Do not fear of being misunderstood

Learning  Point No 308

Brethren often we may embark on a path or choice in life others do not undertake, a path or option the majority of our peers would shun or even our parents would not give their blessings. We will be ridiculed and scorned. But remember these people mean well but to listen to them may mean we do not listen to our own heart or calling. 

History of saints and politicians the great leaders of men in spiritual and secular society are not short of people who have been ridiculed and even castigated for going against the tide or flow, for going against the current that is upstream. 

But it is by going upstream that one reaches the upper source where the water is clear and pleasant. 

Let us look into great saints and men who are like that and who feared not of going against the current and being misunderstood.

Lord Bo Tien

Lord Bo Tien chose a  nobody and someone whom others would even imagine to be ideal to spearhead the mission of the commonality of the same basic teaching across and behind all religions. On top of this he chose to have a Chinese style medium temple to begin with and pioneers who are of that culture and inclination. 

The lord saint thus faced ridiculed by men and many think he was and is the concoction of men. 

But he proved them wrong and will continue to prove them wrong so that they may be won over and believe in the mission. 

He is not part of human history and was never born as man to become saint. But his mission has progressed and the blogsites by inner truth netizen are evidence of this. 

Ji Gong 

Ji Gong as man at Hangchow China centuries ago was ridiculed as useless monk after he entered monastery. He was a lowly monk doing temple housekeeping and even then the temple elder monks thought he could not make it. He ate meat, drank wine, sang and danced, even loitering and rolling around beggars, children and monkeys. 

But he practiced at the level of the heart and cultivated himself but yet did not put on an outward show. What matters is not what one do and show to other men, not what goes through the gut but what goes through the heart. This he believed and upheld. He was of course disgraced and sent out to the streets. 

Ji Gong

In tethered clothes and unaffected with no love lost for his detractors, he continued his cultivation his own way and succeeded. His miracles helped many and he was acclaimed as no less a buddha or saint. He is one who never fear of being misunderstood as he knew he was right and he had to go against the current.

Jesus Christ

Jesus was born among the poor of the poor - the then Jews who were considered a threat by the mighty and powerful Romans when the Roman Empire held sway. Nobody dared to speak that which are not favored by the Romans. He was somewhat of  a different mind with the thinking of many of the Jews. 

He moved around with the Jewish community but was not only criticized by significant many of the elders at the synagogues but also by the mighty Romans. But he continued unabated in his beliefs and values. 

His following grew and soon attracted attention of the Romans. He was considered a growing threat to the Roman emperor. 

The rest every reader knew. He was sold out by one apostle and handed over to the Romans.  

He was tortured, mocked at and crucified like a criminal for being the defacto King of the Jews and therefore a thorn and threat to the Roman Emperor. 

Jesus

Today, even non-Christians held him in high esteem and he suffered so that we may know him and learn from him many centuries after his crucifixion and resurrection. 

Well, he too did not fear of being misunderstood in his time. He loves men and wants men to worship God and not Man. 

The Roman Emperor played God then. But, even the might of the Roman Empire did not cow him. Jesus is great to this day and that is why he is so that much loved by men. He is the messiah (savior) to his followers. 

Gautama Buddha

Gautama left his palace and gave up royalty to be an ascetic or beggar much to the displeasure of his father the king of an Indian kingdom. Though there was no record of ridicule and scorn in the historical and religious texts due to the respect of historians and the many scripture writers for Gautama who later became Buddha, inner truth netizen 2 is sure there must be misunderstanding by many for his oddity in leaving the royalty. 

Even as ascetic with five faithful followers, his five close followers left him the moment he said that food was necessary and one should not forgo food and basic necessities in order to succeed spiritually. He became no less the fully enlightened Buddha. 

He never feared of being misunderstood by his father's kingdom and by his five close disciples who later reconciled with him after his enlightenment. 

The above examples of great saints who never feared of being misunderstood bear out the insightful statement by P. Philip of Bo Tien Mission. "....the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood. Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next world.'  

Elder Ling Duing Kwong

Elder Ling the anointed head of the mission, anointed by Lord Bo Tien too went against the current. He is no saint or prophet but he stands out  and needs to be singled out for mention. 

Despite the critic by some, he never feared of being misunderstood. If he had feared of being ridiculed for his passion and forthright views that were and are not shared by many, there will be no milestones for the mission today. The concrete building will not be there and the aged home will be non-existent.