Bigots create hell for others and themselves

Learning Point No 298

When Ji Gong as as young man Li Xiuyuan entered the monastery, he was ridiculed for not following the norms and ways of the monastery. The monks in the monastery chastisize him for eating meat and drinking wine. But he was not perturbed and had no ill will and only have goodwill for them as he believed "what matters is not what goes through the gut but what goes through the heart". He was the one who succeeded and became a saint and he not them was better poised to help the multitude. 

Ji Gong

The monks and leaders at the monastery were way behind in attainment. They were pitifully bigots and egocentric. Their pride in being able to keep to the rules and regulations straddled them down and the buddha or bodhi nature in them could not grow. Even though in robes and in a monastery, *bigotry sent them to more hell on earth and impeded the flowering of the buddha nature in them. They were ignorant though apparently learned and well attired. 

In modern days it is not uncommon for men to say that their way is right and the only way. Others are in the wrong. This is bigotry and will stifle the God nature in them and pit them against the varying godly ways of those who hold different approaches and views from them even if all are in the same sect, religion or church. 

Bigotry is always the result of ill conceived self -righteousness. The bigoted ways of bigots will create problems and hell for others and in turn will send them to hell rather than to heaven even while on earth in body of flesh and blood. Bigotry is often a likely weakness of men when they pursue and are passionate about religion. 

Lord Bo Tien

Lord Bo Tien has always advised us to learn from the weaknesses and wrongs done by other men so that we will not make the same mistakes. He never say we learn from their weaknesses or flaws so that we can ridicule them. That would be unsettling and obviously bigotry as well. That would be ill will. 

Bigots create hell for others and themselves. But those who rejoice in others beliefs that are different from their own foster goodwill and peace for themselves and others. Such peace is heavenly and fosters love and harmony, giving more than a touch of heaven on earth.

*Bigot = One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.