Life is unique for every being

Learning Point No 250

 

Yearn not for the good life that your neighbour has for what is good for him may not be good for you. This is not that you will have less and also not that you will have more. One man's meat is another man's poison.

What you can have must be within your resources and abilities and within your family and social context. Resources refer to not only current worldly or material resources but also to what you can potentially have and this is determined by what you are able to tap on before you are born, both the good and not so good, or what the sages of Tao refer to as the yin and the yang as well as fate based on the accumulated forces of past.

Sages say that your birth year, date and hour of birth give some indication of your life potential that you have from the past before you are born.

To those who believe in past as past lives, this would have more significance.

But to those who do not, let us say that God or divinity makes a stand on what you can potentially have and not have, so that each individual is unique and must make life work for him to the optimum but not beyond as the latter will be counter-productive and cause untold miseries. 

For instance, one who is preoccupied with making money when he is supposed to help others eg a doctor may end up rich by going overboard but the consequences may rob him off his wealth and even his life.  

No two persons are alike and the success story or modus operandi is unique to the person.

It is not that Heaven is unfair and some are better off than others. Remember that the lessons one has to undergo in life are not the same for all. 

The yardsticks required of the better endowed may be more exacting than for the less endowed. That is why it may be more difficult for the well-off to go to Heaven but the truth is that even this is not exactly true though generally correct for other parameters may come into the equation. 

Matthew 19:23-24 “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

 

 

 

 

Living in doctrine better than mere worship

Learning Point 249

The impact of the doctrine is more important than the impact of the personality of the saint or prophet.

 

That is why the lord saint Lord Bo Tien said that those who know the doctrine knows Him and those who do not will not know Him even if they are in His temple and His presence via His image is there 365 days a year.  His name Lord Bo Tien too is a honorific to signify executor  or martial 'Bo' of Heaven 'Tien'

 

Who is the lord saint  and what He looks like is secondary to the doctrine He said we must know that is common and undelies all religions and sects. He is not here to start a new sect or a new religion. Thus His not revealing who He is other than the doctrine He wants us to know is consistent and in keeping with this stand.

 

In the beginning there is God and God wants all beings to be saved and to be with God. But beings are separated from God and need to cultivate their being so that they be that pure and that peaceful before they can be with God and saints. Beings need to go by stages and take one step at a time. So there must be various religions and sects to provide the diversity of steps and paths to reach out to beings from all walks of life and realms.

 

This basic doctrine of the truth of God and of why beings are separated from God is what we can term as the inner truth doctrine though not all will concur.

 

Being impressed and awed by the divine magnificence and miracles of a saint will not help a being to cultivate pureness and peacefulness of soul to be saved and to be with God but understanding why we are what we are and what we must do to be with GOD and saints matters.

 

We must understand why there are religions and why there are sects. We must understand why in religious organisations, men may mistake men as  fronts of God and saints and why men in spiritual leadership may in their zeal act on behalf of God and saints, thus leading their flocks astray.

 

Men may thus worship men instead of God and saints. Worship of saints and God too is not to be encouraged if blind adoration can defeat the goal of salvation of soul. Blind adoration may cause attachment and hinder the cultivation of the mind to be pure and calm and to see things as they truly are.

Doctrine  and living in doctrine is far more important than worship of a saint or of God. Know the doctrine, live in the doctrine and you will be near to God and saints though far from the saints religions and sects talk about.

"The far may be near and the near may be far." This  Lord Bo Tien reiterated.

Those who merely worship  God and saints but pay little heed to the doctrine of God and saints may think they are near but indeed they may be far if they do not live in doctrine and are misled by other men or are misleading other men in the name of God and saints.

Men must be embodiment of the doctrine that God and saints depict. Man must learn not to end up seeing himself in God and saints and worshipping his own ego instead. God and saints are not men and men are not yet God and saints.

Salvation is not just going places like the various realms and heavens but to be enlightened and to imbue life with Godliness and doctrine, to attain sainthood and be seated with God and his host of saints.


Related post in series 1, Why is worship not the end all?

The divine test a temple has to undergo

Learning Point 248

When there are differences in views but no consensus, in a temple of any saint, there must be a way out.

If divinity keeps silence, please do not interpret that one's view is the correct one.

It may be necessary to meditate and be mindful why there is no consensus. The whole point is that this may be the time to reflect on what the lord saint of that temple had taught in the past. How do men put into practise what was taught.

This may be the hands-off approach by the temple's lord saint to test if men could apply what they learnt not just for sectoral benefit but for the benefit of the many even those who do not see eye to eye with them.

Has the doctrine made any impact and do men live by the doctrine and live up to the doctrine? Has the doctrine mattered in their lives and in the temple they are in? Has the doctrine make the difference? Have men learn to be inclusive and not exclusive, to meet to their own needs as well as cater to needs of others? This is the divine test a temple has to undergo.  

 

 

Cross references 

It is God's will, The Three Baptism and Three Success Phases  as well as Elder Ling and Mission Hiccups 

The lord saint and the gospel

Learning Point 247



 

The gospel has been seeded in the first 13 years through human intermediary the late Senior P. Philip but subsequent and future generations will grow and expand the gospel (doctrine) for the mission of which the lord saint, Lord Bo Tien is the God-sent heavenly messenger. He is a divine spirit who has never been known to the world before. Anniversary Messages of Lord Bo Tien 1974 to 1984 

 

 

 

Bo Tien mission-related temples

Learning Point No 246

Four Bo Tien mission-related temples have been set up over time since 1970 with two in Singapore and two at Sitiawan. They are independent, autonomous but yet under the umbrella of the same mission. There is one Bo Tien Temple at Jurong Singapore and another Bo Tien Temple at Sitiawan. Another temple by name of Bo Ser Keng set up by a Mr. Tan N. P. at Boh Ling Sua Singapore lasted for some time and a fourth set up by the late Chee S. H. at Sitiawan Malaysia was named initially as Bo Tien Keng and later changed to Bo Tien Soo.... (not sure of the name). More temples are likely to be set up in the future so long as there are passionate followers of Lord Bo Tien. But it appears that only those temples which are seeded from Bo Tien Temple Singapore will continue to grow. 

http://www.livinglifeseries3.blogspot.com/

 

 

For more, read Bo Tien Temple Outreach

 

 

The folly of man

Learning Point 245

 

The folly of men is often to idolise a man instead of God and saints. Man however good is not good enough. In fact, we should not even idolise God and saints and to make matters worse, go further to put words in their mouths. We should live in God by living in the Word of God and saints instead of being awed by the awesome goodness of God and saints. It would certainly be more far fetched to idolise man which would be unthinkable but many do this. Instead, we need to learn from both sides of a man - both the sunny side and the dark side. After all, life be it our own or of others is the living gospel and the gospel is God.

http://www.livinglifeseries3.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

It is God's will

Learning Point No 244

What God and the lord saint decide, let no man put aside. It would take men with self-righteousness and finite regard for the lord saint to do so. Such self-righteousness is to be expected of men at times and the flower should not be blamed for insects coming to it.

For more, go to

Elder Ling and Mission Hiccups

What God and lord saint decide, let no man put aside

The divine test a temple has to undergo

What God put together, let no man take apart

Beyond the foundation years of the mission

Learning Point 243

The lord saint through his representatives in the early 1980s said that after the first 13 years from 1970, there would no longer be any need for the saint to communicate to us through a human intermediary for all the doctrine and directions for the mission to save souls would have been explained. The lord saint no longer speaks to us through an intermediary but through life...






 

The double three

Learning Point 242





There are three baptism and three success phases in life of any temple, organisation or individual. For more, go to The Three Baptism and Three Success Phases



Extracts:

"...The three phases of development (baptism)  namely fire, water and human are due to the yin and yang world men live in. Yin refers to passive forces and yang to active forces. Some say that in the fire phase, there is too much yang and in the yin phase, too much yin. But this is an oversimplification. In the human or near established phase, there is both yin and yang and interplay of the five elements. Lack of balance or harmony means there is no peace and tranquillity."

"Likewise, for the individual, growth in early years is beset by fire and water obstacle phases. The young or infant child is faced with problems of biological development --- of infection and growth, the ancient refer to these as fire and water obstacles. But when he grows to be adult and enters society, he faces all the problems of being man --- the problems of yin and yang. Thus Lord Bo Tien said that the issues and problems of man are many and plentiful....."

"Following the three baptism phases, then there will be three success phases - the discipline or Bo Tien phase, the devotional or Kuanyin phase and the wisdom or Buddha phase. We need all three to succeed. We need to be disciplined and steadfast. We need to be devotional. We need to have wisdom and insight."

The meaning behind the name of Lord Bo Tien

Learning Point 241

Lord Bo Tien’s name reveals that He is the ‘Bo’ or martial, military executor or mission executor. ‘Tien’ means heaven or divinity. He is therefore One who executes the Mission of Heaven, the will of God in the battlefield of life where beings undergo pains of rebirths and need to be united with God.  Lord Bo Tien and the Mission of Heaven 

The Mission is to save souls through whatever religion or sect and there is need to grasp the  basic inner truth common to all religions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The parts of a flower may not be beautiful

Learning Point 241

The flower beautiful in appearance is only beautiful from the exterior but the internal parts may not be beautiful (refer to starting paragraph of 1983 anniversary message of Lord Bo Tien --- Lord Bo Tien's 1983 Anniversary Message )

Nature is beautiful and yet not perfect.

Men too are capable of beautiful deeds and thoughts, but men are made up of both good and bad within even the same man. Lord Bo Tien and the Mission of Heaven

 

 

 

 

Two wrongs a temple or church should not have

Learning Point 240

In Lord Bo Tien's 1977 Anniversary Message , the emissary of Lord Bo Tien said, "The temple is the people and organisation - not the building. It is henceforth a full fledged temple even if its physical building is a simple awning shed with four pillars. Members should show respect to God and Divinity by dedicating temple shrine (place where members gather in worship) wholly for praying and worship and nothing else"

In Lord Bo Tien's 1978 Anniversary Message, the lord saint 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 temple of Lord Bo Tien is the people and not a concrete building. The people must have the doctrine and worship at heart.

Otherwise it is futile to have a temple and the shrine of the lord saint. Otherwise the people running the temple will not be spiritually motivated but will end up pursuing other than spiritual agenda.

They will deviate and go for social and personal agenda of men and this will be contradicting and defeating the very purpose of having the temple and its shrine.

In 1977, the lord saint said. "Members should show respect to God and Divinity by dedicating temple shrine (place where members gather in worship) wholly for praying and worship and nothing else"

 

Thus there are two transgressions or wrongs a temple should not have.

The first is to mistake a concrete building as a temple or shrine when it is the right minded people with spiritual focus which constitute a temple.

The second is to allow a sacred temple premise for the gathering and social agenda of people who pay no primary focus to doctrine and divinity.

These two transgressions can be the problems of any temple or church.

But a temple in the name of Lord Bo Tien will have to be exemplary to all other temples or churches. Thank God and lord saint, that this would have been the case for any Bo Tien temple.

 

 

  

Paradoxical behaviour of many in a temple or church

Learning Point No 239

In Lord Bo Tien's 1978 Anniversary Message, the lord saint said,  

 

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.

 

People may go to a temple or church but what they do under the roof of that temple or church may be shocking. They act as though that place is not a temple or church.

They commit acts of ill will towards those they do not like. They break precepts like not respecting elders or their neighbour's wife. They mismanage public funds entrusted to them.

 

Thus Lord Bo Tien said in respect of a temple in His name that His 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."

 

Many in a church or temple know their doctrine or bible by heart. They recite the holy verses but these verses meant little to them and they commit transgressions that are unthinkable. They do not use the doctrine as a raft to cross the river of life but carry the raft of doctrine on their shoulders to show off their academic prowess in doctrine.

Worse still, in some temples or churches, the management or leaders act as though they are not in a temple or church and make no effort to know and practise doctrine. Such paradoxical behaviour of many in a temple or church  has been referred to by Lord Bo Tien.

In a subsequent message, He said that we cannot blame the flower for insects coming to it for nectar. We cannot blame the saint of a temple for those who come for their own social agenda and not for the mission of God to save souls

 

 

 

 

Ji Gong's way of success in life

Learning Point 238

That the religions of the world as they stand present to us more of God and Heaven is without doubt despite the differences in approach and emphasis. This can only be good as each religion or sect gives a new angle and at times a more refreshing one at that.

With passing of time, the basic teachings still remain but are elaborated by add-ons. Tenets, rules and interpretations are added and they become the norms and dogmas. (Refer to Lord Bo Tien's Messages before 1974)

While these may be good and present the whole gamut of history of that religion or sect, often they can be restrictive to the ones who are fed up of norms and want to break free and go to the basic on which all religions and sects begin with.

This is not wrong  but is good so long as the individual  is not lost to divinity but goes to the truth of divinity and able to be enlightened. Often, conventional religions are able to reach out to many but sadly many may be lost in the forest of history, man-made rules and views. They fail to see the truth that religions start off with.

 

If in life, you are one who cannot adhere or find comfort and headway in the norms of society and considered a failure or drop-out, do not be disheartened. This may even be in spiritual domain and not just mundane domain of life.

 

Ji Gong Posat was not disheartened when he find he could not conform to the monastic life of a well established temple. He did seemingly all the wrong things, drinking wine and eating meat and was literally booted out but he became a  saint and was accepted as a buddha and a deity by both the Buddhist and Taoistic religions, yet he is beyond both religions.

He went to the heart of truth and divinity and believed that what is important is in the heart and not in the way we act. He was no conformist of traditions and dogmas. He had to break free of the bonds of religion.

This he did and he understood God and divinity even better and is now one of the divinity. Yet he lingers around in the realms below Heaven, and enters the lives of many a man or woman. To him, that is more meaningful than being seated in his divine seat in Heaven amongst the buddhas and gods. 

 

So dear readers, if you find that you are not finding headway with the norms of life and that being a conformist is onerous, you can be like Ji Gong and go for life be it spiritual or worldly life in your own way. Be a non-conformist but know what you want out of life and get it. To do so, you must not run away from life though you can run away with the dogmas and rules of men.

You can stay away from the rules and ways of  men but you must still be with men and more importantly be with life. You can reject societal dogmas and ways but you must not reject life but embrace life. This applies to both spiritual and none-spiritual life. God is life and life is God.

Going away from norms may be good for some. In modern world of 2012 with all the often inhibiting and restrictive norms, there is need to learn from Ji Gong and succeed in life here and now and also in afterlife. You may not be filthy rich or affluent but you can be a success and be acclaimed by men of all walks of life and not by just one religion or sect but by all.

At times in life we must sit back and think why we don't seem to be peaceful and happy. We are buried and entangled by the many conventional man-made norms be it in religion or otherwise.

The founders of religions too are in their own individual special way non-conformists. There is obvious evidence of this.

 

Gautama Buddha is one who decided not to mortify his body, the norms of the ascetic gurus of his time and went for food albeit in moderation and he became the fully enlightened Buddha under the Bodhi Tree.

 

Lord Jesus too did not conform to the traditions and norms of his time both Roman and Jewish. He was the object of persecution and was even crucified.

He earns the respect of men as the messiah and highly venerated by both believers and non-believers of the religion which is his gift to all mankind - the gift of life. He did not die but live on in the hearts of many a man.

 

 

 

 

A temple of Lord Bo Tien

Learning Point No 237

 

 

 

 

 

In Lord Bo Tien's 1983 Anniversary Message, the emissary of Lord Bo Tien said,

 

"The temple of the lord saint like most temples and places of worship must be viewed in the proper helicopter perspective."

 

"The teachings deal with universal truth and if followed will make life fruitful."

 

"But be mindful that a temple is not just a concrete building or a shelter."

 

"A temple is the people. It is people who make up a temple."

 

"As this temple like many others is a temple of Heaven, the sky is the roof of the temple. Thus the lord saint honorific is Bo Tien with the word Tien. Tien is the sky or heaven."

 

(PS Inner truth netizen adds. 'Bo' in Chinese is best translated as executor of 'Tien' Heaven. It is He who executes the Mission of Heaven. Do note that He is but one of the many executor saints, many of whom are the saints of religions and sects. His role is to explain the inner truth underlying all religions and sects and not to start a new sect or religion.)

 

"Heaven is the roof for all beings. All men and beings are sheltered, overseen and judged by Heaven. God and saints, not men, shall be the final judge of men."

 

"A temple serves Heaven in its mission to save all souls under Heaven."

 

"Mission is not for man to serve men but for men to serve Heaven in mission to save souls. This must be understood as the core basis of Mission."

 

"The Mission is the mission of Heaven and not the mission of man."

 

(Inner truth netizen adds. Worship Heaven and not man. Heaven not man is worthy of worship but saints do come down to be amongst men.)

 

"If in a temple of the lord saint, the followers cannot understand all these clearly and effectively (putting them into effect and practice), then these doctrines and values should be returned to Heaven and be sent to many other temples where others may be able to benefit."

 

If the past era of 13 years teachings make no difference to the wisdom of the followers of that temple, then they might as well be burnt to return them to Heaven."




 

That a temple will not make it is to be expected

Learning Point No 236

"The Lord Saint shares and reiterates that not all who though blessed enough to listen to doctrine would necessarily benefit and turn good. There is no certainty and predictability of outcome. There is invariably individual choice, effort and decision. Men are not perfect, do have free will to choose, do have weak moments and can make mistakes. They may fall and falter despite the best divine intention, repeated efforts and intervention. But His grace is heartened that there will still be those who can understand and who will turn good. They will be rewarded. Heaven will persist time and again to reach out to those who may falter. They will not be left behind and be left on the side line. This is the eternal and infinite love and compassion by divine Heaven for all beings." Lord Bo Tien's 1976 Anniversary Message

 

The essence is that only a few will make it and understand the doctrine at any one time. There is need to push on so that more will benefit.

The lord saint's work is not wasted even if many listen to his doctrine and messages but do not benefit and turn good.

So no one should be surprised if a temple under his name seems to be unremarkable in time to come and does not live up to the doctrine and mission. That a temple will not make it is to be expected. This is to be expected and Lord Bo Tien has prepared us for this likely eventuality.

 

So long as each time a few more persons gain from doctrine and turn good, it would be worthwhile. Only a few make it  but do not lose heart.

That the many that constitute a temple will not make it is to be expected. That even in a temple in the name of Lord Bo Tien, many will end up far from doctrine and mission is to be expected.

However, this should contrary to expectations reinforce our faith and confidence in his lordship that the doctrine is true and that he exists, for his word has come true.

Do not be concerned but do what we can. Do not chide the many but be patient and compassionate. Heaven will do its part even if you don't.

Alas, what happens to the many at a temple too happens to the many in a religion or sect and the understanding of the pioneers are lost over generations. The basic doctrine becomes buried over generations and new interpretation and change of focus do take place.

This is the way of the world of man. This is the very reason why there is need for misssion by heaven through messenger like Lord Bo Tien. The mission is to put things right and to rejuvenate and reinvigorate the religious thought in religion.

It is no easy mission but it must be done even if many tries and generations are needed, even if the malady or problem too affects a temple of the lord messenger.

Lord Bo Tien is not the only saint involved and many other saints too are helping out and playing their parts. Ji Gong Posat too is  one. He does not confine his work in a temple but takes it to the whole wide world beyond any temple or church.

 

 

 

 

Life concepts from form to formless

Learning Point No 235

Life is fascinating as it can take many forms. There is the life of flesh and blood. It is one of the varieties of life of form.

Basically there are two categories of life, the form and the formless.

You may say that form can be of flesh and blood that we know and the other is that of astral form.

The astral world comprises, the spirits of lower realms including hell realms and that of higher realms including the gods and deities.

More refined the being, the higher the realms and higher than that we have the formless realms where only the mind exist and there is no form.

When there is more refinement, even the mind seems to be non-existent and such high beings exist only as one aspect of the mind and then when mind is no more, the being exist as energy.

The Pure Ones may actually exist as collections of energy but their avartars or expressed presence may take astral forms or even occasionally as physical form.

Lao Tse is one example of the physical manifestation of the First Pure One. Taoism is attributed to him but not all will agree.

God Almighty, the Jade Emperor is the creation or manifestation of the First Pure One.

The Jade Emperor is the creator of the apparent universe of form realms with heaven and all the other realms below heaven.

The formless realms overseen by the Pure Ones and the Buddhas are in the universe outside and beyond the apparent or form universe.

Buddhas are the clergy and others are the laity, just like priests are the clergy and men are the laity in the human world.

How we cultivate ourselves determine the life state we will be in the next life, be it form or formless.

Those who are spiritual and dwell into meditation and mindfulness cultivation will go to astral and formless realms and those who do not and are just as you may say do-gooders will be born in afterlife in life of form be it human or in the heavenly form realms

 

 

Let the sun rise again even if it has to set

Learning Point No 234

In life, go for simple solutions that will solve problems and that are less likely to create other problems downstream. Don't make life complex and complicated. There is always the simpler option. Problems may seem big because we see them as big and expect that the solution cannot be simple and must be difficult. It is all in the mind. 

 

Don't forget to reflect, meditate and be mindful. Get life moving at pace that is comfortable, not taxing and at pace pleasantly ever more peaceful.

 

Practise is needed and do accept what you can have for now. Some headway is better than none and do stay calm and collected.

But don't take things for granted. There may be surprises, and twists and turns along the way.

 

Do what we can. Seek divine shelter. Remember God and saints bless those who bless themselves. Lord Bo Tien's 1975 Anniversary Message

 

Cheers and be happy always and that is the important start to everyday.

Let the sun rise again even if it has to set. Nature  makes sure there is sunrise if there is sunset. This applies too to life. There will be calm after any storm just as the lord saint put it to us on issues in life.

 

 

 

God is all love and that is the truth

Learning Point No 233

God and the saints have all to do with love, unconditional love, no threat and no bargain. Where there is conditional love, threat or bargain, that is not the love of God and saints for all beings. But why can't God give us paradise here and now? The problem is not in God and saints but in us. He gave us choice and freewill and we have to learn step by step. He and his saints will shelter the candle flame of our life but it is us who will have to nurture our own candle flame. This candle flame analogy was referred to by Lord Bo Tien. Even the candle flame of those in Hell will be sheltered but they too need to nurture and grow the candle flames of their lives. This is simple truth isn't it? Truth is love and truth is simple but difficult for many to believe because they are caught up with the complexities of life which the ancient sages in China referred to as the dualities of yin and yang. 

For full rendition of divine loving kindness and the candle flame analogy, go to Lord Bo Tien's 1975 Anniversary Message

 

 

  

Why not as wholesome ?

Learning Point No 232

Ever wondered why the best we can have in this world is not as wonderful or as wholesome as can be? Appended herewith is the view of Lord Bo Tien

The emissary of Lord Bo Tien in 1983 said that what human beings can have cannot be the same as what are in Heaven. Take for example the flower. As a whole and when in full bloom, the flower is a beauty to behold. But the various parts of the flower are not. From external appearance, it is beautiful but the internal parts never will be beautiful. This runs true for all Nature's creation. The creation of Nature is never static and changes with time.

(Inner truth netizen elaborates. There is lack of permanence, satisfactoriness and substantiality. What is whole and deemed wholesome is not that whole and wholesome after all.)

For more, go to Lord Bo Tien's 1983 Anniversary Message

The truth behind religions

Learning Point 231

In the pre-1974 messages, Messages before 1974  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... 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."

Inner truth netizen adds that over the centuries, each successive generation in every religion added and interpreted what they believe should be known to the people.

In the process, what was basically plain and simple became complex though more appealing.

Believe it or not, the truth of God is actually simple and many are lost in the sea of knowledge often academic presented by religions and sects.

That is why there is the often renewed call for basic fundamentalism.  But in the push for fundamentals behind religions, men create more confusion and make the truth unreachable to the ordinary man. Truth is actually simple and plain. It is for all not just for the literate and the academic. Truth too may not be as sweet and may even be bitter.

 

The mission of Lord Bo Tien is to present this simple truth to people irrespective of their beliefs, religions and sects but alas men supposedly committed in carrying out his mission may create confusion, add on their perspectives, thinking they know better  and defeat the divine purpose of the lord saint, the messenger of God.  

 

The demise of a temple or mission is not a loss

Learning Point No 230

Extract from  Lord Bo Tien's 1984 Anniversary Message

 

"He then illustrated the mission as a lotus flower which blooms in purity and beauty and yet uncontaminated and untainted by the muddy water from which it arises. Even if it withers as it would do so in time, all will not be lost as it will produce seeds which are useful to all. New lotus flowers would bloom in time to come."

 

The demise of a temple or mission is not a loss but on the contrary the seeds from the withered flower of that temple or mission may be the seeds for more temples or missions far and wide.

"I must not covet my neighbour’s wife"

Learning Point No 229

"I must not covet my neighbour’s wife." This is the fifth of seven universal precepts introduced by Lord Bo Tien to the pioneers of his mission and is common to many religions and sects. ( Messages before 1974 )

 

But even in many a temple or church, not only do members covet but they even cross the line to adultery.

 

Instead of coveting, members should help to preserve the sanctity and wholesomeness of the marital union of their neighbours or fellow members.

 

The husband or wife should be upset if the spouse is not keeping to the vows of marriage but it would be more unimaginable if he or she does encourage the adultery of the spouse. This tainted unthinkable may happen not only in society but in many temples or churches.

 

On-lookers should neither chastise nor condone but they ever more should facilitate righteousness and corrective actions, that is, damage control if the damage is done and  can no longer be corrected.

 

The saint of the temple or church will still welcome them to play useful roles in a temple or church. Lord Bo Tien said that the flower should not be blamed for insects coming to it. He also said that if a saint chooses, he may even embark on training such individuals. This is the prerogative of the heavenly saint.

 

Bystanders should neither judge nor pass cutting derogatory remarks but learn from the lives of such men and pleasantly encourage them if they are on the mend to return in their new found relationships to the fold of adhering to the 5th of the seven basic precepts referred to by Lord Bo Tien.

 

Bystanders should learn from the lives of others so as to better live their own lives in more gracious wholesome ways. They should be as benevolent and forgiving as the saint towards the person who once did wrong but thereafter faithful to the latter subsequent spouse. Failure to do so would be unkind and ungracious. This too did the lord saint want us to learn and know.

 

Incidentally if a married man commits sexual misconduct and adultery outside marriage, he will face consequences and may be shamed in public eyes. But if he mends his ways and is able to be faithful  to his wife ever the more and the wife is gracious and kind enough to be benevolent to give him the chance to mend, that would be worthy of the blessings of God  and saints.

But Man may not be as benevolent though Man tries to be a little bit of God. That is why there is less of tit for tat in the legal system of advanced countries.  

Often, it is sad truth that a person may have done one wrong, adultery, but that person ends up being chided and punished in more ways than one. God and saints will not do that and may not punish at all for to err is human though that person will obviously reap what he sows.

Man will do the unthinkable and go for overkill and be punitive because man is not saint. In fact what men do to chide and deride the one who committed adultery may be manifold worse and unjustified.

It will be more than an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Thus the actions men execute to the one who committed adultery may be frowned at by Heaven. Man has to learn that to err is human and to forgive is divine. Man has to be gracious but this will take time to cultivate. When will man learn?

 

 

 

 

To seek the inner truth

Learning Point No 228

Extract from  Messages before 1974

 

 

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 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.





 

 

 

The flower and insect paradox is no paradox

Learning Point No 227

A temple is like a flower. It attracts admirers and believers. But it also attracts those who do not truly admire the flower but come for nectar and in the case of a temple, there will be those who come not so much for the doctrine but for other agenda - social or even personal agenda.

 

Is this right? Could not the saint of the temple prevent this?

 

The issue is that only a handful will be true belivers and understand and grasp the doctrine. The majority will understand at lesser levels and they will be the ones who in a democratic system run the temple.

 

Thus in his inaugural message, Lord Bo Tien  said that the pristine doctrine of a prophet will over time be buried by proliferation of poor understanding of the teachings.

 

To add to the problem, there will be those who are like insects to a flower. They will come to get what they want out of a temple, never mind if the flower will wilt.

 

Anyway, even if no insects come to a flower, the flower will in time wilt as well. This is the law of nature. There is impermanence.

 

But a saint of a temple or religion will do what the lord saint can. He cannot overturn the law of nature but can go the mile to repeatedly create the flower over and over again.

 

To the lord saint of a temple, the insects amidst men are not barred from coming. Blame not the flower or saint for their coming for nectar.

 

They the insects do create buzz and attract other men and in the process, there will be one or two or at most a handful who will probe further.

 

The temple is like an archaelogical archives for them to dig in to the truth that the pioneers know. The insects amidst men may still thus do some good though they are not doctrine orientated.

 

Also even if the temple they are in wilt and closes, some from that temple will go out to start new temples, just like seeds from a wilted flower disseminated far and wide for new plants and flowers.

 

If a lord saint like Lord Bo Tien do not tap into this natural process of nature, there is no way the doctrine will have hope of disseminating.

 

The same applies to a religion. Over time and generations, the true and pristine teaching will be burried the interpretations and thinking of the times.

 

Religion is beset with the fate of evolution.  Lord Bo Tien said in his before 1974 message

 

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."

 

 

 

Do not wish the pain to go away

Learning Point 226

Do not at any point insist that a problem or pain need to be resolved for in this world, a pain or problem cannot  simply be wished away. There are more issues that we need to attend to.

Sometimes, it may be best to accept the pain for now and move on. Time and tide do not wait  for us and all our energy and resources cannot be placed to handle that one problem or pain.

Do what we can and be mindful not to put all your eggs in one basket. Do not wish your pain to go away and do not despair if it is still there. Move on and there are more of other matters for us to attend to.

 

Above all have heart and trust in God and saints. This did Lord Bo Tien said to us ever so often. They will stand by us if we are able to stand by them (have faith in them). Issues however big will be small issues even if they cannot be no issue.

 

All saints like Lord Bo Tien wants us to know the doctrine they teach and that way, we are beside them and they with us. Not all issues can be wished away for there is the element of fate. But there are good and bad fate. Do not be bogged down by the bad fate but move on and harness the other aspects of life.
 
Do not simply insist the pain to go away. Go for our other blessings and create more even if there is the one or more pain that riddle our life. Do not let that one pain or two to handicap, paralyse our life or stop us from living.

God knows that there are better things waiting for us. We can be mindful of that one or two pain but leave the pain on backburner and come back to it again.

Lord Bo Tien reiterated that there is the element of fate which at times we must accept but we must not be defeated by the pain and let the pain rob away our zest for life. There are better things waiting for us.

See through life and a saint you will be - 看得开，就是佛... Read more by clicking your computer mouse on the title in red.
 
 
 
 

Belief in a saint is in the Word

Learning Point 225

Jesus cried and said, ‘he who believes in Me, believes not in Me, but in Him that sent Me. And he that sees Me sees Him that sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hears My words, and believes not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.’ – John 12:44-47

 

And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes in Me shall never thirst.’ – John 6:35

 

Verily, verily, I say to you, he that believes in Me has everlasting life. – John 6:47

 

Belief in a saint or God is based on values the saint and God embody. And in spiritual language, it is the word or doctrine that the saint or prophet embodies.

 

'He who sees and knows the doctrine knows and sees the lord and God.' This did Lord Bo Tien said and this has been said by many saints and prophets of all religions and sects.

 

Belief is in the Word - the doctrine. The Word will help to save the world that is to save souls. Man must abide and live in the Word that the saints of the religions and sects of the world profess.

He who believes in the saints must believe and live in the Word for the Word is the bread of life. He will never hunger for the Word is the bread of life. He will never thirst for the Word will quench his thirst. The Word will thus save the world.

 

Amen - so be it and that be so.

 

 

 

Day for reckoning

Learning Point No 224

 
 

There are two perspectives of Mission Day - one for followers of Lord Bo Tien  and the other for followers of all religions and sects that is for the world. The latter is the main mission or mission proper.   

Mission day for 2012 falls on 27th Oct 2012 and like any other mission day, it is time for reckoning and reflection for those who are not aligned with the mission of the lord saint Lord Bo Tien and even for those who are aligned but yet not exemplary, that is, not effecting the doctrine of the lord saint in the way they speak, act or think.

Time to not only believe, understand but to practise the doctrine in life. Time to make use of doctrine as raft to cross the river of life and not admire or carry the raft on shoulders and risked being drowned by the river of life.

The day may seem not as meaningful to followers of other saints and prophets but the essence is the same. There is the need to go to the core or essence and the core is to be in harmony and one with God. The purpose is to save souls and this starts with self.

There are many ways via the various religions and sects. Religions and sects appeal by various ways but they have the common message. The differences enable reach-out to the many in society but men must go the mile and go deeper to understand why God needs the many religions and sects to reach out to men.

This is the mission of Heaven and Mission Day 13th Day of 9th lunar month which for 2012 falls on 27th Oct 2012 is the celebration of life for more to be saved through whatever religions or sects they may be in or even if none.

Whilst followers of Lord Bo Tien may feel privileged to be sort of chosen ones, the lord saint reiterated that the far may be near and the near may be far. Those of other sects, religions, temples or churches who know not him but who ascribe to the common purpose of religions and sects are near to him though they do not know him.

The day of reckoning is for all to reflect. Do we know God? Do we know why men must be different and yet all are one in God? Do we serve the agenda of men or do we go for the purpose of God?

Many claim they serve God but they end up making use of God's name for their own ends.  They see in God not God but the personification of  man in God and his saints.

We must not only be aligned to the purpose of God but must live in his word -- the inner truth common to all religions and sects.

Religions and sects may be as different as they may be but they are one in God and Heaven. Isn't this the same with the mundane world? Countries are as different as we know them but they are one in the world we call Earth.

 

The parts of an elephant to the blind men like the task, the trunk, the ear and the flat body may feel different but they are one in that they are of the same elephant.

 

When men are ignorant and not wise, they will see religions and sects as different and at odds with one another. Please for goodness sake, do see the wholeness of religions and sects in God and his saints