only hope that the divine nectar can be catalyst for awakening in the lives of these men - the very awakening to know and grow the doctrine in them so that they can be pure and close to God and saints.

 

Men are given not only one chance but many. If somehow, they fail to make good, they will face the consequences but are not denied future nectar if they can bend and mend. This is the love, compassion and benevolence of the saints.

 

The divine nectar is the panacea of life in both mundane and spiritual. It provides the kick start for men to grow and glow in worldly life and for the eventual saving of their souls. The saints cannot live the lives of men and men have to live their lives with the shelter and blessings of God and saints.

 

The manifestations of the divine nectar are more obvious in newcomers and devotees but not that more obvious in disciples of saints like Lord Bo Tien. The disciples should know better and should be ever less dependent.

 

They have to be that  more independent as they have been equipped with God knowledge - the divine doctrine. They have to live in doctrine and harness the joys and benefits of practising doctrine.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Related posts in Series 1 and 2
When will men wake up and learn?
Men and not God and saints create religions



 

Goodness must go in a circle

Learning Point No 266

 

 

 
 

 

All things in life comes to a full circle. This applies too to goodness.

 

Do good but expect not to have goodness returned to you.

 

The divine saints bless us but they do not ask for returns for the good they bestow us. Otherwise, they would not be saints.

 

But this does not stop us from extending the goodness of life to others and the divine saints would smile with approval.  

 

Like the divine saints, we should not expect goodness to be returned to us by the recipients of our goodness.

 

Surely for example, when we give money to our kin, we do not expect repayment with or without interests. Goodness to others, more so to kin or friend should not  be a financial transaction. This way they will treasure us more.

 

Thus when God and saints bless us, is there the need to pay tithes to the church or temple? Tithes do not end up with God and saints but end up directly or otherwise in the pockets of  the church, temple and men. 

 

But goodness must flow on and on. God bless us and let us bless others. When this goes on and on, the goodness will benefit more and the sages say goodness must go in a circle, like the water cycle in nature.

 

Nature or the manifestation of divinity in the material world will always be cyclical. Goodness too is cyclical and and it never is a bargain or a barter.

 

We do not bargain or barter trade with God. Like God, we too should give goodness to others in the spirit of the circle of goodness. The circle of goodness must flow on and on. We just want to be good  in doing good. We want to be part of and contribute to the circle of goodness.

Goodness must go in a circle. This has been stressed by saints.  Inner truth netizen is grateful to Ji Gong the Living Buddha for driving home the message that goodness must go on and on in a perpectual circle. 

Ji Gong Posat can bless us but can we or should we think of blessing him in return? Certainly the answer is 'No'.  

But do promote the circle of goodness, so that goodness will multiply and we will have the endless eternal circle of goodness. Then God and saints will smile at us and bless us more.

They will make sure we do not lose out but please be wise and have yin yang balance. Do not give out till you have none for yourself.

The  capacity for goodness is finite and vary from individual to individual. Goodness must be a joy and we must not overdo or indulge to point that it becomes a kill joy.

But do do as much as you can but at comfortable pace. The capacity for good in saints is many fold more than that of men. They are far more busy unlike men who are already up to their neck trying to be good to themselves, their kin and friends.

They cater to the myriads and they do not have easy time but they are saints after all. They may be busy but are at peace. Can we be like them and be at peace in doing good and in perpetuating the circle of goodness?

 

 The Bagua

 

The Bagua is symbolic of the endless circle of goodness. Yin and yang must harmonise. Goodness for self must harmonise with goodness for others.

 

Remember we cannot reach out to everyone in the whole wide world but we can do our finite part and be content with being part of the world of goodness.  

 

It must be stressed however that we do not neglect or deny self. Goodness must start with self and with those we have affinity or who happen to come our way.

 

There must be balance, otherwise the circle of goodness will not harmonise. Let us be part of the circle of goodness that is depicted by the Bagua with its two fish-like symbols forming and completing the circle of yin and yang.

It must include those who are in the dumps of life who have gone wayward. Goodness by others, be they saints or other men, will give them a chance to make good.

This is the very benevolence that God and saints bestow on men and mind you most men have gone wayward in some way or other, even men in a church or temple who are supposed to lead the flock.

So the next time you find your temple or church leaders unbecoming and having shady transactions, reflect on how you can change them, and help them but not make them worse. Then you can count yourself  benevolent like the saints and have seats in Heaven reserved for you beside the thrones of the saints.

Ji Gong too is well known for his benevolence for those who have erred and his benevolence helps them to mend and make good.

Goodness must go in a circle for goodness is eternal. Goodness is of God and saints - the eternal quest of the gods above and amongst men and beings below.

Even King Yama knows that and helps the newly departed at hell gate to think of any goodness in their latest life so that they need not be in Hell or their sojourn in Hell will be more finite.

He is 'Yam Lo Wan' to the Chinese. Tibetans honour him as a bodhisattva or saint. This you have to believe and agree. He is part of the circle of goodness that pervades all realms, hell included.

Goodness can be in many forms but the ultimate good is the gift of doctrine for doctrine nourishes the soul and practise of this doctrine saves the soul.

Thus the Mission of Heaven is the doctrine mission of which Lord Bo Tien is a messenger that the same doctrine is behind all religions and the same one God is behind all.

This sort of round up and complete our awareness of the circle of goodness. Goodness must go on and on in an eternal circle.
 

 

 

When is a temple of man going to be temple of God?

Learning Point No 265

Lord Bo Tien is the messenger of God for the Four Pillar Doctrine. He is not confined to a religion, sect or temple. He is everywhere and His mission is beyond any religion, sect or temple of man. 

There is no issue of a man returning to a temple of man so as to be with Him and His Mission.

There is no issue of  a disciple returning to the temple in His name when that man has not left the lord saint or His mission.

The sky or Heaven is the roof of His temple and religions are the pillars of the temple.

Question instead is when is any temple of man going to return to be temple of God and saints if it is no longer one.

Any strong wind of social agenda and dominance will blow good strong persons away from a temple of God and that temple ends up becoming temple of man when others not in the same frequency are not welcome.

But the lord saint said that a strong wind will not blow forever and will stop one day, the temple of man will return to be temple of God and then good men will return. 

This was alluded to in the 1984 message of Lord Bo Tien. Historical version of 1984 birthday eve message of Lord Bo Tien Chor Choo at Philip's residence... 

  

"Human beings will be human beings and even if he (human being) is very strong with his legs planted firmly on the ground, he will have to cling on to a big tree to prevent from being blown away. When there is a very strong wind, even a group of very strong persons will have to disperse. But this very strong wind will have to stop one day and the people will return."

 





 

Do let God sense prevail.

Learning Point No 264

Insects come to a flower for nectar and not for the beauty of the flower. Lord Bo Tien did say this but many hear not and see not what the lord saint had said.

Men come to God for what they want from God and few come for the beauty of God and His divine doctrine.

Men want God and saints to hear what they have to say and not listen to what God and saints have to say. Men, more so in a temple of the lord saint, often make the mistake of wanting God and saints to follow their thinking instead of men following the thinking (tou-li) of God and saints.

Many do follow but only in part when they change the thinking (tou-li) of God to ensure their own personal agenda are met. This may be as bad as not following as the effect is the same - such men want their own thinking or tou-li to replace that of God. (Do refer to the preface to Historical version of the 1980 anniversary message of Lord Bo Tien)

Let us listen to God and saints and not want them to listen to us. Let the men of the mission of Lord Bo Tien on behalf of God listen to the Word in His  messages and not put the Word aside and replace His Word with their own word. 

 

For the historical versions of the messages or the Word of Lord Bo Tien, go to http://www.livinglifeseries5.blogspot.com

Men often want to hear their own word and not the Word of the lord. This is ridiculous but what to do. Men are always men after all. They can even edit and revise the Word or worse still replace the Word with their own. Thus the messages and doctrine will be diluted and even lost by men.

Isn't this sad? For goodness sake, do let God sense prevail.

But Heaven will not leave men to wallow in their habitual mistake of not letting God sense prevail. Heaven will always prevail and if heaven wants to, even the doctrine edited away and siphoned off by men will be resurfaced for the good of the many.

No wonder the lord saint at the end of 1983 anniversary message said that " Sam Chong had lost part of the Buddha's Dharma in the river and the lost parts can be recovered If Heaven wanted these to be recovered." Historical version of the 1983 message of Lord Bo Tien ...

It is Heaven's will that the lost parts of the messages of Lord Bo Tien be recovered and had it not been for Chong Sim penning his thoughts and compiling the messages he obtained from Peter Kong in his book My Interpretation of LORD BO TIEN'S MESSAGES in the painful weeks before he passed away from terminal illness, they would have been lost forever.
 

In 1984, the lord saint did say that "water from the upper source of a stream is pure and clear. When it reaches mid-way of its course , the water will be polluted by many users. If we want pure and clear water, then we have to go to the upper, then we have to go to the upper source of the stream to get it." Thus for better versions of the messages of Lord Bo Tien, we need to go to the  upper source which is the historical versions preserved by the late Senior Brother Tay Chong Sim. (For details, go to  Historical version of 1984 birthday eve message of Lord Bo Tien Chor Choo at Philip's residence...)

 

 

 

 

What need you to care with regards to care?

Learning Point No 263

Do take care of yourself but not at expense of others. In furthering your own ends, please do not end up not only being uncaring towards others but also harming them.

 

At the other extreme, taking care of others to point of neglecting or not caring for yourself is not good and in a way counterproductive and a denial of your own life interests.

 

There is need for wisdom to find that balance and to ensure that goodness prevail in all aspects.

 

Otherwise, the more ignorant too can help others but the difference is that they lack wisdom and may end up being manipulated by others, or worse still end up fanning the negative characteristics of others.

 

There is need for purity as well as wisdom. Do not give up on others especially a close one just because he or she is a liability and no more an advantage to you.

 

Create an advantageous social and life milieu for him or her so that he or she has less or better still no handicap, so that he or she can have more of life, move on in life and be happy.

 

But to do so you must take care of yourself and improve your lot, your resources and capacity** to care not only for yourself but for others,* more so your close ones.

 

These are all you need to care with regards to care. The sages of old said that only then will there be peace in life. There is then what they refer to as yin and yang balance that not only lead to peace in life but to the divine peace of spirit and ultimate enlightenment. 

 

 
 

 

 *The others cannot be everyone but only those who have affinity and proximity with you.

**One bad habit to avoid is sluggishness what Buddha referred to as sloth and torpor

 

The better of the lot too have erred and must wake up

Learning Point No 262

In any temple or church, often there are some who understand the doctrine better and are more on the path of God and saints. But often they are in the minority compared to those who are attracted to the temple, many of whom come like insects to a flower. But it is alright for the many who do not know as much to come for they could learn.

 

Unfortunately before they could crawl, they want to walk and they will err and fall, leading to the temple faltering in pursuit of doctrine and they end up veering towards less wholesome ends such as social agenda and even doing good charitable ends not as stepping stone to more doctrinal grasp, understanding and practice but as means instead to get glory and acclaim by society at large. They end up ignoring doctrine and leaving doctrines in the archives.

 

Thus the few who know better and practice better the doctrine may be cheesed off and tend to critisize them and more often than not they end up flabergasted and leave them to do things according to their fancies. This certainly is not good.

 

In Historical version of the 1983 message of Lord Bo Tien ... , Lord Bo Tien said that both the few who know better and the many who do know less are falling short of the expectations of God and saints. Often they could not see eye to eye and end up in blows --- defintely then not practising His doctrine.

The doctrine is wasted on all and they might as well return the doctrine to Heaven. He said thus.

 

"He then chose the 1st and 15th day of the month to perform the burning of His Doctrine in front of 49 temples. He then directed all followers, whether they are right or wrong, to take three joss sticks and pray to Heaven to ask for forgiveness."

Instead of squabbling and being antagonistic to those who know less, those who know more must be compassionate and be nice and try to convince and win over the many more who know or practise little or less. They may find that what they say may fall on deaf ears but they must adopt the correct doctrinal approach and convince those who know little or less and who often are in the majority and who decide and make the temple or church embark on the wrong way and directions.

 

The lord saint in 1983 said of the need for his temple to set example for other temples to follow and has the following advice for those who know better that they should neither be adversarial nor leave alone those who know less. Instead they should lead and advise them to understand the doctrine.

  

He said that His teaching was not made to complicate His followers. He repeated that a human being should not judge or criticise another human being but to lead or advise him or her to understand the Temple's Doctrine. He said that we must show a good example to other people. 

All temples and churches should set worthwhile examples by making sure that the few who know better not leave or find fault with the prevailing many who know less and who are managing the place. The better of the lot too have erred and there is need for those who know more to wake up and make good.

Be it for those who know more or know less of doctrine, what is important said Lord Bo Tien is the heart. In the 1983 message, He emphasized that the followers must keep their hearts pure at all times.

Why is this most important in life and spiritual pursuit ? Let us try to understand.

If the heart is pure, even for those who know less or little of doctrine, all will turn out well in time to come. They will learn and will wake up earlier and make good.

This applies too to those who know more of the doctrine. Even though knowing more but not practising and not being pure at heart, they may end up not doing right and far from God and saints.

We must be like Sam Chong who is pure at heart and nothing can stop him from spiritual success, not even lack of wisdom and knowledge of doctrine. In 1983 message after touching on need for the heart to be pure to begin with, Lord Bo Tien said that for a temple to succed in mission to save souls, all must be like Sam Chong who with only a pure heart and sincerity was able to succeed.

The following sentence from 1983 message is worth reflecting on. "He then illustrated that Sam Chong (with pure heart and sincerity) went all the way to the West to obtain Buddha's Dharma for enlightenment of people (and succeeded in his mission)."  

 

Social agenda overriding doctrine focus will cause mission to falter

Learning Point No 261

The following sentences are taken from Historical version of Bo Tien Chor Choo's 1978 Anniversary Message...

 

In another illustration, He (Lord Bo Tien) likened His task as a plant where its stems were attacked or infested by pests. Constant nurturing and watering of the diseased plant would bring forth new shoots and new life to the plant. In the same way, if the stems of the plant were completely destroyed by the pests, but the roots still remained intact, a new plant would emerge, if there was constantly sufficient rainwater to nurture the roots.

   

The plant refers to the Mission to spread the Doctrine - Four Pillar Doctrine that all religions in the four cardinal directions are the pillars of the universal temple of God with the sky or Heaven as the roof.

 

All reach out to men in their own ways and with their own rules and teachings to bring men to God. Though the conventional teachings may appear different, the basic or inner truth is still the same - to save souls and bring them to God in ways more than one.  

 

In the 1978 message, it is stated thus. LORD BO TIEN said that His Image, His Doctrine of Four Pillars and His shrine would spread far and wide.

 

The mission machinery be it a mission related temple or the mission movement may be so very overwhelmed or bogged down by human problems due to pursuit of social or personal agenda and the lack of interest, grasp and conviction of doctrine. If these grow and dominate, they will cause the plant (temple / mission movement) to be diseased.

 

The pests that cause the disease are the social or personal agenda and the absence of doctrine focus. 

 

Then there must be conscientious attempt to rid off the pests and nurture the  diseased plant (temple or movement) to bring forth healthy shoots - people who are reborn to doctrine understanding and mission.

 

The latter can be the same people reborn to doctrine or new people who are doctrine inclined. 

 

However in worse scenario despite attempts to do so, the temple or movement is beyond hope, it (the stems) will be destroyed.

 

But so long as the pioneers and significant others had done their part for pushing the doctrine mission, the roots will still be intact and a new plant of a temple or mission movement will emerge.

 

Social agenda overriding doctrine focus will cause doctrine mission of the lord saint to falter.


 

 

 

 

Will newer people be better at the mission job?

Learning Point No 260





In 1978 message Lord Bo Tien illustrated His task as a contractor who was entrusted with a building project. No matter rain or shine, the contractor had to employ workers to complete the building. If the workers failed to cooperate with him or boycotted him, he had to keep on employing new workers to do the job until the whole building project was completed. Historical version of Bo Tien Chor Choo's 1978 Anniversary Message...

 

Thus in a mission related temple of the lord saint, if there is change of management with change in style, this may indicate that the new management with new workers will be the one to complete the mission but the mission is not just charity in worldly sense, the mission is to spread the doctrine of the Four Pillars far and wide and if they can do so then they are the ones to do the job of the mission but if not then they too will have to give way to another group of workers.  

 

Will newer people be better at the job? One cannot be sure if the existing lot is still at the job, has indeed already done a good job and can do better (if not the best) with time.

We must reflect on what the lord saint said with regards to the mission and why it has to do with doctrine and not just charity.

Lord Bo Tien did say at the end of 1978 message that the Aged Home was a good charitable deed, which they had accomplished and it was in line with His wish to have it built. Now that the Aged Home had been established, it was time to put forward His Doctrine. He said, "Good deeds are in many forms." At the present place (Woodlands Singapore), it was known that every effort put in had brought forth fruits for all to see and yet many are ignorant of His Doctrine.
Historical version of Bo Tien Chor Choo's 1978 Anniversary Message...

 

Did the lord saint decree that his image be burnt if there is no doctrine mission?

Learning Point No 259
Reference Historical version of Bo Tien Chor Choo's 1978 Anniversary Message...

 

 

Book Lord Bo Tien's Guidance
published by Bo Tien Temple
Singapore in year 2000

On page 25 of the book Lord Bo Tien's Guidance published by Bo Tien Temple Singapore in year 2000, the lord saint Lord Bo Tien remarked in His 1978 anniversary message that His image was at the Temple altar throughout 365 days and yet His presence was not being felt at all. 'My Doctrine', He said, 'is my image and my image is my doctrine.' He urged them to look closer at His Doctrine and they would understand Him better. He affirmed that God Almighty personally sanctioned the setting up of the Temple and His Doctrine. Should this generation fail to fulfill His Mission, His image would be lifted up to heaven*. The next generation of people or perhaps many generations to come would fulfill it. The cycle of this task would go on until a day when it would succeed. (Extract from The 1978 message of Lord Bo Tien set the direction for the mission.)

 

DISCUSSION:

Did the lord saint decree that his image be burnt (lifted to heaven) if there is no doctrine mission?

Lord Bo Tien is set on His mission to spread His doctrine of Four Pillars around the world. The doctrine is all and is even His image. If the generation in a temple with his name is lukewarm for doctrine and takes no interest, his image might as well be burnt* and this could well have happened literally, if not at least figuratively.

He seems to imply that His image be burnt so as to return it to heaven if there is no doctrine mission. Is this the case? Perhaps so and yet not so as there are the limited many still keen on doctrine and the practice and spread of doctrine through good works.

The best good work is not an aged home or welfare activities but the gift of doctrine to others. This too the lord saint said in his 1978 message.

  

On page 26 of the above mentioned book, the lord saint said "Now that the Aged Home had been established, it was the time to put forward His Doctrine. He said, 'Good deeds are in many forms.'  "

On pages 33 and 34 of the book, at the end of the lord saint's 1983 anniversary message, the lord saint said to those present at Singapore.

"The past year messages were to teach and guide us so that we would not go against Heaven. His coming was to spread the Doctrine for Heaven to all beings." 

"He then likened us (followers) to be the pillars of His temple  and if the Doctrine is not used and understood, then it should be returned to Heaven."

This 1983 reference on return of Doctrine to Heaven resonates with what he said in 1978 that his image is the doctrine and the doctrine is his image. The mission is to understand and use the doctrine, spread it to the world. There is need for setting up the doctrine for the world. Should there be failure to do this, "his image would be lifted to heaven*"

In that 1978 message, he stressed that "My doctrine is my image and my image is my doctrine." and thus his image or doctrine must be lifted up to heaven if followers fail to set up the doctrine for the world.    



Elder Ling

In his own independent initiative, inner truth netizen with Elder Ling as mission head (annointed mission head or Ah Tau by Lord Bo Tien) effected setting up of the Doctrine on the w.w.w. to  complement the efforts of the many in the spread of the doctrine to the world of men. Thus is the aim of the Living Life Series.  

 

*PS  Please do be wary and cautious not to draw unfavorable conclusion with regards to a post-2004 incident in a Bo Tien mission related temple. The incident even had the support and enthusiasm of inner truth netizen. That it came to pass was perhaps just purely incidental without any relevant or pertinent connotation of sorts. People do from time to time want to have a more refreshing and motivating new image. This is sometimes for better fengshui for both environmental and social harmony. They will thus burn off the older image but Elder Ling said that an old image retired off from active service could be kept in the attic or museum of a temple.

The act of burning off an image of the lord saint so that there be place for a better looking one is understandable and humanly acceptable by public, though the lord saint said that what is important is the doctrine, never mind if his wooden image has a crack as even his image like the rest of nature is impermanent. Obviously, it will in time crack as it is made of wood.

This reference can be found in the 1980 anniversary message of Lord Bo Tien and is in the last paragraph of page 27 of book LORD BO TIEN'S GUIDANCE published in year 2000 by Bo Tien Temple Singapore. The lord saint said, "As the image is made of wood, it would crack over time. This is unimportant. The important factor is that men would be able to grasp its significance (the doctrine as depicted in the image) and put it into practice."

 

The human shortcoming in a church or temple

Learning Point No 258
Reference Historical version of Bo Tien Chor Choo's 1978 Anniversary Message...

In any temple or church, good deeds like aged home and welfare activities must ideally be driven by the correct motives and not by social or personal agenda. The best good deed is beyond charity but some say the gift of truth or doctrine surpasses all gifts and charity. This all should agree. Lord Bo Tien in 1978 has made his point clear. He said,

"The setting up of the Aged Home had seen people with many ulterior motives: some for self interest; others to gain higher status in the society while there were some not expecting any returns" The 1978 message of Lord Bo Tien sets the direction for the mission...

The human shortcoming if any in a church or temple is due to the inherent weakness of man in wanting to meet personal and social agenda even in a church or temple. This will limit the goodness or magnitude of the good deed. But then, we could not expect idealism and altruism in those who do church or temple work. Saints and prophets do not expect that and they welcome people of diverse motives to come to their temples or churches. This is evidence of God allowing freewill and choice. Man has to choose what he wants to do.

Alas, man may end up undermining the mission of the prophet or saint of his temple or church. We have to live with that but could do more to better the thinking of fellow men by showing love for our fellow men and motivating them for the better. That be so and so be it.

The divine resolve

Learning Point No 257 
Reference Historical version of Bo Tien Chor Choo's 1978 Anniversary Message...

Lord Bo Tien said that His image, His Doctrine of Four Pillars and His shrine would spread far and wide. He emphasized, 'I am a CHOR CHOO (which in ordinary sense means Deity entrusted by God Almighty to carry out His present mission) and I represent Heaven.' He urged them to do their part to spread His Doctrine without fear of any obstacles for it was His responsibility to undo them. Extract from The 1978 message of Lord Bo Tien set the direction for the mission...