Messages before 1974
Three messages before 1974
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."
Lord Bo Tien's 1974 Anniversary Message
A temple being new has to face many challenges as it grows and evolves.
The precepts and doctrines may not be new and different from that of others. However, a new temple like this temple can have approaches which can appear to be very different and contrasting. This can give rise to concerns and opinions simply because they may not be readily understood and accepted.
There will be disquiet. It is alright to object or to differ. Some just cannot understand at the current point in time. This is beneficial for all and members must convey this clearly to them.
Moreover, concerns and objections arise because of inability to understand and grasp. They do not indicate lack of faith in the saint. Once elucidated and clarified, they will have no more doubts and be within the folds of the fraternity even more steadfastly and with confidence and commitment.
Lord Bo Tien's 1975 Anniversary Message
"The cultivation of spiritual light in life is like a candle flame. All beings must seek the profound truth behind life and nurture the divine light in them by cultivating loving kindness for life (not just primarily for their own life but for the life of others as well). Loving kindness is the source of divine hope and the very essence of God the Jade Emperor's will. It is the nature of the divine or holy spirit ('leng' in Hokkien). Loving kindness in all its purity is divine. Its magnificence is unsurpassed and ever glorious. Nurture ever mindfully and conscientiously this light of divine love in your inner core. This divine love for life is expounded by all religions and by all prophets, sages, saints and even contemporary world leaders in some form or other."
"In the practice of religious life, do not be perturbed when a not -so-right is committed. There are those who having done the not-so-right (which they perceive as WRONG or SIN) are fearful of coming to a temple to face the altar. Brethren, this should not be the case. So long as a brethren realise this, he should take positive steps to learn and improve himself. He will then realise he is worthy of entering a place of worship. Then the brethren have thoughts that are ever free from fear and guilt, thoughts that are ever so pure and divinely heavenly in their spiritual moments or absorptions in front of the altar." That too is manifestation of divine and inner peace.
Lord Bo Tien's 1976 Anniversary Message
"The Saint reiterates that a temple or spiritual organisation be solid like the concrete pillar. The pillar is made up of many elements. Members of the organisation are like the elements of the pillar. If they have the oneness of heart and commitment and if they are equipped with the Doctrine of Truth, they should not fear where the pillar be moved or where it is sited. It is important that they should remain solid as a concrete pillar and must not be fragmented. A spiritual organisation could exist anywhere and even in the open without a building if members are united, equipped and fortified by the Doctrine."
"The Lord Saint reminds that His presence is not to initiate a new religion. Rather, His aim is to further spiritual insight in all beings and men (regardless of religious affiliation). He wishes to extend to all beings and men the values of divine and universal love (loving kindness). He calls for all to develop this divine love as part of their nature and integrate it into their being . This is because a spiritually inspired organisation or person has to be spiritually orientated based on the approach of the enlightened ones (eg the Buddhas and pure ones). Many have misconstrued practices and veered from that of the spiritual way of enlightened and pure ones. His mission is to put things right and to enable better spiritual understanding, insight and practice (in whatever religion, sect, school of practices and spiritual station they may be). His intention is simply and primarily targeted for all to understand better about life and religion."
Lord Bo Tien's 1977 Anniversary Message
"The lordship has elucidated the doctrine of the inner truth behind religions and life. But somehow, many will fall short of understanding and grasp even for the more astute and conversant. This is not the fault of individuals. The reality is that individuals are not perfect. They do have concerns but this could be addressed by praying to heavenly saints like the lordship for guidance. The lordship like any saint will open one or more ways for them through their individual life. Life is the gospel of truth. Similarly, for difficulties in life, do not lament in helplessness but pray to the saints like His grace to intervene. Do pray earnestly and wholeheartedly to the saints and the saints will know. Seek their blessings in earnest and they will come to your side. Big issue will be small issues even if they cannot be no issue and small issues will be no issue."
Lord Bo Tien's 1978 Anniversary Message
"He who sees and knows the doctrine knows and sees the lord. He who does not see and know the doctrine does not see the lord even if the lord is present with him all the time."
"God almighty the Jade Emperor has decreed the setting up of the temple and the mission. The mission is the mission by Heaven for man and not by man for man"
The mission is to instill grasp of doctrine of the Inner Truth behind religions. This will rejuvenate the religious thought and fervour of the pioneers. Should one generation fail to fulfil the mission, "the image of lord saint will be lifted up to Heaven." The next generations and perhaps many generations to come would fulfill it. This would go on until the day when it would succeed."
The Lord Saint's mission is like that of a contractor of a building project. Come rain or shine, the contractor has to employ workers to complete the building in good time. If the workers fail to deliver, new workers would be recruited until the project is completed.
Lord Bo Tien's 1980 Anniversary Message
includes re- enacted 1979 message
1979
There are many trees in plantations. Come dry season, the trees shrivel, do not fare well and have few fruits. At the fringe, there is a lone tree. The grass and shrubs around it remain green and flowering despite the dry season. This lone tree pales in comparison with the trees in the plantations in good seasons. Somehow, however, despite dry season, it still has a good crown of leaves and fruits. Though rivers dry up and there is hardly a drop of rain, it ironically thrives better than the trees in the orchard. The farmers are at a lost but a few decide to relocate their trees to the fringe. Soon these trees too survive the dry spell and could flower and bear fruit.
How do we explain this? The answer is simple. The lone tree at the fringe is rooted in ground with subterrain water stream in all seasons. Even not tended to and watered by farmers in good seasons, it can still survive though less majestic than the trees in the plantations. But the trees in the plantations wither in the dry season as the farmers could not secure any water for the trees. The lone tree at fringe rooted in ground stream has continuous water supply in all seasons. It could survive even when not tended and watered.
Brethren, adherents of religious institutions too must ensure their institutions must be sustained not just by the water of conventional ways of sectional society but more importantly, by the all-season underground water of inner truth.
The inner truth is that God and Heaven reach out to us via more than one religion or sect, via more than one tree of hope. This is to allow more to experience the inner peace amidst the yin yang ups and downs in life. This inner peace is achieved by recognising, by balancing and by non-denial of yin and yang. We will then not be tossed and swept around by yin and yang.
Yin and yang refer to the worldly contingencies or axes in life like gain loss, health sickness, praise blame, honour dishonour, elation and dejection, mania and depression etc which create restlessness and dis-ease.
We do not need to wait till kingdom come in after-life to have heavenly peace. We can do so here and now. Only by inner peace can we be one with the peace and purity of the holy spirit of God and heavenly saints ('leng' in Chinese Hokkien). We will have heavenly inner peace of our spirit or inner being here and now. We develop the God or Divinity within us.
1980
He stressed the point that the image is the doctrine and the doctrine is the image. The one who knows the doctrine knows Him and the mission. The one who knows Him knows the doctrine and the mission. He who does not know the doctrine will not know and see Him even if the lord saint or His image is in front of him.
The sceptre He is holding represents the Mission of Heaven. The mission is here to stay and will last. There is need to have firm foot hold, that is, to be committed, unwavering, steadfast and firm. The mission is definable, doable and durable. It is for one and all, irrespective of their religious affiliation or even if none. His lordship is to enlighten all on the inner truth and not to start a new sect or religion. The inner truth perspective enables all to be better adherents of their respective religions or sects and promotes oneness in diversity of approach.
The left hand in salutation pose signifies that Heaven will clear the way for the mission even if there be obstacles and obstructions.
Followers should not mistake the majestic military attire to conceive that He is a general. He is a heavenly saint and not a general. There is no need to know who He is but to know what He represents and the values He wants to share with all.
The dragon chair He sits on reminds us that His seat is the Holy Spirit of Divinity ('leng" in Hokkien). The Holy Spirit brings divine love, peaceful joy, comfort and hope. Because of its omnipresence, it is the nest or seat of life for certainty and predictability for all in the life of yin yang uncertainty and woes. The twin dragon (the arm rests) supports the pearl of doctrine personified as the carved image of His lordship (hence the four worded phrase in Hokkien -'two dragons support pearl' )
The armour projects the values of vitality, vigour and victory in endeavours and challenges in life' s front line or battle field.The many colors of the image represent the many races, sects and religions which are different in approach but complement one another to bring inner truth and ultimate peace for all to be with God and saints here now and in this life. There is no need to wait till afterlife.
The two figurines at His feet represent the yin and yang. All need to be atop, ride and balance the yin and yang in life (the axes of gain loss, wealth poverty, health sickness, honour dishonour, birth death etc). All must take full cognisance of and not deny yin and yang. The mind is the chief. It is the main deciding factor and it must be cultivated to rise above and be atop the yin and yang. All that we are and can have start with, arise in, develop within and end with the mind. All can have inner peace and be seated on the Holy Spirit like the heavenly saints. Everyone should strive to be the embodiment of the doctrine and be the pearl supported by the two dragons of the Holy Spirit ('two dragons support pearl')
Lord Bo Tien's 1981 Anniversary Message
The coming of age of the first phase of the mission meant there will be fruits in the second and third phases. The toil and obstacles of the first phase of 12 years constituted the turbulent waves that would subside and calm would return in the second and third phases. The merits or 'kong teck' from the first phase would stand the temple of people in good stead for happiness and success. Ancestry and fore runners would bless and protect the members so that they could better do good.
For the temple, like all spiritual institutions, sincerity and purity of efforts in past good deeds would have cultivated that inner peace and joy "that is divine and in unison with the holy spirit of God and the host of heavenly saints. Many would not have the opportunity to be part of this process and all in the mission or spiritual thrust should treasure the blessing of being in the mission or spiritual thrust."
The best will ever yet be, but after pioneering phase, success will be forthcoming for endeavours and this is true in any spiritual organisation. "All must work with one heart and there will always be the way forward. Be sincere and pray to Heaven for blessings and patronage. The important axiom for all is this. Worship Heaven and not man. Then with divine patronage and compassion of Heaven, all will be able to spread cheer, hope and love to all sentient beings "
Lord Bo Tien's 1983 Anniversary Message
The emissary said that what human beings can have cannot be the same as what are in Heaven. Take for example the flower. As a whole and when in full bloom, the flower is a beauty to behold. But the various parts of the flower are not. From external appearance, it is beautiful but the internal parts never will be beautiful. This runs true for all Nature's creation.
When a strong wind in the ocean blows in one direction, only a gigantic wave in the centre of the ocean can break the energy of the wind. Calmness would then be achieved. (Inner truth netizen elaborates. When a strong wind of ill-fate blows in one's life, only a giant wave of pure energy in one's spirit could break the momentum of ill fate for calmness of life to be achieved. This pure energy comes from inner peace. Inner peace arises from realisation that one should be atop the ups and downs of life as portrayed by the image of the lord saint with feet balancing two elements.)
The temple of the lord saint like most temples and places of worship must be viewed in the proper helicopter perspective. The teachings deal with universal truth and if followed will make life fruitful. But be mindful that a temple is not just a concrete building or a shelter. A temple is the people. It is people who make up a temple. As this temple like many others is a temple of Heaven, the sky is the roof of the temple.
Thus the lord saint honorific is Bo Tien with the word Tien. Tien is the sky or heaven.
(PS Inner truth netizen adds. 'Bo' in Chinese is best translated as executor of 'Tien' Heaven. It is He who executes the Mission of Heaven. Do note that He is but one of the many executor saints, many of whom are the saints of religions and sects. His role is to explain the inner truth underlying all religions and sects and not to start a new sect or religion.)
Heaven is the roof for all beings. All men and beings are sheltered, overseen and judged by Heaven. God and saints, not men, shall be the final judge of men.
Lord Bo Tien's 1984 Anniversary Message
He then compared the mission to save souls and impart the inner truth behind life and religions to a very long dragon in the deep forest. "The dragon carries a pearl in its mouth and it has descended to the deep forest to bring the pearl to the world. The dragon head and the pearl have reached the world. But people in their ignorance and frenzy were stepping on the body of the dragon without realising that it belongs to the same dragon as it is a very long dragon. The dragon felt the pain whenever people step on its body. This is a very good dragon which has many legs, and the lord saint Lord Bo Tien is one of the legs to support the dragon. Up to date , the legs have arrived but not the tail."
He then illustrated the mission as a lotus flower which blooms in purity and beauty and yet uncontaminated and untainted by the muddy water from which it arises. Even if it withers as it would do so in time, all will not be lost as it will produce seeds which are useful to all. New lotus flowers would bloom in time to come.
As with regards to divine truth and understanding, He had this to say, "Water from the upper source of a stream is pure and clear. When water reaches the mid stream of its course, the water would have been polluted by many users. If men want pure and clear water, then they have to go to upper source of the stream to get it."
A heavenly saint is like the flower. The pure and beautiful flower is the creation of nature. Ants and insects are attracted to the flower and all should not blame the flower for attracting ants and insects. A heavenly saint is like the flower and the least expected amongst men will be attracted to the saint like ants and insects to the flower. This is not the wrong doing of the flower but nature's way of survival and existence.
That the least expected should be at the helm or in the following of a spiritual group is not the folly of a heavenly saint and Heaven but Heaven's way to reach out to all more so the more lost in society. But the folly of men should not be regarded as Heaven's folly.
The Taoist Octagon or Pakua shows two fish-like symbols the yin and the yang. Both must exist and if there was only one, then there will be no balance and peace. Man must seek the inner peace through balance of yin and yang.
A spiritual organisation must find balance in the yin and yang elements of people that constitute the temple. Only then will there be peace and harmony. This adds further significance to the advice given on the flower and the ants. Without ants in men there would be no need for any religion or sect and its mission. A temple or spiritual organisation needs to attract both yin and yang and this is as the case with all nature.
Inner Truth Netizen adds.
Yin yang balance will include (1) balancing cooperation and discord by veering towards complementary approach and rejoicing in one another's efforts (2) neither expecting perfect 10 nor a low 0 in oneself or others (3) neither rejection of nor blind acceptance in oneself or others.
In short, we should neither see the god in man nor the beast in man but only the man in man. This parting note is relevant in today's and tomorrow's world and will facilitate peace in all aspects of life --- our life, my life and yours.
Do not forget to compliment and to complement. To err is human and to tolerate and to be at peace is divine. The reality is that there will always be the minus points and the plus points. But often, we see only the dark side and not the better side of situations. This is our folly because we as humans always have excuses and tend to blame and point fingers. This however presents wondrous opportunities for man to learn from his own life and the lives of other men in the very rich gospel of life.
Do remember that on one hand even the best amongst men are learning and obviously will fall short of the glory of God and saints. At the other extreme, even the ants and insects amongst men, the so-called unredeemable are worthy to be enlightened for the kingdom of God and saints. This again is evidence of yin and yang interplay in that both types of men are neither denied nor favored to enter the kingdom of God and the pure ones.
Arahat Angulimala was a serial murderer and bandit before he chanced upon the Buddha Gautama and was enlightened like the many who were not murderers and bandits. In fact, many self-righteous persons covered by pride due to their aristocratic, brahminic or noble status are not readily enlightened.
The Messiah Jesus of Nazareth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus) too said in the ancient days of the Roman Empire that the humbled would be exalted even if he was a criminal on the cross and the exalted and arrogant such as some amongst the Pharisees and Roman legions would be humbled.
The love of saints and prophets for beings are never meant to instil guilt and fear but somehow beings like men still harbour guilt and fear of Heaven in their awe of God and saints. Fear and guilt are attributes that are natural amongst animals and hell beings. Men too are not spared because they too have the animal nature in them. Religion in men started off centuries ago with fear and worship of thunder and lightning out of awe.
All should neither harbour guilt and fear for short falls nor arrogance and ugly upmanship for excellence. Do note that pride is NOT out of place, that is, not wrong to have. In fact, it is wholesome in context of wisdom and humility to have that uniquely divine quiet pride and sense of contentment in our good works. This will be satisfying and will motivate us to carry on and open new dimensions. This will generate peace within and without our spirit if done correctly. We will be at peace with life. We will be ever that rich in spirit and ever more blessed.
But if men live life out of arrogance and upmanship, out of need to get utmost recognition and to dominate others to submit to their egos, then loh and behold, they will be treading the path of asura gods (ego centric gods) at Heaven's fringe who ever clamour for allegiance and jealous if men hero worship other gods instead of them. Men especially men of faith should not be asura men and delight in others kow-towing or hero-worshipping them. There should not be the culture of worshipping men instead of God and saints within spiritual groups but unfortunately this is an unconscious and subtle trend with the proliferation of religious sects and schools.
The Mission of God, for which Lord Bo Tien is a divine messenger, is for all to have inner peace regardless of their religious affiliation (or even if none). There is no life if we dread life or leave life. We should neither leave life nor dread life. We need to live life and have a life. We need to be at peace with life and in life. We can do so via balanced approach. It is best to optimise yin yang interplay for wholesome life. Life in all aspects be it spiritual or mundane will then be more forthcoming, fulfilling, fruitful and fortified with inner peace. This will be a sound beginning to the end (goal) of sainthood and enlightenment.
Gods and saints like Weito and Kuan Kong Posats are ever ready for the Mission but the same cannot be said about men. How many weitos and kuankongs are there amongst men? Up to us to be and that's the truth that matters.
The best way is to live it right by effecting inner truth in life to get that right balance of yin and yang for inner peace. We must be living examples of the practice of the inner truth on the true nature of life. We must show that inner truth does work to bring us peace in both mundane and spiritual life. Only then, can we be kuankongs or weitos for the Mission of God.
We live it right. We must be role models of inner peace. We harness blessings and not frustrations. We must be insightful to realise that for every few good that come our way, there will invariably be one, two or more frustations or woes that come our way. We balance our expectations and realise that in world of yin and yang, there is mixture of both. We learn to reconcile the reality and go for more good and less of the not good. This way we will be less troubled and learn to have inner peace of spirit.
This involves the art of balancing and being on top of yin and yang. We need to be like the pleasant and serene lotus flowers that bloom above the mud of yin and yang. We do not wallow in misery when the flowers wane but we go for more of the serene lotus flowers that will bloom. If we wallow and wail on the demise of flowers and the life frustrations that will surely crop up from time to time, we fail to harness the blooming of more blessings and peace of life.
We make it second nature to be peaceful amidst the strife of life and the rat race. We do not deny or run away from society and life. We neither leave life nor loath life but we live life by having inner peace and equanimity. We do not renounce life but we embrace life with inner peace. By so doing, we will be shining examples or candle lights of inner peace to light up the life for others to walk the way of inner peace.
We will have both blessings of the mundane and spiritual world but really what matters most is that we are at peace and not the blessings which are transient and will wax and wane like the lotus flowers and all of nature. We cultivate more of the inner peace and one day we will be enlightened to join the ranks of the pure ones and the saints. That will be in the future and in the afterlife. But we will be in heaven on earth here and now long before we be in the heaven of the afterlife.
Have that inner peace and lead others by example to that inner peace and heaven on earth here now and in the afterlife. This way surely we are weitos and kuankongs of sorts for the Mission of God the Jade Emperor, the Saints and the Pure Ones.
Remember, however, that group dynamics by banding of truth practitioners work wonders than individual solitary effort. They shine out like a collection of candle flames to attract attention and light up the life of others in the shadow of ignorance. Moreover, there is learning and fellowship advantages. We can learn not just from our individual life but also from the lives of others both the good and not so good. This is the better way for the Mission. Brotherhood approach as championed by Kuan Kong Posat is the model for the Mission. Wei To Posat champions the divine truth common to and embraced by all sects and religions. He is therefore the guardian of truth and the Mission that deals with the truth of life behind all religions and sects. This is the Inner Truth. Lord Bo Tien is a messenger of God for the Mission of the Inner Truth
What exactly is this Inner Truth? There is oneness of world religions. The same one truth is behind many approaches, hence inner truth. Truth is simple but yet difficult to perceive. Diversity of approaches and dogmatic packaging of the various religions effects outreach for good of many and for the diverse needs of the masses in all corners of the world. Lord Bo Tien is one heavenly saint with mandate of God to be a messenger to stress oneness of faiths. Faiths and sects are pillars of Divinity. Differences enrich, add color, liveliness and spirit. They are not divisive but complementary. Many have misunderstood and conflicts and problems arise. Hence there is the need for Heaven to effect the Mission of the Inner Truth. Lord Bo Tien is not here to start a new religion or sect but to effect understanding of oneness of truth behind all religions. Truth realisation yields tranquility in life - heaven on earth here and now and not till the life hereafter.
Cheers.
Inner truth netizen
