Sun Myung Moon
September 30, 1979
Excerpt
God's Will and the World -- Let Us Know Ourselves
What is the basic formula which is recognized by public opinion? Two key elements must be there: sacrifice and service. Will you become a good person if you expect others to serve and sacrifice for you? No, you have to be the center of sacrifice and service for others. Will some of you protest this?
This is an important congregation because it is a miniature of the world, with all nationalities and races represented here. If this representative group can agree that this is the principle for determining who are good men and women, then this must be the principle that will work for the entire world. One category of people will agree that service and sacrifice are good and they will try it; others will mull over the issue, while yet others will agree that this has always been their way of life. Which group do you belong in? If you feel you have been practicing this way of life, are you in a position to be recognized as a person of goodness by the entire world? Do you practice service and sacrifice by expecting service from 240 million Americans, or by thinking that you must serve 240 million Americans? Obviously, you must do it.
Now that we have agreed on the definition of a good person, would you want to become the best person within the limited scope of America, or on the worldwide level? America is a microcosm. Do you love all races and nationalities who live in America? However, any American who is prejudiced against a certain race can be described as a good man? If he dislikes black people, then would only blacks think he was guilty of prejudice, or would people of his own race also criticize his attitude? Is this a racial judgment or a universal one?
We must recognize that there is a universal principle involved, regardless of what race you are. You can see that the universe has certain fundamental laws, and anyone who violates them will be judged accordingly, regardless of his race or stature. What is the spirit of that constitution of the universe? It aims to preserve or uphold the men and women who try to live for others. It would also try to eliminate people who take advantage of others and seek to benefit only themselves. This is why we can say that good people are those who exist for the sake of others, and good deeds are those actions which benefit others.