Synopsis:
This post 356 is a rather refreshing and perhaps even an unexpected and unintended inter-religious reflection and discussion on none other than the tenth of the Ten Commandment in the Old Testament?
It bears testimony to the depth and width of very ancient yet absolutely wholesome philosophy even in the Old Testament. Do read on if you don't mind or do you?
The principle behind it is also exactly the spiritual philosophy proper of many religions and sects around the world though the treatment of this same philosophy may however vary somewhat and as a result can be that more interesting and colorful.
This commonality of truth is not just due to mere coincidence but a definite evidence of oneness of religions as well as the oneness of God behind religions and sects.
This is what Lord Bo Tien as a messenger of God will always want all to know, regardless of their religious affiliation.
He reiterates that he favors no religion and does not in any way represent or vouch for any religion or sect though he uses the Chinese cultural platform as springboard to illustrate and demonstrate that the same inner truth abounds.
His purpose is to demonstrate that the same God and truth exist even in the gamut of age old culture and traditions that are more often than not mistaken and misconceived.
He reiterates that he favors no religion and does not in any way represent or vouch for any religion or sect though he uses the Chinese cultural platform as springboard to illustrate and demonstrate that the same inner truth abounds.
His purpose is to demonstrate that the same God and truth exist even in the gamut of age old culture and traditions that are more often than not mistaken and misconceived.
Thou shall not want (covet). Many believe in this, whether it is said by Jesus or by any other saints.
In the Buddhist texts, this refers to clinging or attachment which will inevitably bring suffering and more frustrations or dissatisfaction in life. But having a goal or life stations in life is not clinging so long as it is within means.
We only suffer because when the more we have the more we want and the more we covet what we don't have which others have. This can be endless.
We forget that what we have others may not have. We forget to count our own blessings.
It is not just mere coincidence that Jesus also said so, that wanting can be detrimental. But somehow, there is that added connotation that if we have saint like Jesus as our shepherd, there is really no need to want or covet because all would be provided, so it seems....
Saints will provide. This many would expect. But then, God helps those who help themselves. This too is a biblical truth. So we must first want to help ourselves and be able to resolve to do so within our own means before we can expect God and saints to help us.
For example, can all believers of a saint say that they will strike first prize in the lottery draw. This is impossible.
What is meant when someone says, "Thou shall not want" ?
Well, it means that we go for only what are within our reach and means and we must be pragmatic. God willing, we can have such blessings and perhaps a little more. Blessings do not just drop from the sky. God and saints can bless but nothing will come about if the person does not want to bless himself or create the conditions for fruition.
Not wanting does not mean we give up on life and run away from life. If we do so, we are running away from everything even God. That is just not possible. Like it or not, we have to be with life and the world around us and in us.
We cannot run away from ourselves and others. We cannot run away from life even at point of death.
At the same time, our faith in God and saints to the point that we think there is no need to want for they will provide can be at times ridiculous. It does not mean that just because God and saints are behind us, we can reach for the sky and the sky is the limit. That is exactly or precisely why saints like Jesus said, "Thou shall not want."
It means that we moderate expectations and do the do-able, reach for the reachable and want not more than these. With shelter of saints like Jesus, Bo Tien or Ji Gong, big issues will at least be small issues even if they cannot be no issue. Small issues will be no issue.
Saints are like shepherds tending to sheep. Sheep can graze under the care of the shepherds who make sure they do not stray and go for more and be lost. The basic and what they need are readily and easily available, sort of provided but the sheep must graze on their own and live their own individual life, albeit as part of the flock.
Shepherds do provide safety and guidance while flocks of sheep are on the move. They ensure the sheep move together as flocks and no sheep will stray and be pounced on by wolves. But then, even with the best of good shepherds, misadventure do occur and that is fate. Some sheep will still be prey to wolves.
But even with the many good shepherds or saints, let there be no crutch mentality please. We do need to live our own life and God and saints cannot live for us. Yes, they can shelter our life but we need to live our own life.
In summary, we cannot just run away and give up on life. At the same time, we cannot live other peoples' lives. We have to be ourselves. God and saints too cannot live for us.
We cannot covet what others can have which we don't have. We must also not be boastful and cause others to be green with envy over what we have or can have.
The extreme case of wanting or covetousness is to covet "our neighbors wives" or anything to do with our neighbors as stated in the tenth commandment - Thou shall not covet.
We neither want nor cause others to want. We neither covet nor cause others to covet. That way we are at peace.
That way we are contented. Contentment Gautama Buddha says is one of the four great blessings. The others are health, self-confidence and nirvana or enlightenment.
He said thus,
In the Buddhist texts, this refers to clinging or attachment which will inevitably bring suffering and more frustrations or dissatisfaction in life. But having a goal or life stations in life is not clinging so long as it is within means.
We only suffer because when the more we have the more we want and the more we covet what we don't have which others have. This can be endless.
We forget that what we have others may not have. We forget to count our own blessings.
It is not just mere coincidence that Jesus also said so, that wanting can be detrimental. But somehow, there is that added connotation that if we have saint like Jesus as our shepherd, there is really no need to want or covet because all would be provided, so it seems....
Saints will provide. This many would expect. But then, God helps those who help themselves. This too is a biblical truth. So we must first want to help ourselves and be able to resolve to do so within our own means before we can expect God and saints to help us.
For example, can all believers of a saint say that they will strike first prize in the lottery draw. This is impossible.
What is meant when someone says, "Thou shall not want" ?
Well, it means that we go for only what are within our reach and means and we must be pragmatic. God willing, we can have such blessings and perhaps a little more. Blessings do not just drop from the sky. God and saints can bless but nothing will come about if the person does not want to bless himself or create the conditions for fruition.
Not wanting does not mean we give up on life and run away from life. If we do so, we are running away from everything even God. That is just not possible. Like it or not, we have to be with life and the world around us and in us.
We cannot run away from ourselves and others. We cannot run away from life even at point of death.
At the same time, our faith in God and saints to the point that we think there is no need to want for they will provide can be at times ridiculous. It does not mean that just because God and saints are behind us, we can reach for the sky and the sky is the limit. That is exactly or precisely why saints like Jesus said, "Thou shall not want."
It means that we moderate expectations and do the do-able, reach for the reachable and want not more than these. With shelter of saints like Jesus, Bo Tien or Ji Gong, big issues will at least be small issues even if they cannot be no issue. Small issues will be no issue.
Saints are like shepherds tending to sheep. Sheep can graze under the care of the shepherds who make sure they do not stray and go for more and be lost. The basic and what they need are readily and easily available, sort of provided but the sheep must graze on their own and live their own individual life, albeit as part of the flock.
Shepherds do provide safety and guidance while flocks of sheep are on the move. They ensure the sheep move together as flocks and no sheep will stray and be pounced on by wolves. But then, even with the best of good shepherds, misadventure do occur and that is fate. Some sheep will still be prey to wolves.
But even with the many good shepherds or saints, let there be no crutch mentality please. We do need to live our own life and God and saints cannot live for us. Yes, they can shelter our life but we need to live our own life.
In summary, we cannot just run away and give up on life. At the same time, we cannot live other peoples' lives. We have to be ourselves. God and saints too cannot live for us.
We cannot covet what others can have which we don't have. We must also not be boastful and cause others to be green with envy over what we have or can have.
The extreme case of wanting or covetousness is to covet "our neighbors wives" or anything to do with our neighbors as stated in the tenth commandment - Thou shall not covet.
We neither want nor cause others to want. We neither covet nor cause others to covet. That way we are at peace.
That way we are contented. Contentment Gautama Buddha says is one of the four great blessings. The others are health, self-confidence and nirvana or enlightenment.
He said thus,
"Health is the highest gain.
Contentment the greatest wealth.
Self confidence the greatest friend.
Nirvana the greatest bliss."
Do compare what is in Psalm 23 of the Bible - a psalm of David.
"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me ; your rod and staff they comfort me."
But perhaps, he would have added that he has to live his own life but with confidence and assurance that the lord is behind him.
For those who see the universality of truth in all religions, there is concordance of teachings of all saints and religions but for those who do not, well one fine day (and that day will come), they too will soon come to this realization or awakening. That will be the day when all are one and one is in all. God is great.
"Thou shall not want" may be seen from another angle. With regards to religions and sects, we must want to see the oneness of religions and not the rare ugly sad reality of the conflicting and hair splitting side of man-made religions and sects.
We must see no evil, hear no evil and talk no evil, perhaps even think no evil. Men must be more civil and humane, perhaps a bit more Godly towards one another, be this on any issue secular or otherwise
"Evil" here refers to the inert desire or "want" of a some bigoted men to ever want to champion what they believe and derogate that of others, thinking that by doing so, they please God. They might sadly even go overboard and hate rather than love, all because others do not go along with them. They might have forgotten that God is love always and evermore.
That is not what God and saints expect. Luckily they are few, rare and the exception in any religion or sect. Thank God for that.
In conclusion, the writer is grateful to Lord Bo Tien for showing the way to the universality of the same basic inner truth and oneness of religions and sects despite diversity of approaches and emphasis.
"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me ; your rod and staff they comfort me."
But perhaps, he would have added that he has to live his own life but with confidence and assurance that the lord is behind him.
For those who see the universality of truth in all religions, there is concordance of teachings of all saints and religions but for those who do not, well one fine day (and that day will come), they too will soon come to this realization or awakening. That will be the day when all are one and one is in all. God is great.
"Thou shall not want" may be seen from another angle. With regards to religions and sects, we must want to see the oneness of religions and not the rare ugly sad reality of the conflicting and hair splitting side of man-made religions and sects.
We must see no evil, hear no evil and talk no evil, perhaps even think no evil. Men must be more civil and humane, perhaps a bit more Godly towards one another, be this on any issue secular or otherwise
"Evil" here refers to the inert desire or "want" of a some bigoted men to ever want to champion what they believe and derogate that of others, thinking that by doing so, they please God. They might sadly even go overboard and hate rather than love, all because others do not go along with them. They might have forgotten that God is love always and evermore.
That is not what God and saints expect. Luckily they are few, rare and the exception in any religion or sect. Thank God for that.
In conclusion, the writer is grateful to Lord Bo Tien for showing the way to the universality of the same basic inner truth and oneness of religions and sects despite diversity of approaches and emphasis.
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