Hyun Jin Nim's 20th birthday -- May 14, 1989
Nan Sook Nim's 23rd birthday -- April 26, 1989
Jin Hun Nim's 26th birthday -- April 30, 1989
Additional happy birthdays to Shin Hwa Nim on her first birthday (April 16, 1989), Shin Bok Nim on his seventh birthday (May 7, 1989), and Jeung Jin Nim on her seventh birthday (May 27, 1989).
My soul, my life, and my breath exist for True Parents.
Why do you come here to Belvedere? Is it just to see the True Family? You might all have different reasons, but your absolute reason should be to understand True Parents' standard as a Unification Church member. That will be the topic of my speech today. I'm sorry that True Parents cannot be here with you, but please be totally willing to listen to what I have to say.
As God-centered people, what kind of standard should we uphold? It is the standard that True Parents have been setting in their mission -- to live not for our own sake, but for the sake of our brothers and sisters. There have been many religions in history, yet none of them was able to completely follow this standard. If we look at Christianity today, what do we see? There are so many groups separated from each other. Each denomination sees itself as the only true recipient of God's heart. Of course that's so for a true man or woman, but no one else can say that because no one else is truly living according to Gods standard.
In the Unification Church there is some disunity. That occurs when you look at yourselves as individuals or separate groups. How come we are not absolutely united? You are the best judge. You can't lie to your original mind. If you try to deviate from your original mind, it will follow you and say, "No, no, no! You're doing something wrong!" If you are living for the sake of yourself, I feel sorry for you, because you are living in absolute hell. Your original mind is going to bug you and bug you until you change. All of you know from experience, right? I know from experience, too.
If you look at history, you can see that man has always been on a path to reach a common destiny. In early human history, there were many tribes, each living only for its own sake, but as history progressed, many nations came into being. Now, however, there are only two major ideologies -- those of communism and the free world. This is because at the time of the True Parents, God is making it clear for man to see what is wrong and what is right. True Parents said that within these three years of 1986, 1987, and 1988, you will see drastic changes. This is all because of True Parents' foundation.
To understand your purpose as Unification Church members, you have to understand that the root of the fall was individualism. If the archangel Lucifer had said to himself, "I do not exist except for the sake of my God," do you think the fall would have happened? If Adam and Eve had had an absolute standard of love for Heavenly Father, how could the fall have ever occurred? That is why having True Parents' standard is so crucial. Even though you are a Unification Church member doing a mission for True Parents, all your efforts are meaningless if you still haven't gotten rid of the fallen standards you inherited from this world. Because of those standards, you may even grumble about the True Family and judge them, saying things like, "Their lives are not as regimented as mine. How come?" That is the same kind of attitude Lucifer had towards Heavenly Father and Adam and Eve. You are not in the position of subject! Heavenly Father is the absolute subject, and on earth the ideal subject is True Parents. Even I, as a member of True Family, cannot be my own entity. If I were, I would perish, because my mind-set would be false. My soul, my life, and my breath exist for True Parents.
If I sound like I'm being critical, it's because I want you to inherit True Parents' standard. It is your destiny, and all mankind's destiny, to be the true children of Heavenly Father. But I also want you to be my true brothers and sisters.
The True Children playing on the lawn when they were young.
What do ideal children seek? They want to be a carbon copy of their parents; they want to follow and do everything their parents do. What does a false, fallen child seek? His or her own individual standard! It is so crucial to set a true standard now, because many of you already have a four position foundation. Your children cannot understand True Parents when they are very young, so they will follow whatever standard you have. Can you sit here and look me straight in the eye and say you are living a tradition that is centered upon God every day? Can you say that you truly understand True Parents' heart and their total devotion to mankind? If you don't understand their standard, then how can you adequately serve and represent them? This is the dilemma.
At Heung Jin's last Day of Victory of Love ceremony, I said that people generally claim that even though they may have had difficulties in their relationship with their parents, it is their parents they feel closest to. That is because even fallen man wants to have an absolute standard of give and take. In the fallen, materialistic world, the most absolute relationship exists between parent and child. No matter what, physically the parent will always be the parent, and the child will always be the child. How much more should you, in the internal realm of your relationship with True Parents, cherish that absolute standard? Many of you haven't truly understood the value of True Parents. I myself am finding out their value more and more every day. As I grow, the bond I have with them gets deeper every day. It should be the same with you.
What if somebody suddenly took away my child and he grew up with another family? From a physical standpoint, he would grow up to look like me and act like me because he has my genes, yet because of having been brought up by that other family, he would have a completely different foundation. Likewise, you are all sons and daughters of God it's just that false parents came and snatched you away. You should feel like shouting, "I want to go back to my original parents!" That's why when you first met Father and heard his words, you felt, "Wow! I don't want to leave! I want to hold on to this foundation forever!" Even though you have physical parents, you are still the child of God. You belong to God.
Some religions stress that the only way you can find salvation is through the institution of the church. But Yesu Nim [Jesus] taught that all men and women are the children of God. Look at me. I'm the son of Father and Mother. Do I have to go through some institution to get close to my parents? That bond is absolute! That is why God is so unrelenting in trying to save mankind.
When I first came to America, I was four years old. Ye Jin Nim was 12 and Hyo Jin Nim was 11. My older brothers and sisters really went through a lot. When we were growing up, our parents were always away. Sometimes for a few minutes on Sunday, Father would explain why they couldn't be with us and say, "I'm sorry, my children, that I cannot be a better parent to you. But I'm living for the sake of all mankind." As I reflect on these words now, they are such great words, but to a boy eight or 10 years old, how do you think those words sounded? I really felt pity for myself and for the rest of my brothers and sisters. I thought, "Why can't my parents be like other parents? This must be the most horrible life anybody can lead!" I didn't really know Mother and Father intimately -- I didn't have the kind of close relationship you need with your parents when you are growing up.
When I went to school, the kids would call Father "Full Moon" and me "Half Moon." Everybody wants to inherit a standard of absolute love, and that's what I tried to give them. But they would whisper to their friends, "Don't make friends with him because he'll brainwash you." Every day I would come trudging home from school and I would call up some of the blessed children who were my friends, and even they would complain to me, saying, "My parents are always away on some mission!"
When we were young, we saw how so many people were thronging around Father and Mother at Sunday service, and we knew that our lives could never be our own We knew that people were going to look at us and judge Father and Mother based on our behavior.
When I was in middle school, I was third highest in my class. I was the captain of my football team and named Most Valuable Player (MVP). I was also MVP in lacrosse. All my teammates' fathers and mothers would come to our games. I was the star of the team, yet my parents were never there. My friends would say, "Where's your father and mother?" I'd tell them, "They're doing something else." Their parents would look at me and feel sorry for me. After a game there would be a picnic, and I would be there all alone. And at that age, it kind of crushes you a little.
Do you all know what a tragedy is, in the Shakespearian sense? A tragedy is when a heroic figure goes through an immensely difficult situation, and then comes to some kind of conclusion with a greater realization in the end. In a way, I can say my life was a tragedy, and the lives of all my brothers and sisters were tragedies, because we had to face so much at a young age. We didn't even have a childhood, really. This is the first True Family in mankind's history, and no one had a clear idea of how to attend or how to live for the sake of True Family. So when we were growing up, we were exposed to a lot of confusing things. We had to be taken care of by a lot of different people, and each of them had his or her own idea of how to treat us. Members couldn't really understand our situation or our position. All these years, I kept many frustrations inside me that were often overwhelming. And I'm sure all of my brothers and sisters would say the same thing.
A person growing up in that kind of lonely situation would most certainly begin to hate mankind, hate life, and hate his parents. But as my brothers and sisters come and stand here before you, showing you how absolutely united we are with True Parents, it seems like a total contradiction to what should have happened. In spite of that tragic foundation, the era in which we felt very confused ended when we became more determined to unite with the heart of True Parents. It's the outcome of a struggle that matters most.
In the past, you Unification Church members did not have the foundation you have now to receive True Family. The only way I or my brothers or sisters can come and speak to you now is because your standard has changed. Do you think that five years ago you were in the position to receive me the way I am?
Even people in the fallen world can sooner or later recognize the value of a person who lives for the sake of others, eventually calling them saints. Because of True Parents' foundation, the Unification Church has reached every country in the world within this 43-year period. Even though there is still some negativity toward our church, there is nevertheless an increasing openness now.
Rev. Kwak smiles happily at a young Hyun Jin Nim carrying melons from the offering table at East Garden.
Horseback riding is considered a very royal or elite sport, so when I go to horse shows, I come in contact with many wealthy people, and I try hard to make good relationships with them. Sometimes it's a drain on me emotionally, because some of them lead such immoral, decadent lifestyles. Slowly, however, the people in the equestrian field are coming to accept us, and more and more I see a willingness in them to find out about our church. People come up to me now and say things like, "How are you? How is your father?" and they ask me about my ideas. This kind of acceptance is happening today because
True Parents have put themselves in the position to love all mankind, and you as their children are in the position to receive the love of all mankind. This is the result of the principle of give and take.
Blessed children are very special. Their standard in serving True Parents and living for the sake of others is more absolute than yours. Blessed children are born without sin; therefore, they are born without the foundation of the fall. They're going to teach you a lot. Many East Garden staff members who have children tell me, "Oh, my son -- when he wants something, he won't stop crying. He is so stubborn! That nature doesn't come from me. I was never that stubborn!"
Do you want the Unification Church to die in the second generation? Do you want the Unification Church to exist only for a hundred years? The thing that will hold the Unification Church together is tradition. Should your own standard become the tradition? Think about it. Because the satanic tradition was passed down through all human history, the process of restoration is so difficult. Now that the heavenly tradition is being passed down from generation to generation, the foundation is going to get purer. Your children's foundation is going to be purer than yours.
All of you are going to create a four position foundation and will set the course for your children's future. First, you have to receive True Parents' standard and make it your tradition; then you can pass it on to your children. If you create the right kind of standard, mankind's future is restored, and all we have to do is restore mankind's past. With that foundation, we can truly create an ideal world.
At the time of its formation in 1776, America was the only nation that believed in such things as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and that all men are created equal. This was not just coincidental -- this was God's dispensational course to create a foundation for True Parents. If there were a monarchial system today, do you think True Parents would ever be in a position to speak their opinion and be received by the rest of mankind? Never! That is why America's course has not been for itself but for the rest of the world.
After World War II, America was militarily and influentially the strongest nation, because she was the only nation with the atom bomb. America began to send troops to many countries that had no governments of their own and helped establish many democracies. After World War II, America was primarily a moral, Christian nation. There was a foundation in the free world that would have allowed Father to establish the Kingdom of Heaven within a seven-year period.
But today we see a decadent America that has no true moral standard and is plagued by things like the AIDS epidemic. More and more, people in other countries are saying, "Americans, go home! We don't need you anymore!" This is because America is not living up to its providential mission. If America had truly united with True Parents, how easily restoration could have taken place! If you truly want to be American patriots, you American members can't just be half-heartedly serving your country.
Fallen man needs a regimented life, or else he will let his physical body take over, creating chaos. The communists live a regimented life centered upon material, but in the church we live a regimented life centered upon God. Order centered upon love is much different from other orders because there is give and take between subject and object. In dictatorships there is no real give and take. The subject says, "You must follow me!" Hitler said he wanted to create an ideal world. He conquered all the nations of Europe, but why did his regime crumble within a five-year period? Because he centered his vision only on a physical basis. Many people who followed Hitler were opposed to him in their minds and in their hearts. True Father, on the other hand, always waits for us to willingly follow by the response of our original mind, which encourages us to give our wholehearted support to True Parents. If the subject just says, "Follow me!" all the subject will win over is that object's body. He will never win over the heart or the mind.
I'd like to hug all of you, but I don't have arms big enough!
I have a very hard time overcoming my tendency to be impatient. In my equestrian training, at first I wanted everything to happen right away. If my horse wasn't performing correctly, I'd get so mad! No animal is so stupid as to want to have a person ride on his back and make him jump over a five-foot vertical barrier! If he had his choice, he would probably just go to the pasture and eat all day. When you ride, if the horse does not want to listen to you, you have to be more stubborn than he is. And if you get too mad, then you just make the horse more upset, and it takes longer for you to fix whatever problem there might be. So you have to sit there, constantly working with the horse to get him to respond to you in the right way. Sometimes it takes up to 30 minutes. After 15 minutes, your arms, back, and legs start to really ache.
It's not at all the same as when I ride the Barrytown horses, where I can just gallop as fast as I want. When a horse gallops, he normally gets more stretched out, but for jumping, you don't want him to get stretched out. You want his hind end to curl underneath so he is like a compact little ball. You do that by holding his head and constantly kicking him, driving that hind end underneath. If you don't constantly hold his head at the same time, he'll just go flying down the road.
After I ride just one horse, I sweat like anything! And I have to ride six of them every day. In the beginning I wanted results right away, but the more impatient I got, the worse the horses got, and the harder I had to work at it. I remember telling Father last year, "Oppa! I used to like it before when I just got on a horse and galloped along, but all this jumping is hard work!" Father said, "It's good training for you." Now my horses are coming along great, because I've learned patience and I don't get upset at them as easily as I used to.
Through riding, I've learned a lot about subject and object relationships. First of all, you have to have absolute unity between rider and horse. You have to know your horse and your horse has to know you. You may not like to sit here at Belvedere and listen when your physical body is saying, "I'm tired and I want to go home and rest!" It's the same principle for the horse -- he does not want to jump. But it's the rider who says to him, "You're going to do it!" It's painful for both horse and rider.
Riding is not easy. Sometimes you fall off and physically hurt yourself. My back got worse because of riding. My lower back takes a constant pounding. It's hard for me to sit. When I sit, it feels like my back is going to fall apart. It feels like my spine is not connected; as if I'm going to be split in half!
When you first joined the church and heard the Unification theology, you felt, "Wow! I want to share this with somebody!" You had a fire burning inside you, didn't you? How come that no longer exists? Ideally, the longer you are in the Unification Church, the more you should understand True Parents' standard and the more vigorous and energetic you should be, always striving to do better. Look at the reality though! You know it better than I do. I'm sorry to say, but that's why Father said, "If I had 100 true Unification Church members, I could have created the foundation for the Kingdom of Heaven within seven years." I am not saying that to judge you or make a conclusion. You have your own responsibility to change.
True Parents have been suffering too long. Father has been walking this 40-year course all alone. It's time that we as their children really vindicated them from their immense suffering. To me, what is truly valuable is to vindicate my parents from being misunderstood. That's my own conviction, and it's the conviction of all my brothers and sisters, too. How about you? They are your parents, too. When I was going through some of my old books and papers, I could see that in the past I really didn't know about my own Father's life. As I read about his life, I felt so many tears. How could I be so blessed to have such great parents? I felt so unworthy to be their son! But I'm not going to stop there. I'm going to try to be worthy! Do you think that just because you joined the church you can be called a son or daughter of True Parents? You have to become worthy. You truly have the greatest parents. My conviction is getting stronger every day. Yours has to, too. That's your five percent responsibility.
I just hope that through today, your conviction to become true sons and daughters of True Parents can be absolute. That's all my family could wish for. Then I'll be in the position to truly embrace you and say, "Welcome, my brother, welcome, my sister." You have to earn that right, do you understand? So are you determined? I'd like to hug all of you, but I don't have arms big enough.
Keep that fire burning within you -- never let it die out. The Vietnam War is a perfect example of what can happen when people lose their purpose. The United States had every opportunity to win that war, but Americans lost that desire within themselves. That's not going to happen to us, right?
I don't have the attitude that I can't make it in horseback riding, even though I know how many odds are against me. I've only been riding for three years. Nobody has gone to a Grand Pix after having trained only three years. But Un Jin and I are preparing to compete not only in the Grand Prix competition, but in the Olympics! That would seem impossible to most people. All of you, I know, want me to win. But even getting to ride in that competition will be a great victory in itself. The Korean riders have been riding for 20 years. The American riders have been riding since they were five. And they ride the best horses -- our horses are not even comparable. However, I'm going to fight like a true champion until the last breath.
Do you know who your worst enemy is? Yourself. Many times when Father gives a direction to leaders, they say, "Oh, it's impossible!" In that way they are defeating Father's direction and destroying the whole foundation Father laid to create that victory. That's why faith is so important. You can change by totally denying your own standard and receiving True Parents' standard. When I think of Unification Church members, I think ideally of true men and women of God, living for the sake of Heavenly Father. The outside world is saying, "Live for yourself!" But we Unification Church members are living for the sake of mankind. The individual standard cannot exist! I'm going to keep on saying that until you can look at your brother and say, "I'm going to love you more than I love myself. I'm going to love your children more than I love mine." We are Unification Church members. That means we are heavenly soldiers! I really admire some of those early Christian martyrs. They didn't have a physical manifestation of their Lord, as do you. How about us? Not only does the world have a true man now, but it has his bride, and it has the foundation of a true family. Those early Christians had such a strong commitment that they would willingly die for their beliefs. Sometimes I feel that they were more righteous than we are. How much more do we have to reach deep inside ourselves and let our original minds be subject and subjugate our body?
You truly are blessed people. Most people live day to day with no purpose, no direction. How scary that must be, to base one's existence only upon whatever happens day to day. You have a purpose, a goal, a conviction. You know what you're living for. You are creating value within yourself; without you, the ideal cannot exist. If you truly want to create the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, you have to believe it and live it and breathe it, absolutely following True Parents' standard. Just as every cell in a child comes from its parents, you have to strive to reach that point where every thought and every standard you have within you comes from True Parents. Be true parents yourselves. With that conviction, nothing can stop you.
Can you say you truly have faith in True Parents? No matter what the odds, we're going to march forward, right? Even to Moscow! Thank you.
True Parents Birthday on February 23, 1988
During her speech at Belvedere on Sunday, March 27, In Jin Nim announced the birth of a heavenly son to Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Sook Nim. True Parents, who had been elsewhere in the country, immediately flew back to New York to greet their grandson's entrance into the world. A joyous celebration was held at East Garden, and Hyun Jin Nim was asked to speak about this momentous occasion.
I feel that these last three years, from 1986 to 1988, were really a growing period, a learning period in which, spiritually and physically, we could inherit True Parents' standard and position. Especially since my Holy Wedding in 1987, I feel that my life has turned full circle. I have to admit that, because I was raised in America and went to American schools with American standards, to hear that I would be marrying a Korean girl so quickly was kind of shocking news to me. But graciously, True Parents understood, and as I reflect on those moments, I feel gratitude and repentance.
At 17 you don't really understand what life is, and many times you're faced with fallen, satanic standards. Living in America, the materialistic capital of the world, many times your perception of people becomes very shallow because you inherit so many fallen standards out there that blind you, that impair your vision and prevent you from really seeing the depth of True Parents' heart. Since most of my brothers and sisters were raised without the day-to-day guidance of True Parents, we basically had to pioneer our own path to find True Parents' heart and standard.
After my marriage I went through a time of cleansing, during which I really had to do some deep soul-searching to find what was true. I knew my father was great and that all his works and the foundation he had created throughout the world were great, but I didn't really feel the depth of his heart and his love for all mankind until recently. The standard of true love that True Parents have set for all mankind to inherit is truly beautiful.
Since my marriage I feel as if a part of me has been made whole. I felt like one-half before. I have 13 beautiful brothers and sisters, and we are all very, very stubborn. When we think of something, when we feel something, we go in that direction. And when you are a stubborn person your ideas can become very narrow. That is why through the give and take of love with your spouse you can inherit a deeper, broader foundation of love. I am truly grateful to True Parents for giving me this opportunity.
With the Olympics so close at hand, I felt that I had to build an absolutely pure foundation centered upon God to bring a great victory to True Parents and to God. Now I can stand here before you as Father's son and say, "I'm going to ride for True Parents with every cell in my body, with every breath that I breathe, every moment that I walk down the road, or ride on my horse, with my life, my soul, my blood, and my tears before God and True Parents." You really have to find that within yourself. I cannot judge you; you have to judge yourself. I truly wanted to judge myself most severely before making my offering through an equestrian foundation in gratitude for the Blessing that True Parents have given to me. I feel that I could never have done this in such a short period of time without my Holy Marriage.
Through Heavenly Father's offering me the chance to fulfill a four position foundation, which I established this morning, I feel God made my heart broader and deeper, and opened it even more so that I can truly inherit and understand Parents' heart and their absolute standard of love for all mankind.
I see here many different races and nationalities, yet True Parents look at all of you as their children, as one united family.
And I feel we truly have to inherit that same standard of love.
I was in the delivery room with my wife, and I really have sympathy for all women of the world! I didn't realize how difficult it is to give birth. And now that my Heavenly Father has given me this child, I have no words of gratitude to express to True Mother for bearing 14 of us. How hard it must have been! With that understanding, how much I want to be a son who can please them, and to also be your true brother. How much more willing and dedicated I am!
I'm sorry if I'm too emotional at this time. I really don't know what to say; I'm actually flabbergasted! I really want to share the experience of the birth with you, but all of you who have children know the experience, so I'll just leave it at that. Thank you once again for coming. I really pray that you can analyze and judge yourselves--not others--and that you can truly feel that God dwells inside your hearts. If you can do that, you are truly my brothers and sisters; you are truly the sons and daughters of God.
Congratulations to Hyun Jin Nim and Jun Sook Nim on the birth of their Heavenly Son Shin Won ("Faith and Original Goodness")
At Shin Won Nim's 8-day ceremony at East Garden, Mr. Peter Kim noted that Shin Won Nim's birthday was on Palm Sunday, his 8-day ceremony was on Easter, his 21-day celebration is on Parents' Day, his 40-day celebration is on May 5, the Day of Children (a Korean holiday), and his 100-day celebration is on July 4, American Independence Day.
Hyun Jin Nim speaks strongly to the members.
We are gathered here to celebrate the fifth Day of Victory of Love and the fourth anniversary of Heung Jin's Seunghwa ceremony. We need to deeply understand the meaning and value of this day.
The year 1983 was a very hard year, not only for True Parents, but for the whole movement. But in 1984, on that cold day in January, we received the Day of Victory of Love from True Parents, through Heung Jin's sacrifice.
In his speech on that day, Father revealed his absolute standard of love for God. Father has only one vision -- to bring absolute fulfillment to God, whose heart has been suffering for more than 6,000 biblical years. Through
Father's love and concern for the suffering heart of God, even surpassing his love for his own precious children, he was able to conquer death. On this foundation, Heung Jin's physical sacrifice could culminate in the Day of Victory of Love that we are celebrating today.
I want to testify from my heart about Heung Jin Nim and what he accomplished, not only for mankind, but also for the providence, for True Parents, and for the love of God. I feel my words are very inadequate. It's difficult, but I will try my best.
Through Heung Jin's sacrifice, Father claimed an inevitable victory for unity. Actually, unity had not existed within the Unification Church. There were many different factions, which even I was able to see as I was growing up: there were American members with American standards; Japanese members with Japanese standards; and many other different standards that people brought into the church that were not Father and Mother's standards. Among the blessed children, disunity was prevalent. Even within the True Family, there wasn't a true understanding of unity. Father declared, however, that Heung Jin Nim's sacrifice would create that unity.
As I reflect on Heung Jin's life on this earth, the first word that comes to my mind is "unity." Heung Jin's love for True Parents was absolute. None of you can doubt that, because he showed it through the sacrifice of his physical life at the promising age of 17 years. He even sacrificed his own complete establishment of a four position foundation on earth. Through my own Holy Wedding, I am able to more fully understand what a great offering this was.
Most people's impression of him was that he was very simple. He did not want much or ask much, and the blessed children who were close to him have testified that his whole demeanor was very humble.
At Heung Jin's Seunghwa ceremony, I testified about him. At that time I said he was the most like Father. Why would I say that? Because his standard of love for True Parents was absolute. While he was on earth, I shared many experiences with him. He often came to my room and asked me, "Are you willing to die for True Parents?" When first asked this, you might say, "Yes, of course I can do that! Of course I'm capable of doing that." In 1984 many of you even made that determination. Yet I have observed that even small physical hardships have caused the people who made those commitments to change their minds in a moment. Then they would complain to Father and Mother. Is that the standard of Heung Jin? Heung Jin offered himself for the sake of an absolute standard, and you have to understand that. Even after seeing Heung Jin's sacrifice, how many of you can say you have developed an absolute standard of love for True Parents?
I take this standard very seriously, and my family also takes it very seriously, because Heung Jin lives within our hearts. You have to let Heung Jin live within yours. The reason why we're having this ceremony today is to make sure that we do not forget Heung Jin Nim and his absolute love and sacrifice for True Parents. We have to inherit that heart.
The stage in the Grand Ballroom is adorned with flowers in honor of Heung Jin Nim, as Hyo Jin Nim delivers his speech on the Day of Victory of Love.
Heung Jin was a very deep person. Many of you who knew Heung Jin might not have realized that. And why was that? You never took the time! You never gave him a chance to show his heart. That's why I'm standing here in front of you now. It's not Father's family who should be in the position to testify about Heung Jin Nim. It should be other people who were close to him! Why didn't you ever give him the chance? Even when he was 15 or 16, he was very deep, and his love for True Parents was absolute. Before his death, he said, "I will die for True Parents. If some satanic person tries to shoot at Father and Mother, I will throw my body in front of them." That's the commitment he had. You weren't able to understand that, because of your shallow standard. Do you show respect only after seeing some great deed?
Heung Jin Nim was very concerned about the unity of the blessed children, because he understood that without unity, the second generation could not fulfill God's hope. He knew that many members did not completely accept the True Family, and some even said the True Family was a failure. He felt that through his friendships with the blessed children, he could create an absolute bond of true love that would change the ways of their parents. That was his desire. Many, many times we discussed this, because we wanted to build a good foundation for God and True Parents. Father has clearly said that the perfection of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth will take three generations. That is why we are so serious about the situation of the blessed children.
Father and Mother have restored both the True Parents' position that was lost through the fall of Adam and Eve, and the True Family's position. As Father's children, what is our role then? What's the mission of the second generation? It was a puzzle for us! Father never clearly gave us direction about this. But we knew in our hearts that we could lead the second generation to victory only if the True Family were united.
We can't be separated! You cannot separate me from Heung Jin Nim, or anyone in our family from Heung Jin Nim, because we are one! That is the meaning of Heung Jin's sacrifice. You have failed to understand that. You still see yourselves as American members or Japanese members or Korean members! Is that a true foundation for unity? What are we, after all? In 1977, Father made it very clear that the Kingdom of Heaven could only be built starting from one ideal family. We are all children of True Parents! Therefore, our love for True Parents has to be absolute. That's why you have to inherit Heung Jin's absolute standard of love.
Do you think an ideal family means a group of 12 individuals? Through such shallow thinking you have separated and suffocated the True Family! How are you to receive Father's love? You inherited fallen standards from Satan, and you brought those into our church. With your fallen standards you even judge True Parents and the True Family.
To really inherit Father's love, you have to do as Hyo Jin has been teaching you; you must be willing to say, "I do not exist" How can you say you exist if you don't even belong to God? You have to totally empty yourself and become a pure basin in order to receive true love from God.
Heung Jin lived this philosophy every day -- it showed in the simple clothes he wore, the food he ate, and the things he owned. He lived his life according to the example of True Parents, because he wanted to become a recipient of true love. He did not have his own standards. Can you be a recipient of true love if you accept only what you want to hear, only what sounds pleasant to you? If you believe in True Parents and their vision, you should live according to their standard and receive all their directions unconditionally.
True Parents have done everything for you; they created the greatest foundation possible. True Parents are even so generous as to see value in the worst people, such as Kim Il Sung, and try to restore them into the realm of God. Until now, you have not had a sufficient foundation to receive True Parents. Many times you heard Father speak on Sunday and you got inspired for a while, but then a couple of days later you lost the inspiration! Is that an absolute standard of attendance? Something that's absolute should never change.
Do you think you can find happiness in this physical reality? History has shown that great leaders who had power, money, and everything this physical world could offer were never satisfied inside, because they knew that power and money would eventually elude them. So where can you find happiness? Only in the realm of an absolute way of life. And where is that absolute realm? Within the mind. The mind's deepest desire is to have a give and take relationship centered on the foundation of true, absolute love. You must acquire that absolute standard of love.
Heung jin is the second son; I am the third son. Therefore, I was very close to Heung Jin. He had a great influence on me, and on all of my brothers and sisters. My experience with Heung Jin Nim is very personal. That's why I'm burning inside when I testify about Heung Jin Nim. When I share about him, I don't want what I say to just go through your heads so that you go back the next day to your old state again!
I have 13 beautiful brothers and sisters, and we're all the product of True Parents' absolute love. We would rather not even live without absolute unity with True Parents! My brothers and sisters do not see value in themselves apart from True Parents. They only want to end True Parents' suffering path and help restore this fallen world back to God. That is their whole purpose and motive, because they come from True Parents' ideal foundation. Even if they have to suffer physically, they live only for True Parents.
Pretend you weren't Unification Church members. If I met you on the street and asked you, "Who would you say was the closest to you?" you would naturally say, "My parents, because their blood is flowing through my veins." Even with the shallow standard of the fallen world, people recognize the value of their parents. With a true standard, how much more would we see value in our parents? You have to understand this clearly. When you look at True Parents, you shouldn't see them just as great religious figures; you should see them as your parents! Then nothing will stop you from inheriting their absolute love.
Father has said that if he had had 100 true Unification Church members, the foundation for the Kingdom of Heaven would have already been established. As I look around this room, I see more than 100 people. Why hasn't this foundation already been made? You ask yourselves. You have an original mind; you have a conscience. You are the best judge.
You have to inherit True Parents' love. I know all of my brothers and sisters would gladly give up their lives, even their own families, to help you understand this, just as Heung Jin Nim did. We would probably fight with each other to see who could sacrifice the most in order to help you understand and inherit the true standard.
This is the beginning of a new year-1988. Father has declared the importance of the three years of 1986, 1987, and 1988. This year is the culmination of these three years. If you create a perfect, pure foundation this year, God can bestow great victories upon you, as members of the Unification Church.
Many of you have been in confession with Heung Jin Nim, right? You were cleansed of all the sins you had committed. Not only that, but Father himself clearly stated that from the beginning of this year, he has forgiven all of you for all the sins you committed. This is the foundation you need in order to make a new beginning of total, absolute love for True Parents and for God. You should capitalize on this foundation!
As a member of True Family, I can see firsthand how Father, even in his old age, pushes himself physically to the utmost to fulfill God's providence. That shows me how much more I have to do to vindicate True Parents. How about you?
Anyway, words cannot capture the essence of what Heung Jin means to every one of us. As a member of the True Family, all I can say about him is that he was the embodiment of true love, and he lived to create the true love foundation. Thank you.
Happy Birthday Hyun Jin Nim May 10, 1984
Two of our True Parents' children celebrated their birthdays this past May.
On May 10, Hyun Jin Nim turned 15 [western reckoning]. The True Family and members joined in special prayers of dedication for Hyun Jin Nim offered by True Parents. After breakfast Mother called for a banquet of song, which lasted for over an hour. Father did not speak. Rather, Col. Pak urged everyone to devote the day to prayer, as it was expected that the Supreme Court would make its decision concerning Father's case on that very day
Happy Birthday Jeung Jin Nim May 23, 1984
Jeung Jin Nim, the youngest child of True Parents, celebrated her second birthday [western reckoning] on May 23. Again Father did not speak. Col. Pak gave an extended report on the Association for the Unity of Latin America (AULA), which recently held its first organizational meeting in Paris.
In his comments on the report, Father emphasized that the great advances now being made by CAUSA, NCCSA, IFVOC and the like, came upon over ten years of strategic planning and hard work. Both birthday celebrations concluded with all participants offering three mighty cheers of "Mansei."
Jeung Jin Nim and Hyun Jin Nim
Hyun Jin Nim recalling his brother
As you know, I am one of Heung Jin Nim's younger brothers. I was privileged to spend most of my life with him. We used to do many things together and talk a lot. He thought about Father and Mother so much and he would talk about them all the time.
He was the most humble person and the one with the most heart in our family. If Hyo Jin Nim was not around when Father and Mother had to leave, he would really express his love as an older brother, giving love to each of our brothers and sisters, especially the young ones. They haven't felt so much of Father and Mother's love, since Parents were often gone, so Heung Jin Nim would express it on their behalf. Many times he would take us out to movies and do many things for our family.
Most of all he cared about the blessed children and did so much to unite them. Many times I witnessed what he would say to the blessed children, trying to make them open up to each other and become friends. A few years ago the blessed children in America were not very close because most families lived separate from one another. My brother told me of his idea to unite the blessed children because he felt that unity was the only hope for our church in the future.
He brought the blessed children to our house and he would talk to them and try to make them open to each other and overcome the distances between them. He also established the first blessed children's workshop and even allowed non-blessed children to attend. At that time the non-blessed children were getting persecution from the blessed children. It was in this room that Heung Jin Nim told the blessed children that we are not the only hope; rather we should be humble to the others. After that, we really accepted them.
The day my brother went to spirit world, I really wished it could have been me because he was closest to everybody in the family. Everyone in our family, as well as the blessed children, loved him very much. All the people he met were just naturally attracted to him. He was the most like Father. He was pious and loyal.
I remember when he wanted to get a car. Father and Mother were going to buy him a good car but he said he did not want one. He told them he wanted a used car because he always thought about all the people of the world who were suffering so much.
All I can think to say is that he has been the best brother. He was also a teacher to the blessed children. He gave love to both the younger and the older brothers and sisters. He also gave love to everybody else. More than anything, he was loyal to Father and Mother.
Four hundred brothers and sisters congratulated the third eldest son of our True Parents [Hyun Jin Moon] with the world famous "birthday hymn" after Father's Sunday morning sermon at Belvedere. Father had come back from his stay in Korea just a few days before, and, of course, everybody present was very happy and excited to see him and Mother again. At 8 a.m. sharp, he ended his speech saying: "It's now 8 o'clock exactly. Number eight always marks a new beginning. So those who want to repledge themselves for a new start raise their hands." So we did.
Father then asked all the 120 day trainees, who just had completed their course, to stand up. He apologized for not having been able to speak to them during their training period. Mother then suggested to him to invite all of the trainees to East Garden for Hyun Jin Nim's birthday celebration. Who would object such a wonderful heavenly invitation!
There were also a number of other representatives attending the ceremony, especially some of the 36 couples, besides brothers and sisters from departments such as the New York Tribune, NEW ERA, IRFF, etc. It was the second time I attended such a birthday celebration at East Garden. The first time was nine years ago, in June 1974, when Mother invited all the European sisters of the IOWC to participate in In Jin Nim's birthday party.
The room we entered -- where almost all the celebrations take place -- was still the same as back then. It was nicely decorated with little flags hanging down from the ceiling, flower arrangements and, of course, the offering table, prepared by loving hands during the night.
Father and Mother were there, as well as most of their children and all the grandchildren. Two of Father's children were missing -- Hyo Jin Nim (he was still in Korea) and In Jin Nim. Where was she?
More and more brothers and sisters kept piling in, so it became more difficult to watch all the small children in front, but one of them gave away the secret: "She is still sleeping! She didn't get up yet!" A wave of laughter spread across the room. Mother asked someone to look for In Jin Nim.
The atmosphere was very relaxed, embracing and personal. Everyone felt at ease and at home. I especially watched Mother, who looked so dignified and pure to me. She truly seemed like God's First Lady but at the same time was the most loving and natural mother to her children, tenderly arranging them in front of the offering table. Here at home, Mother is truly the loving mistress of the house, speaking in a firm, but kindly, voice to her children, while always keeping an eye on father whom she loves and respects the most.
Finally In Jin Nim arrived apologizing for being late. Father smiled at her. Then both Father and Mother faced the offering table and the empty chairs behind which represent True Parents' and God's positions. Father immediately began to pray in a low voice. After that, True Parents bowed down before their son Hyun Jin Nim; then all the children did the same to their parents. Hyun Jin Nim now came to stand between his parents in order to receive God's blessing through them. He is some inches taller than Father and Mother hardly could reach to the top of his head. Again Father spoke a prayer. Hyun Jin Nim, his eyes closed, accepted the blessing with gratitude. I felt as if the Parents rededicated their son to Heavenly Father, as they had done with all their children on each of their birthdays. I tried to imagine how it would be 10, 20, 30 years from today, how True Parents' children would carry on the heritage of their parents, cooperate with us and influence society and the world....
Now the cameras prepared for the famous kiss of Father and Mother on both of Hyun Jin Nim's cheeks -- simultaneously. Click! Click! Click! The historical moment was captured.
As Father, Mother and Hyun Jin Nim cut the light green, three-tiered birthday cake, all of the brothers and sisters again joined in the song: "Happy birthday dear Hyun Jin Nim, happy birthday to you!" Yaaaay! Much applause for True Parents' son! Father and Mother again took their seats behind the offering table and Father picked a rice ball out of bowl and fed his family one by one -- first his children, then his son-in-law and daughter-in-law and then the grandchildren. Coming from a Catholic background I was very much reminded of Holy Communion being distributed -- this time by the Son of God himself!
With that gesture the ceremony itself seemed to be over, though many pictures were now taken. Father and Mother in the middle of their large family, seemed to enjoy every minute of it, since they usually don't spend much time with their children. Some of the little ladies and gentlemen didn't want to smile, so David Kim, Rev. Kwak and others made all kinds of efforts to make them laugh: smiling, making funny faces, holding up candy and chewing gum, etc., with some success. There was dynamic give-and-take between the true children and the audience. Especially the 36 couples seem to know how to encourage them. It reminded me again how much responsibility the 36 couples have taking care of Father's children, since Father himself absolutely lives by the principle to let his Cain-type children take care of his own children and since he and Mother completely sacrifice themselves for us.
Finally brown rice cake was passed to everyone. We gathered for the birthday meal. Father had promised his son Hyun Jin Nim to go out for an adventure in the afternoon. We wished them much joy and a good time!