The 1978 message of Lord Bo Tien sets the direction for the mission

Mission History and News No 13

Reference Historical version of Bo Tien Chor Choo's 1978 Anniversary Message...

There are some historical significance of the 1978 message (the tenth anniversary or mission day message) and this post no 13 of series 3 transcribes verbatim passages from what was on pages 25 and 26 of Lord Bo Tien's Guidance published by Bo Tien mission related temple at Singapore on 6th Sept 2000. Brother Peter Kong wrote the forward for the book.

The paraphrased versions were already posted by inner truth netizen 1 some time earlier but were not the verbatim transcripts and omitted some sentences that applies more to the followers at Singapore.

This is due to oversight of the blogger. Many like the blogger sometimes have eyes but do not see or read* and many who have the anniversary messages and doctrine of Lord Bo Tien often put them on the shelf to gather dust. No wonder the lord saint did say that the far may be near and the near may be far. Blogger admitted that he is not near to the lord after all and Elder Ling would likely concur to the admission. But it is better late than never.

These omitted sentences are now reproduced below in this post:-

He remarked that His image was at the Temple altar throughout 365 days and yet His presence was not being felt at all. 'His Doctrine', He said, 'is my image  and my image is my doctrine.' He urged them to look closer at His Doctrine and they would understand Him better. He affirmed that God Almighty personally sanctioned the setting up of the Temple and His Doctrine. Should this generation fail to fulfill His Mission, His image would be lifted up to heaven. The next generation of people or perhaps many generations to come would fulfill it. The cycle of this task would go on until a day when it would succeed.

Touching on another aspect of His responsibilities, Lord Bo Tien said that His image, His Doctrine of Four Pillars*and His shrine would spread far and wide. He emphasized, 'I am a CHOR CHOO (which in ordinary sense means Deity entrusted by God Almighty to carry out His present mission) and I represent Heaven.' He urged them to do their part to spread His Doctrine without fear of any obstacles for it was His responsibility to undo them.

The Aged Home was a good charitable deed, which they had accomplished and it was in line with His wish to have it built. Now that the Aged Home had been established, it was the time to put forward His Doctrine. He said, 'Good deeds are in many forms.' At the present place (407A Woodlands Road, Singapore), it was known that every effort put in had brought forth fruits for all to see and yet many are ignorant of His Doctrine. *The setting up of the Aged Home had seen people with many ulterior motives: some for self interest; others to gain higher status in the society while there were some not expecting any returns. He added that good deeds done in this life would be repaid instantly in the present or in future.

 Do also read,  The divine resolve , The human shortcoming in a church or temple , Did the lord saint decree that his image be burnt if there is no doctrine mission?  , The Spirit of 42nd anniversary at Bo Tien Temple Singapore , Will newer people be better at the mission job? and also Social agenda overriding doctrine focus will cause mission to falter..

Calm before the storm

Mission History and News No 12

The issues of man are many and plentiful. "The arguements (issues) and reasoning of human beings are plentiful." Lord Bo Tien said in 1980 anniversary or mission day message. Lord Bo Tien's 1980 Anniversary Message  (Also in the second paragraph on page 28 of book Lord Bo Tien's Guidance published year 2000 by Bo Tien Temple Singapore)

 

The purpose of a temple, church or mission is to answer to the problems and issues of man so that one day man will have no problems or not affected by problems and issues even if they are there. A temple or church is where men go to find peace and blessings.

 

The greatest blessing is to be free from problems or not affected by problems. But the problem is that there will always be issues. The issues and problems of man are many and plentiful.

 

But if man has the right approach to life, man must neither run away from problems nor expect that all problems be solved.

 

Problems and issues are less if man has the peace of heart but if there are worldly problems, they need to attend to them before they can find peace. Heaven will help but if Heaven continues to do so indefinitely, the boon of divine help may prove to be a bane.

 

Why? Man will always find and create more issues. When man gets what he wants, he is happy and  calm. The calm is only for awhile as there will follow a storm of problems and more storms to come. This is because man often fails to understand the true nature of life. He has clinging and ignorant of why he seems to have endless problems and issues.  

 

This failure to understand the true nature of life  applies to man as individual and man as a temple.

 

A temple or church is made up of people. When people struggled to put up a temple or church, there are obstacles to overcome, but their hearts are united by a common cause. They put aside their differences to build a temple or church. Once they succeed, everything appears well and calm.

 

But men being men will ever be men. The issues of men are many and plentiful. Men will turn against fellow men. They will find issues with fellow men in a temple or church and the calm will soon be followed by a storm.

 

A temple that men succeed in building will be jubilant and then calm sets in but there will always be calm before a storm. The storm is when man turns against man once a temple is built. This will destroy the temple that is ultimately made up of people and not concrete. That would be pathetic.

 

God knows but often man does not seem to know and create storm after storm, more so when the temple of brick and cement is built. It is no easy task to build a temple of brick and cement but the real temple is manifold more difficult to build.

The real temple is a temple of people imbued with doctrine, not that of a temple of concrete. Men clamours to wrest control of a temple or church once it is built and ostracise others in the process. This is because of lack of grasp of doctrine. Thus there will always be more sects set up in any religion and more temples or churches in just one locality. These are however temples or churches of bricks and concrete but the true temple or church of the hearts of people often remains elusive.

Lord Bo Tien said in relation to his temple that the sky is the roof of the temple. Lord Bo Tien's 1983 Anniversary Message.

A temple has to do with doctrine and "if not understood, it would be a pity".  "His teachings were not meant to complicate matters for his followers. He reiterated that no one should judge or criticise another but his followers should lead or advise the other party to understand the temple doctrine." (Extract from pages 31 and 32 of book Lord Bo Tien's Guidance published in year 2000 by Bo Tien Temple Singapore)

Only then will there be a temple of men under the sky or heaven. Otherwise there will always be calm before storm. This is because they have not understood the doctrine. "Heaven cries in pity for those who have not understood the doctrine" This the emissary of the lord saint said in 1983.

 

LORD BO TIEN'S GUIDANCE

 

 

 

What God put together, let no man take apart

Mission History and News No 11

Elder Ling Diung Kwong

In October 2011, Elder Ling spoke to some independent-minded mission members at Singapore. Elder Ling reminded that any temple must move forward as one. This applies to all temples and religious organisations, more so to any temple in the name of Lord Bo Tien. The lord saint reminds time and again that any temple named after him should be exemplary and be a model for other temples to follow.

It is best that there be one organisation and all activities be under the umbrella of that one organisation. 

If the wings of that organisation grow big, it is still wise for all to be in one --- all in one and one in all. That is so and so be it. 

Having to divorce  and separate any wing, be it social, youth, mission or charitable as a separate body from the temple or organisation would be a mistake as this would be planting the seeds for future discord when errant groups take over the administratively separate organisations and do not see eye to eye and want to go separate ways but trapped in the same premises as they would be sharing the same premises. 

How unfortunate this will be? The misfortune is all because men in their folly choose to bring apart what God and saints put together as one. 

Whatever the social agenda that calls for the separation, the division would be in bad taste at least from the spiritual angle. 

It is spiritually more correct for a temple or church to be the umbrella body for all activities such as welfare, youth or social activities. Together the temple or church will be more whole and the running of the temple or church will be more wholesome and holistic. 

For example, in the case of any temple of Lord Bo Tien, the welfare thrust is one manifest aspect of the mission and motivated by the doctrine that Lord Bo Tien explains to us over the years. 

The welfare front of a temple or church is like a part of the flower. In the lord's 1983 anniversary message. a flower, Lord Bo Tien said, is made up of various parts. Taken as a whole, it is beautiful but separated as parts, each part is not as appealing as the whole flower. Lord Bo Tien's 1983 Anniversary Message.

Separating the different fronts of a church or temple such as the welfare and pastor training fronts as separate entities from the church or temple will not be right and will violate the very wholesomeness and holistic oneness of purpose and direction of the temple or church, though this may in the short term give questionable freedom of expression and some administrative and social conveniences.

Men will somehow think they know allot and they will err as they are not perfect and God and saints know. If they do not, then there is no need for religion or a temple or church. There is need for men to learn, and a temple or church, like it or not,  has to be the place for men to err and to learn. But they could err less if they heed more of the spiritual doctrine and advice of the elders. A temple or church is like the flower and blame not the flower if insects come to it for nectar. Lord Bo Tien referred to the parable of the flower and the insects in his 1984 anniversary message. Lord Bo Tien's 1984 Anniversary Message

The preceding year message in 1983 states thus,

"Human beings however beautiful or good as a people is like any creation of nature such as the flower. The flower is good and beautiful but as it is part of nature, it is not perfect and wholesome. It will wither. Also it is made of parts which on their own are not beautiful and far from wholesome or desirable. The doctrine is divine, pure and wholesome. This do not imply that the members must be pure and wholesome to be entitled to learn the doctrine."

Thus a temple or church is for all kinds of people and for them to learn. The better of the lot cannot be unaccommodating to those who are not as good as them. They should learn from the strengths and weakness of men and by doing so, they have better grasp of life. Life is the living doctrine.

This is referred to in 1974 message of Lord Bo Tien.

"A temple too will attract people of various characteristics, some good and some not so good. These will be contrasted for all in the group and be noticeable. Learn and absorb as much of the good points of others. Do also learn from the weaknesses and mistakes, so that these will not be repeated in their own lives." Lord Bo Tien's 1974 Anniversary Message

So elders who know better can learn more from the weakness of those who know less. Elders cannot say there is no place for those who know less but they can educate them so that what God and saints put together, let not men bring apart. Elders and those better in the know and practice of doctrine cannot expect only the more better of men in a temple but they should expect all kinds and levels of men as then a good mix will be more representative and reflective of yin and yang in society.

The emissary of the lord saint Lord Bo Tien at end of 1984 message "pointed out to the Taoist Octagon or Pakua, which showed 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 temple or organisation must find balance in the yin and yang elements of people that constitute the temple. Only then will there be peace and harmony."

Ba Gua

This adds further significance to the advice given in the parable of the flower and the ants in the same 1984 message. Without ants or insects in men, there would be no need for a temple and its mission. A temple or spiritual organisation needs to attract both yin and yang and this is as the case with all nature. Lord Bo Tien's 1984 Anniversary Message

God has put together different kinds of people in a temple or church. Whilst elders may decry why less doctrine motivated men want to separate the welfare or spiritual training school e.g. pastor training school as separate entities from a temple or church, they too should not exclude such men from the fold of the temple or church.

What God put together, let no man take apart. This is so true in more ways than one. This has to do with the yin and yang, the polar dualities of life that color nature and the universe. The ability to fathom and balance yin and yang is the way to sainthood  but more importantly to a meaningful, peaceful and fruitful life here and now for the individual and for a temple or church, more so for Bo Tien mission-related temples as they have to be the role models to illustrate what Lord Bo Tien said in all his anniversary messages in the first 13 years.

What God put together, let no man bring apart. Have mastery over yin and yang and not try to have only some of the yin and yang and not all. This is just not possible.

At this juncture, it is poignant to recall that in 1976, Lord Bo Tien also reiterated on need for oneness of a temple and of people by alluding to a temple as like a concrete pillar.  

A concrete pillar must be made up of various components, each of which cannot stand on its own. What God put together in a temple or church be it different kinds of people or the various fronts  and functions must be part of the temple and not exist as separate independent entities with their logos and own distinct management committees. Lord Bo Tien's 1976 Anniversary Message

The charity wing or pastoral training wing of a temple or church therefore must always remain integral part of the entity of the temple or church and not be hived off from the temple or church as separate organisation with distinct logo of its own.  

When the unthinkable happens, what went wrong and where is the fault. Dear readers, the answer is simple. It is because men of the temple or church are not rooted in spiritual doctrinal grounding. In 1979 and 1980 messages by Lord Bo Tien, he related the parable of the lone tree at the fringe surviving better in bad times of sheer drought than those more trees at the orchard despite being tendered to by farmers. This is all because it is rooted in subterrain water. Lord Bo Tien's 1980 Anniversary Message

This illustrates the point that men in a temple or church must not run a temple or church based on social pressures. They must be sturdy like the lone tree at the fringe by being rooted in subterrain water of doctrine. The lone tree may not be as socially attractive.

A spiritually driven temple or church may not attract the seasonal festive crowd but it is doctrine and mission driven and it will certainly last longer. It will not fade away like the society-driven temple when the good times are no longer around and the social lure of the festivity loses its appeal in bad times.  

Thus let us remember always that what God put together in a temple or church be it different kinds of people or the various fronts and functions must be part of the temple and not exist as separate independent entities with their individual logos and own distinct management committees.

The only way to insure against losing oneness of a temple is for the temple to be spiritually motivated and grounded in divine doctrine and purpose.

From the foregoing, we can thus appreciate Elder Ling's insistence that any temple must move forward as one. This applies to all temples and religious organisations, more so to any temple in the name of Lord Bo Tien. The lord saint reminds time and again that any temple named after him should be exemplary and be a model for other temples to follow. That is so and so be it.

What God put together, let no man take apart

Related posts
The divine test a temple has to undergo
What God and lord saint decide, let no man put aside...
It is God's will

Remembering Sam Sim

Mission History and News No 10





Sam had done his part in transforming the wooden structure of a temple at 11 and 3/4 ms - 407A Woodlands Road Singapore

to this concrete premise at No 6 Fourth Chin Bee Road

Inner truth netizen 2 remembers one gentleman by name of Sam Sim who was acquainted with another devout follower by name of Lionel. Both are near and dear to Lord Bo Tien and also close aquaintences of the late Senior Bro P. Philip and Elder Ling Diung Kwong age 76+ in 2012.

Sam played important part in the years that led to the building of the Singapore mission-related temple at No 6th Fourth Chin Bee Road at Jurong. He was pivotal as resource person who provided the resource information  and took active part that helped the temple to upgrade from temporary premises at 407A Woodlands Road to 3 storey concrete temple with basement car park and roof top balcony at Jurong.

But as what Lord Bo Tien had said that there is often an element of fate which cannot be ignored and which at times even the saints may not be able to intervene significantly though saints could moderate and a big issue may end up lesser of an issue even if they cannot be no issue. This element of fate affects everyone even good people.

But Heaven is graceful to facilitate his good and wholesome contribution towards the purchase and building of new premises. He was even able to have the good fortune to see the fruition and growth of the temple though this was finite because of the element of fate.

He was the manager of a town council in Singapore but he  was always unassuming, humble, approachable and an asset to society, more so to the mission of the lord. We are sure that he is still who he is and an asset to others in many ways.

The lord saint, Lord Bo Tien reiterated that a temple is the people and not the building. It is people that make up a temple. Sam Sim is and will ever continue to be one of the people that make up the temple and the mission. 

It is people like Sam who will make the difference and make a temple what the temple should be. He is ever a background man and that is him but when the calling came some years ago, he answered the call admirably and that is what matters. The lord saint knows and we should know as well.

Email from Elder Ling on meditation

Mission History and News No 9

Elder Ling in 2012

"Hi,

I wish to share with you the prayer I adopt during my meditation as follows:-

Lord Bo Tien and all heaven Saints, I call upon your grace to guide and protect me in my meditation, to enable me establish a communication link with you for knowledge, wisdom and directions, in my endeavor in understanding and propagating your teachings and doctrines, for the salvation of mankind and their souls.

During my meditation, I keep repeating this prayer in my mind and at the same time focus my mind in my breathing which is done reversely. I call this a reverse breathing - slowly breath in the air to fill the lung and hold it for a few seconds before slowly expelling it. In this few seconds, certain amount of energy is built in the tummy. In the process of expelling the air from the lung, the upper tummy depresses and at the same time energy in the tummy moves downward to the lower tummy causing it to expand. As this process of breathing is repeated in cyclical manner, I can feel the hot sensation intensify as the energy moves downwards to the lower tummy. That feeling is really soothing.

As a beginner, one may feel breathless at times. If one is consistent in the practice of reverse breathing, it will become natural and one would find the joy and comfort and deeper in meditation.

In fact, I acquired the knowledge of reverse breathing about 30 years ago during one of the meditation sessions. I did not realise that it is a form of exercise for our internal organs which generate energy internally to keep our body strong and healthy. I only realise it about 3 years ago when I took up "Che Gong". It has now become my natural breathing habit. I sleep about 4 to 5 hours daily and I do not feel tired or spent when I do my daily brisk walking.

After adopting this breathing habit and making it a part of my life even in between meditation sessions, my health has dramatically improved with no bloating, no indigestion, abatement of chronic health issues I had in the 1980s and my waist line has gone down  from 42 inches to 35 inches. I am now more alert, lively, trim and fit with carefree life and  yet  has no problem with eating food that I fancy.

Now I understand why Lord Bo Tien during his descent in 1981, asked me to meditate when I complained to him about my sleepiness. This part of question and answer between Bo Tien and myself can be found in his 1981 Anniversary message* in the turquoise book published in 2000.

Best regards.

Ling "



Elder Ling in the early years
then better known as Inspector Ling

The turquoise book

* Page 30 para 1 of the book: "Ling then asked about his sleepiness to which Lord Bo Tien told him not to falter to fulfil the Mission. Heaven would guide him in his meditation to achieve peace and happiness"

* But left out in the 1981 anniversary message of Lord Bo Tien posted by inner truth netizen in Living Life Series

PS What Elder Ling did in his life comes as no surprise and is after all in keeping with the lord saint's advice to us. " 做仙学法，救世，救万人。zuo xian xue fa, jiu shi, jiu wan ren. Be like a saint, sit in quiet reflection (meditation) and cultivate the Way, save the world and save the myriads" Inner truth netizen 2 is grateful to Elder Ling for his willingness to share his experiences and hope others will also come forward to share theirs as well.

Elder Ling and Mission Hiccups

Mission History and News No 8

Elder Ling Diung Kwong

The historical Mission Head or Ah Tau in Hokkien was appointed and anointed by Lord Bo Tien. The appointment decreed by God and the lord saint is etched in history and cannot be rewritten by men.

What God and the lord saint decide, let no man put aside. It would take men with self-righteousness and finite regard for the lord saint to do so. Such self-righteousness is to be expected of men at times and the flower should not be blamed for insects coming to it.

This is expected too in a physical temple of Lord Bo Tien but will also happen in the true temple of the lord- the universal temple that is Bo Tien Temple, though in the true temple, they could not make any impact.

Who the lord chooses to be a leader is the prerogative of the lord. The lord could choose to train even the wayward if he so decides but in the case of elder Ling, he is not wayward but at worst an unpolished diamond, as described by the lord saint. 

Blame not the lord saint for men with self-righteousness due to ignorance coming to him, for the lord saint is loving and divine and they too must be given many opportunities to be more good though due to their misconceived self-righteousness, they may have to learn in their own unique ways. They too are capable of doing better and have their places too under the sun. After all, they too are sons of God and the saints, albeit prodigal sons of sorts. 

The lord saint Lord Bo Tien is like the great ocean and no amount of human transgressions and shortcomings will sully or affect him or the mission. Such human follies merely attest to the truth of the doctrine he teaches. 

This fate that befalls a temple will not spare religions and sects as well. Men despite expressed respect for divinity will somehow out of zeal of sorts take over and modify the agenda and directions to fit their needs. 

All are near and dear to the lord be they far or near to him. The far can be near and the near can be far. Ultimately all are concerns of God and saints regardless of transgressions and human preferences.

Cheers. All men are brothers after all. Everyone has his place in God's kingdom so long as he can cultivate and have the God in him and he in God. 

Praise the lord. Praise too to all men including elder Ling and all those with misconceived self-righteousness for all want to do good in their own ways and never intended to rub others the abrasive way. They would never want to be like that if only they are better cultivated in the gospel of life and God. 

 For more related content, go to What God and lord saint decide, let no man put aside  Also go to It is God's will as well as The divine test a temple has to undergo

The lord saint no longer speaks to us through an intermediary but through our life

Mission History and News No 7

The lord saint through his representatives in the early 1980s said that after the first 13 years from 1970, there would no longer be any need for the saint to communicate to us through a human intermediary for all the doctrine and directions for the mission to save souls would have been explained.

This caused some concern but the reassurance was given that after the first 13 years, the saint would speak to his followers through their lives and through their temple or mission activities. This will be as good as the lord saint speaking to us through our minds.

If there is foundation of being grounded in doctrine, consensus and cooperation, practice and if men are mission directed, the thoughts on the truth of life and actions that are carried out for life and for a temple would be smooth and fruitful.

Individuals and the groups they belong to will feel the presence of the lord saint and the blessing of God and saints if they are thus well grounded correctly.

If otherwise, they will experience obstacles and things will not be plain sailing and there will be storms instead of calm seas.

But won't that be subject to interpretation and whims and fancies of men? Yes, inner truth netizen agrees but then again, it is too early for us to know. Only time will reveal to us what the lord saint has prophesied.

What is important is for men not to take matters into their own hands and say that this or that is what the lord saint would want.

Just be humble, sincere, pure and simple. Do what is good not only for oneself, for one group but for all groups.

Men must not be lone candle flames but be a collection of variety of candle flames. There must be give and take, acceptance that there will be differences but these should not divide men but unite men as there can be unity in diversity.

Then we can have calm seas and not storms in life. There is calm when what we do are in keeping with the directions of the lord saint. The lord saint speaks to us through our mind and through life. Life after all is the gospel.

The gospel has been seeded in the first 13 years through human intermediary the late Senior P. Philip but subsequent and future generations will grow and expand the gospel (doctrine) for the mission of  which the lord saint, Lord Bo Tien is the God-sent heavenly messenger. He is a divine spirit who has never been known to the world before.

The Bagua

Be reminded that we are in the yin and yang world. All need to reconcile with the yin and yang and be at peace and harmony with the diverse aspects of life and people, like the feet of the lord saint balancing and atop the elements.

Life of diversity and issues is fertile ground for the lord saint to speak to us so that we can learn and be wiser from the learning.