Sun Myung Moon
September 17, 1974
Day of Hope Banquet, Waldorf Astoria Hotel
I am very happy to be here tonight. I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for coming. I wanted to meet each one of you on the way in; however, because of the lack of time I could not do so. I deeply apologize for it.
You must be asking, who is Reverend Moon? What office is he running for? Well, here I am, Reverend Moon. I am not running for anything.
Humility is a wonderful thing. At 5:00 rush hour I see people, most of them walking with their head down. New Yorkers are so humble and meek, I thought God must love New Yorkers. Then after several months I found out the real reason. There are many tall buildings. Tourists look up at the skyscrapers. So New Yorkers know they must be very wise not to be stepped on by tourists. I find people humble and meek in the sight of God, so I know they can be blessed by His love.
I would like to leave with you a few grains of thought. [Five women from the International Socialist Workers Party shouted "Rev. Moon is a fascist.... "Guests threw things at them and they were finally escorted out of the ballroom.] Their participation in this program makes it even more exciting. So I thank them very much. Those ladies are a work of God, because now I feel so close to you. I'm sure you feel close to me, too. I would really like you to feel at home, speaking to you as brothers and sisters.
Throughout history, all men have been searching for true happiness and joy, which is eternal. Many search, but very few have found it, because our life on earth is very brief and changing. So people come to the conclusion that if we want to search for unchanging joy and happiness, we must search for the source. Is there a source? Yes, there is. Almighty God.
Man is the object of God
The words, love, ideal, happiness, and joy do not mean anything when you are alone. Those words come alive when you form a circuit between two, when there is give and take. This is also true of God. Even though He is almighty, as long as He is alone, He cannot generate them within Himself. They remain dormant in Him. For God to realize His ideal, He needs someone to love and someone to be loved by. Who then can be in the position of object to God? Man and woman, you and I, are created to be in the position of object to God. Therefore, God is in the position of subject, and man is in the position of object.
I think that there are many distinguished couples in this hall. When you looked for a mate, did you look for someone inferior to yourself? You don't have to answer, because all people look for someone ideal and perfect and superior to themselves. In Korea, parents are complimented when told their baby is better than the parents. Why do we act this way? God is subject and man is object. Our human traits all come from their origin, God.
If we ask God, "God, would you like to have your object better than yourself?", God will give you the answer, "Yes, I want my object, my son and daughter, to be better than myself." Have you ever thought, God cannot become perfect without you? You are that precious in the sight of God. Without you, God cannot fulfill His idea. This is a really stunning truth.
The relationship between God and man is not only the relationship of subject and object, but the relationship of Father and son. In this fallen world, deviated from God's ideal, we want our love to be eternal. God's ideal and love are eternal. God wanted to have an object, a son and daughter, to have the same quality of love. So God wanted a world eternal and unchanging. Therefore, God must create man to be the realization of love which is eternal and unchanging.
Now the subject and the object are actually one. When you consider these two, subject and object, you can think of two kinds of relationships: selfish and unselfish. Which would God choose? If God created the universe and man on the basis of selfish relationships, it would lead to self-extinction. Therefore, God, the king of wisdom, created the universe in a relationship of unselfishness, upon which His ideal can prosper and in which we can attain eternal joy and happiness.
We are created for others
God created us not for ourselves, but for others. There are many men in this hall. We all have pride in our ego, pride in our accomplishments. But did God create men for the sake of men? No. God created men for the sake of women. I see only the ladies applauding. But just a minute. By the same token, are women created for the sake of women? All ladies throughout the world have something in common. They really want to make themselves beautiful -- hairdo, beautiful dress, beauty exercises. Do they do this for the delight of themselves? No. For the sake of men. So everything is complementary.
I am trying to emphasize this. God created everything in the universe for complementary and reciprocal purposes. This is a universal truth. All creation must complement each other and create a circuit for give and take relationships. By doing so, we can fulfill the purpose of creation. When you apply this in daily relationships, it will work wonders. For example, if you practice God's way in your family, between father and children, truly you will feel as one true family of God. What is the true relationship of husband and wife? Unselfish love, nothing else. At their wedding they pledge eternal love. "I love you even to death." However, that particular pledge will not last for three days.
In America, you can name famous patriots. I know one, Abraham Lincoln. Why is Abraham Lincoln a great patriot? Because he gave his life for the wellbeing of his countrymen. By this principle, can you name one, the greatest of all? Yes, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the supreme example of giving. He was born for others, lived for others, died for others. Jesus Christ knew the universal truth, God's way of life, which is an unselfish life. He truly demonstrated that way of life to an absolute degree.
Then what is the fall of man we speak of in Christianity? What is the sin that all men come from? Selfishness. Satan twisted the truth of God from unselfish giving to selfish taking. He subjugated Eve and she subjugated Adam. This is a deviated world, a sinful world, departed from God's ideal.
Religions are an instrument of God, trying to bring this world into the knowledge of the true will of God. All good religions, East and West, have this one thing in common -- teaching the sacrificial way of life.
Unselfish love bears interest
The God of wisdom has set the principle of life on unselfishness. Why? Suppose someone loves you one hundred percent in an unselfish way. If someone truly loves you, would you want to return one hundred percent to him, or would you like to be stingy and return 40-50 percent, or would you give more love? Which way does your original nature work? You want to outdo him or her in returning the love you receive.
Suppose I love Col. Pak, my interpreter next to me, one hundred percent unselfishly. Then I want to return one hundred percent and more than the love I receive from him. Then I receive 120 percent in return, and I can give more, maybe 130 percent. So in the circuit of give and take of love there is premium and interest. The motion of love is a circular motion. A straight line comes to an end, but circular motion of love remains for eternity. Unselfish love remains for eternity. Each action of give and take brings more results, and therefore great prosperity.
The second reason why God made the principle of an unselfish way of life is this: When you practice God's way of life, you resemble God; you are more like God. For example, suppose you have ten members in your family, eight children and two parents. If the very young son is a very loving, selfgiving person, and loves everyone, soon he will become the central figure and will receive more love from everyone, including the father and mother. So when you practice God's way of life, you shall have the power like God; you shall have the central position.
All compete for God's dominion
There is another principle in this universe. Everyone wants to belong to the one who loves him. Everyone hates selfish domination, but where there is unselfish love, everyone seeks to come under that domination. Heaven is the world of God's domination. Does everyone hate that domination? No, everyone competes with each other to get closer to God and more domination by God, because that domination is the domination of love. Everyone is seeking God and true love. When you become like God by practicing God's way of life, you are taking God's position in your own society.
There is one final reason for an unselfish life. Is love yours? Love is not mine, love does not belong to me. You cannot fulfill your love within yourself. Love can be fulfilled only by an object. You also have certain ideals. But ideals can never be fulfilled in yourself alone. Ideals can only be fulfilled by dealing with others.
Everyone in this world seeks fulfillment in life. In order to fulfill your life, you need your love and your ideals to be fulfilled. But they can be fulfilled only by others. You are in the receiving position. Therefore, our basic attitude of life is one of humility and meekness. This is God's way of life.
In the last quarter of the twentieth century, God is looking down on this earth, seeking a God-like person who can truly represent Him and His way of life by tribe, family, and nation. He is seeking such a champion on earth.
When I talk about the spirit world, people shake their heads, disapproving. But it really can be said that I am an expert on that world. That world in which the principle of God alone is working is systematic, a world in which God's ideal has been fulfilled. The world of God is the total practice of God's way of life, an unselfish way of life. Therefore, those who practice God's way of life on earth are the only ones who deserve it eternally. We all long for something eternal. Yes, we can attain that world, by knowing God and His principle.
One grand circle of giving
I am here to present one formula -- God wanted to have the nation, society and world in which His formula becomes successful. First, of all, I myself exist for my wife, husband and wife together exist for the family, the family serves the society, the society serves the nation, the nation serves the world, and the world serves God. God is solely existing for you and me. So by giving your total self, actually you are gaining the entire universe, including God. This is truly one grand circle of giving. By doing this you possess the ultimate one. God is in your possession. You can attain true happiness by fulfilling this way of life.
When people hear this word unification, they say, "Reverend Moon, it is a good idea, but it is too idealistic. I am sorry, Reverend Moon, because I know it will never work." But to those critics, my answer is very simple. Reverend Moon is not going to do that. God is going to do that. God created the world in harmony and unity. Let us all get together and practice His will. Allow yourself to be His instrument.
What is the origin of the evil world? Basically, selfishness brings evil. From this principle, we can evaluate when this world or this society is on the side of wickedness or goodness. Any nation which truly works for the purpose of serving the world and tries to sacrifice itself for the benefit of the entire world and for the salvation of humanity will emerge as the center of the universe.
I came to America to serve. I love America just as I love my own country, because this is God's country and I love God. But if I failed to really succeed in the propagation of God's way of life, then all my philosophy would be in vain. God loves America and is relying on America. Therefore, it is important to God, to all of us, and to me. From the beginning, America has been pursuing the great goal of one nation under God. That one nation must not be selfish, it must be truly sacrificial for the benefit of the entire world and all mankind. By demonstrating God's way of life, indeed, America will become the champion in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, I came to America to speak to the American people.
A revolution of love
In 1972 I had a vision, to go to America to speak to the American people. For three years I am obeying this command. America is coming out with individualism. But God's philosophy is not individualism. When an individual is centered upon himself he will find himself in a lot of trouble. That trouble is shown in America. There are many broken homes; American young people are in trouble. God is trying somehow to wake Americans up. God has very strange ways. He called me to kindle the fire of spiritual revolution -- a revolution of love in America.
I want to announce an important competition between you and me. Let's love America and bring this country close to God. America is truly one great Christian nation on the face of the earth. Furthermore, America was founded on the love of God. However, in recent history, America has been going farther and farther away every day. Someone must turn it around, so someone must come as a fire fighter.
In the last eleven months, I went to every state of America. I visited every corner of the country. Everywhere I go I do not get too much kind treatment. People shout at me and throw things at me. But I do not concern myself with those things. I concern myself only with God. I did not come for money, I did not come for any other purpose than to give myself for the eternal well-being of this great country. I have a real reason to cry out to you tonight. I hope you truly understand.
New York is really the heartbeat of America, the center of America. I am launching my crusade in New York, because if I succeed in kindling the heart of man for God in New York, I will succeed anywhere -- New York, America, the world. This is my goal. I will not stop.
I came as a friend
I know that in the last several weeks there have been many posters outside. This has become very controversial. I know there are many criticisms of my poster. So many candidates spend money for earthly purposes. I come to proclaim the Kingdom of God on earth. I want to do more than they do. I came to America in obedience to God. I wanted every New York citizen to know of my coming so they will have no excuse before God. But I will do something unusual for New York. After tomorrow, September 18, no poster of Reverend Moon will remain here in New York. They have the purpose of inviting people to hear the declaration of the Kingdom of Heaven. After they serve their purpose, I will take every single one off, myself and my people.
I came to New York as a friend of New York. I respect and admire you. Let's be close. If I meet you on the street, let's shake hands, as brothers and sisters on the street.
My dream and ideal is to install one great movement of God, not an institution, to bring the Kingdom of Heaven on earth -- and I want to start the Kingdom of Heaven here in New York!
I truly have the deepest admiration for you and I also want to express my genuine love for each one of you, because in God we are one. Let God's love come into your heart, let it run out to New York, to America, to the world. I want all of you to embrace God as I embrace my brother beside me.
May God bless each one of you.