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 archaeological 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 startlingly, unexpectedly, inadvertently 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"
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 here say.
All 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, Nature or Divinity too has for each and every being a plan for him alone. The simple reason is that 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.
The precepts and doctrines need not be different but approach can be
The precepts and doctrines in a temple or spiritual organisation may not be new and different from that of others. However, any new temple or church can have approaches which can appear to be very different and contrasting. This can give rise to concerns and opinions simply because that temple or church may not be readily understood and accepted
Yin and yang and the seated image
Brethren, decades have passed since the first descent of Lord Bo Tien. He has emphasised that He is not here to start a new religion or to display His glory. He came down as one of the Chinese Deities in keeping with the cultural background of the beings He has to work on. He is here to further Heaven’s will.
His is the Mission of Heaven. We regard Him as the Heavenly Saint. To Him, all religions are good. They are the pillars of the House of Truth. The Lord Saint discourages us from knowing more about Him, but He has portrayed Himself in Chinese general’s armour with sceptre in one hand. He rests His feet on two beings that represent the positive and negative in life------the yin and yang in life. His sceptre signifies His mission, which is the will of Heaven.
The control and the balance of the positive and negative pave the way to true peace and happiness. We should not be mentally affected by worldly contingencies such as praise and blame, gain and loss, honour and dishonour, wealth and poverty, as well as worldly happiness and sorrow. This will foster a balanced approach to life, which requires us to renounce self-centredness without denial of the self.
Ego or self-centredness tosses us from the clutches of one extreme of worldly contingencies to the other. However, being selfless in approach to life does not mean that there is no self.
According to Lord Bo Tien, we have to lead a balanced life by not being affected by the yin and yang of life but at the same time we cannot run away from the yin and yang of life. This means we have to carry on being what we are and with what we are in, but knowing full well that we are in the mundane world of yin and yang.
The image of Lord Bo Tien speaks volumes of His Teachings. Those who know and practise His Teachings know Him. Those who do not will never know Him.
To seek the Inner Truth
Religions are the pillars of the House of God. The Heavens and divinity comprising God, the Pure Ones and the Saints are roof to shelter the beings under the heavens.
The pillars guide beings to the huge mansion and are the markers for the mansion, otherwise beings will not be able to know that they are in the vicinity or in the House of God as this house is omnipresent and yet many may not see or be able to know and be in the house.
The various religions shall spell out their own guidelines in the form of precepts, commandments or tenets. These will be formalised and be evolved as dogmas.
Each religion has it own representative of Divinity what some may call prophets, arahats or saints.
These saints will then have their own disciples, doctrines and regulations.
Each religion will manage and govern its own affairs, its own way of preaching and dissemination and will have own way of reaching out to the masses and how to keep the followers within their circles. Thus the various religions can fan out and reach out to beings in all corners. They can complement and at times compete for the good and welfare of the many. They are pillars for mankind and beings to lean on and to guide them to God and enlightenment.
The primary motive is to save souls (purification or enlightenment) and assist those in difficulties (compassion and love for beings)
Beings go through rebirths so as to improve themselves and progress from ignorance to enlightenment, from wrong to right and from darkness to light and from light to more light. Beings go from impediments and hindrances (nirvarana) to the ultimate rightness in divine purity and inner peace (eternalism or nirvana - enlightenment)
Rebirth is the will of God and can take many forms and at all levels and dimensions. (Rebirth is part of evolution and is the expression of yin and yang of the universes here and beyond)
The classical axis of rebirth is the axis with animals and creatures on one side and mankind on the other side.
The Precepts
The precepts adopted for the following of the lord saint are not new and are similar to most religious organisations. But for the lord saint, they serve to be basic moral markers for his following to comply with and one of the ways to hold them to the fold of the organisation. They are neither exclusive nor inclusive and do not supercede or are less than that of other organisations. They do not mean that they are the markers of a new religion. They are listed below
1. I must believe in One God
2. I must believe in what all the Saints preach in words, thoughts, deeds and all that is written.
3. I must not kill.
4. I must not steal and do what is extremely bad to harm my neighbours or their belongings.
5. I must not covet my neighbour’s wife.
6. I must respect my parents and all those elder than me.
7. I must not bear false witnesses against my neighbours
