Yi Guan Dao / Tian Dao

• withhelds

  30 Jun 15, 00:35

  Hi all,
  
  Recently a devotee from a temple approached me to enter the their temple for some event to listen/pray.
  Out of curiosity, I went in to the temple and to explore.
  
  During the visit, almost everyone inside the temple gave me a warmth welcome and started to congratulate me which I'm not sure what is the reason.
  
  I was then brought to another level and they asked to register my name. Shortly while waiting, there is a person who briefed us about the Tian Dao and talked about the life cycle(shen lao bing si) and also mentioned that Tian Dao will bypass the cycle by going to Tian straight upon death.
  
  After the short introduction, they send us for some prayer thingy and we were asked to repeat what they said. During the debrief, they talked about the triple gems thingy and heavenly secret thingy which cannot be leaked.
  
  I find it amused and therefore went home and researched and realized that this seems to be related to Yi Guan Dao / Tian Dao.
  I also found out that the consequences of leaking the triple gems will be strike by lightning or something though I still saw someone make fun and posted the secret prayer online though.
  
  After reading more on Yi Guan Dao / Tian Dao related stuffs, I find myself quite uncomfortable especially on the heavenly secret and vowing of keeping the secrets. As I heard true religion should not make someone to do such things? Some also mentioned that Yi Guan Dao is a cult thingy.
  
  As my religion is buddhist since I was born though I don't really know much about buddhism or pray often. I only know some on the teaching of good value and karma thingy. Therefore would like to seek some guidances here.
  
  My questions here:
  
  1) I do not wish to associate with Yi Guan Dao / Tian Dao. Can I safely withdraw myself from this or break the vow?
  
  2) Can I seek forgiveness from my buddhist religion due to my ignorance/lack of understanding?
  
  3) I have actually left my contact to the devotee who brought me in and I should be expecting the contact soon. How do I reject nicely without offending their religion/belief?
  
  I'm in confused state now. Hope someone can enlighten me or let me know if I need to go to any recommended buddhist temple and talk to who on this?
  
  Thanks.

• Aik TC

  30 Jun 15, 14:37

  I do not wish to associate with Yi Guan Dao / Tian Dao. Can I safely withdraw myself from this or break the vow?

  Breaking a vow and get strike by lighting? It sounds rather ridiculous to me. You can tell that to a little child and frighten the hell out of him. To me it is just a silly little tactic to instill fear and guilt in a person so as to try to exert some control over the person. There is nothing for you to withdraw from, just do not visit their place of worship again. In some religions, the last physical stage to bring in the new converts is to get them to visit their place of worship. Just don’t go again.

  
   Can I seek forgiveness from my buddhist religion due to my ignorance/lack of understanding?

  There is no one all mighty being that you need to seek forgiveness from in Buddhism. It is not a religion of commandments. Just go and read up more on basic Buddhism for starter.

  
   I have actually left my contact to the devotee who brought me in and I should be expecting the contact soon. How do I reject nicely without offending their religion/belief?

  To me a simple ‘no’ is good enough. You can always give whatever reason that is valid and compelling. Refrain from talking about the person faith, that way, there is nothing to offend at all. 

  
  I'm in confused state now. Hope someone can enlighten me or let me know if I need to go to any recommended buddhist temple and talk to who on this?

  Go to any Buddhist temples around where you a staying, you should be able to get some reading material and also courses available there. You may find some that may be of interest to you. Better still talk to the monks or members of the temple there. It would be useful and they may be able to assist you further.

• 2009novice

  30 Jun 15, 21:41

  There's no need to fear. Nothing will happen to you if you break the "vow"

• withhelds

  30 Jun 15, 22:49

  Thanks for the advice.
  Didn't know SG got such cult religion.
  I shall not go in anyhow anymore.
  
  Will start to find out more on Buddhism

• An Eternal Now

  2 Jul 15, 18:48

  Yi Guan Dao is a cult which has nothing to do with Buddhism.
  
  Just tell him politely thanks but no thanks, you're not interested.
  
  And don't bother about the vows this or that. Those are irrational vows and beliefs. Strike by lightning? What nonsense.
  
  I can tell you the secret mantra right now and let's see if I get struck by lightning:
  
  Wu Tai Fo Mi Le

• An Eternal Now

  2 Jul 15, 18:55

  To get a better understanding of Buddhism, I highly recommend these two books which I consider 'must reads':
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Plain-Simple-Steve-Hagen/dp/0767903323
  
  http://www.amazon.com/What-Buddha-Taught-Expanded-Dhammapada/dp/0802130313/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435834536&sr=1-1&keywords=rahula+buddhism

• An Eternal Now

  5 Jul 15, 12:59

  I'm still alive! Yay

• An Eternal Now

  5 Jul 15, 16:10

  Also you don't need to ask forgiveness. No Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are angry at anyone leaving Buddhism! They have unconditional love and compassion for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

• withhelds

  6 Jul 15, 23:50

  Thanks for the enlightenment :)