Love for life

Learning Point No 59

Quote from The way to inner peace

Lord Bo Tien

Do light up our life with love. There is in every one of us the light of life which if nurtured will grow and glow. We need to illuminate our life and in the process illuminate the life of others. We cannot do so without first focusing and tendering to our own life. The issue as elucidated by a heavenly saint Lord Bo Tien is to grow the love of life, and this love must start with our self and radiate outwards to others around us.

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Be seated with the lord in Heaven

Learning Point No 58

Lord Bo Tien

Let us see the doctrine in a heavenly saint and be seated with him in Heaven. As said by Lord Bo Tien, he who sees the truth or doctrine sees and knows the saint and inner truth netizen would like to add that such a man would be seated with him.


"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” - Matthew 2:2


"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," -Ephesians 2:6

Article on being seated with Christ in Heaven

http://www.abideinchrist.com/selah/jan19.html

Temple matters we need to know

Learning Point No 57 



Quote from last paragragh of The shrine hall at Bo Tien Temple was designed based on the doctrine of Heaven.

Lord Bo Tien said in the parable of three temples that 
the first temple would be beset with fire obstacle 
and the second with water obstacle (flood).
The third will be beset with human issues.
All parties of differing viewpoints
in the same one temple 
must come together like yin and yang
and be a pillar of strength.
They stand to gain 
if they can learn from 
the good or bad of one another.
They can complement one another.

The first two temples faced external obstacles
but the third temple would face human issues
and would be test of whether members have
grasped the doctrine and were able to put it
into practice to overcome human matters.

If they could not and create problems
by trying to solve problems
using mundane worldly ways
instead of using the doctrine
taught by their lord saint,
then the temple would succumb
and go under.

The above do not refer to any specific temple or church
but must be seen from the doctrine perspective
to be applicable to any growing temple or church .

But there is the universal temple that Lord Bo Tien wants us to know and all under Heaven are in this temple. This is not a concrete building. The sky is the roof of the temple and religions and sects are the pillars of the temple. All under Heaven are in the temple. The whole wide world and web is the temple and must be regarded as a sacred place --- a temple for living and learning. It is more important that everyone that counts plays a role in this universal temple if due focus is to be given to the Mission of Heaven. Men must not be distracted by the agenda of men and end up serving the mission of man. That would be a far cry from the Mission of Heaven.

Respect elders and pioneers

Learning Point No 56

Lord Bo Tien

It is the understanding of inner truth netizen that current leaders of  a religious organisation, however good they may be, will not project good image of themselves if they run down past leaders without whom they, the current leaders, will not be holding office. The same applies to past leaders and pioneers, the elders but even if they do so, the younger leaders of today must give due respect to the elders whatever the shortfalls the elders might have. Culture of washing dirty linen will undermine mutual respect and tolerance. No one should belittle elders or parents even if they have shortfalls. Respect for elders is a precept of many sects and is the sixth of seven precepts for followers of Lord Bo Tien. When there is no respect for elders, then the fabric of organisation is in tethers. The common Chinese saying "No big no small  没大没小。Mei da mei xiao." expresses disgust for those who do not respect elders

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The problems of man

Learning Point No 55

Lord Bo Tien said, "The problems of men are due to their lack of insight. They tend to see the saint in man and the man in a saint."

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Rich in tolerance, rich in fortune 大量，大福。 da liang, da fu

Learning Point No 54

From the wise saying of the ancestors passed down to inner truth netizen by his late maternal granny, "大量，大福。 da liang, da fu. Big in heart (for tolerance), big in fortune." 

Be open hearted and open to all views and ways and a life of goodness and fortune is yours

Be open to others choices and thinking if they happen to differ from yours. Do not impose your views. Do not even think you are wrong or others are wrong. What is wrong in thinking that it is not wrong to respect others who hold other views. Let matters be and if you can, even help them to be different from you and your way. Agree to disagree and respect others if they differ in ways and are critical of your views. Then and only then will there be more space to live and to breathe even if many stand in the same spot.

A temple or church will then be not too small for the many (at times conflicting) views but will be a good kaleidoscope of sorts for the good of the many and one that allows for oneness in diversity.

Be rich in tolerance and be rich and fortunate in life in many ways

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All are God worthy

Learning Point No 53

Quote from Revisit of 1975 message of Lord Bo Tien

Lord Bo Tien does not view man as doing right and
wrong but as being imperfect and need to improve.
Man may not be that right at times and need learn
to be for more right. Even those considered as criminals
or way-out wrong are welcome to a temple of a saint.
Thus in the temple of a saint, no one can be removed
from membership. Only men of lesser or little spiritual
cultivation think and do otherwise. To say that a man cannot
be a member is to go against the Word of God and saints.
These are the ones who do not know the doctrine
and thus do not know the saints like Lord Bo Tien.
All are worthy of God and saints but men may think
others are not worthy and be damned.
When that happens, men will usurp the role of God
God and saints will be portrayed as yielding the baton
and as fearful, unrelenting and unforgiving

The emissary of Lord Bo Tien said in 1975, "The word SIN or WRONG may appear simple and widely used (and is more derogatory than empathic and motivating). Yet few really understand the depth of its meaning and ramifications. Bear in mind that there is no rigidity but in reality, there is great degree of flexibility with regards to SIN or WRONG. This may not be apparent to the brethren on earth. Everyone will come to know more and will not want to refer to word SIN or WRONG. Rather as they progressed, and emancipate themselves from fear (due to lack of grasp of inner truth), they will then progressively not view life superficially but more correctly in depth and width to understand that all need to learn and progress. Thus it is important to know that brethren are not WRONG but less right. This disposition removes fear and guilt and motivates brethren to improve and learn." (If all understand this, they will harbour no fear and guilt. They will not in their passion instill fear and emotional unrest to bring others to their fold or viewpoint.)

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