Oneness with diversity and not in partisan uniformity

Learning Point No 152 

Reference: Lord Bo Tien's 1978 Anniversary Message




 

 

 

 

The following is extract from 1978 message of Lord Bo Tien. While repeating and reiterating His earlier observation that members kneeling before Him were wearing the same uniform and were in unison in prayer when inviting Him into the shrine, He asked " Why must it only be on this occasion?" He remarked that the image was at the Temple throughout the 365 days. Yet His presence was not felt at all and many are oblivious of what the image stands for . This He said is due to members not being strongly rooted in doctrine. Doctrine has yet to color the daily life of members. "The doctrine is portrayed in the lord's image and the image is the doctrine." He urged all to understand the doctrine and they would then understand the Lord Saint.

"He who sees and knows the doctrine knows and sees the lord. He who does not see and know the doctrine does not see the lord even if the lord is present with him all the time."

"God almighty the Jade Emperor has decreed the setting up of the temple and the mission. The mission is the mission by Heaven for man and not by man for man"

The mission is to instill grasp of doctrine of the Inner Truth behind religions. This will rejuvenate the religious thought and fervour of the pioneers. Should one generation fail to fulfil the mission, "the image of lord saint will be lifted up to Heaven." The next generations and perhaps many generations to come would fulfill it. This would go on until the day when it would succeed.

The 1978 message of Lord Bo Tien clearly shows that members of any temple especially the temple in his name must have unity and must comprise people of diverse interests and approaches. This will reflect the diversity of sects and religions in the world.

But despite diversity, there must be oneness of religions and sects  in the mission to save souls and to bring more to God. It would be wrong to eliminate diversity and not to accommodate to range of people with differing interests and approaches.

Likewise, any temple, more so a temple bearing the name of the lord saint must walk the talk of the lord saint. There must be oneness in diversity and not partisan uniformity. But whatever the style or form, the substance is the same inner truth or doctrine. He who knows the doctrine knows God. He who does not knows not.

 

Thus someone outside chinese temple culture may well know better the lord saint than those within the culture, so long as he knows the doctrine. Such a person may even be better than even those managing a temple in the lord's name who ignore or know not the doctrine even though the image of the lord saint is there 365 days a year.

 

The doctrine of truth is the common denominator underlying  the diversity of approaches and forms. All are in oneness before God if they know and practise the doctrine. Know and grasp the truth. That is what matters. There is no need to be of one form or approach but only need for grasp and practice of the same doctrine or truth in God.