Prayers, Devotion and the Spiritual life

.

SYNOPSIS ON SPIRITUAL LIFE
A Chinese Cultural Viewpoint

One viewpoint of life after death is based on simple axis of one heaven, one hell and one earth where humans are the chosen beings created by God. Other beings are just there or created to serve primary purpose of humans to be one with God after death.

The oriental view often involves rich visualisations of many levels or dimensions of existence, of various grades where often what is heaven to some is hell to others. The difference between one dimension and the next can be ‘sky-wide’ so to speak.

Just because there is one Earth, we cannot view that there is only one (or two) dimensions other than our material dimension. We accept through reality that there are many countries on Earth, but some could not accept that there could be many dimensions beyond material dimension.

Let us now deal with how we can reach or be one with God, the ultimate in all religions where we trade uncertainty with certainty, and imperfection with perfection. Some refer to this as God, others as Universe, Cosmos, Perfection, Nature or Enlightenment.

In eastern culture, in particular Chinese culture, we have the Buddha Worlds and the Deity Worlds.

For the deity worlds, there is the Jade Emperor or God, and there are the deity masters who teach the Way or Tao. God is not just possible of answering prayers but of helping the deserving through imparting his blessings of life energy force to give beings better births in form of beings, such as elevating beings to higher dimensions. The same can be said with regards to all the deity beings with Him.

Depending on their spiritual station some have life-span of aeons and some term these as eternal. Indeed if they cultivate their positive godly energy through continuous compassion for all beings, they can live on in perpetuity or in eternity.

For Buddha worlds, we have the Posats or Boddhisattvas, who vow to help all beings to attain enlightenment. The concept here is to develop spiritually so that beings have less of attachment to self or ego. Beings can do so by primary self-effort or by help of Posats or Buddhist Saints. The primary purpose is not to develop more spiritual energy or merits via good deeds or thoughts but to go direct to eradication of ego.

Nevertheless, the paths of the Way / Tao and the paths of Buddha World do converge when the apex of perfection is reached. Perfection can best be simplified as purity.

In short, beings move on in life because of life energy force. Energy force can be combination of good and bad, and for good there are grades of goodness or purity.

For example doing good because of ego for doing good is not as good as doing good not out of ego needs. Finally perfection by whatever religious means involves being so pure that ego boundaries do not exist, and one is one with the Cosmos / Nature.

The emphasis of Deity Way is to do more good and the highest good can be done when ego is sublimated for the common good. Deities help beings by transferring their merits or life energy force to others. This itself is one form of doing good.

The focus in Buddha Worlds is to go direct to renunciation of ego, and we have the two main schools of Buddhism, the Big Wheel and the Small wheel. For the former, Posats lie in wait to release beings from suffering by helping them with merits, and then to teach them the egolessness way to perfection.

Whatever the ways or subways, the paths cross and meet at perfection or ultimate purity, when there is no more ego, when there is pureness that transcends cycle of rebirths, and when eternity in perfect purity is attained.

Basically, the problem of beings is that clinging or attachments shackle the majority of beings down to frequent rebirths in dimensions of relatively short life-spans, and this in itself is not satisfactory and wanting. The more we want the more we do want, and this perpetuates beings in endless cycles of rebirths.

The solution is to stop wanting and at same time not to deny existence of being (i.e. to cultivate selflessness or no-ego but not deny existential self). Self should not be perceived or cultivated as ego, as collection of wanting or attachments. The purification of being by removal of impure thoughts or wanting brings beings closer to be one with ultimate purity in God or purity of Enlightenment.

.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

PRAYERS, DEVOTION AND THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

NB When reading this blog, the terms lord saint and heavenly saint need not refer to Lord Bo Tien but to any of the heavenly saints.This blog posting is to convey values and not directed to increase following or discipleship for any saint or saints. Lord Bo Tien's goal is not to make known who he is but to let all better understand truth in life through any religion or sect and their guiding saint. The values and principles are the same that would be expressed by all heavenly saints and by reading this blog, readers can well have fellowship with their chosen saint in the same way that inner truth netizen has with Lord Bo Tien

A DAILY PRAYER

Whosoever pray to the Lord Saint in earnest, the Lord doth know. Whosoever seeks His Divine Grace, the Lord doth come forth.

Have no fear. Have no doubt. He is here to stay, to guide us day by day. Let Him lead us. Do follow in His shadow.

Open our doors to Him in our thoughts, words and deeds. Welcome Him into our hearts.

In happy times, be thankful for His blessings. Be mindful of His helping hand. But remember also to help others, just as we have received His divine benevolence.

In bad times, do hold on to our faith in Him, in thoughts, words and deeds. Let Him walk us along the path of life. Welcome Him to guide us through our problems.

In this way, big issues become small issues. Small issues become non-issues.

Praise be unto the Lord Saint. Remember Him always. Share His Divine Grace with others as we journey through life. Pray for Him to watch our every step. Let this be our daily prayer.

PRAYERS CAN CHANGE US
----DO NOT FORGET TO PRAY

Brethren, do remember that there are ups and downs in life. This is the very nature of life itself.

In moments when we are down, we look up to divine heaven for assistance. In earnestness, we invoke the compassion of the Heavenly Saint.

He helps one and all. There are no chosen few. Even the condemned deserves His help. This is the way of Heaven.

Do not forget that He helps us in our worldly downs so that we can better weather the sea of life.

Sometimes we approach Him with selfish needs. More often than not He meets our selfish needs though in the short term this may mean we may become more selfish.

He helps us without asking for a price, virtually without any strings attached. His only wish is that by experiencing His blessings, our inner life will be enriched with the Light of Love and Truth.

We will then move from darkness to light, from self-centered to selflessness, from mere incessant wanting to giving, and from emotional turbulence to calmness, peace and serenity of mental equanimity, unfazed by the ups and downs, by the opposites of worldly contingencies of praise/blame, honour/dishonour, gain/loss and transient joys/sorrows. This, brethren, is inner peace and contentment.

Do not forget to pray. Prayers can work wonders. Do remember that whatever material or worldly blessings we seek are but mere means to an end. That end is the salvation of the individual in every one of us. It is the purification of the soul nature in us from the fires of greed and attachment.

Prayers are an integral part of our life. It represents hope. Without hope, without dreams, there is no direction in life. But without equanimity, there is no inner peace and contentment.

Let us be humble enough to want to pray. The more mindful we are of our shortcomings and imperfections, the more we realise the need to pray so that we can be better in the days to come. The humble will be exalted…

IN PRAISE OF DEVOTION

Brethren, devotion is good. It is the beginning, the middle and the end of the spiritual path. It is in fact an integral characteristic of the spiritual road. Even the wisest and the best amongst us needs faith and devotion to keep in good steer.

“ Whosoever devotes and commits himself in earnest to the heavenly saints, the saints do know. Whosoever from the bottom of the heart appeals to the saints for blessings, the saints do respond.”

Brethren, these are the very words uttered by Lord Bo Tien in one of His anniversary discourses.

The devotee who commits himself to the Heavenly Saint will be sheltered by Him. Like a candle flame sheltered from the wind will glow ever brighter, the light of life of the devotee sheltered thus by the Saint will glow in strength.

Brethren, to practise devotion, confidence is an important pre-requisite. Understanding and practice of the teachings breed confidence in the Lord Saint. Mere belief will not do so.

“Do realise that not all things in life can be changed. There is always the element of fate.”

Thus said the Lord Saint in one of His anniversary discourses. As some others may put it, what we sow we reap. What we do not sow, we cannot reap. Good works (like sowing of seeds) and divine blessings can however change things for the better in most instances. Also, do remember that we are never alone. No one should feel he is alone to face problems.

For there are people like you and me to help him. Even if we cannot solve his problem, we can at least alleviate the situation.

In addition, that individual can turn to the Heavenly Saint for blessings. He should however be sincere in wanting help. He should will to change for the better. The self-effort must be made by him to bring about an awareness of his own shortcomings. He should also commit himself to help others in future, just as he now needs help. For such a person, who is committed to the Saint in thoughts, words and deeds to the Lord Saint, the Lord Saint will extend His helping hand. For such an individual, the Saint has this to add with regards to divine blessings.

“ With divine blessings, big issues become small issues. Small issues become non-issues.”

The seemingly insurmountable mountain of problems will be levelled into a mere hill. A hill too can also be levelled. Whilst it is not always possible to steer clear of ill fate, ill fate can be minimised even if it is not removed.

Brethren, in devotion and worship, there must be faith. Faith can move mountains.

Do, however, be careful where your faith lies. Faith should be directed to divinity and not to human beings. We should never make the mistake of worshipping men, when what is really needed is for us to worship the Heavenly Saints as represented by Lord Bo Tien in the instance of our temple.

Remember to be devoted and to have faith. Do not end up saying, “We do not see Him. How can we have faith?”

Lord Bo Tien has this to remind us,

'The one who knows and practises the doctrines sees me. He, who does not, does not see me”

THE YIN AND YANG OF LIFE

Brethren, more than four 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.

LEAD THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
But carry on with the mundane world

Brethren, as long as the sky is blue, the sea will be blue. As long as we are attached (to this or that), we will face the pain of loss.

Self-centredness is a folly. It results in the view that this is mine and that is yours, creating a gulf between us. Pain always follows loss. The greater the attachment (to self-centredness), the greater is the pain from loss. Attachment to possessions is bad enough. Attachment to oneself is worse. If we cannot bear to lose a fraction of our wealth, how much more pain will we experience with the loss of our own life.

The other extreme view that there is no self is no better. The conventional self is there in this conventional world. If we take the view that we are totally not what we are, we will lack zest or drive in life. Without motivation, life will come to a standstill. There is no push to live on. This in itself is another attachment –the attachment to a wrong view or approach. This attachment can bring pain – the loss of motivation and purpose in life is painful.

We should not be self-centred. We should also not deny the self in our daily life, or life will lose its bearing. There must be balance of yin and yang

No wonder our Saint Lord Bo Tien exhorts us to lead the spiritual life without giving up the family life, without denying the worldly life and without cutting off links with society.

It is His teaching that the one who follows closely to His Way will, if he properly applies the same principles succeed both spiritually and in the mundane world.

Lead the spiritual life, but do not give up the mundane life. Do be selfless but do not deny the self.

THE YIN AND YANG OF LIFE

Brethren, more than three 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.

LOVE AND THE MISSION OF LORD BO TIEN

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 (but not self denial) 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…………………………………………………………

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Reference from Wikipedia

The Chinese Heavenly Palace of gods is headed by the Pure August Jade Emperor, Yü Huang Shang Ti. He is also known as Tien Kung. He is the supreme head of the universe that is of all Heaven and realms of existence below including man and hell but ranks below the Three Pure Ones in the supreme pure heavens beyond the manifest universe.

The Jade Emperor was originally the assistant of the Divine Master of the Heavenly Origin, Yuanshi Tianzun. Yuanshi Tianzun is said to be the supreme beginning, the limitless and eternal creator of universe with Heaven and Earth. It is he who after creating the apparent universe picked Yu-huang, or the Jade Emperor, as the ruler of the universe of Heaven and Earth. Yu Huang became the Jade Emperor and he oversees and moderates the development and fate of beings through his subordinate deities. He is ultimately responsible for the deitification of other gods, or for their exit from the pantheon.

(Theoretically there should be a series of Jade Emperors but the life span is so long that it is as good as eternal in human terms. Like all heavenly beings, he is capable of creation of heavenly abodes, beings and entities. He is spiritually developed and enlightened but may not be in the sense of buddhahood but the apex of the path of gods and buddhas overlap and the zenith is one. This is the perspective of Inner Truth Netizen.)

The Jade Emperor's Birthday is designated on the ninth day of the first lunar month.

The manifest universe started with 無極 (wuji: 'nothingness'). Do note that this does not mean non-existence but mere metaphor on energy state before evolutionary and creative chain of events.

Jade Emperor as the head of the pantheon is however not responsible for the original creation process itself but hand picked into the appointment by Divine Master of the Heavenly Origin, Yuanshi Tianzun, the first of the Three Pure Ones. (Jade Emperor is however of capable of further creation of abodes, beings and divine entities.)

The Three Pure Ones were brought into existence through the interaction of pre-existing primordial forces including yin and yang. The first to emerge is The Divine Master of the Heavenly Origin, Yuanshi Tianzun, followed by the second and then the third Pure One.

You can say that Divine Master of the Heavenly Origin, Yuanshi Tianzun brought into existence the second and then the third Pure One came each with his own supreme pure heaven beyond the universe with its levels of heaven, earth and hell.

For more academic information in English, do read wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Emperor

The Inner Truth Sermon is His first sermon. This is also the Four Pillar Sermon that there is oneness of divinity and all heavenly saints behind the diverse religions and sects. The house of God or Divinity is simply compared to a house with four pillars or religions supporting the heaven or roof and all under heaven are in this house and its compound. Of course, there are more than four religions and the number will increase for sure. Hence the writer prefers to refer to his original sermon as The Inner Truth sermon.

Image as at writer's residence. Do take note of the divine body language of the majestic pose. It has to do with how to effect inner truth in our life through balanced approach as depicted by his feet on the elements of life and be at peace with life with its swirls of yin and yang.

There is need to persevere, to be steady, to be steadfast and to stay the course as reflected by his left hand.

His septre in right hand is to let us know he is only a messenger to carry out the mission of Heaven to invigorate realisation of commonality of truth behind all sects and religions, to stress the complementary and synergistic roles of all sects and religions and he is here NOT to start a new sect or religion.

Many have misunderstood. Thus conflicts and misperceptions are not suprising amongst religions and sects. This is cause for concern.

Mission is to correct this and the truth is termed thus the inner truth and has to do with peace and satisfaction in the present life as well as in the life hereafter, perhaps in a heaven or elsewhere.

What is important is the impact on the present as the present is a present and if well tended to will pave way for a better tomorrow in this life and the next. Do refer to the main post and various other posts for more elaboration.

JI KONG

JI KONG did not abide by any sect, faith, rules, tenets or written texts. He was therefore asked to leave a traditional ancient orthodox chinese temple. Though disowned, he already had good heart, good grasp of truth of life. He was steadfast in Inner Truth behind and beyond religions and sects. He understood the truth in life and devoted his wandering life on effecting the practice of truth. Life was his gospel and teacher. He was able to be enlightened and eventually recognised by various Taoist and Buddhist sects as part of their respective pantheons. Though he appeared 'far' spiritually to the clergy of holy monks and priests then and had to leave a temple and its order, he was NO eye sore. He proved himself to be exemplary, near and dear to gods, buddhas and men. He embodied and personified every bit of the Inner Truth Lord Bo Tien speaks about. He continues to do so. Know him and you will know how to be near to Divine Heaven even if what you ascribed to are not accepted by ways of majority

TRUTH IS FOR ALL

Truth is for all and not the dormain or purview of anyone or group. Thus, any part of this blog can be utilised, quoted and extracted for the benefit of the many.

The writer is indebted to all those who have given support for this blog on inner truth, with special mention to (1) SBV for sharing foresight and insight and his push over the last few years for this blog posting to be launched, (2) BWY for frank views, brainstorming and inputs, (3) SBP for appreciative inputs and spiritual handsmanship and (4) EL Elder Ling D.K. for his opinions.

The sharing of truth excels over all other sharing. May all beings be well and happy. May blessings accrue unto them here now and for the future. May all religions and sects work for the good of the many and out of compassion for all beings.

Of foremost priority is for homage, appreciation and gratitude to be offered to all the heavenly saints and buddhas for their exposition of Truth and for their divine blessings --- with the Jade Emperor and His messenger Lord Bo Tien deserving utmost special mention.

Regards
Inner Truth Netizen

PS The views, interpretations and opinions voiced in this blog are personal to the blogger, not necessarily that of and concurred by other brethren. Their separate and at times apparently distinctive views and stand on issues should be regarded as complementary and part of common spectrum. The purpose is to give better insight on all angles and perspectives of truth in the same way as religions and sects with their varied views and approaches. They may be different but invariably complementary for the good of the many so as to further the mission of Heaven.

BLOGGER REMEMBERS

We remember transcended brethren like Philip, Sin Hee, Chong Sim, Ah Wah, Henry, Hock Chuan and Romeo as well as all others as deserving if not more. Their contributions to the lives of many have made the difference. They will continue to be blessed as they have blessed us when they were with us. May they have beautiful wholesome, good, worthwhile and everlasting fond memories of their sojourn with us as fellow brethren. Even the gods and demigods would agree and want them to do so and move on for the better, if not, the best that can be reached.