Sun Myung Moon
Circa 1997
Excerpts
Life Course of Man
The Way of a True Person (Section 3) of "The Way for Young People"
Who is a man of character? Is it someone who lives for the sake of eating? Or is it someone who has artistic or poetic talents so that he can fully appreciate the beauty of the world, whisper to the mountains and fields and sing to the flowing water? Who is closer to a man of original value? The one who lives for food is close to an animal. And the one who can enjoy nature and who has rich poetic feelings is close to an angel. There are two kinds of people: one is animalistic and the other idealistic. (85-143)
Who is called a man of character? He is one who can stand in the central position of society. When there is a man of character in the village, he can play the central role in the material and spiritual lives of the village people. Only through this can he be an object of respect. It is the same in the nation. A nation is also centering on a man of character as the representative. The actual organization is formed as the people make mutual relationships centering on him. Likewise, the world also requires a man of character as the center.
A man of character is little different from ordinary people in terms of external appearance, but he is very different from them in his thoughts and spirit. Therefore, what determines a man of character is not the external aspect but the internal one. We should discuss character and personality based on the spiritual side of man. In order to expand the spiritual area, we have to understand the world of the mind. The mind has the agility to expand infinitely. From this, we can see that human desire originates from the mind and not from the body. The mind is in endless operation, generating infinite desires. Our personality is not confined to a certain society, country, or world. Furthermore, it proceeds toward the highest absolute standard, which can transcend even the past, the present, and the future. Considering the propensity of the mind to reach out to the absolute, we can see that the world of the mind is connected to infinity. (29-125)
When we call someone a man of character, we are not referring to his appearance, education, career, or position. We call him a man of character based on his living in a principled way. External flamboyance does not make a man of character. A man of character is the one who lives according to God's will, with an unchanging heart. (19-285)
What is personality? It is not words, but Shim Jung (heart); Shim Jung is the eternal model and standard. This is why we proclaim the God of Shim Jung. This is God's final standard of personality. God is love. So I propose we explore the great way of heaven through the personality that springs from Shim Jung, which is the original source of love. In this, no one can surpass Reverend Moon. (84-123)
In the world of spiritual pursuits, what is the standard for a perfect personality? It is love. Personality is perfected through the infinite and absolute love of God. (33-79)
People change their minds day and night because they do not have an absolute center. We cannot call them men of character. A man of character is the one who tries to keep his promise all his life and has a high level of righteousness. You should make no excuses after things are decided. You should say that what you have promised never changes, even if the law of the universe changes. (23-100)
A man of character keeps his promises. If I say that you forced the promise I made upon me, and therefore I don't have to keep it, then I am not a man of character. Law is a set of promises made on a public standard. Thus, all the people who live within its jurisdiction should keep it. If someone cannot keep it, then he should be punished by public regulation. This is the responsibility of the keepers of the law. No matter who initiated it, a promise must be kept. You will be a loser if you do not keep your promise. In making a promise, everyone has to come to an accord based on the common standard. (31-13)