ADVISORY for my old time friends
"This blog posting is my personal Internet depository of a heavenly saint's* many faceted explanations on the inner truth from time I was a medical student in the early 70s till becoming a medical practitioner. Now age 60 and in sunset years, there is need to share and to give testimony on the insightful revisit on the issue by the lord saint, one unique messenger of Jade Emperor or what others may term God Almighty. The depository serves as reservoir of knowledge and experiences (learnt lessons) for sharing and for fellowship with my old time friends and later day inner truth seekers who may want to know more. Better perception and realisation can only come about from the gospel of the individual's life. Do read a little at a time and over and over again to digest and better assimilate the spiritual nutrients to nourish both mundane and supra mundane life. Fear not if you differ for every one must walk the path of realisation himself though with helping hand of saints and some brethren. The path of life too will always differ from person to person. Regards and read on. " From your brethren in life -- Inner Truth Netizen
PS This blog is dedicated to God (or what Chinese culture refer to as the Jade Emperor) and his retinue of immortals. The pictures on the left and short notes do refer to Chinese popular beliefs that have developed over the decades and not perceived in the correct perspective by many. The blog gives insight that even with culture, there is the inner truth and this is often mentioned by the lord saint.
Love is the light of life. 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* is to grow the love of life, and this love must start with our self and radiate outwards to others around us
Inner truth brings peace and ease
Love for life has to do with seeking the truth and meaning behind life and to be exact, the inner truth underlying and cutting across all beliefs, creed and kind. There must be that peace and tranquility within us so that we will not be ruffled by the ups and downs of life, the yin and yang, the trials and tribulations. We need to seek out the peace of life and the joy and serenity that sages of religions so often refer to and which often eludes us.
Live life, not leave life. Cultivate enlightened approach to life
Cultivate this mindfully and in earnest not just in a temple or place of worship but in our very mundane day-to-day life. There is no need to leave or renounce life but to be with life and to live the life mindfully and in peace and ease despite the trials and tribulations that abound from time to time
Nurture and illuminate life
Our life light or energy (called this soul or soul force if you like) must be fed with fuel (good pure thoughts and energy) for it to illuminate and grow the inner peace.
Self effort but with divine refuge
This must be our own effort but we will need the shelter and guidance of the heavenly saints. It will be easier that way but there must be no crutch mentality. Heavens (God and saints) help those who help themselves
Grow the divine light within us.
We must grow this inner peace of life-light or what sages of ancient wisdom may term as "bodhi citta" enlightenment thought or light of enlightenment, or some may call this the heavenly or divine essence or spirit.
Life's ever unfolding lessons is our gospel
We need to learn the spiritual lessons not merely from books and posted articles but more importantly from the daily life we lead and with the guidance of heavenly saints. We learn from our own experience and reflections and we learn from the lives of our fellow men
Fill our inner sanctum with peace
Seek the peace and tranquility with self effort and with the shelter of Heaven. Do however remember that if one needs help, one must first help oneself. We must first pick our self up before we can benefit from the help of Heaven and significant others.
Harness blessings, not the bane and woes of life
But do cultivate blessings by associating with the wise aspects or attributes of men and not the unwise or negative aspects. What is wise may appear not as simple for what is good is often a range and not a point.
Generally, we must not subscribe to bad attributes. Denial and self destruction is one extreme and over indulgence and attachment is the other.
What is wise and good is not exactly the middle approach but the dynamic balanced approach where we are at peace, are not attached nor detached. We are at peace and ease with the swirls of life, the yin and the yang.
We cannot run away from yin and yang of life. We should not allow ourselves to be swept around by the swirl of yin and yang of life. We must step on and be above the flux of yin and yang, or worldly contingencies such as gain / loss, praise / blame, honour / dishonour, repute and disrepute, birth and death, extreme wealth and abject poverty, over-involvement and under involvement, self torture and hyperchondriacal and frantic concern with health etc.
Honour those who are worthy of honour. We must be correct in doing this. Rejoice in the good of others and not be envious. We do not end up trying to gain their pleasure nor (incur) displeasure. We do not worship men but divinity
The above principles are depicted in the image of the lord saint* seated on dragon chair (the divine spirit) with spectre of Divine mission (God's mission) in one hand, with other hand in salutation (of wisdom and divinity) and both feet astride the two extremes of life (the yin and yang).
In addition, we must associate with the right external environment (physical and social environment) and ensure a congenial internal environment we create in our mind.
We must modulate both the external and the internal universe.
We can do so by opening up and harnessing the blessings and not the frustrations and the woes, that is, maximising the blessings and minimising the frustrations, woes and hiccups.
So let us be good. This is both simple and yet not so simple. But do be good to our self by being good.
Keep re-focusing on blessings
We must be in touch with reality and not be swayed away by frustrations and the hiccups of worldly life issues and contingencies. We need to constantly return and re-focus our limited and finite time and energy to better pursuits. There is need to contain any upsets and dissatisfactions in life if we cannot correct them so that we will not be distracted from the many other wholesome pursuits and blessings awaiting to be harnessed and harvested.
Grow the tree of blessings and not the parasitic infestations that will make it wither
Life is a tree of blessings. Rare is birth as a human. Treasure life as a tree of blessings. We must not in our folly attract and multiply the insects and parasites of woes, and frustrations. Grow not and attract not the parasites, lest they wither away the tree of blessings.
Guilt can be bane of life. Do not wear ourselves away with guilt and fear
Do not take issue with upsets and brood and harbour guilt and fear for this will be sure way to cultivate and harness more frustrations.
We should not drain away our life energy that way. We should learn how to improve our lot and move on, not brood and lament, not feel guilt and castigate our self. There will always be better ways of doing things and this does not mean the ways we did things in past are not right but they can be more right. They can be better handled .
Lord saint* beseeches us not to live in guilt but to be positive to want to improve.
We move on and do not lament. We do not live in the past. The past is history. The present is a present (and to be harnessed as blessing). The future can still be a mystery (though we can modulate our future by taking care of the present).
Blessings of four-fold happiness
As said and re-expounded by sages of old and host of enlightened ones," Health is the highest gain, self confidence the greatest friend, contentment the greatest wealth, and spiritual bliss will complete the four fold happiness of life". But do keep refocusing on balanced and moderated approach and do not deny nor over indulge in any aspect of life be it health, wealth, kinship or spiritual matters
Principles for spiritual pursuits if applied to daily life can be fruitful and gainful for mundane life
The very same principles which will lead us to spiritual bliss in time to come (either in next life or life to come) will give us here and now worldly peace and ease -- health, wealth (contentment) and confidence (kinship) if we care to persist in effecting the principles diligently, mindfully, sensibly and pragmatically.
The modus operandi to spiritual gains, if applied to day-to-day life, will also bring social gains. Lord saint reminded us that this is the basic feature common to faiths
These are values that can be realised by all irrespective of their creed, kind and faiths.
Truth cuts across apparent religious divide. There is oneness in faiths which are the pillars of the house of God for divine realisation
Lord heavenly saint* is one of the heavenly beings who reiterated these values that are not new. All religions and sects present them in some way or other to reach out to and meet the diverse aspirations and needs of as many people and beings as is possible and plausible
Religion is about life.
Life is religion and religion is about life -- to be exact... how to have peace and ease that may elude us now and then.
Though I adore the lord saint*, there is no need to for anyone who seek the inner truth of life to do so.
He is neither here to start something anew nor to champion the old ways, religions, sects and institutions. All are separate and distinct but yet playing complementary roles. Together, they are one whole. They are one in essence
He is one of the saints to bring us insight on life and life is religion.
The world is one big temple or church.
He is one of the divine messengers of Divinity and his ultimate temple is the world we live in. The roof is the sky and the heavens. The pillars supporting the roof are the religions of the world. All under the heavens are in the temple and its compound.
Simple and yet difficult to perceive is truth
Truth is so simple and yet difficult to perceive and even more difficult to put in words.
If you are somewhat perplexed after reading this posting and not in agreement, this can be expected. You can still be and are on the right path to peace and ease in your own way and at your own time and target.
May there be peace and ease in life despite the difficulties and dis-ease.
More important to make progress here and now and not yearn for the spiritual horizons in the life after and beyond
What is important is not when we arrive but that we make progress, that we pick ourselves up when we fall and move on.
But if blessed and guided by the lord saints, our problems will be less. Big issues will become small issues and small issues be no issues. But be mindful to work on life and move on for more peace and tranquility. Self effort is still the norm.
The candle flame must be sheltered
Put it in another angle, we must reflect that our life is like a candle flame which if sheltered by the lord saints will not flicker but will grow and glow.
Gift of divine spiritual force adds to confidence that the candle flame of our life will be sheltered by the heavenly saint
There is a field of experience which old timers would like to share and that is, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to invite divine energy to course through our body and limbs while seated in lotus or semi-lotus position in front of the altar of the saints.
This connects us directly via energy channels with the representative of the heavenly saints, like some form of "chi" and allows bonding to facilitate one form of concentration-cum-mindfulness cultivation. This helps to calm the mind to reach inner peace if done correctly and in congenial atmosphere.
Combined with pure thoughts of love of life (focused on oneself and radiating outwards to others), we will be able to connect with the refined love and energy of the heavenly saints.
The spiritual energy flow through our limbs is one manifestation of divine spiritual force of the heavenly saints
This divine energy or some called it divine spiritual force or chi is useful initiator to spiritual bonding and confidence. It is available and within reach of anyone keen for the experience here and now.
It is, however, one of the means to an end but not the end in itself. It is intended to give us conviction that we can tap into energy field (holy energy field) of the heavenly saints when beset by storms of life.
The unique experience of holy chi is but one manifestation of the "leng" or holy spirit or divine force field.
Confidence or faith comes from unique gift of being able to feel the presence of divine spirit or force.
Though self effort is the norm, we do need, amidst the storms of life, the shelter and guidance of the heavenly saints via the divine or holy force or "leng" (heavenly force).
The storms of life do not last and calm seas of life will prevail
If sheltered by the saints, it will be easier to weather the storms of life and to survive to enjoy calm, peaceful and serene seas again. Storms do not last and will give way to calm seas.
The wise one remains steadfast and peaceful as much as he can even during storm. Only then can he harness the peace and blessings of heaven. He is not alone and the gods and the good will stand by him.
Universal prayer for all
The whole posting can be succintly put across in this simple reflection
To all heavenly saints I greatly adore. I believe in your existence and thy glory is in the thought of men. I seek for thy protection and guidance so as to live better for the time to come
Trinity of Love
The saints will extend their help to us if we seek their blessings earnestly.
But we must learn to love ourselves and help ourselves. We must work the ground with love and tend lovingly to our own life to harvest the fruits of blessings and self-love.
According to the lord saint*, there is a third axis or dimension which we often forget. We can also help one another. This is the third component of the trinity of love.
The lone candle flame of life needs to be sheltered by lord saints but the amassing of individual candle flames of life as a group too can give strength to one another.
The trinity of love comprises self endeavour (self-love and worth), divine umbrella of lord saints (heavenly or divine love), and group cohesiveness of our fellow men (group love and fellowship).
We are like sand particles which if cemented together as concrete pillar will be strong and which if sheltered from elements (bad influences and karma) by roof (the lord saints) will not be eroded and be withered away by the elements. This is the pillar parable elucidated by lord saint*.
You may agree somewhat that Heaven or Hell is, at times, our own making
Cheers. Do choose to be happy and not to be sad. Do have more of heaven on earth and not hell on earth. May we ever have peace and tranquility so as to harness more blessings which in turn reap us more divine peace and tranquility. This is the way to go for both our mundane (social and worldly) and supramundane (spiritual) life, irrespective of our religious inclination, faiths and convictions if any.
We must be at peace with those with views that appear not in unison with ours. This is the true nature of life and truth. We ourselves too looking back in life have views across time span that are not in unison. This is as should be and must be.
Cheers once again and be at peace with ourselves and the world.
Posted by inner truth netizen 4th Dec 2009
The above posting represents the opinions, understanding and experiences of the blogger based on 40 years of exposure.
Below is picture of the Jambhalas and the pakua
Why Jambhalas picture posted? If you understand the essence of the blog posting, the reason will be obvious. The Chinese pakua too embodies the same essence
PS *heavenly saint and lord saint refer to Lord Bo Tien, ( one messenger of God for the inner truth of life and for the oneness of faiths). Those who perceive and practise the teachings as elucidated by Him and who understand the oneness of faiths and sects are near and dear to Him and the host of Divinity. Those who are near may be far and those far may be near. Anyone who sees and effect the truth well knows Him, sees Him and is near to divinity. This is reiterated often by the lord saint.
Traversing mountain terrain of life, truth seeker arrives at the gate of heavenly bliss
Far into the deep reaches of the mountains, the spiritual path will take wisdom seeker to the gate of heaven on earth.
Then the wisdom pearl supported by twin dragons will be within reach and realisation.
The God Knowledge - Jade Emperor's Tou-li
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 archaelogical 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 unexpectedly, inadvertedly and at times even uncannily in emphasis from the preliminary teachings for each faith and between faiths and sects. But the fundamentals of all religions and sects remain the same and enduring, because all originate from the same source -- GOD.
Thus, when I deliver the GOD knowledge (Jade Emperor's teachings tau-li or tou-li), I shall neither comment (e.g. critique, judge) on existing religion nor commend (e.g. favor, prefer, highlight, be selective, be bias) any as the special one. All are unique and serve the divine plan in their own way. I want to turn man's mind away from being clouded by sectarian differences, so that man sees with clarity the truth in life. Man must cultivate insight on inner truth aspects that are common to and the basis of all faiths.
Be insightful though of this aspect. Every saint and prophet considered the times, the circumstances and the prevailing mentality of the people before delivering appropriate sermon. Every saint or prophet would deliver doctrines in the format and style best suited to the prevailing times, people and needs"
English version rephrased from page 3 of year 2000 holy book Lord Bo Tien's Guidance. This is based on the blogger's personal insight which may not be identical with and not necessarily concured by other brethren. (Translation from Hokkien and transcript rephrased in English by inner truth netizen. This version is better and more apt to portray and depict more closely the spirit and essence of message in Hokkien)
PS * Religious thought must be crystallised and separated from the institutional historal and cultural overlays accumulated over the centuries. It is possible that by crystallisation of religious thought, we can see the emergence of better, more substantial and effective delivery to suit the latter day adherents. The life of people during the days of the founding prophets were simpler and less complex than those centuries latter. The presentation and substantiality of religious thought must be re-tailored to meet real needs of latter day era and not calibrated and pegged at level for those in the days of old. But more often than not (though I stand to be corrected), layers of culture and institutional overlays (sometimes academic and beyond fathom for some) may dilute the true essence of truth which we term thus as inner truth. There need not be concensus on this. We can agree to disagree and that is good for the many. There are always many ways to approach, understand and do things in life.
"No guilt, fear or distress please" - thus the advice of lord saints and even King Yama.
Harbour not fear, guilt or depression however bad the circumstances may be. What help can we derive from being sad, dejected and at a loss?
Even Lord Yama Lord of Hell and his subordinates encourage those who face him or his subordinates on day of reckoning at court of Hell to bring on any good worthwhile memory of what they have done well in past life. This is opposed to being doomed by and thorn apart by fear, sorrow and guilt. By acting thus correctly, the newly dead though in Hell may be able to be calm, and have better self-esteem and love for life. They may then be able to harness enough good energy of past good they have done to exit Hell to be reborn in higher and better births.
It is good and wholesome habit to be positive and to think better of oneself though not be arrogant. We should not sink and be drown in guilt or fear even in the worst of circumstances. By being mindful to be happy and to love ourself and to think good of ourself, we will be able to harness whatever blessings we have however finite they may be.
Good begets good and bad begets bad is of-repeated saying by sages of old. So do be good and think of good and be poised to do and harness more good. We will be better positioned to energise our past store of merits and at same time tap into the love and merits of the heavenly saints.
This good habit will go a long way to ensure we have good last thought moment at verge of death. A good last thought moment will generate better rebirth in happy realms. Even for day to day life, a good thought moment will give rise to another good thought moment.
Thus Lord Bo Tien admonishes us not to harbour fear, guilt or to be hard on ourself for our shortcomings but to move on in life and improve our lot. What good can fear and distress give us? Like a glass of water, we should fill our life and mind with good thoughts and the positive energy of our good. This way the bad will not be able to be part of the glass of life and take fruit in life.
Better to be calm and be at peace with oneself despite the swings of yin and yang of life. This way we can harness the goodness of our life and ensure the bad do not take fruit and be part of the glass of life.
Views by late Revered Bro P. Philip
Only the wise seek the fulfilment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but difficult to perceive.
Many a pride cover those who achieve the light of enlightenment. But the wise are those who never fear of being misunderstood. Endurance is one's innocent glory in the next world.
The kingdom of Heaven is not solely built for man but nature has for each and every kind the deity and a kingdom of their own.
Access to God and His saints
We must know ourselves and know who is God and who is man. Learn from our own life for life unfolds many timeless and invaluable lessons. God speaks to us through life. Learn not just from our own life but from the lives of our fellow men. But judge not for often we can see the follies of others but fail to see our own. Do not even judge oneself and be critical of oneself for that will create poor self -esteem, lack of self love and confidence. Love oneself. Only then can we move on and improve and only then should we love others. Loving others and not loving ourselves will not be tenable. If we do not have love for ourselves, how can we be effective in loving others as much as we love ourselves?
Look not to others for spiritual leadership. No religion has succeeding prophet to follow through the work of the founding prophet. Correct me if this is not true. I need not be correct and that must be the case. There is no intermediary between us and God. We must be our own candle flame to lit up our life with peace and joy. Only God and his saints could shelter the candle flame of our life but we must still tend to our own flame. Only then will our flame grow and glow.
We can have fellowship with others as a collection of candle flames is better than a solitary flame to shine up our life. But we cannot depend on another person's candle flame of life to have spiritual peace. We must nurture our own flame of divine peace with the shelter of God and his saints.
But do derive strength in group fellowship with others of like mind and who are wise to want to have peace of life despite the trials and tribulations of life. Lord Bo Tien, like all heavenly saints, has advised us that the truth of life shall be our teacher and those who see, know and put into practice the truth see, know and are close to God and to all heavenly saints. We cannot go to God and his saints by buying or procuring an entitlement ticket from any other man.
Fellowship, brethren, is not just between men but also between religions and faiths of men. We can reach God via any religion but fellowship and harmony amongst religions will facilitate more to reach God and his saints. The truth is that we can reach God on our own and not through fellow men but group fellowship gives strength.
The Divine Trinity
For life of individuals, there will be the three phases of spiritual development - the devotional and discipline orientation phase, the loving-kindness practice phase, and the divine wisdom growth phase. The three may be concurrent for some or successive for others.
Mission phases too may follow such pattern. There is always somehow the Divine Trinity. Lord Bo Tien has reminded us of the three phases.
The shrine of the lord saint typically, but not invariably, embodies this three phases in the form of image of Buddha in centre, Lord Bo Tien on one side and Goddess of Mercy on the other side.
Temple history of the lord saint anywhere too must display and abide by the three cycles. This may likely be depicted by three temple premises. But whether this will be concurrent, successsive or even both will be known over time. Heaven do speak to us in life and over time.
For many sects and religions, the divine trinity is present either in spirit or in substance but of course will be manifested in their own distinctive and unique ways.
This is the divine trinity that colours spiritual life of individuals and of the masses.
Quality time will make the difference for inner peace
Have quality time as well as quiet time for ourselves when we can take stock of our life, how to value / love life and how to be more settled and peaceful. Some refer to this contemplation as prayer time and others call this relaxation and even meditation or mindfulness. This can be any where and any time. There are many ways of doing so. We can even do so while working or walking from one office to another office. The idea is to cultivate good mental habits and wake up our inert mind faculties which some refer to as third eye or the gift of God.
Such good habits if cultivated will carry over as a natural mental attribute beyond our times of divine contemplation, that is, as part of our nature and temperament. We become more mindful, become more aware in every moment of our life. We become more steady, peaceful and wise come what may. Our mind stands 'still' and is calm and serene. Our mind remains more often tip top and yet peaceful and pure when others have frequent storms and earthquakes in their mind. They have muddy mental pollution most of the time. Therefore it is good that we have quality time for ourselves and cultivate our mind. Mind cultivation is referred in Pali texts by Lord Buddha as bhavana.
Lord Bo Tien is depicted with left hand in salutation and both feet astride the yin yang storms of life. This is to depict the need to have bhavana -- in order to be steady, balanced and to have divine peace (both as depicted by left hand in salutation) and to balance and be on top of yin and yang (both feet astride the elements). We can cultivate this to be our second nature in every moment of our life. We should not rush into this but go for small steps and progress. Any craving or thirst for immediate results will unsettle us and upset us.
Truly, we need quality time to bring out in us the divine essence of inner peace and love of life.
Time and tide wait for no man. Be wary of sloth and torpor. Live life and not run from life.
It is not uncommon that we find it difficult to pull ourselves together to do what we need to do. This sluggishness is universal for everyone. We often give the lame excuse that we are tired and need to unwind. But more often the more we unwind, the more tired we seem to be and we may even sleep overtime for hours on weekends and after work. This may not help and we may feel worse off. To make things worse, all that we want to do and need to do pile up and we have less time to do them. This can be unsettling and we may end up stressed and decide to wait and put things off longer with the same excuse of wanting to rest and wait for better times when we can get things done. We never seem to find time and we get frustrated and down. This, brethren, is sloth and torpor.
My experience is that rest we must and sleep we must but often we do not seem to have enough of these. When that happens, do be mindful. Pluck ourselves up and get on to do some useful chores like house work or simple errands. Do not set lofty target or we may feel daunted by the volume of work we need to do. Do what we can and perhaps in instalments. While doing them, reflect and be mindful of how we want to be happy for the day, how to be calm and peaceful for the day and what little blessings we can have for the day. The housework or errand gets done. The body is energised and invigorated by activity. Endorphins are produced by our body to pep us up, and to better our mood. We have less time to be idle and to even think of unpleasnt issues. Keep sloth and torpor at bay even if not easy to eradicate them. Then, we will be much better off.
That is why heavenly saints add that we must strive on with deligence and make things work for us. But do not over indulge though, for that would be the opposite of sloth and torpor. This short breakfast article is written in the morning when I have to set out to work but too early to do so. I tried to rest by doing nothing but feel worse off . When this article was written and the thought that the values elucidated will help me to be mindful and help others as well, I become invigorated but I cannot over indulge and spend too much time on it. Otherwise, I will be late for work. Indeed, this is example of how we need to avoid the two extremes - sloth and torpor and over indulgence.
In life, there must be the balance and we must be steady and steadfast in doing so. This is depicted by the Lord Saint's image (left hand in salutation to remind us to be steady, steadfast and to stay on course and the two feet astride the elements to remind on need for suitable dyanmic appropriate balance). Cheers and be on the way to have the balance to harness the blessings of life here in this worldly life and also for our spiritual development and well being as well.
Time and tide wait for no man.
Be wary of sloth and torpor.
Live life and not leave life.
Run your life well.
Do not run from life
nor let life run you down
and be overwhelmed and go under
(read next article below)
Manage life in peace and ease.
Stay on top and be afloat
Not let life manage you
Drown you and put you off
That is the way of the saints
Depicted by Bo Tien Lord
in His image above
that tells us the truth and way
for both life worldly and divine
Run your life well and not let life run you down. Never be overwhelmed and go under
The inner truth of life lies in having peace and joy i.e. how to be peaceful and comfortable with life. We need to steer clear of denial, not wanting to do anything (and often everything). That will be sloth and torpor. We too need to steer clear of wanting to do everything and do each of them excessively as though we have unlimited resources, energy and time to do so.
We will only be overwhelmed. The activity, however, interesting, joyful and relaxing in the beginning will end up being tiresome, a switch-off, torturous and strenuous. We will end up not doing anthing else and neglecting other activities and needs. The activity will get the better of us and we will be sick of it. Our mental and physical health will be battered. We will not have inner peace and calm. We will literally short circuit ourselves and our life will be tumultous and stormy, like the sunami when tide recedes beyond the horizon only to return as giant monster waves to finish us off. This is no joy and peace at all.
Make sure we run our life and our activity. Do not be slave to our activity and indulgence. Let not the activity run our life. The activity must not run our life and ruin our life vis-a -vis our comfort, joy and peace. Take for instance a grand buffet with a spread of 100 dishes. We can only perhaps partake in no more than 10 to 20. Even then we can only have small amount or sample of each dish. Consuming too much of any one dish will upset our stomach. The buffet will ruin our joy and be no longer pleasant. We may even be worst off than if we are starved. Avoid being killed by starvation and avoid killing ourselves with food. We eat at the buffet but must ensure the buffet does not eat us up and finish us off.
In life, do decide on being comfortable and at peace with life. We decide on what we can do and not ape others blindly. We do not want to be better off just to show that we can do more or have more. The activities and items in life are means to an end and not ends in themselves. Life choices are unique for the individual and the station of life he is in. What is good for John is not good for Mary. As for any job, we must choose and run the job. We must not let the job choose and run us.
Let us not be overwhelmed and let this be food for thought. The good lord's image reminds us of the need for balance and to be steadfast. He has reiterated that the values for spiritual goals are the same and relevant for non-spiritual worldly life. We do not run away from life and we do not let life run us down. We must live life and not let life rob us of living life in peace -- inner divine peace of heaven even while in flesh and blood here and now. Cheers. Live life and not be ruined and be slave to life. Have balance and know your priorities and limitations. Know what you want but know what are your resources and limits.
Three Types of Complacency and Incompetence
A gentle reminder for us to avoid the three types of complacency which lead to incompetence. It is likely that individuals will have all the types and in variable degrees in their life from time to time. All three types do cause restlessness, upsets and disruption of peace and ease in life. This is not surprising with human life and we have to rise above all types.
What are the three types of complacency and incompetence?
One extreme is to crave for things that we have yet to have to exclusion of all else. This can be so overboard that one forgets and forgoes what one already has and can have as he thinks that it is no point having what he already has if he cannot get those things he has yet to have. Such a person is tormented by what he wants to have. He wants them badly but may not be able to have for the future and at times not even for now. He feels empty and void. He feels unfortunate and miserable when he is actually well-off with plethora of skills and blessings. He is afraid of dwelling on what he has or can do as he thinks this is complacency and resting on laurels. He ends up ignoring and putting to waste his blessings and skills which invariably become depleted from cold storage and disuse.
The second type is someone who is complacent though he has finite and limited blessings. These may not be ample to last him for long and cope with all life situations. He indulges in his blessings and does not work or cultivate more blessings and skills. He depletes his fortunes, and never upgrades himself. He is ill prepared for future.
The third type is someone who wants everything but end up not having any. Why? He is unrealistic, too idealistic to point of complacency and incompetence. He bites off more than he can chew. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Discussion
Brethren, let us dwell further into the types of complacency and incompetence.
In first type, the individual thinks it is wrong to treasure and make use of what he has and can do. Such a person does not value and does little to harness his available blessings, resources and potential. He clamours to have what he does not have, has yet to have and difficult to have. He does not pay heed to axioms (1) a bird in hand is worth two in the bush and (2) distant field looks greener. He is like a 'peta' or hungry ghost who has food / blessings aplenty but does not want or is unable to swallow his food or use his blessings. He thinks it is good to fast and go hungry or to forgo his blessings so that others and God will consider him virtuous. He lets his food and blessings go to waste thinking that this is the way to please God and to share in the suffering of the unfortunate. How misled can he be? Others are not helped and he will only end up not pleasing men or saints. He is a victim of his own misconstrued approach.
For second type of complacency, the individual just does not heck care. He does not feel need to cultivate more blessings and depletes his available blessings.
And for the third type, the person gets contitutional and mental upset because he wants to handle too many issues than he can handle. He bites off more than he can chew. He is not pragmatic, not focus orientated, not realistic but too idealistically complacent, and some will say too divergent and never or hardly convergent.
The solution, brethren, is to steer clear of the three types of complacencies and incompetence by correct and wise approach to life. It is not uncommon for many individuals to swing from a bit of one type to the other. We need to avoid the three types of complacency and incompetence. Here is how. Be prudent and modest. Do not frittle away our blessings as though they are infinite and there is no tomorrow. Value our blessings, use them wisely, and at same time, go for more blessings. Stretch every dollar we have and make the dollar work for us where possible. Do not however have unduely high expectations, do not be greedy and go for the sky, go for all or none, or we will face risk of ending up frustrated and tormented. Do not end up with hell instead. Do be steady and have steadfast sense of direction and purposefulness in life by being more convergent in approach than divergent. Have steadfast and dynamic balanced approach as depicted by Lord Bo Tien's image (left hand in salutation to denote steadfastness and balancing of extremes by both feet to denote dynamic balanced approach). Yearn not for the excessive, the impossible to have or difficult to have. Do not bite off more than we can chew. Know what is 'good to have', what is 'not necessary to have ' and what is 'must have'. Be content for small changes and progress. Little drops of water maketh the mighty ocean. Do not yearn and chase for the horizon. Do not bite off more than we can chew. We are more likely to have peaceful and contented life when we are wise to the inner truth behind life and faiths.
Know first how to be man ....
Many are curious and intrigued by the supramundane, about gods and saints, about demigods and demons, about buddhas and arahats, about pure ones and why they are different from gods, about Jade Emperor and his court or retinue of deities. Any write-up of the supramundane will be treading on vastly unknown and uncharted. We will be far from correct or very incomplete. The Chinese sages of old had advised us that secrets of the supramundane cannot be divulged. Many today may not see eye to eye on this or do they?
But I would agree that somehow, some elementary understanding, however incomplete, wrong and inaccurate, is useful background or platform for us to better perceive issues with regards to rebirth, spiritual development and fate (karma). Rebirth is in the will of Divinity and it must keep life going in all levels of existence. Beings must manage the cycles of rebirth and not let the cycles manage them, Rebirth can be spontaneous, egg born, womb born, and can take form (mind and body) or no form (mere stand alone mind entity)
We often raise question on the supramundane - on matters beyond the mundane. The answer to such question often begs more questions. Why? This is often the case with issues beyond the mundane, beyond our five senses.... Nevertheless, no harm in sharing some fragments of beliefs below.
Buddha /arahat - fully enlightened, no more volition / karma or fate as no more craving....... no more rebirth.
Jade Emperor and his retinue of deities and saints .... in heavens humans refer to.... radiant forms and near eternal life compared to human... holds sway and court over all beings in heaven and below heaven.
Pure Ones... pure divine energy in levels above heavens with no form but still have mind with subtle negligible mental attachment to mental joys or ecstasies... not what we understand as craving in crude form though. May be considered as enlightened and like buddhas but not all academics will concur. This, however, is just intellectual hair splitting. No way we can perceive the subtle difference. Eg the three Pure Ones of Tao - the Principal and Lao Tze etc are pure ones. There are many levels or abodes of the pure ones.
Demigods - half gods... alternate eg fortnightly between godly prowress and hell denizen suffering.... King Yama and subordinates.
Earth bound gods .... mountain gods and tree spirits. Demons .... belong to hell and remote cast away corner of a lower heaven.... have powers of gods but enjoy making others and fellow demons subordinated, fearful, and submissive. They need glorify and praise to be lively, radiant and vibrant, otherwise, they will be pale. They are better off than those in hell and some refer to them as gods, not demons.
Hungry ghosts... category of hell beings... have merits but cannot enjoy them... can have food and merits but cannot make use of them... they make themselves suffer and do not know how to be happy due to their past karma or fate....
Elfs, elementals.... they live in between hell and the human world. They are intermediate and transitory awaiting more life energy or merits for rebirth.
What we need to know is not the supramundane but about the mundane --- to know life and see truth through our life. How to be more human. We need to love life and know how to be humane. We need to be man, before we can know how to be saint and god. That is all we need to be and to know. A good man is divine and a god amongst men. He is loved by gods and men and is as good as a god. Even Gautama needed to come down from from Tusita Heaven to be reborn as man before he can be Buddha.
Cheers and do be humane and be a candle flame of truth and life. Be a torch and god amongst men. If we can be good men, then can we be god and saint. Learn first how to be man. Learn to be man and that would be best for now. Better to be more down to earth, convergent than to be divergent in approach to life and truth. Stay focus with both feet on gound, be down to earth and not be carried away and lost in the clouds, in the supramundane world beyond our mundane world. We should however be not myopic but do be pragmatic by being grounded most of the time. That would be best. (PS No religion has gone into detail account of the supramundane and all that are told are simple and superficial but not all that are out there in the supramundane.)
It is not necessary for us to know more of Lord Bo Tien but more important to know how to be man and to see the inner truth behind life. We do not need to look beyond man to do this. If we can know and see life and its inner truth and be man, we do know the lord saints and are near and dear to the lord saints though far.
Some things in life we simply need to learn and overcome or come to terms with
Ever wondered why in your life some things just come easily while for some others you have to work your heart out before you can get them. Some things come to you easily with prayers but not others. Some things we somehow cannot have. Why? How effective are prayers? Do heavenly saints exist and are they effective? Can they help us? Why don't they free every one from hell be it hell on earth in this very life of ours or the many levels of Hell? The answer below is perhaps no answer but gives some insight, otherwise the writer will be fully enlightened. All of us are learning and have to learn from life - the gospel of life!
We had some guidance from lord saint* that there are three ways we can get blessings. We worked for them and be blessing to ourselves. We get help from fellow brethren and they are blessings to us. We pray to Heaven for saints to bless us.
All saints like Lord Bo Tien remind us that there is the element of fate and by stroke of fate some things just come easily to us but not others. Every person is different in life from another because of fate.
But what is fate? Fate is self created by our past actions and deeds, be it past lives or the past of present life. If this be so, then we can actively change fate by creating actions which will change or at least modify fate. God helps those who helped themselves but what if we cannot help ourselves at all. That we cannot love ourselves at all cannot be the case. No matter how down and out we are, we must love ourselves and take note of the pluses and minuses in our life and move on. Don't give up or be frustrated. Frustrations will only forment more frustrations. That is why those who are down and out appear perhaps by force of habit to continue to be in bad luck and be down and out. They resign themselves to fate - a four letter word.
What is critically lacking for those who lament that they have bad fate is self love. They do not love themselves to appreciate their life situation, both the good and not so good. Only when we love ourselves can we tap into the love of Heaven but even then, there will always be the element of fate.
Of course, we can exert control over life and how we steer our life. Then again why not heaven do things for us and steer our life. The latter cannot be as we are not puppets and we can think, do and feel. As we think so we will be. We are what we made ourselves to be. God and saints can provide blessings but we need to do the walking of life ourselves.
At each stage of life, there are things we need to do and overcome. What God and saints can do for us is to clear the way and make other issues not be added problems so that we can focus on the issue or issues at hand. Somehow, God and his heavenly saints will help us but we must live the various stages of life ourselves. The term crossing divine gate or door is used. We cross from one gate to enter another phase of life with another gate to tackle. There are divine lessons we have to learn with each stage.
Some things in life we need to learn and learn them well and not that Heaven is indifferent or harsh to us. We are fated to learn so to speak but we are not fated to fail to learn unless we give up and choose to be helpless. Fate means we have to learn to come to terms or cross obstacles in life. These are worldly obstacles but if fate be the case for us to have obstacles, then they are spiritual obstacles. Saints are god sent as they can alter life such that we need to tackle less obstacles and only the important ones at any one time. They clear the way so that we need only to handle the one or two lessons in life for each stage. But remember that Heavenly saints help those who help themselves. Heaven helps everyone but not everyone can receive help if they do not love and help themselves
Xie tian xie di (Hanyu Pinyin Chinese) - Thanks to heaven.Thanks to the land
Heaven is patient with man but man is not as patient. Man often gives up on himself too easily but Heaven will never give up on him. The love of Heaven knows no bounds and is limitless like the sky but love of man even for himself is limited and at times flimsy. Seek out the guidance and benevolence of Heaven and give what is due to Heaven not what you will give to men.
Here is the how and way (tao). Rejoice in Heaven's benevolence and magnanimity. Thank Heaven above but do so for the land (mother earth) as well, for we live off the land. That is why we pay homage to the saints of the land - Tu Ti Kong. Heaven provides but mother earth delivers (facilitates), so did the sages of old say. (In the early temple of the lord saint, Lord Bo Tien, special place was accorded to saint of the earth)
Xie tian, xie di. Give thanks to Heaven and Mother Earth. Even Lord Gautama had loving thoughts for the tree that sheltered him to the very day he reached enlightenment. He revered it as the Bodhi Tree. Let's be rich with love and gratitude. Give thanks to Heaven what is due to Heaven but do not forget to give due thanks to Mother Earth. Saints there are both in Heavens and on Earth. Love Heaven and love the land.
Treat the earth well and go green. Do not upset the land. We sure will be better that way. Even Heaven will concur with our thoughtfulness and will grin from ear to ear and be green with loving appreciation. Love makes the worlds (realms of life) go round. Heaven and all realms do work as one to pave way for the promised one. Surely mighty Maitre-ya be the one.
Xie tian xie di. This age-old Chinese saying is expression of gratitude which if sincerely practised generates merits galore all round. Thanks to Heaven and thanks to the land. Surely this is yet another perspective of the saying. "
Only the wise seek the fulfilment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but difficult to perceive" Thanks be to late Snr Bro Philip. Let us say this again.
Xie tian xie di. Do love heaven and the land and country we live in. Be in harmony with mother earth and the earth will harmonise with our life. Cheers.
Xie tian xie di. Do say this again and again and rejoice....
THANKS TO HEAVEN..... THANKS TO THE LAND
XIE TIAN XIE DI
Go for peace in your life and here is the 'how' and 'why'
Go for peace in whatever we do. Have calm and peaceful ways of going about life. Do not rush or be rushed. Avoid being in situations where you cannot be at peace. Avoid being with others who make it diificult for you to be at peace.
Here is perhaps how to start day mindfully to keep yourself in peace. Wake up in morning and go to work or school in peace. Wake up willingly, not sluggishly as though waking up is an uphill task. First thing you want not to do on waking up is to enter into debate with yourself. Do not bargain and struggle with yourself on whether to wake up straight away or sleep longer. Wake up even if you feel tardy which is to be expected as your body engines have been switched off for the night. Freshen yourself with a quick simple and easy bath. Also, make it habit to answer call of nature after a glass of beverage (for gastrocolic reflex). This helps to make you feel more peaceful in body after discharging your body waste. Have a warm beverage and light breakfast. Do not burden your stomach after a night of fast (refer to term breakfast for break fast) or it will not give you any peace . Thereafter, do some simple chores for short half hour to activate your body systems. This helps to keep away the tarriness and tardiness of body. Also this prevents mind idling and straying to unpleasant thoughts. By then, you would have activated both body and mind and be able to feel fresh and more peaceful. You are then ready to go to work or school.
Do not live life as though you are in battle, in a race or in a struggle all the time even if life is a struggle of sorts. Do not think that we must come out winner and not be made a door mat in every situation or every interaction. These will put us in endless mental and bodily unrest as well as conflicts with others. Life is like sports. We enjoy the leisure of sports and exercise. Winning or losing should not be concerns. Of course, it is nice to win sometimes but do not make life a struggle by wanting to win all the time. Do not unconsciously make adversaries out of others you meet everday. What a lousy life we will have then! What we need is to be peaceful and not to be restless and upset whether we are doing something (engaged) or doing nothing (resting).
Sleeping away to avoid unpleasantness in life is no solution. This is not coping and will only result in more time for mind to idle and lament on frustrations. This is not peaceful. Eating our guts out when we feel troubled is certainly not peacful and will cause more body and mental upsets. Our mind and body will be at war and not at peace. Be at peace when we eat. Eat slowly and nimbly. Do not upset the peace you have by eating or worse still drinking, smoking or have bouts of race driving. You will only end up creating more problems than solving problems. Do not make a battle field out of life. Go about life and enjoy the peace. True worthwhile progress comes with peace. Do not barter away or trade away your peace.
At night have a good bath and a decent but not heavy meal. Have some meaningful and restful activites before sleep. Do not tune and gear yourself up and worked yourself into fever pitch. Unwind and let go. Go to bed comfortably but do not will to want to sleep and turn sleep into a struggle. Relax in bed and in easy loose clothes. Relax mind and body. If unpleasant thoughts intrude, do not wish them to go away but be calmly aware of them. They will somehow be no longer unpleasant. Do not struggle to keep them away. It will only make matters worse. Listen to soothing music to keep mind from straying to upleasantness. Sometimes, simple prayer will help. Often repeatitive simple prayer or incantations or even counting sheep if you don't mind counting sheep can help us to have more peace in our mind at end of day. We will then be at ease and peace. We will sleep easily and have pleasant sleep with no nightmares. We will have more pleasant and peaceful disposition for the next day because of conditioning and good habit.
This brethren is cultivation of inner peace what some termed as love for oneself and for life. This is the practice of inner truth of life and of how to have enduring inner peace. This again illustrates how simple truth is. We will know why it appears profound and why it is difficult to perceive. Do not make life a battle field when we are either very busy or idling our life in frustrations (doing battle with our ownself).
Only the wise seek the fulfillment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but diificult to perceive. This did senior brother Philip remind us.
Go for the peace in your life. At times, however, we need to say our piece during conflicts but please hold on to the peace. Otherwise, we will be like animals in the wild, always not able to live in peace, either kill or be killed, either being eaten or eating others up. Let us live in peace and be heavenly like the serene and peaceful saints in the heavens, not like the wild animals and those in hell. Man has choices either to be peaceful or to be at odds with life. Bring out the man or god / saint in us, not the animal nature or hell ways that we may still have from our past lives. Choose to be at peace and be wise. This way we walk the way of gods and saints. We will stand tall before God / Heaven. We will win the hearts of gods and men.
Bear in mind the two sides of coin of life - divine and individual when more blessings needed
For the clapping of hands, we need two hands. Likewise for there to be a coin, there must be two sides or faces unless we can envision a coin to be round like a ball.
In life, we may want some things out of life. But not always we will get what want. Often when we get what we want, it may not be the way we exactly want them to be. This is the true nature of life. We need to move along and adapt as the only perfection of life is that there is imperfection. That is why all that are born must face death and be reborn. But this does not mean we should not want to live.
Live we must and we have to live well but be balanced in our approach. Know the twin poles of nature. Even this is subtly true in Heaven. Amongst Taoists, we have the yin and yang. Yin is impermanent, so is yang but the two together is permanent. So we can either flow along and be tossed from life to life and from day to day or we can ride and be atop the yin and yang. Only the latter will provide dynamic peace and calm but the ultimate will be when full enlightenment is attained like the buddhas. Just look at most of the images of deities sitting down on dragon chair like that of Lord Bo Tien. There is always portrayal of balance with both feet on elements. Only then will there be peace and ease.
Let us focus on what we want to make out of our life. We may want something out of life but whether we get it depends on our inputs and our fate. Even our fate depends on what we do in past lives and in the past of current life. Even though our life is controlled by fate, we can still change by moderating our store of merits or life force. This can come about if we can push aside bad karma and make our good karma take fruit. Here is where Heavenly saints can come in. But we need to help ourselves by doing more good and trying to be more good. But this may not be enough and we need to pray to the saints to help us, to tip the balance and to make things happen. God helps those who help themselves.
We need two hands to clap and we need two sides before there will be the coin. We must make the change and want to change but this will not happen readily and bring desired results. We need to have fate on our side and for God and saints to bless us to help us modify, reap and have better fate. Nothing is cast in stone. Moreover, we have free will and we can make choices. That is both good and not so good depending on how we manage our life.
We came to this world and life for certain purposes, what some would say destiny of sorts. Our destiny is in our own hands. This is predominantly true . God willing, man can work for what he wants but this must be within the destiny or purpose of his life. How then do we know what is our own destiny? We must be mindful and have insight of our strengths and weaknesses in life as we too have yin yang aspects. There will always be life events and event language we can take note of. Not to take cognisance of this will not be wise. The wise one knows what he can have, that is, the options that are possible for him. But the not-so-wise and obstinate may go for the sky. The latter will have uphill task and he will find life disapppointing for most part. He blames Heaven and laments that God is not on his side. The reality is that he is not even on his own side simply because he is not insightful. God willing the insightful seem to be able to get blessings but not the ones who see not the better options in their life. Man must live his life and God willing we can make life even better but man cannot tell God he don't want to be himself and want to be somebody else instead. Be ourselves and God willing we will be better but we cannot be someone else instead. Do not envy and be upset. Rejoice in what we have and what we can have but not go for what others have. Be ourselves and make ourselves better but never try to be some one else.
The coin of life has two sides - divine and individual. (For there to be hand clap for life goals to happen, two hands are required - one hand divine and the other is human.) Work for your own life and ask for blessings. God willing, success will be yours. Try to be someone else and this can never be. How then can God help you? Do not make things difficult for God and heavenly saints when you make things difficult for yourselves in the first instance.
Bear in mind the two sides of coin of life - divine and individual. Bear in mind that more clap of blessings can only happen if there are two hands -divine and individual. Man works for more blessings in life but divine support is needed to make them happen. Only then can destiny and fate be modulated and effected.
Lord Bo Tien has said. If we ask for blessings, big issues can become small issues and small issue become no issue. But we must do our part, be on our own side and then Heaven certainly will be with us on the other side to make up the coin of life. Cheers and all and anyone of us can have own success in life but not the same success as others. This spiritual insight is necessary for us to be at peace with life. Do be insightful and you will be better at living life. Cheers again.
Brethren in various religions have shared that man will not be saved by good works alone but by the grace of God. Simply put, our good works alone may not be enough to bring on better blessings but need the grace of heaven to top up our fate to make life even better. Praise the lord. Xie tien xie di. The coin of fate has two sides, and the thunder claps of blessings need two parties - man and heaven. At times, the term "man" includes fellow men. Our brethren can be of help and blessings to us. Do remember that blessings come from three angles - self effort, divine grace and fellow men. Our brethren in various other religions and sects are of blessings to us as well.
Go for the sky in steps. Gods can help. But do make the first steps. This is the truth in life
Go for life in steps. Go for one level at a time. The difference between one heaven and the next higher heaven is sky wide. Human world is one heaven above animal world. Go for the sky in your world. That will be heavenly for now. In time you can move on and be in heaven above heaven. There is no stop to how far you can go. But you must take the first few steps. What matters is that first steps. The rest will remain as fantasy if the initial steps are not made. Make the first steps and the rest will have chance to happen. You will be on your way.
Do not dream and depend on luck and fantasy. Luck itself is luck's own star. What can mere stars achieve? Thus said one western philosopher. Take first steps to learn to walk. No amount of wishful thinking by parents will enable the infant to walk. Likewise the saints may wish us well but we must walk the first few steps ourselves before that can have chance to happen and be reality. The saints can help to pick us up if we stumble along the way. But the first steps must be made by us. No doubt we will not stumble if first steps not made and the saints will not even have the opportunity to help us. We will not be able to move on if we do not make the first steps. God and saints help those who help themselves. Truth often is as simple as that. But when we are swept by worldliness, we are not perceptive to see things as they are. We may think it is too profound and beyond us. Few are clear minded, settled, crystal clear and at peace mentally to realise the simplicity of truth. (Some regard this as the mind eye -the third eye. But this will only put many off as third eye concept appears too mystical and beyond reach of the many. Writer's opinion is not to depict truth as profound for this would not be correct and truthful. There is need to emphasize on its simplicity and that it is wthin the reach of the many. It is because of dusts in one's 'eyes' that one's vision is affected and one does not see things as they are and as they should be)
Only the wise seek the fulfillment of ancient wisdom. Yet the profound truth is so simple but diificult to perceive. Thus have we been reminded by the lord saints through Snr Bro Philip. Go for the sky in steps - level by level. God and saints as well as world religions can help. But the first steps must be undertaken by ourselves. This truth is simple but somehow too profound to many and often not perceived. Lord Bo Tien in his compassion has reminded us time and again of the common presence of inner truth in all religions and sects, in all creed and kind and in all levels and dimensions of existence of the universe and beyond.
HAPPINESS AND THE THREE "R"s
Sharing by inner truth netizen based on inner truth elaborated by the lord sage.
HAPPINESS MUST HAVE THAT QUALITY OF PEACEFULNESS AND LOVE FOR LIFE. HAPPINESS COMES FROM US AND NOT FROM OTHERS. WE CAN REMAIN HAPPY ADMIST THE UNHAPPY AND BE A BEACON. WE CAN BE UNHAPPY AND A WET BLANKET EVEN ADMIST THE HAPPY.
THE POORER, LESS ENDOWED AND LESS PRIVILEGED LOT MAY BE MORE HAPPY THAN THE BETTER LOT. THE LESS THAN OPTIMAL CIRCUMSTANCES TOO WILL NOT PREVENT HAPPINESS IN THE ONES WHO WANT TO BE HAPPY. OPTIMAL CIRCUMSTANCES MAY NOT UPLIFT MOOD OF THE UNHAPPY.
ALL DEPENDS ON PERSON'S SPIRITUAL AND MORAL STRENGTH, HIS BELIEF IN HIMSELF AND HIS THREE "R" s - HIS RESOLUTENESS, HIS RESILIENCE AND HIS RESOURCEFULNESS. FIRMNESS, UNWAVERING, UNFALTERING DOGGED PURSUIT OF OBJECTIVE SAY HAPPINESS OF SPIRIT IS RESOLUTENESS. RESILIENCE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO RECOVER AND GET BACK TO HAPPINESS WITH THAT HEAVENLY QUALITY OF INNER PEACE. RESOURCEFULNESS HAS TO DO WITH FINDING WAYS AND MAKING USE OF THE AVAILABLE.
PERSON MUST CULTIVATE THE SPIRITUAL EQUANIMITY (STRENGTH AND STABILITY OF SPIRIT) TO ACCEPT HIMSELF FOR WHAT HE IS, FOR HIS UPS AND DOWNS AND FOR HIS ATTRIBUTES. THERE SHOULD BE NO GUILT, NO SELF BLAME AND NO ARROGANCE BUT THAT QUIET (NOT LOUD) SELF-CONFIDENCE. HE SHOULD BE EVER MORE SELF-ASSURED AND LESS OF SELF-DEPRECIATION. HE WILL BE LESS AT RECEIVING END OF YIN YANG TWISTS. HE DOES NOT NEED TO FACE INDIGNITY OF BEING EXALTED ONLY TO BE HUMBLED SUBSEQUENTLY AND VICE VERSA. WITH TIME, THE AMPLITUDE AND BAND WIDTH OF YIN YANG FLUCTUATIONS WILL NARROW DOWN AND PERSON WILL APPROACH BETTER DEGREE OF DYNAMIC STATE OF INNER PEACE BEFORE ENLIGHTENMENT
The cultivation of inner peace in modern life
The lord saint has said to us that unlike centuries ago, we need not leave life to live the life of inner peace. In the days of old many many centuries ago, it was possible not to work and to be a wanderer in nature to find the inner peace. In today's context, this would be a far departure from reality and not pragmatic. It would be modern day style of ascetism or denial of life in modern day context. The individual will not be in conformity with life in current era. He will struggle against the modern day norms and realities. He will be far from peace. Imagine doing nothing and staying at home most of the time, not having socialisation, schooling or work. There will be boredom, emptiness and depression. Better to work and to have itinerary but not over involve excessively and multi-tasking endlessly. The latter will wear us out and we will have poor health. There will be struggle always to go for the horizon or the rainbow . We will never reach the horizon and the rainbow will just fade away like the mirage in the hot dessert. There will be struggle within us and definitely no peace. Avoiding everything and doing nothing will only create emptiness and no peace. Over doing and never having enough is tormentous like the whirl pool and we are far from peace.
Thus lord saint Lord Bo Tien says that we need to be with the world, with society, with work and even with family to be in harmony and in conformity with modern era. This will ensure we do not deny life, leave life but live life. We have to flow along but not be sucked along. We must be ever mindful to keep the peace within us as far as possible. Do not expect instant result though. But sure enough with time we will not be struggling with nothing to do or with too much to do and want.
Go about life and be effective in modern worldly sense but do this with peace and go for peace while doing so. This is moment-to-moment cultivation of peace within us while we live life. We do not leave life as this is impossible. We do not over do, over want, over pursue and over expect to extent of being frustrated and flabbergasted. We keep on with worldly material life but go for peace while doing so. Everyone must find his own level of activities which will also facilitate simultaneous growing and nurturing of the inner peace of his spirit of life. The result will not be instantaneous but he will find his life less unpleasant and from time to time, he may have inexplicable moments of calm and peace what buddhists term as 'piti" in Pali . There is no need to go into the forest for solitary confinement to have this. As said, this will be denial and form of 'ascetism' in modern era.
Go about life in modern world, be productive in worldy sense, have material comforts and wealth of sorts but make sure you do this with peace. We will reach inner peace more often and in better degree with time. We will be on our way to heaven on earth what some term as enlightenment and union with the communal holy spirit of divinity of God and the saints.
Do remember that to be well endowed, be it materially or in psychic sense, has little to do with inner peace and perhaps just collateral development of individuals. The not-so-well endowed too can have inner peace. In fact, it may be easier for the not-so-well endowed. Blessed are the not-so-well endowed, for they will be more able to be endowed with heavenly peace. Thus have we understood from what Lord Bo Tien wants us to know. All can achieve more peace without even switching religions or allegiance to any sect or leader. Hero worshipping will not be useful to this end, not even hero worshipping the lord saint.
Reflect on the image of the lord saint balancing life elements or contingencies with his feet. His left hand in salutation bids us to be steady and steadfast to go for inner peace. The sceptre in right hand tells us that he is one of the saints who are messengers of Heaven on the Inner Truth behind all religions and sects - the Inner Truth which if realised and practised yields inner peace leading to enlightenment and oneness with the the divine holy spirit.
Many ways to life and bliss.
Many adherents of faiths are keen to share the passions of their beliefs with others. This is out of love and should be praiseworthy but at times can go overboard and unpleasant, more so when the practitioner of the beliefs are not rooted correctly in their practices and principles.
Simply doing good is good enough for some but may be considered not good enough by others. Obviously this adds dimension to the saying that one man's meat is another man's poison. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder is one other saying.
Some say believe and you will be on your way. Others may say test what they tell you as gold is put to test by fire and do not believe in mere heresay. Both ways have their merits and useful to different people and during different stations of their lives.
There are many ways to have spiritual reflection. Simple prayer and spending quiet time is one way. Group prayer and adorations via hymns and even incantations are other ways. There is also meditation either alone or in groups. Objects of meditation can differ. Techniques may involve concentration or one pointedness on one hand and mindfulness cultivation on the other hand. Some even employ both in varying combinations.
The path to climb spiritually may involve merits accumulation on one hand and purity and inner peace cultivation on the other. Purity takes many forms either material or mental. The results may differ. Some experience supernatural phenomena. Others do not. Satisfaction comes in stages and various forms. But ultimately, all ways and paths meet at zenith of enlightenment but along the way there may be episodes of bliss, rapture and visions either clarity of view of life or actual visions of angels or events to come. But they are just experiences along the way. Some cling and stagnate and do not climb further spiritually. Others just pass along and go further. Indeed, there are many ways to spiritual life and bliss. Some will experience miracles, develop psychic abilities but not all will have such and yet develop spiritually. Some back slide and others progress albeit at times in stop and go fashion. Be it worldly or spiritual life, there are many ways of going about them. This is the reality and will always be.
We have been told through Snr Bro Philip that the kingdom of Heaven is not built solely for man. Nature has for each and every kind a deity and a kingdom of their own. Likewise, the realisation of divine peace is not via only one path or way for all. Nature has for each and every being a guiding saint and an individualised path of his own (specifically tailor made for him). There are many ways to life and bliss. The path is somewhat different for various persons. It is individualised and unique for each being. You may say it is tailor made for him and will even vary for changing situations and focus in his life. Copy-cat path that works for John will not be as effective for Adam. The balance point for what brings inner peace to John cannot be identical for Adam. This way we can be at peace with life and tap into the bliss of nature.
Yellow Jambhala is one manifestation of the Heavenly King of the North ?
The Yellow Jambhala and the Heavenly King of the North both hold the mongoose. The Heavenly King of the North is referred to in some Tibetan texts as the Yellow Jambhala. This is the understanding of inner truth netizen. His mantra and that of the other jambhalas are:
1) OM JAM BA LA JA LEN DRA YA SUA HA Yellow Jambhala Mantra
2) OIN PEH MA KOR DA ARYA JAM BALA SID DA YA OIN PET White Jambhala Mantra 3) OM JAM BA LA JA LEN DRA YA DA NINE ME DI HIR DAR KI NIR JAM BA LA SAM BHA RA SUA HA Red Jambhala Mantra
4) OM JAM BA LA JA LEN DRA YA SUA HA, OM IN DA NIR MU KAM PER MA LIR SUA HA Black Jambhala Mantra 5) OM MUN JAM BA LA JA LEN DRA YA SUA HA Green Jambhala Mantra.
There are various ways to inner peace and enlightenment. You can choose to emphasize on different aspects (one or more) to begin with but will still reach the same end point.Thus we have the different Jambhala approaches with mantras to help us to do so. Mantras involve harnessing the energy of the great Jambhalas who have been urged by Gautama Buddha to help sentient beings. They advocate beings working for spiritual wealth without compromising and denying worldly needs This is the way to inner truth common to all religions and sects as explained by Lord Bo Tien. Cheers and explore further and be inspired in life both mundane and supramundane.
Noteworthy and informative websites on the great Jambhalas:
http://mydzi.blogspot.com/2008/04/jambala-god-of-wealth.html
http://mydzi.blogspot.com/2008/04/five-jambala-dzambhala-and-mantra.html
Extract from website on Yellow Jambhala:
His form is short, fat and strong, which comes from a time when it was widely believed that obesity is synonymous with wealth and luxury. His face carries an arrogant expression and sits in royal posture. This acts as a warning to tell us if we continue to look and act in this arrogant way in our attempts to get material wealth, we actually gain poverty instead. So Think! Is our greed hurting others?
The royal ease of his form indicates that Dzambala is free from samsara – through his practice and attainments, he has also acquired all the money, fame and wealth of the universe and no longer experiences suffering. He can afford to be laid back, chilled out – he got everything that he needs! He shows us how our practice to him can ultimately lead us to enlightenment, where we too can literally have everything we want. At the same time, he steps on a conch shell with his right foot to mean that though he has attained all this great wealth, he is above it and will no longer allow the ties of samsara to subjugate him again.
Dzambala holds a fruit (or a flaming wish-fulfilling jewel) in his right hand to signify that if we follow his practice, we can “bear the fruits” of our efforts to gain spiritual attainments and enlightenment. In his left hand, he holds a mongoose, which in ancient India stood as an omen of good things to come. The mongoose spits(vomits) beautiful precious wish-granting jewels, and both work to attract us to practice Dzambala with an immediate promise of wealth.Dzambala’s blessings and the value of his practice are universal. Keeping an image or statue of him, or giving a Dzambala statue away as a gift is beneficial to anyone, anywhere. His spiritual energy in the form of sound that helps to transform the mind (Mantra): OM ZAMBALA ZALENDHRAYE SOHA (or SVAHA)
Do read the full article at website and be won over by the writer of the website!!!
Love and The Mission of Heaven
Brethren, the love of a mother for her child involves great sacrifice. However she is unlikely to shower the same degree of love for the child of another person. A young couple in love is like a pair of Mandarin ducks. But the greatest love can turn into the worst hatred if one party is forsaken. The love of one sibling for another is likened to blood. Blood is thicker than water. We all know that. But such love can be wanting in rationality. The love between friends is as long as it lasts. But we are told this. Your best friend can turn out to be your worst foe. The love of citizens for their nation evokes admiration and praise. But when one nation wages war on another, ill will and not love holds sway.
Love makes the world go round. So do we know. But, worldly love, as above, is always motivated by self or group ego. Love is but the means to an end – the end being the gratification of the self or ego. Spiritual love is different and should be different. It requires us to love everyone equally. “Love thy neighbour.” No one in his right mind will reject this. But how many can truly epitomise the ideal behind this. Taken to the ultimate, it means that all must live together as brothers. Adherents of one religion must love those of another religion. Individual group ego or self-centredness is out. Oneness is in. This is the true basis for inter-religious harmony. Lord Bo Tien exhorts us to do so. Religions are pillars of Truth. He is not amongst us to promulgate a new religion or a new interpretation of a religion. There is no need to. He would certainly not encourage any entity that will generate individual group-ego or self-centredness. He is here to help us and to foster oneness in diversity.
Divine kindness or spiritual love is not confined to the likes of oneself, but to one and all alike. Truth and salvation, after all, are not meant for a select few but for all. Spiritual kindness such as exhorted by our Heavenly Saint is boundless, selfless, and makes no distinction or preference for any groups or individuals. Even the wayward is entitled to the love of Heaven. Practise divine love and not worldly love. Practise selflessness and not self-centredness. This is the message. This is the mission of Lord Bo Tien. This then is the focus of what He refers to as the Mission of Heaven. Lord Bo Tien has reminded us that the mission He refers to is not the mission of man but the Mission of Heaven. Divine love or kindness is beyond the human dimension. It cuts through all dimensions. True love is beyond self, group interests and it knows no borders or limits.
His is the Mission of Heaven.........................................
The Temple of Life
Brethren, we have often been told that it is easy to see the speck of dust in someone’s eye, but difficult to see the dust in one’s own eye. Simply, this means that it is easy to see the mistakes of others but not easy to see one’s own mistakes. It is easy to judge others but to judge oneself is more difficult.
This is the teaching of all religions. Lord Saint has often reminded us that the path to enlightenment lies in life itself. We must learn hands on, from the very lessons in life as the pages of life unfurl from day to day. For instance, we can learn from the mistakes of others or from our own past mistakes. We should however not pour scorn at others for their mistakes, and must not take pride that we are better off than them.
In one of the anniversary messages, the Lord Saint pointed out that there would always be people of various shades and characters in the temple as in society. This is the reality of life. Looking at others is like looking at oneself in the mirror. Often, our own weaknesses are mirrored in our fellow men. By taking cognisance of others’ weaknesses, we should be in a better position to take cognisance of our own. However, we should stay clear of passing judgement and pouring scorn at others mistakes. Out of sheer ego, they readily point out others follies but fail to see their own.
As humans, we are, by habits, flawed by shortcomings of one kind or another. This, brethren, is a universal observation. Not withstanding the shortcomings we have, the Lord Bo Tien, in all his purity and infinite compassion, never ever gives up hope in us. He has even decided that we are worthy of being inducted into the Mission of Heaven. He has committed us to translating this mission on earth through compassion for our fellow men in particular and for all beings in general, despite our being wanting in positive attributes. To put it more explicitly, the compassionate and forgiving Saint is able to tolerate our shortcomings. It therefore follows that we too should tolerate the shortcomings of our fellow men. Like our Lord Saint who has not given up hope in us despite our having failed him time and again, we should never give up hope in our fellow men. Just as He is hopeful that we can overcome our weaknesses, we too must be hopeful that our fellow men can overcome theirs. The Lord Bo Tien is like a beacon for us to follow. We must learn like the Lord Saint to be forgiving, to be tolerant and to be able to accommodate the shortcomings of our fellow men.
Brethren, going to temples or churches must serve an educational purpose. A temple must be a temple of learning and a temple of Truth. The ultimate temple or church, in the abstract sense, is one’s life as an individual, as a member of one’s family, and of one’s society. In other words, we must learn from our own individual life, from our own family life, and from the life in society. Only then can we progress socially and spiritually. (The Lord Saint has always believed that whoever is successful spiritually will be successful socially)
Let us therefore learn from the temple of life or the church of life if you prefer.
Practice is the way to go
Actions speak louder than words. What adherents of inner truth do in the name of the Mission speak volumes for the teachings and wisdom of Lord Bo Tien. One single good deed as a group in service of society is all that is needed to spread the Word of Heaven. Written scriptures have a lesser impact than one single good action by the group. To think and do nothing else is not enough. We must act. Good thoughts must be followed by the relevant good actions. Good actions favour good thoughts. We cannot be mere believers. We need to be good doers. We need to transform our beliefs into actions of true practice. This will win others over. Mere written doctrine will not do so. There are various facets or angles of practice.
(1) Devotion reinforces faith in the Lord Saint or any other saint or prophet for the matter. It is the action for commitment. It strengthens the thoughts of commitment.
(2) Kindness is a praiseworthy thought, but it must translate into actions of compassion or charity. Compassion is the action for kindness. To be effective, meaningful and realistic, both compassion and kindness must first be to oneself, then to next-of-kin and friends.
(3) Mental discipline is good. We have to guard our mind to keep it balanced and calm, to be unruffled by the positives and negatives in life. Physical actions of discipline, such as attending religious services, fasting and vegetarianism are means to enhance our mental discipline. Disciplined actions foster in turn a more disciplined mind. Acts of discipline are the actions for mental discipline.
(4) Cultivating thoughts of awareness is not good enough. We have to show actions of awareness – actions that reflect that we are aware and reflective of events around us, of the negative tendencies in our minds, of the feelings of others, and of the consequences of our thoughts and actions.
(5) To have pure thoughts, such as selfless kindness, we need to have correct or wise actions and practices. We need to join and participate in a religious set-up. Our actions and that of the others in the group will create a good atmosphere to generate more pure or noble thoughts. These pure actions promote more pure thoughts, which translate into more pure or correct actions.
No wonder, all sages of ancient wisdom admonish us to practise and not just to believe. Practice enhances belief. Do not just think. Please act. Be a man of action and not a man of thoughts. Time and tide wait for no one. We need to act – to practise. Mere belief is not enough. Religion is no academic subject for us to excel in, for us to debate on, or for us to show-off how learned we are – how one religion is superior to another in doctrine. Religion has to do with practice. It is important to practise. Practice produces results. Mere thinking leads to no where. Remember that, even if we know little, the little we know, if well practised, is more worthwhile than knowing and reading scriptures in abundance and not practising. All saints including Lord Bo Tien instruct us through real life experiences, through event language -- the chapters of our life as they unfurl, and not through written scriptures. Why? The reason is simply because practice is the pillar of realisation and spiritual success.
Texts are in danger of being too florrid, academic and profound like this blog site. They may instil awe but will put off many who may think truth is too profound and it is not time to practice as yet until they can read all and know all. Learn from the gospel of life and practice as we learn. Practice is the way to go and we need not know all or even to know more but we need to do more. That is all there is to be done. Isn't truth that simple after all.... This did the late Senior Bro Philip did say (Do refer to views by him in this blogsite)
Pillars of Truth and The Mission of Heaven
Brethren, do take heart that a temple or religious institution is usually set up to gather together like-minded people to share in the aspirations of a prophet or heavenly saint like Lord Bo Tien. The Lord Saint however has long made known to us that He is not here to start a new faith. It was, is not, and will never be His intention that He be represented amongst the host of deities in a temple. A temple dedicatged to Him is meant to serve as an inspiration for those who ascribe to His Vision of Hope and Compassion for all beings regardless of race, language, and religion. He is amongst us to foster the divine calling to do more good for the good of all beings, and not just for our own individual good. His image is to ignite this divine inspiration in one and all, be they believers or non-believers, gods or men. He is here to answer our prayers for the betterment of all, but it is never His intention to foster egoistic materialistic self-pursuits.
He represents selflessness and not selfishness. (This should not be equated as self denial or denial of life on earth.) Come to Him for blessings if and when you need help. But bear in mind that His hand of compassion must make better men out of us. By His blessings, we must become more selfless and neither more self-centred nor self deprecating . We must end up at least a little closer to Godliness and not more entwined in more materialistic self-centred worldliness presenting as bad attributes of greed, pride, egoism, hatred, ill-will, jealousy and warped views. Brethren, Lord Bo Tien like all heavenly saints is here to bring us into Godliness. Let Him or any saint lead the way. Have faith in Him or any saint and tread in the divine shadow of the saint. Then and only then can we be one with the saints in. Divine Mission of Compassion for all beings across the great divide of life and death across all dimensions.
Brethren, have we not heard time and again from all saints like Lord Bo Tien that each comes to us with the Mission of Heaven and not the mission of men. Commit ourselves therefore to any saint. Let the saint walk us along the road of life. Be one with the saint in radiating loving-kindness and showering compassion for all beings in all dimensions. This, brethren, is the way for the followers of the saint. Of course they should not claim that theirs is the one and only way. Why? Simply because all religions preach the common good. Just like there are many roads to Rome, there are many ways to spiritual fulfilment. Religions are the pillars of the House of Truth----some prefer to refer to this as the House of God. Truth is universal and not the monopoly of any one group or individual. Truth existed before religions. Whilst there is only one Universal Truth, there is certainly more than one way to Truth. We do however need help to reach Truth. Religions are there to help us. Prophets and Saints like Lord Bo Tien are there to guide us along the various paths to this Inner Truth.
Religions, brethren, are the Pillars of Truth. The Mission to bring Truth to all beings is the Mission of Heaven because this is not confined to one dimension but cuts across all dimensions.
The Anchor Doctrine
Brethren, do understand that the Lord Saint is not here to start a new religion. There is no need to. He reminds us to be good in whatever religion we may be in. He would rather that we remain good religionists in religions we are already in. Religions are but means to an end; the end being the compassion and salvation for all sentient beings. What is needed is to kindle the light of compassion in us for others, and to guide us to higher spiritual purity of the mind ----to cease the wanting and the becoming and to attain the peace of non-wanting and not-becoming and yet carrying-on meaningfully without denial of life itself.
This, brethren, is what Heavenly Mission is all about. All beings must seek salvation, enlightenment or purity of the mind because of their wrong doings, because of their imperfections. All are wanting in this or that, and all fall short of the glory of Heaven. All are far from pure. Religions are pillars to give us the strength and anchorage to reach the purity that is enlightenment or salvation.
Brethren, judge not a book by the cover. Likewise, judge not religions by the culture or traditions. Culture and traditions are man-made. They are dictated by men and not by Heaven. They change with the times to suit the mentality and way of life of the populace. The anchor doctrine of Lord Bo Tien is that all religions are good. All work towards the common good. All have their own traditions and culture. Whilst, like the book covers, culture and traditions serve to attract people, there is the potential danger that those, who only judge religions by culture and traditions, may fail to appreciate the oneness of religions – the Oneness of Truth. To them, religions appear different.
The Lord Saint upholds the oneness of religions.
Incidentally, do remember that, if culture and traditions fail to serve our needs, if they somehow do not project a good image of a temple, if somehow they no longer foster the multi-pillar doctrine of oneness of religions, if they make a temple look foreign to or out of step with other religious practices, let us face reality and be prepared to adopt or change to culture and practices that are acceptable, meaningful and in keeping with the times. What serves us well years ago may not serve any useful purpose now or in the future. Let us be far-sighted and be in harmony with the times. Change can be good. Traditions are not preordained by Heaven. They are man-made. Pragmatism requires that traditions evolve with the times. Truth is and shall always be. Truth is like the substance of a book. Traditions and culture are like the covers of a book. Covers can change and need to change but not the substance of a book. The anchor doctrine common to all should not change. Temple or church traditions and culture can however change and need to do so to keep up to the times.
The unsheltered flame flickers in the breeze. The sheltered flame glows ever brighter
Brethren, there may be many, who having heard the doctrine may be misled to think thus: - “Devotion and service are not for us. We have gone beyond the need for devotion and service.”
They stay away from the shrine or place of worship when the service is on. They eventually stay away from the temple or church, comforting themselves that they can be equally in harmony with divinity even at home. Brethren, they have come across the doctrine, and perhaps even caught a good glimpse of the Truth. Their mind is unfortunately weak and wavering. Truth slips away and the ultimate inner Truth eludes them.
Though introduced to Truth, Truth remains elusive. They have not grasped Truth and put it to practise. Deluded by their pride that they know best, they may end up representing imperfection in its near perfection. The elements of life, or what we may loosely term as the yin and yang of life tosses them from one extreme to the other. For example, praise, honour and gain uplift them. Blame, dishonour and loss send them to the pits of hell. Their minds shift frequently from ‘heaven’ to ‘hell’. There can never be at peace or calm. Swept along by the tide and current of worldly vicissitudes, they have no steering control whatsoever. Their minds are like boats without oars, engines and anchors.
Brethren, many of us are in this state of affairs ever so often, for we have yet to attain. We need companionship. We need the institution of religion and a place of worship. We need fellowship. Most of all, we need the guidance of the Heavenly Saints.
Brethren, the unsheltered candle flame flickers and is extinguished by even a mere breeze. The sheltered candle flame remains steady and glows brighter. A heavenly saint like Lord Bo Tien shelters the light of Truth in us and allows it to glow brighter. Do remember that a solitary candlelight is weak. A collection of candle flames is awe-inspiring. Likewise, a gathering or congregation of followers of a religion provides the necessary fellowship to inspire better effort. Devotion and religious service provides this boost or fellowship. Be like the sheltered candle flame. Let the lord saints shelter the spiritual light in us. Join a group for fellowship though the choice msut be wise for we need to associate with the wise in men and nto the unwise in men.
Be like the Lotus
Brethren, sages and poets of old had sung praises for the lotus. The lotus flower, reminiscent of purity, blooms way above the muddy water, which is impure. But without being with the dirty muddy habitat, there can be no lotus flower.
Brethren, reflect then on life. Worldly life is made impure by selfishness or ego giving rise to greed, ill will and false views. Worldly life is a rich source of material for spiritual learning and reflection. Learn from the lessons in life. Deny not the worldly life, but live the family and social life (while leading the spiritual life) to rise above the world of selfishness to be selfless and pure like the lotus flower.
The lotus blooms above the water level. It can do so while living in the muddy habitat. Despite this habitat, it can yield the pure and clean lotus flower. Likewise, the Lord Saint encourages us to continue the family and worldly life, to learn from the lessons in life and yield forth the bloom of pure thoughts while leading the family life without renouncing the family life. Deny not the family and social life but yet renounce impure thoughts. Renunciation is mental and not physical.
The dirty mud is fertile ground for bringing forth the pure lotus flower. Worldly life, tainted, as it is, by beings with impure thoughts of selfishness, ill will and wrong views is fertile ground for the wise to produce the lotus of pure thoughts that is Truth itself. The wise need not leave society for the wilderness of the jungle to lead a hermit life. There is no need to. We can achieve pureness while living amongst the impure. This is the recommendation of Lord Bo Tien, and this is the way for most of us.
In summary, it is possible to succeed spiritually while leading the family and social life. This was, is and shall be what the Lord Saint would like to tell us. Be selfless but do not deny the self. Be spiritual without denying the family or worldly social life. Brethren, reflect on the lotus in the pond. There is Truth in what we see around us.
Directions of a place of worship
1) What constitutes a temple? In a temple there must be the image of a saint like Lord Bo Tien. ‘A temple is the people’ said the lord saint in 1983 anniversary message. ‘The sky is the roof of the temple’ is mentioned in the 1983 message. Towards the last part of this message to temple followers, He stated that ‘You (the disciples / followers) are the pillars of the temple’
(2) Also in the 1983 message, ‘Do not use the Temple’s Doctrine to mix up with people.’ ‘The crux of the issue is the doctrine and not the person relaying it’ We should not discount what is being said just because you do not find the person saying so credible in character or to your taste. This applies to any religious group of any sect or religion. ‘You the disciples and followers should not misconstrue human relationships as practices of the temple.’ A temple or church activities geared towards worldly networking and seeking recognition and rapport with community bodies at human level should not be equated as temple activities or practices. There should be continued and sustained emphasis on temple spiritual activities and practices, more so than for activities to satisfy or meet human relationships both at temple level and at level of community. He also advised that adherents of a temple or church ‘not to confuse spiritual craft, rituals and traditions with the Doctrine’ . They should not equate mystic or psychic experiences or knowledge as spiritual doctrine. ‘I descend because of the temple and not because of people. The sky or heaven is my roof. There is no need for large crowds or flags to welcome me.’ This would be common advice to adherents by the saint of any temple or church. 'If the sky is the roof, there is no need to be concerned if there are people, for ‘when the sun shines people will come to work, and when moon appears, the people will rest’ What is important is aptly surmised thus ‘as long as the hearts of the followers are pure, there is no need for large crowds or flags’ in any temple or church.
(3) In 1984, He compared His descent to be like a flower. ‘My descent tonight is comparable to a flower because the flower is pure and created by nature’ He further adds that ‘You cannot stop ants from coming to the flower for nectar. This is not the wrongdoing of the flower.’ A Saint must welcome all to come to him for his divine nectar. No one should even consider blaming the saint for those with wrong inclination coming for the nectar alone, and not the mission or the salvation of the soul.
(4) In1981, He said thus, ‘ During my anniversary events, many come to see but few sincerely come to pray’ This may be a concern for any temple and place of worship. He further added, ‘ Many had wanted to join this Mission, and yet were unsuccessful. Money alone cannot buy this privilege or happiness, and yet you the disciples have this’ We must be thankful to be fated by destiny of our past lives to take part in the Mission in this life time. Every temple or church has a purpose or mission by the resident saint and the people should feel privileged. Often this is not a matter of choice by individuals but a fate or calling by heaven.
(5) In 1975, the lord saint reminded us that we can learn from our past experiences and the experiences of others. This applies not just to individuals but to a place of worship. With passing of the baton and the fading away of original early day followers, the orientation and practices will change.This too is true to a religion. 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.
Guilt will not help us to be with God
Let us re-visit the issue of guilt which arises as result of our doing things we think is best for the moment but which turns out to be far from being so. Often, we think we could fare better and often we do regret and wish we could have done better. But brethren, all of us have yet to be free from attachment. All are far from the end point of purity and spirituality. Life is a never ending learning process and without making so-called mistakes, we would not have been wiser.
Without reflecting on what we have done, we will not be able to have more of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the key to understanding the true nature of life, what our good Lord refers to as the inner truth for which religions are but the pillars of God. It helps us to develop the God nature in us, what we know as the ‘Holy Spirit’. The light kindled by mindfulness will light up our soul to connect us to the divine light of Heaven. But this mindfulness should not evoke mental pain, guilt or fear of retribution. It must gladden the person who is mindful that he has learnt to be better by being mindful. Instead of having negative attributes of dejection, instead of being upset, instead of wanting to denigrate oneself, of having psychological turmoil of self blame, of guilt, of depression, rejection and sense of worthlessness, the wise one who is truly mindful will love the opportunity to improve and to learn. He has to love himself and only then will mindfulness be rewarding and enriching. Such a person will face facts and accept what done as done and go forward in life with no regrets. For he loves himself and is happy for being wiser from shortcomings he may have done.
Thus the English proverb “failure is the pillar of success”. We may rephrase that, shortcomings and shortfalls in our actions and decisions do make us learn and succeed to be better persons. The one who falls often must pick himself up and try to walk tall again rather than wallow in the misery of his falls.
Thus our good Lord exhorts us that there is no SIN hurt or harm to God for God is forgiving. The English proverb “To err is human and to forgive is divine” alludes to this. Surely, God is divine and He is not hurt by our actions but will nurture us to do things in better ways. But forgiveness alone may not make us better persons and may give us false confidence. God will want us to be better and wiser. He does not blame us in the first instance. Forgiving is not even the primary thing He wants to do for us. He wants to help us to do things better and not merely to forgive us for not doing things well enough. For in the first place, there is no need to forgive when He is not upset with our human imperfection. God is not angry with us and divine enough not to exact punishment. He will accept us for what we are now and will love to help us to be better than what we are now and in the future.
Thus He sends us not only one saint or prophet but many. He provides not just one way or religion but many ways and religions. Even for a given religion, there are many sects and subways. Do remember that we should not judge God and saints by standards of man. Man is man and God is God. The ways of man differ from that of God. Whilst men may expect us to wallow in guilt and sorrow for our lack of wisdom and divine actions, God and saints expect us to love ourselves and to learn from experiences of life.
“We reap what we sow”. Thus our fellow men will say. But there is no need for reproach. We must accept, learn and be wiser. Lack of wisdom is not the will of God but the making and weakness of the common man. But do thank God that He is always there to be with us even when men shun us for our lack of wisdom. Even when men shun those in Hell fire, God and saints do try to save them. There is no eternal hell or damnation and all can be rehabilitated and even in hell some can learn to be enlightened though this can be uphill task compared to those in the human plane. Lord Yama does his best to cultivate the good of netizens of hells so that they can harness their past good to energise good fate or karma to enable them to leave hell and be reborn. Thus some sects consider Yama and his subordinates as posats or bodhisattvas. This is refreshing and an eye opener.
Heaven is not the making of man...
But man can have heaven even on earth
1) In the Lord Bo Tien’s 1983 message, He reminds us to be mindful that human beings did not create heaven.
2) Whatever human beings come across in their worldly life is never perfect, be it happiness or beauty.
3) Even the flower, which is a wonder of nature, is beautiful as a whole but the internal parts are not. Like all things of nature, it is not permanent and will wither.
4) Whatever is from nature will be transient, and not perfect.
5) While this may mean that nature per se could not give us true fulfilment, we can still have fruitful life by understanding and practising the doctrines of Heaven as explained to us by the Lord Saint.
6) There is no heaven or eternal and lasting fulfilment in life based on ways of the world and nature.
7) But there is heaven or fulfilment, inner peace and calm if we live the life at peace with God and one with the ways of God. We must be one with the Divine Essence.
8) However, we remain part of nature, and will not be spared from the ways of nature.
9) Though what we call “I” is not one entity but made of many parts, which are ever changing, we still cling to this “I” and end up with ego complex. Like the flower, this “I” is beautiful but not one entity but several, and the parts are not beautiful. Because of dis-ease and dis-taste with life, layers of dusts and filth from torment are added, and the self becomes a complex ego complex. We need to peel off these impure layers and have inner peace.
10) The sooner we realise this the better. We must then continue to be ever so mindful.
11) We can have divine fulfilment in life (even when in worldly life where lasting fulfilment often eludes us) if we are one with the Divine Essence.
Spiritual Focus not religious focus
1) Lord BoTien in His first sermon stated thus.
2) Prophets attempt to “help the masses” from two viewpoints “to lead better lives” here and now in this life as well as “to incline them towards God”
3) They do so by laying down and elaborating the written word, which is the starting basis for organised religions.
4) The written word tries to perpetuate the initial idealistic spirit and fervour, but with time, written precepts and doctrines become more elaborate and complex to extent that the idealistic spirit is submerged.
5) Religion as organisation or institution is bogged down and made complex by the written word, by rules and regulations. With the loss of initial founders spirit or fervour, religious practice replaces spiritual practice, and organisational concerns supersede personal relationship with God.
6) In short, religion replaces spiritualism. Group or mass identification with religion as institution replaces individual oneness or identification with God.
7) Salvation is to save the soul. Though this requires help from others (organised religion), it is basically unique and personal between the individual and God (spiritual experience or rapture)
8) Lord Bo Tien divines to kindle the spiritual drive of the individual regardless of his religious persuasion.
9) Lord BoTien stated that He “shall run down no existing religion” nor will He “uphold any special one”
10) He wants to turn individual’s attention to the essence of spiritualism i.e. the essential truths rather than attention to institution of organised religions.
11) The purpose of organised religions is to provide vehicles or institutions to pass on the essential truths, but often the means of institutions become the apparent ends. The real ends of spiritual rapport and purity with God (through His representatives) become obscured and more than often the essence not adeaquately emphaiszied. Thus wesee many divergent sects and schools.
12) The primary focus of the Mission is to ensure that this will not happen, that beings in all dimensions remain focus on spiritualism behind all religions rather than on religions.
“ The motive is to save the soul and assist those who are in difficulties” quote from The Four Pillar Message of Lord Bo Tien. His mission is spiritual focus not religious focus, that is, not to start another sect or religion but to save souls and assist those in difficulties whatever their religious affiliation.
Labels and Presentation
Brethren to say that you are John and he is Albert is just reality based on conventions. To say that this is religion A and that is B, and to compare which is better is basically example of human ego weakness due to our obsession with mere conventions. It is when bad ego is involved that unhappiness and friction between people arise. Why cannot we pick and choose, decide what from A is meaningful and useful for us and then do so with other faiths B, C and D? Why must we be aligned to all in one faith and steer clear of the goodness in other faiths? When we belong to one race or dialect, must we confine ourselves only to food of that race or dialect? Certainly not, and we are more than willing and have no qualms in partaking food or dishes of various races or dialect groups. When we seek Truth in spiritual life, why must we go by labels, and confine ourselves to all teachings bearing that one special label. We should partake in spiritual food and choose food from various spiritual orientations. It is not common for most people to have the same identical food choices, be it spiritual food or otherwise. Religions and denominations of the day provide variety to satisfy our spiritual appetites. There is no need to confine ourselves to food from one source. Lord Bo Tien has told us that God send down many prophets to present truth in various presentations, to allow us to have greater choice, to appeal to more people, and to hold on to our interests which change with time. Food in whatever forms provide the same basic nutrition, but if presented in only one or two forms, blandness sets in. Whatever the presentation and labels, they only serve to provide distinctiveness, identity and variety to attract more people but the primary common purpose is still the same basic nourishment. Faiths come in different forms and denominations. They appear different to appeal to more people and people of diverse sways and orientation. But all bring us closer to the common good and truth in God.
Whilst there is only one Universal Truth, there is certainly more than one way to Truth. We do however need help to reach Truth. Religions are there to help us. Prophets and Saints like Lord Bo Tien are there to guide us along the various paths to the common good or truth. Like nutrition and food, it can be presented in various forms, labels and presentation.
There were various religious practices before the coming down of Lord Bo Tien as even still true after His descent. Why was there the need for Him to come down more than forty years ago through our late Senior Brother Philip? One of the first messages He had for all was that He did not come down to start a new religion. The religions of the day were there to serve those in need of Gods blessings. If so what was the need for Him to come down? He further said that all religions are good and are there to help people of diverse sways to be close to God. If that is so, why then must He descend to announce that He is here to carry out the Mission of Heaven? What is this Mission?
Brethren, there is no controversy or contradiction. All religions are good and are doing good. The Lord Saint did not and still does not want those who come to Him to change their religious allegiance. What is then the goal of His coming down? He merely wants us to know religions in correct perspective, to be a better follower of the religious teachings of their religious persuasion. He reiterates that despite the different identities and presentation, all are the same. All contain the same inner truth about the love of God (Heaven) and how all can perceive and practise the inner truth that there is the same God or Divinity. We need to be with Divinity. But because of the imperfections we are not able to get closer to God. There is the wide gulf separating us from Heaven.
He is merely doing His part like all past and present arahats / posats / saints or prophets to help Divinity to get beings to be with Divinity. This is the Mission of Heaven, namely to deliver beings from wrong to right, imperfections to perfections in the eyes of God. The best way to do this is to let us know that the solution is there in all religions, and all saints can help. It is never His wish to make us in awe of Him and regard Him as the latest deity or god to replace other gods or deities. He wants us to believe in all heavenly saints, “to adore them, to believe in their existence and that their glory is in the thought of men”.
In short, we can realise that it is actually simple to get to the inner truth and to attain the truth of purity to be with God or Divinity. Most of the time, we are presented with apparent profoundness when actually reality is simple. The saving of souls is possible and not profound. The "wrong", imperfection, impurity or ignorance in us separates us from Divinity and as a result we undergo repeat courses or cycles of rebirths. The "wrong" makes us to be not pure and cannot ascend to high dimensions where we can be with the saints to help beings and to cultivate the pureness of Divine way.
Lord Bo Tien is here to help God / Divinity to save us not through a new religion but through whatever religious persuasion we may be in. But He does his part by coming down to start Chinese temples to show that even in Chinese culture, the same is true and can be done. He even demonstrated that English speaking young men from various races could understand and realise inner truth even in a Chinese cultural temple. Even in Chinese culture, He can carry out the Mission of Heaven which is to save all beings and deliver them to purity of God.
We can then be more convinced that God saves beings through all the religions. It is not as profound as we think and all can in simple but diligent ways succeed. We must look beyond the apparent profoundness in religions to realise the reality, which is simple but not easily perceived. Often the sad part is that the eye of our soul is blinded by the wrong or ignorance, and we fail to see things as they are. As a result we go around in our cycles of rebirths. That is why Heaven will help all beings through all the heavenly saints. This is the Mission of Heaven. Lord Bo Tien plays His part to execute this mission. Thus He holds a sceptre of the mission in His right hand.
Spiritual Tools
We go about life in this world from morning to night, from week to week and from month to month, and from year to year ever caught up with the issues of the day. Time and tide wait for no one and every precious moment in time just passes bye like a wink of the eye. We appear purposeful and directed in our worldly pursuits. But what bothers us at times is what all these will eventually lead us to? Where do we go from here?
We are simply following set chosen patterns of life without in-depth mindful reflections. We are just going along with the mainstream and trying to be ahead as much as possible than many others. Well that is life and we have to go on in life anyway or be left behind, or risk being tossed about or aside by the mainstream.
Well, let us pause and think why we have to go with the mainstream of worldly life. What do we want? What is the purpose of life? The apparent purposes are many, centred on pivot of our social and biological norms. But what more is there beyond these apparent ends? What is the real end in existence? Social and biological ends are not the ends in themselves but merely means to the real end. The rainbow recedes further every time if life is just about social and biological ends.
While we are in worldly life, we must play our worldly part or else we will be not part of society, not part of family and not part of the world. But do be mindful of life and nature of life. Do remember that we need to be in control. However, we must not just be in control of the apparent or conventional worldly matters or issues but also the matters and issues of our soul and of our Creator from where we originate and to where we must be reunited. Not to do so is avoidance of the reality of our mortality. The converse is as bad when we ignore and avoid worldly roles and life and live just to die and depart from this world. Many of us just cannot do this.
All prophets / saints want us to have good balance, to attend to apparent and ultimate ends in life, as both are important. Lord Bo Tien reiterates this same orientation that we must have. Live the life of the mundane world not as the end in itself but live the spiritual life as well. The teachings in religion reiterated by our Lord Bo Tien are universal and can be applied to both spiritual and mundane life. There is no need to give up or renounce the physical or mundane all together.
But what is helpful for most of us is to periodically curtail worldly indulgence or to impose daily some degree of self-control to minimise indulgence. For example, when we have a lot, we can give more to others. When we are wealthy, we can live a life of simplicity and cut off indulgence.
Think carefully why there are precepts to be observed on certain months or days. Also why some fast on certain days or time of day. Why some avoid animal meat but take fish. Some observe vegetarianism. Some go on certain days into the forests for contemplation or meditation. Some just spend retreats in temples and places of worship. What are these spiritual tools for? Find out more but here is some explanations.
Brethren, remember that to realise and go towards spiritual purity requires us to exercise some controls, and very often, we need to be less self centred, less bad ego orientated and reduce restless wanting or attachment. To do this, conscious effort must be made. This should explain the practices mentioned earlier. They are just tools to help us to be less indulgent and to be in more receptive mode for going towards pureness of God. They help us to be closer with God.
Another way of looking at things is that self-penance or part denial of indulgence in worldly trappings allows for us not to waste away our life and merits in indulgence and in addition allows us to cultivate merits through cultivation of pure mind.
There are other explanations. We need to find out for ourselves. Such spiritual tools also help in our worldly life. When we have a bad patch due to our so-called fate or past actions, we can change or moderate the outcome at times through such tools. This should be in addition to praying to the gods for blessings, but we must be worthy of blessings. Such tools as fasting, vegetarianism, retreats etc if practised correctly and with correct ultimate reasons do help but remember worldly blessings are not the end in themselves but just means to the ultimate end. What is this end?
By now you should have a good idea. Each and everyone has to realise for himself. There is no way we can really explain the taste of sugar other than telling a person enough to make him want to taste sugar. It is when sugar is tasted that someone knows what sweetness is. We are grateful to saints like Lord Bo Tien for their guidance and blessings, and we hope to share with others. There is no need to change someone's allegiance to a particular religion when he needs to receive the advice and help of prophets and saints like Lord Bo Tien.
Lord Bo Tien and The MIssion of Heaven
1) The flower beautiful in appearance is only beautiful from the exterior but the internal parts may not be beautiful (refer to 1987 message of Lord Bo Tien)
2) Nature is beautiful and yet not perfect.
3) Men too are capable of beautiful deeds and thoughts, but men are made up of both good and bad within even the same man.
4) Men should not judge men. Only heaven is fit to do so through God’s representatives like Lord Bo Tien.
5) 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. (Please refer to late Senior Bro. CS Tay's write-out)
6) Nature is also not permanent. The flower is no exception. It will wither.
7) Beautiful things do not last.
8) Unpleasant events too are not permanent.
9) The ship of life can be tossed and periled by a storm, but every storm must eventually come to an end.
10) The calmness of the sea is so long as the next storm is yet to be.
11) Every being has its share of ups and downs, alternating between storms and calm. Where there is worldly joy, sadness and pain must follow. This imperfection and impermanence are hallmarks that characterise life, and the cycle of rebirths. Such would be nature of existence until the day beings are pure enough to be united with God.
12) Do not yearn for and be attached to worldly joys. Do not be derailed by worldly pains. Stay focus on spiritual cultivation and go about life without denying or renouncing worldly life (including its fleeting joys) and yet be unaffected by worldly life.
13) The nature of life is such that there is apparent beauty but no perfection; there is inevitable impermanence until the day when beings can be united with God in Heaven.
14) The Mission of God is to deliver beings from imperfection and impermanence of life of rebirths to be united with " God in Heaven".
15) Lord Bo Tien is One who executes the Mission of Heaven. As befitting his sainthood, He never says he is the only one and the prayer below reflects this.
“ To all heavenly saints we greatly adore, and thy glory is in the thought of men. We seek for thy protection and guidance so as to live better for the time to come”
Keeping faith with Heaven
Lord BoTien, through the 1978 anniversary message, reminds that the oil lamp at a temple represents the members and devotees of the temple, and the image represents the heavenly saint like the lord saint. A temple's members must keep faith with the temple, and keep the flame of the temple burning. In 1978, He commented on the oneness of heart and attire of those who were in his temple to listen to His message. He reminded that all have to be one in heart and actions for the mission for every day of their life. The purpose of having an image of a heavenly saint is to remind folllowers in every day of their life that the heavenly saint is here with them and they must through oneness of heart and actions do justice to heavenly presence. Followers should look closer at image of heavenly saint to understand heaven , as in the image they could see the Doctrine of Heaven come to life.
The divine doctrine Heaven wants all to understand and practice is in the image, and the image is the doctrine. He who understands the doctrine and mission understands the heavenly saint, and what the image stands for.
Mission for which a lord saint like lord Bo Tien is divine messenger is the Will of Almighty God, “The Jade Emperor”. If one generation of adherents cannot succeed, future generations would be recruited and tasked to help out in Mission till finality of effectiveness. A temple is the vehicle of the mission.
If a tree represents a temple, the members are like branches of the tree. The branches must serve their purpose of bearing leaves, flowers and eventually fruits. Hence, if they are diseased and rotten, and do not respond to repeated care and treatment, they serve no purpose and, if not chopped off, would affect the well being of the tree. As long as the tree is rooted well and stands on good soil and has supply of water, it would grow back new branches to replace the old diseased branches even after these branches were chopped off.
Brethren, the mission of the lord saints like Lord Bo Tien is rooted and anchored on the will of God. As long as it is rooted as such, with guaranteed unending water of Divine Essence, its success is just a matter of time. But this should be sooner if the branches (represented by adherents) are healthy and able to be effective in producing leaves (spread of doctrine and good works e.g. loving-kindness) and producing fruits (saving souls). If the branches remain diseased and rotten despite prolonged repeated care, they should be chopped off to allow the tree to grow to full glory. Aherents must be healthy ‘branches’ of a temple ‘tree’, but if they are rotten, could not respond to repeated offer of divine care and simply not wanting to do their part, they can be left on wayside till they are ready. This will ensure that the other branches do not become diseased as well and also facilitate a healthy environment for springing forth of new and robust branches. Just the removal of a few bad branches even if they are seemingly big and prominent ones would allow the other good branches to grow and new branches to spring forth.
A temple of any heavenly saint like Lord Bo Tien may see the removal of some major but diseased branches from time to time. Heaven will try to keep them and treat them but the branches might simply not respond. But the Mission of Heaven must go on as long as rooted in will of God, and nourished by water of the Divine Essence / Spirit. Hence some diseased branches which cannot be salvaged must be axed for the well being of the Mission.
There is no need for more words. The rest is clear, and every member or follower of a heavenly saint like Lord Saint should know best what to do for the good of the many and, of course not to mention that this will end up with the individual member’s own good as well. Remember that the Mission of Heaven is for the good of the many, and while Heaven is forgiving and patient, those who want to continue to err will end up on the sidelines (but will still be cared for) so that the Mission will go ahead.
