Exposition of the Divine Principle 1996 Translation

Exposition of the Divine Principle
1996 Translation

Sun Myung Moon

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Table of Contents

TITLE PAGE

PREFACEXXI

INTRODUCTION1

PART I

CHAPTER 1. THE PRINCIPLE OF CREATION15
CHAPTER 2. THE HUMAN FALL53
CHAPTER 3. ESCHATOLOGY AND HUMAN HISTORY79
CHAPTER 4. THE MESSIAH: HIS ADVENT AND THE PURPOSE OF HIS SECOND COMING111
CHAPTER 5. RESURRECTION133
CHAPTER 6. PREDESTINATION153
CHAPTER 7. CHRISTOLOGY163

PART II

INTRODUCTION TO RESTORATION175
CHAPTER 1. THE PROVIDENCE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR RESTORATION189
CHAPTER 2. MOSES AND JESUS IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION225
CHAPTER 3. THE PERIODS IN PROVIDENTIAL HISTORY AND THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR LENGTHS289
CHAPTER 4. THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE TWO AGES IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION313
CHAPTER 5. THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH347
CHAPTER 6. THE SECOND ADVENT381

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Exposition of the Divine Principle
1996 Translation

[Detailed Table of Contents]

PREFACE XXI

INTRODUCTION 1

PART I

CHAPTER 1. THE PRINCIPLE OF CREATION 15

SECTION 1 - The Dual Characteristics of God and the Created Universe 15

1.1 The Dual Characteristics of God 15
1.2 The Relationship between God and the Universe 19

SECTION 2 - Universal Prime Energy, Give and Take Action and the Four Position Foundation 21

2.1 Universal Prime Energy 21
2.2 Give and Take Action 22
2.3 The Four Position Foundation Which Realizes the Three Object Purpose through Origin-Division-Union Action 24

2.3.1 Origin-Division-Union Action 24

2.3.2 The Three Object Purpose 25

2.3.3 The Four Position Foundation 25

2.3.4 The Mode of Existence of the Four Position Foundation 25

2.4 The Omnipresence of God 31
2.5 The Multiplication of Life 31
2.6 The Reason All Beings Are Composed of Dual Characteristics 31

SECTION 3 - The Purpose of Creation 32

3.1 The Purpose of the Creation of the Universe 32
3.2 Good Object Partners for the Joy of God 33

SECTION 4 - Original Value 36

4.1 The Process and Standard for the Determination of Original Value 36
4.2 Original Emotion, Intellect and Will; and Original Beauty, Truth and Goodness 37
4.3 Love and Beauty, Good and Evil, Righteousness and Unrighteousness 38

4.3.1 Love and Beauty 38

4.3.2 Good and Evil 39

4.3.3 Righteousness and Unrighteousness 40

SECTION 5 - The Process of the Creation of the Universe and Its Growing Period 40

5.1 The Process of the Creation of the Universe 40
5.2 The Growing Period for the Creation 41

5.2.1 The Three Ordered Stages of the Growing Period 41

5.2.2 The Realm of Indirect Dominion 43

5.2.3 The Realm of Direct Dominion 44

SECTION 6 - The Incorporeal World and the Corporeal World Whose Center is Human Beings 45

6.1 The Incorporeal World and the Corporeal World as Substantial Realities 45
6.2 The Position of Human Beings in the Cosmos 46
6.3 The Reciprocal Relationship between the Physical Self and the Spirit Self 47

6.3.1 The Structure and Functions of the Physical Self 47

6.3.2 The Structure and Functions of the Spirit Self 48

6.3.3 The Spirit Mind, the Physical Mind and Their Relationship in the Human Mind 50

CHAPTER 2. THE HUMAN FALL 53

SECTION 1 - The Root of Sin 53

1.1 The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 54

1.1.1 The Tree of Life 55

1.1.2 The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 56

1.2 The Identity of the Serpent 57
1.3 The Fall of the Angel and the Fall of Human Beings 58

1.3.1 The Crime of the Angel 58

1.3.2 The Crime of the Human Beings 59

1.3.3 The Illicit Sexual Act between the Angel and the Human Beings 59

1.4 The Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 60
1.5 The Root of Sin 61

SECTION 2 - The Motivation and Process of the Fall 62

2.1 Angels, Their Missions and Their Relationship to Human Beings 62
2.2 The Spiritual Fall and the Physical Fall 63

2.2.1 The Spiritual Fall 63

2.2.2 The Physical Fall 64

SECTION 3 - The Power of Love, the Power of the Principle and God's Commandment 65

3.1 The Power of Love and the Power of the Principle in the Human Fall 65
3.2 Why God Set Up the Commandment as an Object of Faith 66
3.3 The Period During Which the Commandment Was Necessary 67

SECTION 4 - The Consequences of the Human Fall 68

4.1 Satan and Fallen Humanity 68
4.2 Satan's Activities in Human Society 68
4.3 Good and Evil Seen from the Viewpoint of Purpose 69
4.4 The Works of Good Spirits and Evil Spirits 71
4.5 Sin 72
4.6 The Primary Characteristics of the Fallen Nature 72

SECTION 5 - Freedom and the Human Fall 74

5.1 The Meaning of Freedom from the Viewpoint of the Principle 74
5.2 Freedom and the Human Fall 74
5.3 Freedom, the Fall and Restoration 75

SECTION 6 - The Reason God Did Not Intervene in the Fall of the First Human Ancestors 76

6.1 To Maintain the Absoluteness and Perfection of the Principle of Creation 77
6.2 That God Alone Be the Creator 77
6.3 To Make Human Beings the Lords of Creation 78

CHAPTER 3. ESCHATOLOGY AND HUMAN HISTORY 79

SECTION 1 - The Completion of God's Purpose of Creation and the Human Fall 80

1.1 The Completion of God's Purpose of Creation 80
1.2 Consequences of the Human Fall 81

SECTION 2 - God's Work of Salvation 82

2.1 God's Work of Salvation is the Providence of Restoration 82
2.2 The Goal of the Providence of Restoration 83
2.3 Human History Is the History of the Providence of Restoration 84

SECTION 3 - The Last Days 88

3.1 The Meaning of the Last Days 88

3.1.1 Noah's Day was the Last Days 89

3.1.2 Jesus' Day was the Last Days 89

3.1.3 The Day of Christ's Second Advent is the Last Days 90

3.2 Bible Verses Concerning the Signs of the Last Days 90

3.2.1 Heaven and Earth Destroyed, and a New Heaven and a New Earth Created 91

3.2.2 Heaven and Earth Judged by Fire 91

3.2.3 The Dead Rising from Their Tombs 93

3.2.4 People on Earth Caught Up to Meet the Lord in the Air 94

3.2.5 The Sun Darkened, the Moon Not Giving Light and the Stars Falling from Heaven 94

SECTION 4 - The Last Days and the Present Days 96

4.1 Signs of the Restoration of the First Blessing 96
4.2 Signs of the Restoration of the Second Blessing 98
4.3 Signs of the Restoration of the Third Blessing 101

SECTION 5 - The Last Days, the New Truth and Our Attitude 103

5.1 The Last Days and the New Truth 103
5.2 Our Attitude in the Last Days 106
Chart 1: The Unfolding Manifestation of God's Word in the Creation of the Universe and the Providence of Restoration 109

CHAPTER 4. THE MESSIAH: HIS ADVENT AND THE PURPOSE OF HIS SECOND COMING 111

SECTION 1 - Salvation through the Cross 112

1.1 The Purpose of Jesus' Coming as the Messiah 112
1.2 Was Salvation Completed through the Cross? 113
1.3 Jesus' Death on the Cross 114
1.4 The Limit of Salvation through Redemption by the Cross and the Purpose of Jesus' Second Advent 118
1.5 Two Kinds of Prophecies Concerning the Cross 119
1.6 Gospel Passages in Which Jesus Spoke of His Crucifixion as if It Were Necessary 121

SECTION 2 - The Second Coming of Elijah and John the Baptist 122

2.1 The Jewish Belief in the Return of Elijah 123
2.2 The Direction the Jewish People Would Choose 124
2.3 The Faithlessness of John the Baptist 126
2.4 The Sense in Which John the Baptist Was Elijah 130
2.5 Our Attitude toward the Bible 130

CHAPTER 5. RESURRECTION 133

SECTION 1 - Resurrection 133

1.1 The Biblical Concepts of Life and Death 133
1.2 The Death Caused by the Human Fall 135
1.3 The Meaning of Resurrection 136
1.4 What Changes Does Resurrection Cause in Human Beings? 137

SECTION 2 - The Providence of Resurrection 138

2.1 How Does God Carry Out His Work of Resurrection? 138
2.2 The Providence of Resurrection for People on Earth 139

2.2.1 The Providence to Lay the Foundation for Resurrection 139

2.2.2 The Providence of Formation-Stage Resurrection 139

2.2.3 The Providence of Growth-Stage Resurrection 139

2.2.4 The Providence of Completion-Stage Resurrection 140

2.2.5 The Kingdom of Heaven and Paradise 140

2.2.6 Spiritual Phenomena in the Last Days 141

2.2.7 The First Resurrection 143

2.3 The Providence of Resurrection for Spirits 144

2.3.1 The Purpose and the Way of Returning Resurrection 144

2.3.2 The Returning Resurrection of the Spirits of Israelites and Christians 145

2.3.2.1 Growth-Stage Returning Resurrection 145

2.3.2.2 Completion-Stage Returning Resurrection 146

2.3.3 The Returning Resurrection of Spirits Who Abide Outside Paradise 147

2.4 The Theory of Reincarnation Examined in Light of the Principle of Returning Resurrection 149

SECTION 3 - The Unification of Religions through Returning Resurrection 150

3.1 The Unification of Christianity through Returning Resurrection 150
3.2 The Unification of All Other Religions through Returning Resurrection 150
3.3 The Unification of Non-Religious People through Returning Resurrection 151

CHAPTER 6. PREDESTINATION 153

SECTION 1 - The Predestination of God's Will 155

SECTION 2 - The Predestination of the Way in Which God's Will Is Fulfilled 156

SECTION 3 - The Predestination of Human Beings 158

SECTION 4 - Elucidation of Biblical Verses Which Support the Doctrine of Absolute Predestination 159

CHAPTER 7. CHRISTOLOGY 163

SECTION 1 - The Value of a Person Who Has Realized the Purpose of Creation 163

SECTION 2 - Jesus and the Person Who Has Realized the Purpose of Creation 165

2.1 Perfected Adam, Jesus and the Restoration of the Tree of Life 165
2.2 Jesus, Human Beings and the Fulfillment of the Purpose of Creation 166
2.3 Is Jesus God Himself? 167

SECTION 3 - Jesus and Fallen People 168

SECTION 4 - Rebirth and Trinity 169

4.1 Rebirth 169

4.1.1 Jesus and the Holy Spirit and Their Mission to Give Rebirth 169

4.1.2 Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the Dual Characteristics of the Logos 170

4.1.3 Spiritual Rebirth through Jesus and the Holy Spirit 171

4.2 The Trinity 171

PART II

INTRODUCTION TO RESTORATION 175

SECTION 1 - The Principle of Restoration through Indemnity 176

1.1 Restoration through Indemnity 176
1.2 The Foundation for the Messiah 179

1.2.1 The Foundation of Faith 180

1.2.2 The Foundation of Substance 181

SECTION 2 - The Course of the Providence of Restoration 181

2.1 The Ages in the Course of the Providence of Restoration 181
2.2 Categorization of the Ages in the Course of the Providence of Restoration 183

2.2.1 The Ages Categorized with Reference to God's Word 183

2.2.2 The Ages Categorized with Reference to God's Work of Resurrection 184

2.2.3 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Providence to Restore through Indemnity the Lost Periods of Faith 184

2.2.4 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Expanding Scope of the Foundation for the Messiah 185

2.2.5 The Ages Categorized with Reference to Responsibility 186

2.2.6 The Ages Categorized with Reference to the Parallels in the Providence 186

SECTION 3 - The History of the Providence of Restoration and I 187

CHAPTER 1. THE PROVIDENCE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR RESTORATION 189

SECTION 1 The Providence of Restoration in Adam's Family 189

1.1 The Foundation of Faith 190
1.2 The Foundation of Substance 192
1.3 The Foundation for the Messiah in Adam's Family 195
1.4 Some Lessons from Adam's Family 197

SECTION 2 - The Providence of Restoration in Noah's Family 198

2.1 The Foundation of Faith 199

2.1.1 The Central Figure for the Foundation of Faith 199

2.1.2 The Object for the Condition in Restoring the Foundation of Faith 199

2.2 The Foundation of Substance 203
2.3 Some Lessons from Noah's Family 205

SECTION 3 - The Providence of Restoration in Abraham's Family 206

3.1 The Foundation of Faith 206

3.1.1 The Central Figure for the Foundation of Faith 206

3.1.2 The objects for the Condition Offered for the Foundation of Faith 208

3.1.2.1 Abraham's Symbolic Offering 208

3.1.2.2 Abraham's Offering of Isaac 213

3.1.2.3 Isaac's Position and His Symbolic Offering in the Sight of God 215

3.2 The Foundation of Substance 217
3.3 The Foundation for the Messiah 220
3.4 Some Lessons from Abraham's Course 222

CHAPTER 2. MOSES AND JESUS IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION 225

SECTION 1 - The Model Courses for Bringing Satan to Submission 225

1.1 Why Jacob's Course and Moses' Course Were Set Up as the Models for Jesus' Course 226
1.2 Jacob's Course as the Model for Moses' and Jesus' Courses 227

SECTION 2 - The Providence of Restoration under the Leadership of Moses 230

2.1 Overview of the Providence Led by Moses 230

2.1.1 The Foundation of Faith 230

2.1.1.1 The Central Figure to Restore the Foundation of Faith 230

2.1.1.2 The Object for the Condition in Restoring the Foundation of Faith 232

2.1.2 The Foundation of Substance 233

2.1.3 The Foundation for the Messiah 233

2.2 The National Courses to Restore Canaan under the Leadership of Moses 234

2.2.1 The First National Course to Restore Canaan 234

2.2.1.1 The Foundation of Faith 234

2.2.1.2 The Foundation of Substance 235

2.2.1.3 The Failure of the First National Course to Restore Canaan 236

2.2.2 The Second National Course to Restore Canaan 237

2.2.2.1 The Foundation of Faith 237

2.2.2.2 The Foundation of Substance 237

2.2.2.3 The Providence of Restoration and the Tabernacle 244

2.2.2.3.1 The Significance and Purpose of the Tablets of Stone, the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant 245

2.2.2.3.2 The Foundation for the Tabernacle 248

2.2.2.4 The Failure of the Second National Course to Restore Canaan 252

2.2.3 The Third National Course to Restore Canaan 252

2.2.3.1 The Foundation of Faith 252

2.2.3.2 The Foundation of Substance 253

2.2.3.2.1 The Foundation of Substance Centered on Moses 253

2.2.3.2.2 The Foundation of Substance Centered on Joshua 259

2.2.3.3 The Foundation for the Messiah 263

2.3 Some Lessons from Moses' Course 264

SECTION 3 - The Providence of Restoration under the Leadership of Jesus 266

3.1 The First Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 267

3.1.1 The Foundation of Faith 267

3.1.2 The Foundation of Substance 268

3.1.3 The Failure of the First Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 269

3.2 The Second Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 270

3.2.1 The Foundation of Faith 270

3.2.1.1 Jesus Takes On the Mission of John the Baptist 270

3.2.1.2 Jesus' Forty-Day Fast and Three Temptations in the Wilderness 271

3.2.1.3 The Result of the Forty-Day Fast and the Three Temptations 275

3.2.2 The Foundation of Substance 276

3.2.3 The Failure of the Second Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 277

3.3 The Third Worldwide Course to Restore Canaan 277

3.3.1 The Spiritual Course to Restore Canaan under Jesus' Leadership 277

3.3.1.1 The Spiritual Foundation of Faith 278

3.3.1.2 The Spiritual Foundation of Substance 279

3.3.1.3 The Spiritual Foundation for the Messiah 280

3.3.1.4 The Restoration of Spiritual Canaan 281

3.3.2 The Course to Restore Substantial Canaan under the Leadership of Christ at the Second Advent 281

3.4 Some Lessons from Jesus' Course 286

CHAPTER 3. THE PERIODS IN PROVIDENTIAL HISTORY AND THE DETERMINATION OF THEIR LENGTHS 289

SECTION 1 - Parallel Providential Periods 289

SECTION 2 - The Number of Generations or Years in the Periods of the Age of the Providence to Lay the Foundation for Restoration 291

2.1 Why and How the Providence of Restoration Is Prolonged 291
2.2 Vertical Indemnity Conditions and Horizontal Restoration through Indemnity 292
2.3 Horizontal Restoration through Indemnity Carried Out Vertically 294
2.4 Numerical Indemnity Periods for Restoring the Foundation of Faith 294
2.5 The Parallel Periods Determined by the Number of Generations 299
2.6 Providential Periods of Horizontal Restoration through Indemnity Carried Out Vertically 301

SECTION 3 - The Periods in the Age of the Providence of Restoration and Their Lengths 302

3.1 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Slavery in Egypt 302
3.2 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of the Judges 303
3.3 The One-Hundred-and-Twenty-Year Period of the United Kingdom 303
3.4 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of the Divided Kingdoms of North and South 305
3.5 The Two-Hundred-and-Ten-Year Period of Israel's Exile and Return 305
3.6 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Preparation for the Advent of the Messiah 306

SECTION 4 - The Periods in the Age of the Prolongation of the Providence of Restoration and Their Lengths 307

4.1 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Persecution in the Roman Empire 307
4.2 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Regional Church Leadership 308
4.3 The One-Hundred-and-Twenty-Year Period of the Christian Empire 308
4.4 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of the Divided Kingdoms of East and West 308
4.5 The Two-Hundred-and-Ten-Year Period of Papal Exile and Return 309
4.6 The Four-Hundred-Year Period of Preparation for the Second Advent of the Messiah 309
Chart 2: Parallel Providential Periods 311

CHAPTER 4. THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE TWO AGES IN THE PROVIDENCE OF RESTORATION 313

SECTION 1 - The Period of Slavery in Egypt and the Period of Persecution in the Roman Empire 315

SECTION 2 - The Period of the Judges and the Period of Regional Church Leadership 317

SECTION 3 - The Period of the United Kingdom and the Period of the Christian Empire 318

SECTION 4 - The Period of the Divided Kingdoms of North and South and the Period of the Divided Kingdoms of East and West 321

SECTION 5 - The Period of Israel's Exile and Return and the Period of the Papal Exile and Return 323

SECTION 6 - The Period of Preparation for the Advent of the Messiah and the Period of Preparation for the Second Advent of the Messiah 325

SECTION 7 - The Providence of Restoration and the Progress of History 328

7.1 The Progress of History in the Age of the Providence of Restoration 329
7.2 The Progress of History in the Age of the Prolongation of the Providence of Restoration 332

7.2.1 The Providence of Restoration and the History of the West 332

7.2.2 The Mutual Relations between Religious History, Economic History and Political History 333

7.2.3 Clan Society 335

7.2.4 Feudalistic Society 336

7.2.5 Monarchic Society and Imperialism 337

7.2.6 Democracy and Socialism 340

7.2.7 The Ideals of Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universally Shared Values versus Communism 342

Chart 3: The Progress of History as Guided by the Providence of Restoration 345

CHAPTER 5. THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH 347

SECTION 1 - The Period of the Reformation (1517-1648) 347

1.1 The Renaissance 351
1.2 The Reformation 352

Section 2 The Period of Religious and Ideological Conflicts (1648-1789) 353

2.1 The Cain-Type View of Life 354
2.2 The Abel-Type View of Life 356

Section 3 The Period of Maturation of Politics, Economy and Ideology (1789-1918) 357

3.1 Democracy 358

3.1.1 Cain-Type Democracy 359

3.1.2 Abel-Type Democracy 360

3.2 The Significance of the Separation of Powers 361
3.3 The Significance of the Industrial Revolution 363
3.4 The Rise of the Great Powers 364
3.5 Religious Reforms and Political and Industrial Revolutions since the Renaissance 364

Section 4 The World Wars 365

4.1 The Providential Causes of the World Wars 365
4.2 The First World War 367

4.2.1 Summary of the Providence in the First World War 367

4.2.2 What Decides God's Side and Satan's Side? 368

4.2.3 The Providential Causes behind the First World War 369

4.2.4 The Providential Results of the First World War 370

4.3 The Second World War 371

4.3.1 Summary of the Providence in the Second World War 371

4.3.2 The Nature of Fascism 371

4.3.3 The Nations on God's Side and the Nations on Satan's Side in the Second World War 372

4.3.4 The Providential Roles of the Three Nations on God's Side and Satan's Side 372

4.3.5 The Providential Causes behind the Second World War 374

4.3.6 The Providential Results of the Second World War 375

4.4 The Third World War 376

4.4.1 Is the Third World War Inevitable? 376

4.4.2 Summary of the Providence in the Third World War 377

4.4.3 The Providential Causes behind the Third World War 378

4.4.4 The Providential Results of the Third World War 379

CHAPTER 6. THE SECOND ADVENT 381

SECTION 1 - When Will Christ Return? 382

SECTION 2 - In What Manner Will Christ Return? 383

2.1 Perspectives on the Bible 383
2.2 Christ Will Return as a Child on the Earth 385
2.3 What is the Meaning of the Verse that Christ Will Return on the Clouds? 393
2.4 Why Did Jesus Say that the Lord Will Come on the Clouds? 395

SECTION 3 - Where Will Christ Return? 396

3.1 Will Christ Return among the Jewish People? 396
3.2 Christ Will Return to a Nation in the East 398
3.3 The Nation in the East is Korea 399

3.3.1 A National Condition of Indemnity 399

3.3.2 God's Front Line and Satan's Front Line 401

3.3.3 The Object Partner of God's Heart 402

3.3.4 Messianic Prophecies 404

3.3.5 The Culmination of All Civilizations 406

SECTION 4 - Parallels between Jesus' Day and Today 407

SECTION 5 - The Chaotic Profusion of Languages and the Necessity for Their Unification 410

Dreaming of a Peaceful World

For years I have called for a world where all religions live together
as one, all races live as one, and all nations exist as one. For
thousands of years history has seen the continuous increase of
divisions. Each time a different religion was adopted or a new regime
came into power, more boundaries were drawn and wars were fought.
Now, however, we live in an age of globalism. For the sake of the future
we must become one.
One way I propose to facilitate that is through the International
Peace Highway, a huge undertaking. It will link Korea and Japan by
an undersea tunnel and create a bridge across the Bering Strait that
separates Russia and North America. These great links can unify the
world. When the highway is completed it will be possible to travel by
car from Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to Santiago, Chile, and from London
to New York. There will be no roadblocks; the entire world will be
interconnected as if by capillary vessels.
The world will become one integrated community, and everyone will
be able to travel freely across international borders. Borders that give
free passage to anyone will lose their significance as borders. Something
similar will be true for religion. As the frequency of exchanges among
religions increases, greater mutual understanding will arise, conflict
will disappear, and the walls of separation will crumble. When different
types of people live together in a single global community, barriers
between races will come down. Interaction between races will occur
despite differences in appearance and language. This cultural revolution
will bring the world into one.
The Silk Road was not simply a trade route that people used in order
to sell silk and buy spices. It was also a vehicle for the peoples of the East
and West to meet and for Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity to meet.
These different cultures intermingled and gave rise to a new culture.
The International Peace Highway will play a similar role in the twentyfirst
century.
Rome could thrive because all roads led to Rome. This illustrates the
importance of roads. When a road is built, people use it to travel. It is
used to transport culture and ideology. That is why when a road is built
it changes the course of history. When the International Peace Highway
is completed, the world can be physically bound together as one. The
road will make this possible. I cannot overemphasize the importance of
bringing the world together. Some may think that this is an idea ahead
of its time. Religious people, however, foresee the future and prepare for
it. So it is only natural that we are ahead of our time. The world may not
understand us and may cause us to suffer, but religious believers must
persevere to lead the way to the future.
Completing the International Peace Highway will require the
cooperation of many nations. China, which was a victim of Japanese
aggression, may not welcome the idea of being connected to Japan by
a highway. Japan and Korea, however, cannot connect to the rest of the
world without going through China, so we need to make efforts to win
China’s trust. Who will do this? Those of us who will take spiritual ownership
over the International Peace Highway in the twenty-first century
need to take the lead in this effort.
How about bridging the Bering Strait? It will cost a great deal, but
this should not cause concern. The amount of money that the United
States has spent in Iraq would be more than enough to build such a
bridge. We must stop waging war and forcing people to suffer. It is
perverse to start wars and squander hundreds of billions of dollars. The
time has come for us to beat our swords into plowshares and our spears
into pruning hooks.
The International Peace Highway is a project to bring the world
together as one. To become one means more than simply connecting
continents by tunnels and bridges. It refers to an equalization of the
world’s standards of living. When someone monopolizes a technology
and keeps the profit for himself, the balance of the world is upset. The
International Peace Highway will rearrange the current inequality by
creating access to existing natural and human resources. This will bring
about a leveling of wealth. Leveling means that a little is taken off places
that are high and added to places that are low. As a result, the two have
the same height. This will require sacrifice from those with greater material
possessions or knowledge. Building a world of peace cannot be
done with one-time charitable acts or donations. Only sincere love and
continuous sacrifice is capable of creating a world of peace. We must be
willing to offer everything.
Building the International Peace Highway does more than just provide
the world with a physical means of communication. Human beings
are created so that their mind and body become one. Something similar
is true for the world we live in. The world can be completely unified
only when there is both physical communication and communication
of heart.
The United Nations has done much for world peace. More than sixty
years after its founding, however, the United Nations is losing sight
of its original purpose and is now an organization that works for the
interests of a few powerful countries. The U.N. was created to solve
the conflicts that arise in the world, so it must put the world’s interests
before the interests of one side or the other. It only leads to further
conflict when a powerful country insists on its own way and uses force
to pursue it. Unfortunately, the U.N. today is unable to do much about
such situations.
In this light, I have proposed a restructuring of the United Nations
as a bicameral institution. In addition to the General Assembly there
would be a religious, or cultural, assembly or council. This body would
consist of respected spiritual leaders in fields such as religion, culture,
and education. The members of this interreligious assembly would need
to demonstrate an ability to transcend the limited interests of particular
religions and cultures and to speak for the spiritual and moral purposes
of all humanity. I maintain that the two chambers, working together in
mutual respect and cooperation, will be able to make great advances in
ushering in a world of peace.
Some may oppose this, saying, “Why should religious people become
involved in world affairs?” My answer is that the world today is
in a period when the participation of religious people is crucial. Those
who have achieved deep self-awareness through religious practice are
needed now more than ever. It is only truly religious people who can
stand up to the unrighteousness and evil of the world and practice true
love. It is only when the knowledge and experience of political leaders
are combined with the wisdom of interreligious leaders that the world
will be able to find the path to true peace.
Again today I set out on my path with renewed determination to
achieve that goal. My prayer is that every person on earth will be reborn
as a peace-loving global citizen, transcending barriers of religion,
ideology, and race.

Happiness Is a Life Lived for Others

Children are born from the flesh and blood of their parents.
Without parents there would be no children. Yet people in this
world shout out for individualism as though they came into
this world on their own. Only a person who receives no help whatsoever
from anyone at all would have the right to speak of individualism.
There is nothing in this world that comes into being for its own sake
alone. All created beings are created for one another. I exist for you, and
you exist for me.
There is no one as foolish as the selfish person who lives only for his
or her own sake. It may appear that a selfish life benefits the individual,
but ultimately it is a life of self-destruction. The individual must live for
the family, the family for the people, the people for the world, and the
world for God.
All the schools I have founded have three mottos. The first is
“Live a life that casts no shadows, as if you were under the sun at
high noon.” A life without shadows is a life with a clear conscience.
When we finish our life here on earth and go to the spirit world, our
entire life will unfold before us, as though it were being played back
on videotape. Whether we go to heaven or to hell is determined by
how we live. So we need to live spotlessly clean lives, casting not
even the smallest shadow.
The second motto is “Live shedding sweat for earth, tears for humanity,
and blood for heaven.” There are no lies in the blood, sweat,
and tears that people shed. There is only truth. There is no meaning,
however, in the blood, sweat, and tears that a person sheds for his own
sake. This great investment must be shed for the sake of others.
The final motto is “One Family under God!” There is only one God,
and all human beings are brothers and sisters. Differences of language,
race, and culture account for only 0.1 percent. As human beings, we are
99.9 percent the same.
There are fourteen island countries in the South Pacific. When I visited
the Marshall Islands, I asked its president, “This is a beautiful land,
but it must still be difficult to lead this country, isn’t it?” The president
sighed and replied, “Our population is just sixty thousand, and the land
is just two meters (78 inches) above sea level on average. So a wave just
one meter (39 inches) high can flood much of the country. Our most
serious problem, though, is education. Children of rich families go to
America or Europe to be educated and do not return. Children of poor
families have no schools from which to receive a good education, so
even the brightest child cannot be trained properly for leadership. The
concern for an island country such as ours is that we are unable to raise
up leaders who will lead us in the future.”
After hearing his lament, I established the High School of the Pacific,
in Kona, Hawaii, for the sake of the children of these island countries.
This school provides secondary education to children from countries
throughout the Pacific and helps them apply to college. We provide
round-trip airfare to Hawaii, tuition, board, and even computers so
that they can receive the best education. We attach just one condition
to receive this education: Once they finish, they must return to their
countries and work in the service of their nation and its people. Living
for the sake of others requires sacrifices from time to time. Some years
ago one of our church missionaries was touring South America when
the place he was visiting was hit by a major earthquake. His wife came
running to me with her face as white as a sheet.
“What should I do?” she asked with tears in her eyes. “I’m so worried,
I don’t know what to do.”
You might be surprised by my response. Instead of patting her on the
shoulder and comforting her, I shouted at her, “Are you worried about
your husband, or are you worried about how many lives he may be able
to save in that disaster area?”
It was natural for her to be concerned for her husband’s safety. But
because she was the wife of a missionary, her concerns should have been
of a higher order. Rather than pray for her husband’s safety, she should
have prayed that her husband could save as many lives as possible.
Nothing exists for its own sake. That is not how God created the
world. Man exists for the sake of woman, and woman exists for the sake
of man. Nature exists for the sake of humanity, and humanity exists for
the sake of nature. All created beings in this world exist for the sake of
their counterparts. It is an axiom of Heaven that every being lives for
the sake of its partner.
Happiness is possible only in a relationship with a partner. Imagine
that some fellow who has lived his life as a singer goes to an uninhabited
island and sings as loudly as possible. If there is no one there to hear
him, he will not be happy. To realize that we exist for the sake of others
is the great achievement that changes our lives. When we realize that
our life is not ours alone but is meant to be for the sake of the other, we
begin to follow a path different from the one we were on.
Just as singing to yourself will not make you happy, there is no joy
without a partner. Even the smallest and most trivial thing can bring
you happiness when you do it for another.

Everything We Have Is Borrowed from Heaven

People say I am one of the richest people in the world, but they
don’t know what they are talking about. I have worked hard all
my life, but I don’t own so much as a single house in my name.
Neither have I placed property in my wife’s name or in the names of my
children so as to conceal its true ownership. Every adult Korean has his
official stamp that he registers with the government and uses to sign
legal documents. I don’t have such a stamp.
You may wonder, then, what benefit I have received from working
hard and not eating or sleeping while others ate and slept. I didn’t work
so I could be rich. Money has no meaning to me. Any money not used
for the sake of humanity, or for the sake of my neighbor who is dying in
poverty, is nothing more than a piece of paper. Money earned through
hard work should always be used to love the world and carry out projects
that benefit the world.
When I send missionaries overseas, I don’t give them a lot of money.
Yet they survive wherever they go. It takes very little for us to support
ourselves. If we have a sleeping bag, that is enough for us to sleep anywhere.
What is important is not how we live but the kind of life we
lead. Material affluence is not a condition for happiness. It is sad to me
that the phrase to live well has come to be defined in terms of material
affluence. To live well means to live a life that has meaning.
I wear a necktie only for worship services or special events. I don’t
wear a suit often, either. I generally wear a sweater when I am at home.
I sometimes imagine how much money is spent on neckties in Western
societies. Necktie pins, dress shirts, and cuff links are very expensive.
If everyone stopped buying neckties and used the money instead for
the sake of our neighbors who suffer from hunger, the world would be
a little bit better place to live. Expensive things are not necessarily the
best to have. Imagine what it would be like if the building were on fire.
Who would be the first to get out: Me in my sweater or some guy in a
tie? I’m always ready to run outside.
Some people might think I take conservation to extremes. I’m not
in favor of taking a bath every day. Once every three days is enough. I
also don’t wash my socks every day. In the evening, I take off my socks
and put them in my back pocket so that I can wear them again the next
day. When I am in a hotel, I use only the smallest of the towels that are
hanging in the bathroom. I flush the toilet only after I have urinated in
it three times. I use only a single square of toilet paper, after folding it
in half three times. I don’t care if you call me uncivilized or barbaric for
this. The same desire to conserve is true at mealtime. I have no interest
in elaborate meals. There may be all sorts of exotic foods and different
types of desserts in front of me, but I am not interested in those. I don’t
fill my rice bowl completely. It’s enough if it is three-fifths full.
The shoes I prefer most in Korea cost 49,000 won (about $40) at a
large discount store. The pants I wear every day are well over five years
old. The meal I enjoy the most in America is McDonald’s. Some people
call it junk food and don’t eat it, but I like eating at McDonald’s for two
reasons. It’s cheap, and it saves time. When I take the children out to
eat, we often go to McDonald’s. I don’t know how it came to be known
that I often go to McDonald’s, but now the chairman of the McDonald’s
Corporation sends me a New Year’s greeting card every year.
The message that I give to our members every year is “Spend money
carefully, and conserve on everything.” I tell them they should drink
water instead of buying ice cream or soft drinks. I don’t tell them this so
they can save money and become rich. I want them to have a consciousness
of conserving in order to help the country and save humanity. We
don’t take anything with us when we leave this world. Everyone knows
this, and yet for some reason people are desperate to get their hands on
as many things as possible. I plan to give away everything I have built
up during my life before leaving this world. The Heavenly Kingdom has
plenty of treasure, and there is no need to take anything there from this
world. When we understand that we are going to a place that is better
than where we are now, there is no need to become attached to the
things of this world.
There is a song that I have always liked to sing. It’s an old popular
song that many Koreans know. Every time I sing this song it sets my
heart at ease and tears come to my eyes. It reminds me of my boyhood
when I used to lie in the fields near home.
You may say you will give me a crown with platinum and jewels,
But a shirt smelling of dirt and dripping with sweat is worth more.
A pure heart wells up within my bosom,
I can make a flute out of willow leaves,
And the sparrows sing along with my tune.
You may say you will give me enough gold to buy the world,
But an ox that will till the soil in a barley field is worth more.
The buds of hope sprout in my bosom,
I can talk freely with the rabbits,
And the days go by as I play my tune.
Happiness is always waiting for us. The reason we can’t get happiness
is that our own desires block the way. As long as our eyes are fixed on
our desires, they cannot see the path we should follow. We are so busy
trying to pick up the scraps of gold lying on the ground near us that we
do not see the huge pile of gold that is a little way up the road. We are
so busy stuffing things into our pockets that we don’t realize that there
are holes in those pockets. I have not forgotten what it was like to live
in Heungnam Prison. Even the most terrible place in this world is more
comfortable and more materially abundant than Heungnam Prison.
Every object belongs to Heaven. We are only its stewards.

Embrace the World

Setting a goal in life is similar to planting a tree. If you plant a
jujube tree in the front yard of your home, you will have jujubes
in your home. If you plant apple trees on the hill behind your

home, then they will produce apples. Think carefully about your choice
of goals and where you intend to plant them. Depending on the goal
you choose and where you plant it, you can become a jujube tree in
Seoul or an apple tree in Africa. Or you can become a palm tree in the
South Pacific. The goal you plant will bear fruit in the future. Think
carefully where the best place is to plant your goal so that it will bear
the best fruit.
When you are setting your goal, be sure to consider the entire
world. Consider Africa, which continues to suffer from poverty and
disease. Consider Israel and Palestine, where people continue to aim
their weapons at each other and fight over matters of religion. Consider
Afghanistan, where people barely keep themselves alive by raising
poppy plants used to make harmful drugs. Consider the United States,
which has thrown the world’s economy into a pit with its extreme greed
and selfishness. Consider Indonesia, which suffers from continued
earthquakes and tidal waves. Imagine yourself in the context of those
countries, and think which country and which situation would be most
appropriate for you. It may be that you are best suited to India, where
a new religious conflict may erupt. Or it could be Rwanda, which languishes
in drought and hunger.
In setting a goal, students shouldn’t be so foolish as to decide that
because a country is small, like Korea, it isn’t worthy of your goals. Depending
on what you do, there is no limit to how large a small country
can become. Its national boundaries could even disappear. Whether you
do good work on the large continent of Africa or in the small country
of Korea, your goal should not be restricted by size. Your goals should
be about where your talents can have the most impact. So you should
think of the world as your stage as you decide what you want to do in
life. If you do, you will likely find many more things to do than what you
were originally dreaming about. You have only one life to live, so use
it to do something that the world needs. You cannot reach the hidden
treasure on an island without adventure. Please think beyond your own
country, and think of the world as your stage in setting your goal.
During the 1980s, I sent many Korean university students to Japan
and the United States. I wanted them to leave Korea, where teargas
canisters were exploding almost daily, and let them see a wider world
with greater variety. The frog that lives at the bottom of a well does not
realize that there is a bigger world outside the well.
I was thinking globally before that word even entered the Korean
language. The reason I went to Japan to study was to see a wider world.
The reason I planned to work for the Manchuria Electric Company
in Hailar, China, and learn the Chinese, Russian, and Mongolian languages,
even before Korea was liberated, was to enable me to live as a
global citizen. Even now I travel by plane to many places in the world.
If I were to visit a different country every day, it would take more
than six months to visit all of them. People live in many countries, and
they all live in different circumstances. There are places where there is
no water to cook rice with, while other places have too much water.
Some places have no electricity, while some countries are not able to
consume all the electricity that they produce. There are many examples
of how something is lacking in one place but overabundant in another.
The problem is there are not enough people focused on equalizing the
distribution.
The same is true with raw materials. Some countries have an abundance
of coal and iron ore stacked in piles. They don’t even need to dig
into the earth. All they need to do is shovel the coal and iron ore from
piles that are easily accessed. Korea, however, has a critical shortage of
coal and iron ore reserves. To dig out anthracite coal we need to risk our
lives to go thousands of feet underground.
Likewise with technology. Africa has many places where bananas
grow naturally in abundance, and they could keep people from starving.
But there is a lack of technology and lack of access to productive
land, so not enough banana plantations are created. Korea’s climate is
not suited for growing bananas, and yet we grow bananas. This technology
in Korea could be very helpful in solving the problem of poverty in
Africa. It is similar to the way that South Korean technology for planting
corn has helped relieve starvation in North Korea.
The phrase global leader is now in vogue in Korea. People say they
want to become fluent in English and become global leaders. Becoming
a global leader, however, is not a matter of a person’s fluency in English.
The ability to communicate in English is nothing more than a tool. A
true global leader is someone who is able to embrace the world in his
own bosom. A person who has no interest in the problems of the world
cannot become a global leader, no matter how well he might communicate
in English.
To be a global leader a person must think of the world’s problems
as his own and have the pioneering spirit that is needed for
finding difficult solutions. A person who is attached to a secure
and fixed income, or dreams of having a pension after retirement
and a comfortable family life, cannot be a global leader. To become
a global leader a person must consider the whole world to
be his country and all humanity to be his brothers and sisters and
not be overly concerned that he does not know what the future
may hold for him.
What are siblings? Why did God give us siblings? Siblings symbolize
human beings around the world. The experience of loving
our brothers and sisters in the family teaches us how to love our fellow
countrymen and love humanity. Our love for our own siblings
expands in this way. The family whose members love each other is a
model of how humanity can live together in harmony. Love among
siblings means that one sibling is willing to go hungry, if necessary,
so that his brother or sister can eat. A global leader is someone who
loves humanity as he loves his own family.
It has been awhile since we first heard the phrase global village.
Yet the earth has always been a single community. If a person’s goal
in life is to graduate from a university, get a job with a company that
will pay him a high salary, and lead a secure life, then that person
will have the success of a puppy. But if he dedicates his life to helping
refugees in Africa, he will have the success of a lion. The course that
is chosen depends on the heart of the individual.
Even at the age of ninety, I continue to travel around the world. I
refuse to rest from my mission. The world is like a living organism in
that it is always changing. New problems are always arising. I go to the
dark corners of the world where these problems exist. These are not the
places with beautiful views or comfortable amenities, but I feel happy
in places that are dark, difficult, and lonely because that is where I’m
fulfilling my mission, my purpose, my goals.
My hope is that Korea will produce global leaders in the true sense.
I hope to see more political leaders who will lead the United Nations to
fulfill its purpose and more diplomatic leaders who will stop the fighting
in areas of conflict. I hope to see someone like Mother Teresa who
will take care of those wandering and dying on the streets. I hope to see
peace leaders who will take on my mission of pioneering new solutions
from the land and sea.
The starting point is to have a dream and a goal. Please have an
adventurous and pioneering spirit. Dream dreams that others dare not
imagine. Set goals for yourselves that have meaning, and become global
leaders who will bring benefit to humankind.

Message for the young people - Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life

When we meet someone new, we are always curious about
who he or she is. God has the same curiosity about each
human being. He is especially curious about young people,
and it brings Him great joy when He gets to know them intimately. Why
is this? It is because our youth is the most important and most beautiful
period of our lives. This period should be a time of tranquility as one
prepares for the future. The process of growing to maturity is a building
block that opens the way to a new era.
It is difficult to find young people today who are passionate about
their lives. We find so many young people who, with no goal or purpose
for their life, are just wandering around. All great leaders in history had
a definite sense of purpose in life from the time they were children.
From childhood they nurtured that purpose held within their hearts
and exerted great energy to achieve it. Whether they were sleeping or
playing with their friends, every youthful action of these great leaders
was geared toward preparing for the stage that they would stand on in
the future. Is that how you are living your life?
We were all created to be great men and women. God did not send
us into this world without purpose. When God created us He invested
His complete love into each person. So we were all created for greatness.
Because God exists, we can accomplish anything.
I became a completely different person when I began to love God.
I loved humanity more than myself and was more concerned with the
problems of others than the problems of my family. I loved everything
that God created. I deeply loved the trees on the hills and the fish in the
waters. My spiritual senses developed so I could discern God’s handiwork
in all things of creation.
As I was changing my heart to conform to God’s love, I also strengthened
my body so that I could fulfill my mission. I wanted to be ready to
go anywhere, anytime that God called on me. I played soccer and did
boxing, some traditional Korean martial arts, and wonhwado, a form of
martial arts that I developed. In wonhwado the athlete moves his body
in a smooth circular motion, almost as in a dance. It is based on the
principle that greater power comes from circular motion than moving
in a straight line.
Even now I begin each day with stretching exercises for my muscles
and joints and a breathing exercise that I developed. Sometimes when I
am traveling around the world on speaking tours, I may not have time
for these exercises in the morning. Still I will find the time, sometimes
while sitting on the toilet. I never miss a day of exercise. When I was
young, thirty minutes a day was plenty, but now that I am older I have
increased it to an hour a day.
In 2008 I was involved in a helicopter crash. The helicopter was suddenly
surrounded by black rain clouds and in an instant crashed onto a
mountainside. The helicopter rolled over, and I was left hanging upside
down by my seatbelt. Instinctively I tightly grabbed the arm rests on
both sides of my seat. If I had not been so diligent in my exercises, I
think I would have broken my hip the instant that I was suspended
upside down. The body is the container to hold a healthy spirit. It is
important for us to be diligent about training our bodies.
Few students go to school because they like to study. They usually
go because their parents tell them to, not because they look forward to
studying. As students continue to study, however, they gradually learn
to enjoy it. From that point they will start to study on their own and
find their own path. This self-developed interest in learning is a sign of
maturity.
Parents cannot wait until their children mature enough to study on
their own. They tell them, “You have to study. Please make up your
mind to study,” and put pressure on them. Parents do this because they
know that children need to study in order to prepare for the future.
They worry that if their children don’t study at the proper age level, they
will face the future unprepared.
There is, however, something more important than studying to prepare
for the future. Before unconditionally focusing entirely on studies,
young people must realize what they want to do in life. They must make
a determination to use their talents to help the world rather than just
serve themselves. Many young people today seem to be studying just
for its own sake. Unless you have a purpose in life, your studies will lack
the passion needed for happiness.
Once I came across a Korean student working hard on his English schoolwork.
I asked him, “Why are you working so hard to learn English?”
He answered, “To get into a university.”
What could be more foolish? Getting into a university is not a purpose.
A university is a place to go to study particular subjects in the
course of pursuing a larger objective. It cannot be the objective itself.
Also, do not define your life goal in terms of how much money you
want to make. I have never received a salary, but I managed to eat and
stay alive. Money is a means to do something, not the goal. Before you
make money, have a plan for spending it. Money gained without a prior
objective will soon be wasted.
Your choice of occupation should not be based on just your talents
and interests. Whether you become a fire fighter, a farmer, or a soccer
player is up to you. But what I am referring to transcends your occupation.
What kind of life will you lead as a soccer player? How will you live
as a farmer? What is your objective in life?
To set your objective is to give meaning to the life you will lead.
If you are going to be a farmer, then you should set your objective to
test new agricultural methods, develop better species of crops, and help
eradicate world hunger. If you are going to be a soccer player, then set
a meaningful objective such as to heighten your country’s image in
the world or to establish soccer camps that will nurture the dreams of
economically deprived children.
To become a world-class soccer player takes incredible work. If you
do not have a definite purpose in your heart, you will not be able to
endure the difficult training required to reach the top. Only if you have
an objective will you have the power to maintain your course and live a
life that is a cut above those around you.