Men Of God

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
September 23, 1979
Belvedere
Translator - Bo Hi Pak

"God" in Korean is Hananim, and the literal translation is "one master", or "only host." When you spell God backwards, what word do you get? Dog. One is heaven, one is hell. On one side men of God, on the other side men of dog. You don't think of dogs as being very lowly and disgusting in American culture. You love dogs as pets, but in the Oriental concept a dog is a rather foolish and lowly animal. A dog symbolizes ungodliness.

The Bible speaks very much about cleansing oneself, particularly before holy days. Dog meat and pig meat are never used, and not even fish which have no scales. If a Korean is describing the worst of anything, a dog is always included somewhere in his description. Don't ever call anyone the son of a dog in Korea; you'll be knocked down in the street! That is the worst way to curse a Korean. Do you know why? I will not explain; that is your homework.

What kind of people are we who gather together in the darkness of early morning at Belvedere-are we dog people? There is a boundary in between the realm of God and the dog-like realm. They are basically and fundamentally different. A person who would go from the dog's realm to God's realm must start out by denying himself and all his circumstances and all possessions. He can only hold on to the one line of life. What is that one line of life? You have no use for anything else in the other world because God wants you to become perfect in love. Also, if there is no more life then nothing else can be fulfilled.

There are two things to hang onto and nurture-one is life and the other love. The only thing which God wants to remain is life centered upon love. The life and love of men shall ultimately be connected to the life and love of God, becoming one and the same. People of the dog-type culture represent satanic culture. What is a dog like? A dog does not have a standard of discipline in life. Also, he symbolizes self-centeredness because if a dog feels mistreated he might even bite his own master. When you pat a dog he wags his tail and shows contentment, but if he feels mistreated he reacts violently. A dog serves his master, yet does not totally give himself up. A dog has no discipline or regulation in its love but just goes anywhere. Any people who live that kind of life are far from noble. A dog represents the opposite of noble human characteristics.

What kind of people are gathered here? If I rap you on the head do you feel good or do you feel like biting me? There are some people here with a dog's characteristics: if they feel mistreated they want to fight it immediately. A snake always has an angry look on its face, particularly poisonous snakes, and it is always ready to bite. You never see a snake smile. A snake is naturally a symbol of Satan. Are there any dog-like or serpent-like people here?

Of course there is no such thing as moral principle in the animal world, but dogs are the most promiscuous in the whole animal kingdom. They have no hesitation about mating between brothers and sisters, or even parents and children. Do God's people have moral discipline? Is America becoming more and more disciplined morally? What will happen to satanic people? They will be so corrupted that inevitably they will destroy themselves. Have you completely cleansed yourself, made a totally new beginning and left your past behind? Maybe you have cleaned away most of it, but probably some small portion remains.

If America keeps going in its present direction, the time will come when the rest of the world will abhor America. A man with any conscience could never tolerate what America is doing today. What is the so-called glamorous life being led by Hollywood stars? They are basically self-centered. Are their love affairs pure and upright? If any nation or community lives a dog-like life, it is bound to decline because God's principles are uncompromising.

In the Bible it is recorded that Sodom and Gomorrah were judged by brimstone and fire because dog-like people lived there. They were totally immersed in a sensual life and interested only in satisfying their physical appetites. God could not tolerate such people who were totally destroying their love. Some of you may have visited Pompeii in Italy, which was destroyed by a volcano. Archeologists have uncovered evidence by which they can reconstruct life at the moment the volcano erupted and covered the city, and it was truly dirty and lustful, totally morally corrupt.

The Roman Empire was once mighty, yet it collapsed, not from outside force but from within. From the emperors down to the everyday people, everyone was pursuing a sensual life. Sometimes the most representative element of such a life is dance because it reveals the values and heart of a culture. Certain songs and lyrics emphasize the sensual side of human desire, evoking those sensations in listeners. Such dancing and music always presage the coming of doom for that culture.

You know that dance styles and music in America center on physical desire and sex. The latest dance fad is disco. There are many signs of the last days in American culture today. What kind of people could survive this and bring hope to America? Who will rise above all this with strength and discipline for the sake of the future? Unless such a movement emerges, we can say that America is already doomed and it is only a matter of time before it totally collapses.

Family life and the home have been weakened. America's dignity as a nation and the spirit of patriotism are fast disappearing. People look for nothing else but fun and self-satisfaction, and they are blind to anything else. They are like dogs. Can you see some hope and dream for America's future in the eyes of such people? Someone has to step forward and clean this mess up. No human could do such a task. The satanic phenomena in the world are not totally of man's making, but Satan's. The American public, particularly the young people, have become Satan's victims. He has been so cunning and persisted so long that man's wisdom alone could not find the solution.

God must intervene in a religious, spiritual way. Is there any religion in America which represents God's will and is trying to clean up the mess? America's churches today are also Satan's victims. Churches advertise things like disco dances and bingo games. Are those churches working for God or Satan? They are hastening doomsday in the name of Christianity, making their own destruction inevitable. Am I just criticizing because I dislike America? No, this represents Satan's culture, a dog culture.

Before you knew the Divine Principle you lived in that culture without too much trouble. When parents see that their teenagers don't have girlfriends or boyfriends they get worried and tell them to go out with several people and pick one they like. Is such education advocated in the Bible? Would any righteous religion teach such a principle? That kind of habit is part of a doomsday culture and it deserves judgment. America is totally blinded and becoming more aimless every day. Because it has no goal or anchor, it is becoming more and more dumb every day.

In order to turn the tide, a new religious movement is needed which really represents God's direction. That is the only hope for America. But even if such a movement exists, the whole nation will try to crush it instead of welcoming it. If America did so, it would become the enemy of all mankind because such a movement is not only good for America but necessary for world salvation. If America persists the way it is, the time will come when nations will mobilize to expel America.

Do you think a movement which had the strength to revolutionize America's way of life could originate in the midst of America's present culture, or would it have to come from elsewhere? Someone else must come and turn the tables. Where will this movement come from? America's trends today originate in the Western culture, which has its roots in materialism. Therefore, the solution must come from the opposite kind of culture, which is the Eastern culture. Where in the Orient could it come from? It should be a Christian nation because unless it can understand the Christian heritage it could not do any good by coming to the West.

India is known as a country of mysticism and spiritualism, but it is not a Christian country. Buddhism prevails there. China has been the center of the Orient for thousands of years, but it has become a communist, atheist nation. Nothing can be expected from there. Japan is a religious nation, but traditionally the Japanese worship many gods. Korea is one nation that stands out in this respect and meets all the criteria. It is a Christian nation which preserves the Oriental traditions. Christianity has been perfected in Korea. It is significant that Christianity in every nation of the world is declining except in Korea, where it is thriving. Korea is also America's last bastion of power and influence in Asia.

When Jimmy Carter was campaigning for election he stated that as President he would withdraw America's armed forces from Korea. He openly said he intended to dissociate from Korea, but when he got into office he couldn't do it. Later he said it was a mistake and that America would not withdraw. Some force in heaven would not allow it. The relationship between America and Korea is more than a horizontal one. People today have to feel there is something vertical there. Even though policy makers and liberal politicians want America to disengage from Korea, somehow they can't do it and the link between the two nations is still strong.

The Unification Church is one spiritual force which consistently advocates American involvement in Korea. During the Koreagate crisis everything Korean was suspect in this country, and at that time not one politician spoke out for Korea. Only one man-Reverend Moon-and his followers were unafraid to speak up and advocate relations between the two countries.

I confronted the Congress of this powerful nation, even when people told me I was foolish and would be shattered. People laughed at me. At one time America was so sure of its power that everyone was sure the Unification Church would be crushed. But my ally was God. It was exactly like the confrontation between David and Goliath in the Old Testament. There is no question that we had some gloomy days, and the investigators were sure they could clobber us. Even some of our members and leaders were worried and expressed their doubts whether we could survive. When the Fraser committee tried to strike the Unification Church, it seemed to people that he had won 98% of a victory. But when Mr. Fraser was running for election to the Senate he thought he had won and declared victory on election night. He went to bed happy, but in the next few hours a miracle was in the making, and when he got up in the morning he had been defeated by a slim margin.

Now people look at me differently. They think I must have some mysterious power somewhere. I look normal, but they think I must have a hook-up to some special guidance.

This morning I gave Mother permission to come for just half an hour and then leave because she is expecting our baby any day now.

What are these people in the Unification Church? Your parents and society want to kidnap you and try to persuade you that they have a better world. But it is a dog world out there. We are a formidable entity that is a threat to that way of life. Everywhere in American life I am a phenomenon. If the issue of Reverend Moon comes up at the most dull dinner table, the barking begins on both sides, pro and con. People are starting to think that without me America will be a dull place to live. If that happens when they just talk about me, what would happen if I showed up in person?

I have heard that when a child is crying, an American mother might try to quiet him by saying, "Stop! Stop! A Chinese is coming!" Soon they will be saying, "Stop! Stop! Reverend Moon is coming!" I don't mind. People may misunderstand me, but I have had an impact on the American scene and we will make the truth known. Then they shall be saved by it.

Are you Americans? Are you dog people or not? If I rapped the average American on the head like this he would certainly start barking! People outside could never understand such a scene in our Church, and they only know to explain it by calling it brainwashing. There is no other way they could describe it. Suppose an American preacher came down to the pews and slapped one of the church elders; what would happen? The elder would yell, "What kind of minister are you?!" and a fight would start.

What are we here for? For disco dancing? Rock music? What kind of culture is this where we sit on a concrete floor, gathering early in the morning even without breakfast? Normally this place would be empty after two weeks, but instead more and more people try to get in, coming all the way from New York. Will we receive great honor by being here? You certainly don't have rich, expensive food. Many of you are engaged, but you are so busy that you hardly see your fiancées. What kind of life is this? You say this is a great life, but I say it is a grave life! Which is it?

What makes us great? We represent the only hope for America. We represent God's kingdom and some special godly power that no other power can compete with. When we are united together we are like a rock and nothing can disturb us.- We have the power of life which is connected to the ultimate power source, which cannot be disrupted by any means. We have the power of life and love centered upon God.

Why do I represent a source of strength, but also a source of fear when you do ungodly things? Because I am a channel of the power of life and love that comes from God. Whether you are white, black or yellow, once you clearly know my secret and what I really stand for, you cannot help but follow me. When I leave New York and go to Boston, as far as Unification Church member are concerned the sun of hope rises in Boston. When I go to England, the sun of hope rises in England. Do you agree because you are afraid of me? I am thinking it might be true, but if you believe it then you are greater than me. Because there is power coming from our give and take, when I go away you lose some strength and feel anchorites. You are my witnesses to that.

What are we trying to accomplish and where are we going? Would you mind if I made you captain of a boat that would be going out in high seas? How about you women, are you ready to be captains? When you go out to sea a shark will swim by and laugh at you, sneering, "What kind of captain are you?" Are you the kind of captain who will shout back, "I am your captain and I'm going to catch you"? Could you harpoon him right in the eye and catch him?

Why are we, as religious people, catching the living things of the sea? Whatever we catch from the sea becomes a sacrifice on the altar. We offer our catch to God and ask God to forgive mankind. Whatever we do is a sacrifice on the altar. Jesus told Simon Peter he would make Peter a fisher of men. Peter had been a catcher of fish, but Jesus was going to make him a catcher who could bring men to God. We go to sea and catch real fish as the representation of God's kingdom and offer them on God's altar. If God wants us to stop fishing then He must save the rest of the world first. We are doing it for the salvation of the world.

Twenty-four hours a day we catch fish and make them a sacrificial offering. Of course we need money for building God's kingdom, but so far none of the money from fishing has gone for that; it has been re-invested. More money has gone into the sea than has come back out. I have no intention of spending one penny from the sea for my own personal or family use.

This year I caught many tuna weighing over 1,000 pounds, and every time the fish was drawn in near the boat I was the one who speared it. Its blood gushed out and the water became crimson. Why? If America were to pay for all its sins, many people would have to be killed. The criminal reality of today's American culture deserves the bloodshed of many people, but by killing the fish I am thinking that somehow one more life is saved and one more death is prevented. That is my fervent desire. I look at the fish as a sacrificial offering, just as Abraham cut the offering in two without mercy. I am not sympathetic to the fish at that moment as I make it an offering for the world, but every time I offer a prayer that the killing of one fish may prevent the death of many sinful Americans.

Those who have met me for the first time since I returned from Boston, raise your hands please. Why did you come to the Unification Church? Do you think this morning that you made a wrong decision? I am merciless in pushing you out as a sacrificial offering for the sake of mankind. Will you accept that? Look at Jesus-what was his mission? He made himself a sacrificial offering for the sake of mankind. He did it on his own, not at the command of God. He voluntarily accepted his destiny. God is not commanding me to do certain things every day; I am telling Him to rest assured that everything shall be taken care of, that I will do it willingly.

There is no time for rest. Most people who sleep one hour extra feel good when they wake up. But if I rest one hour extra, when I get up I feel I must repent. I push myself that way. When I travel I seldom go to expensive restaurants. Usually I go to a McDonald's because I know the MFT and mobile teams frequently go there, and when I am there I think of them. I don't want to buy expensive clothes for myself. This suit I am wearing is one of the best suits I have; the slacks cost just a few dollars and they come from Poland. London has several excellent department stores, where one good suit normally costs at least $300. But I went to a cheap wholesale place and paid $90; then I saw on the label that it was made in Poland. Actually I went there to get Dr. Durst a suit when he came from America, but he said he wouldn't get one unless I did too. So I bought one.

My shoes cost $12, and just like MFT shoes they are all worn out. They are plastic, and so in the summer they are sweaty and smelly. But that's the way the MFT lives. When People magazine did an article on me a couple of years ago they came to one speech I made at a celebration in the Catskills. They described me as being expensively dressed, with leather shoes from London, a custom-made cashmere suit, and so on. They assumed that was the case and did not ask questions, but that is not true. I am stingy with myself, but for the sake of the members I spend much money. I am extravagant when I buy them clothes, food and houses.

What does the world think of me though? They think I am so money-hungry that I would take your eyeball and sell it for money. They think I would take your gold dental fillings and sell them. What a gap there is between the truth and their opinion! I am amused sometimes by the unfounded criticisms people make because eventually that will make a great story. My road in life leads in the humble direction, but people who bark at me are rushing in the other direction looking for me. Soon they will be so far away that I can't hear them barking any more. When those people can't find me they will eventually encircle the earth in their search, and they will be so tired that they need someone to help them. At that moment they will meet me. That is how I think.

I have received much criticism, but to me it just sounds like barking dogs. I feel that the children and grandchildren of these people will understand me, however. No matter what people say today, what I am telling you this morning will become reality. God is building a true force here-that's you. Even if people don't want to have anything to do with me, you will go after them one by one, and all of a sudden you will have touched everyone. Twenty-four hours a day you are thinking about it. Are you paid to do it? But somehow your heart and mind just cannot be idle, and the more you do the more fulfilled you feel. When you don't do anything you feel uncertain and nervous.

Those who volunteer for the dog world, raise your hands. Don't you like the dog world? You have every kind of freedom there to do whatever you like and no one will bother you, but as soon as you enter God's world there is discipline and you aren't allowed to abuse yourself. I don't think you like that, do you? In God's world you must walk straight, with your chin up, and when you sit down you sit very straight. When you sit cross-legged American style you are unstable, and if someone pulled the chair out you would fall over. But when you are anchored with two feet, sitting on the floor in the heavenly way, there is no way people can pull your chair out.

You can tell American chairs that because you will sit on the floor you will give them a vacation from being sat on and enduring smelling things. They will be thankful that someone thinks of liberating them. There is humor, literature and beautiful poetry in sitting on the floor. Do you feel good sitting on the floor? Sitting close together on the floor like this you cannot move away if two people you don't like sit or either side. Then when you change positions to relieve your legs you have to lean close to one of those people. Then you have some beautiful fellowship with the neighbor you hate. You can feel what a wonderful life it is here because you have suet fellowship and you have to work together.

You don't mind if we change the dog world? We need a rope to get to God's world, and that is the rope of life and love. When you cross the boundary you enter a completely new world. In order to get there religious people have emphasized celibacy as a way of life. The gate to heaven is rather narrow and only wide enough for one person at a time, so men and women cannot enter together side by side. One has to be in front. American women are unlikely to get to heaven because they would rather stand side by side instead of walking in back. Thus, there is no room for them!

Is the Messiah coming as a man? Inside you might be asking why God couldn't make the Messiah a woman. Religion starts out with the individual and because the gate is narrow it's best if you go into God's realm as an individual; so throughout history religions have emphasized celibacy. Who can come and go freely on earth without visas? That is the Messiah. You need a pass with the Messiah's name on it in big letters and yours in small letters in order to move freely. You can't say your name should be in big letters instead.

I think that soon American women will demonstrate against me for women's rights and want to get rid of me. You say no, but don't you have a little grudge inside?

There should be one single file to enter this gate; either men or women will have to go first, and it is unlikely women will go first. Men have to go in front. Someone will insist that I say this because I am a man, but that is not true. Woman is truly the one who caused the trouble in the garden of Eden. By man listening to a woman, everything in the garden of Eden became fallen, so if in restoration men let women lead them in the wrong direction the nation and world will crumble. That is true! The bridge to heaven is a single-file bridge, with no room for passing. One person should be up front leading everyone to the goal. That should be a man.

Why can't you have more freedom and flexibility? Because there is only room enough for one line marching forward. Therefore, each step is critically important. If you make one mistake then the whole path will crumble.

Have you ever seen one bride and two bridegrooms get married? Love is single-minded and goes in one direction. Do you have more than one life? Everything except life and love is unnecessary and you should cut if off. This is why religion always teaches self-denial. Higher religions even teach people to deny their family and society and to go away for meditation to awaken into a greater truth. Your goal is to become united with God, to be a man of God.

What is the basic difference between a dog-like man and a man of God? First, the lineage or origin is different. Second, their words are different. Third, their actions, and fourth, their love is different. What are God's characteristics? God will never compromise His lineage or position at all, but insists that it must be completely pure. Next, He emphasizes words of truth, and He always acts on His own words. There are no lies or deception in God's world. Finally, His love is genuine and pure. God wants to have His own lineage, and He exists for the sake of His own lineage and there is room for nothing else. When He makes a pronouncement, action follows in exact fulfillment. Ultimately it is all consummated in love.

Ultimately the goal of God's entire dispensation is love. Love starts from its own lineage and tradition. Then the word will blossom in His own actions. That is how love is consummated. Let us examine how this works. Are you in the image of God? If you resemble God then there are four principles to follow. God certainly maintains His own subjective role with its dignity and authority. In the same way each of you has his own dignity, and no one wants anyone to offend that. When you say something do you live up to it? It is not good to make a pronouncement and not live up to it yourself. When you say it you should live up to it, and then expect others to live up to it. Why should it be like that? You need someone else who can live up to your expectations because that is how you have an object of love. You need someone to love.

Men and women need someone for give and take of love. If there is some word to be spoken then there must be two parties-one to speak and the other to listen. When you speak would you want men and women in action together, or only one or the other? If they are together then you can have a channel for give and take of love; together you can find a subject and object so give and take is possible. We want to mingle and be together because we aspire to fulfill love, and love cannot be fulfilled by oneself.

When you are stimulated by love, particularly first love, it is an overwhelming experience. When you are in love you talk all night and still are not bored. You are temporarily blinded and can't think of anything else. For the sake of that love you would willingly sacrifice yourself. That is noble love. But today's Americans don't even think about finding a true love for which they could sacrifice. If they want to find out whether the other person truly loves them or not, they face a dilemma. Men and women come together just for convenience or fun, and there is no true love there, so even after several years a person cannot really know if the other person really loves him.

Divorce has become a business in this country and good-looking young women go into a marriage for some strategic purpose. They find a rich man, marry him, and then get divorced. Or they marry a rich old man for a few years and then divorce him, but both ways they get lots of money. Increasingly the custody of a husband and wife's money is a secret they keep from each other. If they revealed everything then the other person might want a divorce to get part of it!

But the world of God is different. What kind of lineage would you have? God is alpha and omega, first and last. Love is unchanging from beginning to end. Life is also alpha and omega, and no one can hide or lie about life. You want eternal life, don't you? That is because life continues eternally, without end. That is circular motion. Motion in a straight line always ends some time, and only circular motion is unending. Why is the earth round? Because it represents eternity. Atoms also move in circular motion. There is no square shape with sharp corners in the human body; your eyes face, head, limbs-everything is round.

What in our world should remain for eternity? What quality shall be preserved for eternity? You would like to keep love and life for eternity. Which comes first? For God, life comes first because first He existed and then He expressed love. But for man, love comes first. Love was the origin of man. Everyone's life was initiated in love of their parents, and they have value because they participated in that love. Your life was conceived in honest, true love. That is why your relationship with your parents is inseparable. Could you divorce your parents? No matter how much you insist you are independent and have no relationship, you cannot deny them.

The privilege of children is to be participants in their parents' love. The true desire of children, therefore, is not to be wealthy or honored by the world but to grow up in the love of their parents, then consummate and gloriously return that love. Therefore, God provides each child with a husband or wife and children of their own. Your husband and sons are representatives of your father. Your wife and daughters represent your mother. No matter how big and strong a husband may be, when he comes home he may become like a child with his wife, Lying on her lap, and even sometimes drinking the mother's milk. Sometimes a child will suck on his mother's finger, and sometimes the husband does it also. You can accept it in the future.

Some person might want to revolutionize everything and start a whole new order. Go ahead and change everything, but can you alter your relationship to your parents? You can say you won't be their child, but will it work? Husbands and wives get divorced, so why not parents and children? Men and women may separate, but not parents and children. There is a heavenly tie binding them eternally. Your parents are alpha, and when you marry you become omega. Then alpha and omega are one and the same. One is up, the other down; one is right and the other left, and they interact.

Are there any children who like to see their parents get divorced? Does anyone get married with the knowledge that he will get a divorce in the near future? Why does divorce come unexpectedly and against their will? In many cases divorce comes because of another love affair. Because there was no concrete love in the first place, the foundation of love easily breaks apart. Is there any wife who would like to see her husband dancing with another beautiful, charming woman? No husband wants to see his wife dancing with another man. Maybe if the other man is uglier or inferior to the husband then he will have confidence she will come back to him.

There are all kinds of formalities in social dancing, but no matter what, this particular principle persists in human affairs. If a husband knows his wife is having a good time and snuggling close with another handsome man, could he really enjoy himself? Would anyone welcome that? God provided a man and woman with each other and husband and wife are meant to be a pair, so if they go disco with each other then that's all right. Once a covenant is made between husband and wife, it becomes a tradition and lineage, a foundation which none can touch. It must be preserved for eternity.

On that foundation the words you speak become truth and have value, but if you stand on an improper foundation of lineage, the words you say will have no power. If you want to speak, you must live your words in action first. Why do my words have power? Because I have lived everything before I ever speak. There is nothing I say which I have not fulfilled. You think you are the master MFT members, but actually I am. I know best how to make a business and how to witness. No one has brought in more people to the family than I have. Therefore, when I speak my words have authority and power. When you don't live something yourself, your words are meaningless.

Many times when your parents tell you to do something you resist and say you can't do it, but it causes you no pain. But when I tell you to do something and you don't live up to it, you feel pain and misery. It is because what I am teaching you is meant to help you achieve the world of love, and when you don't live it, you don't get to the world of love. I push you out so you can fulfill it, and when you don't live it you feel pain and your conscience hurts. When you violate the heavenly principles I teach you, you feel pain and discouragement. Nothing you do brings you comfort.

Perhaps one time I tell you to do something that seems impossible. When you have the courage to live it you feel full of power and life because it has brought you out to the world of love. Then you have hope to fulfill love even more in the future. I am known as a man of strength and conviction because I have a fervent desire to love the people of the world. When you devote your will to deeds of love for mankind, love will return to you. That's why your energy increases. Look at what is happening right here-people of all five races have come to follow my way of life. When you live it you feel comforted and satisfied.

What are the True Parents? They are the alpha initiated by God, and wherever they go they are alpha seeking for an omega. If I left for Africa tomorrow, the same thing would happen there-alpha will attract omega. Why are you Unification Church members here? You want to receive alpha so you can receive the power of love and life. By receiving the energy of life and love you can rejoice together with God. Then you can be parallel with God's position. This power and authority I have is a privilege given by God, and I am meant to give that authority to you. When you receive life and love through True Parents it becomes your life and love which is parallel with God's.

It is my duty to bequeath that to you. If you receive and live up to that inheritance then you shall become a true father or mother of mankind as well. There is one Father and one Mother, one truth and one tradition. The Unification Church has come to begin that tradition in this promiscuous world. If the world does not respond but persecutes the Unification Church instead, the tradition of God shall go on regardless. Could you men become women tomorrow? Could you women become men? No one can change your manhood or womanhood, and no one can revolutionize the parent-child relationship either. Do you welcome that?

Here we have True Parents installed by God, and no one can change your spiritual sonship and daughtership centered on them. Are America's families probably destined for hell or heaven? No one likes to hear about doomsday and the world tries to shut me up. Even though I may be more persecuted for criticizing President Carter, I am not swayed. If I can see the death and decline of American society and do not say anything because I want to be popular, history will judge me severely. Even if the world judges me today, let them go ahead. I would rather be approved by history.

I was persecuted by Koreans because I spoke the frank, honest truth about that nation, and it persecuted me. When I spoke the truth in Japan, the nation didn't want to hear it and I was persecuted there. When I came to America and spoke the truth without fear, this nation persecuted me as well. Sometimes I chastise you when you do wrong and it is bitter to hear. A satanic person tries to hide his flaws and failures, but a heavenly man wants to expose them and repent. That is the best solution in every case.

It is the Unification Church tradition to confess when something wrong is done. I never volunteer to listen, but I hear many confessions from members, either in person or in letters. You want to unload all the iniquities in your heart. When I hear them and forgive you and tell you not to do them again, you feel liberated. That's why many people want to speak to me and unburden their hearts. Everyone has personal secrets, and though I never ask to hear them, people volunteer anyway. You hardly want to tell even your teachers or parents, but here in the Unification Church you want to unload your secrets to me. Why is that? By using me as a foundation you can reach out for a greater horizon of love.

Those who need love, raise your hands. What kind of love do you need? How is true love different from illicit love? Satanic love is always self-centered. Parental love is pure because it is unselfish. Why do we all crave the love of God? Because it is parental love, pure, genuine love. Every man and woman craves such love. A husband and wife desire pure, unselfish love that is unconditional. Sometimes in an airport I might see an elderly husband pushing his wife in a wheelchair, taking care of her and getting her on the plane. That is a beautiful scene. In my mind I wonder whether they married when they were young or middle-aged, or when they were old. I feel that if they started their pure love when they were young and kept it alive over the years then God must bless them. I pray momentarily for God's blessing on that couple.

That's the kind of world we want to build. God is very idealistic. In a pure, truthful, unselfish world you want to become husband and wife and parents, as well as leaders of the nation. That is truly heaven. If 220 million Americans crave only selfish love then there will be 220 million fights a day. But you want to feel love for 220 million Americans, whether they return that love or not. God's tradition is one of unconditional love; He doesn't want to receive love first and then give love. Parental love is unconditional, even towards sinners. Therefore, you want to practice God's tradition, and whether people love you or not, you will love them first. Then your love is pure and genuine.

If your parents love you to degree ten, you love them to degree twenty. You should want never to be indebted to your parents, but to become a creditor of love. That is my tradition. That is the Unification Church tradition because it is God's tradition. Let others be indebted in love to you. When other people try to do you favors, always bring more blessing to them to clear away that indebtedness. When you live a self-centered life it will never reach out beyond your own boundary and become eternal. But when you go beyond your boundary and center upon Cod, there is no limit and you can travel all the way to God and embrace the whole universe.

When you want to live in unselfish love and have ambitions for the sake of the world, God knows that you need people and material resources to build the Kingdom and all these things will come to you. A low-pressure realm always attracts a high-pressure system to it. That is what causes storms. The give and take of love and high pressure systems can create a hurricane. Are we a destructive or constructive hurricane? Centered on the greediness of Reverend Moon? The greediness of all mankind? What is the craving and ambition of mankind? Unity of the world. Power, money and knowledge will all fail to bring unity.

I crave the oneness of the world also, but I will do it with the power of love. This is one area I cannot be surpassed in. It will be done with true, God centered love. How can you achieve this? The simplest way is to follow me. Taste persecution for the sake of mankind and God. God has been ridiculed and misunderstood, and now you should want to be in that position in the name of God and the world. If you want to avoid persecution then your love is only conditional. Many members try to live Unification life conditionally; they say they love True Parents, Divine Principle and the Church, but they can't stand being persecuted.

Engagement comes before-the wedding. An engagement is a covenant made between two people who promise to become one. You must go through this engagement period to prepare for complete oneness because later when children come there will be stormy weather and unexpected difficulties. In order to overcome all these with love you must practice with each other, learned to rely on and trust one another. When rainy days come in the future you will be able to handle them. It is beautiful, but not easy. When you finish, however, there is true value which commands the respect of the people..

Why are you persecuted? If you bother no one and just earn money to support yourself, why should anyone bother you? That's not how you will save America though you must do something extraordinary, including fundraising where you can earn more than your own share, and witnessing, where you bother some people and bring them to be members. The secular world thinks eight hours is good enough for one day, but we consider 24 hours a day to be adequate.

What do you do with the money you earn fund raising? Two thirds of the income should be devoted to the sake of others, and one third for your own needs. But you should make a conscientious effort to reduce your needs, so you require only one tenth or one twentieth of the income and you can give more for others. Then more value can be created. That shall be recorded in the annals of the Unification Church. The MFT spirit is to strive to use 100% of their earnings for the public purpose. Always you feel you are not doing enough when you give everything you earn; you even take money out of your savings account to add to the result. That is my spirit and tradition.

I never feel indebted to you; instead you are indebted to me. America is indebted to me. When you are indebted to others you cannot be a leader or have dominion. I am, indebted in word or action or in love, and you must be like that because God is like that. You are Americans because you belong to American he American tradition. The Unification church has no particular nation. Our country is the planet earth. The earth is our hometown and family. Let's claim our home and build our nation.

You must feel that any place you go is your hometown, where many blessed people live because they want to make their nation. When you ask such people what is their aspiration, they will reply it is to have one world and one family, a free world where no war is warranted. The Unification Church is creating the new lineage and origin. We are speaking new words which never existed before, doing new actions and giving new love. These new things didn't come from me but from God. What is the ultimate goal? To make everyone here on earth men of God.

When you speak, do so on behalf of God. When you act, do so as God's representative. We worship God as our Parent. No one can remove you from the Unification Church any more than they can deny that you are an American citizen or have American parents. In the same way, no one can separate you from your heavenly citizenship. No one can deny and change your destiny; it is already sealed. Even if someone cuts my head off, it doesn't change anything. Just as a patriot shouts, "Long live my country, " at the moment of his death, so will I cry out at my death, "Long live my eternal Parent and nation here on earth, the Kingdom of God."

We live in a world of evil and the quickest way for us to unite completely is to suffer persecution together. That will only harden and toughen our unity. Many white people oppose you, but there are black people very close to your heart. When white people persecute us, it brings white and black and yellow closer together here. We have a multi-color blessing because all five colors of skin are married together here. This is a historical event.

This started with alpha and it will circle all the way around to omega. No one can stop it. What does Divine Principle mean? Actually the literal translation means "original principle." Since it originated from God and God is divine, we call it the Divine Principle, however. We are talking about principles of the original way of life, the original way to form a family, society, nation, world and cosmos.

Would you speak without action? You act by earning money to spend for others; you bring people so they can learn the original way of life. These are the most brilliant acts in the sight of God. First do these things and then speak. You show your action through MFT, witnessing, and many other things. After that you demonstrate how to truly love your neighbors and family, and people will see in you an example which they want to follow

If it happens that you marry a nasty husband then you should compare his nastiness to the worst persecution you faced when fund raising. Then you can say, "My husband, you are still better than those nasty people on the street and I still love you." I saw many horrible husbands in Korea who would burn their wife's face with cigarettes, or beat her. But those wives would pray to God that they had already forgiven their enemies and now they wanted to pass this test of their unselfish love by loving their husbands. Through such an extraordinary demonstration of love, God can give someone the title of special heroine or patriot. When husband and wife live together normally in love and peace there is no historical event taking place. History is made under abnormal conditions. When you face such an emergency you can always feel it is your God-given opportunity to do historical things. Are you ready to be historical persons?

Many people asked to marry a black husband or Oriental wife, and now some of them are thinking that maybe they did the wrong thing, yet they don't want to speak up. I am telling them now that they should look for an extraordinary situation so they can become historical people.

The black member of an interracial couple should give his or her mate the worst time because so far the white people have discriminated against black people. Now white people must have the opportunity to be heroic in the same way black people had to do. Thus, the white husband or wife have an opportunity to be recorded in history. All history will honor such couples, and flowers will be left on their tombs every day. Do you white people welcome it? Wouldn't you rather be ordinary, everyday people? White people will welcome it because you want to demonstrate that white people can love all mankind, from extreme to extreme.

My ambition and desire is to create historical, tradition-setting families which will be remembered. Would you like that? I will not forgive those who oppose this!

Would you complain? Before you complain, exercise obedience and loyalty. In order to practice love of mankind on the family level you must forgive, be loyal and be obedient. Our lineage should be different. You have many different colors of eyes, but you are of the same lineage. No one can alter or disrupt this, not even God. This is the king's lineage directly from God and you are born for it. If you deserve that lineage then you will speak like a heavenly man and live up to it in action. Ultimately all these will be fulfilled in God-centered love.

I persevered for decades through all kinds of agony and persecution just to live up to this position and fulfill it so I could bequeath it to you. There is a new world coming, something brilliant and exciting which is bringing hope for the world. Our pride is that we are marching forward to reach the final day when God's will is fulfilled on earth. Amen! The most important thing is to become men of God. We are harboring the hope of the future. Amen. Those who will fulfill that goal unto their lives, raise your hands. God bless you.

Historical View Of The Dispensation

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
September 18, 1979
Belvedere, Tarrtyown, NY
Translator: Bo Hi Pak

I'm sure all of you realize the meaning of the day and the significance of September 18. Today I want to deliver a message entitled "Historical View of the Dispensation" since you should know the historical background. There are many religions today, but there are few which really understand the dispensational view of God. There are many religions and faiths, but normally they cannot easily separate themselves from their cultural background and local roots. God's dispensation is always started in one local area, but with a universal concept which is directed at bringing these into one culminating universal dispensation.

Although a religion may seem to be shaped by the context of its local background, each good religion has the same central theme of the basic dispensational picture of God. Our conclusion is that God is always working toward one central theme of dispensation. Therefore, the completion of the will of God will not be realized in the process of its development, but in the end, at the culmination. Human history started in the fallen world. When restoration from that point up to the original world is completed, all the goals of religion will be accomplished, including the level of family, society and nation, when the entire world is restored back to God.

History is always moving toward one central line of fulfillment, in a process similar to the development of a central government; instead of doing it all at once God starts out by organizing a family, tribe, village, town, then country, state and finally the federal government. With this kind of picture you can explain God's view of dispensation.

There are basically two aspects in today's world -- the East and West. Of course, in each of those aspects all four directions exist. A variety of cultures have emerged in East and West, but God is always working in one central culture, with one central theme of dispensation. Even though a certain religion represents the central theme of God, it probably doesn't look so different from other religions. Whether you are standing in the center or to the side of the main dispensation doesn't make any difference because there is only one direction -- upward -- and the fulfillment of each religion will always bring it upward toward the central goal. Each religion was born for a purpose, and once it has fulfilled within its limited sphere, it has finished its mission. A village government is under the authority of the national government; in the same way, when a higher religion appears the lower religion will be absorbed. Thus, until the central religion fulfills God's will completely, it will not stop or become dormant but will endure until the culminating day.

When will all these religions become one? In the Last Days the purpose of each religion will be completed, and when we reach that day of consummation there will be one final movement of unity among religions. The central religion always focuses on that one day when all religions will be united, and it will have many prophecies about the great day of unification to come. That is how the central religion has been upholding hope.

Christianity is a world religion. How could it come to be such a formidable religion today? It is because Christianity was created by God to take the central role, and as long as God's will is still moving forward Christianity must keep pace. When the Last Days come, however, it will come to an end along with all other religions. In that day of consummation the one unifying force which is being predicted is, in religious terms, the concept of the Messiah. The Messiah is the central theme of Christianity, and each religion has a messianic concept in some form. Each good religion in the world today has some variation of this idea.

At the same time religions are moving internally toward that one unifying point, the external world is also moving toward unity. Today the world has been consolidated into two aspects -- the democratic and Communist worlds. When the day of consummation comes, these two worlds will confront each other and both of them will be ended. Why is that? It is because God's purpose of dispensation is for the whole world, and when it is culminated both of those worlds must end in order for one world of God to be formed.

Where are we today? Again, we can say that the time for the end of the free world is near. The United States is proud to be a democratic country, but that particular philosophy is becoming outdated. Today's philosophy of democracy will not work in the future world. When we talk about the end of the democratic world it implies the end of the Christian world. This also applies to the Communist world. Until 1978 the Communists were confident they could conquer the world, but since then they have realized that because of their own internal divisions they could not do it. They became aware that Communist power is not almighty.

The time has come when a new vision is needed, a new religious philosophy and ideology which will help the present world consummate the ultimate goal of God's purpose. Who will bring this new concept and vision of the future? What would he teach and where would he lead mankind? God's promised Messiah will give new vision not only to the religious world but to the secular world as well. First of all, he would come as true man, bringing the truth which will enable him to unite all religions. Furthermore, he will have a realistic solution for the world's problems and he will be able to lead the way to a solution of hope.

A solution is needed on all levels -- individual, family, nation and world. Realistic problems are there and realistic solutions are needed. When the Messiah comes as a man will he do it all by himself? He must first demonstrate a family that is building a block of the Kingdom of Heaven. That will be the family in which all religions could feel at home and find the fulfillment of their ideals. Even non-religious people will feel that the Messiah's family is the ideal family that everyone needs. That family will be a universal one, not based on any one particular culture or denomination, but one which can provide the universal model for all cultures. Can you think of any exception to this?

If one religion is preaching white supremacy, does it have the qualification to provide worldwide fulfillment? Christianity embraces the concept of being God's chosen people, but if Christians are making themselves a privileged class which disregards others they will not be acceptable to God. If they try to perpetuate that concept will they continue to prosper? If God's chosen people have some prejudice or arrogance then God will definitely raise up another group as His chosen ones instead. If Christianity has developed primarily into a culture of white people with racial prejudice, or if the Jews have some arrogance as the chosen people then they are not understanding God's mind and He will definitely raise up another race as the chosen ones. This is not just my opinion, but a proven fact of history.

When I came to the Western world to preach the most logical and natural revelation of God, Christians were shocked and the white culture refused to accept it; the Jewish people also felt I had to be stopped. The interesting thing is that when established religious leaders oppose me, often their wives and children start taking the side of the newcomer! If a husband is adamantly opposed, in many cases God will chose his wife or child to give support instead. That doesn't happen by the effort of any one religious leader but through God's direct intervention. God has prepared many individuals who are ready to receive the messianic ideal, like seeds which will sprout in the final day of consummation.

How will we know when the Last Days are here? The sign will be a movement of people predicting the time of the Last Days and urging people to prepare. If their particular predictions are not fulfilled then at least there will be people who are trying to prepare themselves. The one movement which is preparing for the day of consummation is the Unification Church.

I am very glad to have been born a Korean because Koreans don't have any worldly status or respect to be proud of. For instance, Japanese people generally are proud of themselves and think they are better than Koreans and other peoples because they are usually in the lead in any race. But there is no rule that every champion must be Japanese. In boxing, for example, a small Japanese can't defeat a giant Westerner. Boxing was begun by whites, but now supremacy usually belongs to blacks in that sport. White people cannot disqualify blacks from participating simply because white people originated the sport of boxing; international law would not allow it.

When the Japanese realized the Divine Principle was the supreme truth they felt the Japanese should play the main role and some businessmen approached me about buying the Divine Principle. Should we respond and negotiate with them? Money talks in many arenas and sometimes sports results are rigged, for instance, but it is illegal nevertheless. I refused the Japanese businessmen, and later the Japanese press tried to smear my reputation so they could take the Divine Principle by force. These leading citizens felt they could not afford to allow me to prosper in Japan, but then their own children and many brilliant university students spoke up to challenge them!

Here in America, however, another situation has developed. Here Christians think Jesus belongs to the West, and when a Korean preacher appeared Western theologians reacted by thinking that they certainly knew more than he did. Initially they adamantly rejected Unification Church and Divine Principle. My response was that the two should compete in the world arena and have open public discussion, so I issued invitations to famous theologians and philosophers. Most of them refused to attend. That retreat actually represents their own defeat, showing they haven't the courage to stand up.

Then the dirty tricks began, with various people trying to cut me down in various ways, through bad publicity, character assassination and government investigation. When I started my work here in 1972 many people thought that I wouldn't last past 1973 and then they could get rid of me. Instead the Unification Church defeated even the United States Congress.

The problem faced by people who want to prevent the Unification Church from prospering is that the movement here is made up primarily of Americans, not Koreans. If I am deported from America would you also pack and leave? If I leave, there will be many people left behind who will cry and feel they cannot forgive the nation for that act. Their heartbreak will not be healed by any white people coming to comfort them. They would only be comforted by some Koreans promising to convey their heart and love to me and urging them to get down to work in the meantime. Not even government weapons or threats can change a man's heart, so what will happen ultimately? If many Americans are upset that Reverend Moon is not in this country then a democratic government would have to respond by issuing an invitation to Reverend Moon to come back so that the citizens would be placated.

What should I do then? Should I immediately fly back, or refuse to come again? If I refuse to come back then millions of Americans will apply to emigrate to Korea. The world will see that these emigrants are not the trash of society, but distinguished and motivated young people. Will that be Korea's problem, my problem, or America's problem?

Even though this is a Church gathering, I know that there is some government recording being made of every word I say. For their benefit I say that if America continues on in its present course it will inevitably decline; we must do something drastic now. The Unification Church has no wish to see America decline, but if it mistreats this God-given movement then God will take action and decline will be unavoidable. It would be much better for God to begin all over again than to continue struggling with a country that does not parallel His direction. Such a nation cannot survive.

This World Mission Center is located on Eighth Avenue, which is famous for prostitution. Here our members are gathering by the thousands, pursuing one direction in life, while people on the street pursue another. Who will influence whom? Will you be swallowed by them, or refuse to be influenced but just sit and wait, or will you do something about it? I have seen that in the last five years New York is sinking and becoming unthinkably dirty. You can see it just by looking across the street. What is the government doing about it? In most cases the government doesn't care.

There are many denominations in America, but what are they doing about it? The situation is getting worse, yet what solution are they offering? Even though they despise me, they will have to acknowledge that I am offering a solution. The evidence is you: many of you were victims of that society but you have been reborn into citizens who are building the kingdom. Immoral and discouraged young people who come here are being changed into godly men and women of vision. You are working harder than anyone else in fund raising and witnessing. Many people accuse me of brainwashing, but that kind of cheap criticism will not stand up under honest investigation.

No power can prevent America from entering the Last Days, and no citizen can be aloof or reject being part of the situation. If Americans refuse to embrace God's dispensation, this country will fall apart. God needs a champion who can advance the dispensation by leaps and bounds. Who are the people who can live up to His expectation? At this extraordinary time in history God sees the opportunity for leaping ahead, and if the government or established religions oppose His instrument, God will allow unusual things to happen to them. God is allowing the Unification Church to leap ahead and giving us great opportunities by suppressing the power of governments and dispensations Himself. That is God's mandate.

Are you the kind of people who can rebound from pressure like a rubber ball, or will you be shattered by it? We need people who are not only elastic but tough and who can endure. American religion is like a ship caught in a hurricane and the government as well is helpless and has no anchor. When the water is rough and the wind is strong and your ship is pitching and rocking out of control, what will happen? That is the kind of perilous situation we are living in today.

Do we in the Unification Church have an anchor? God is our anchor and I am the rope. That means all you have to do to survive is hold onto the rope; you don't even have to grip the anchor directly. The anchor is always deep in the water so what you have to do is grab the rope and hang on. Other churches may be offering people a beautiful rope of gold, but there is no anchor at the bottom. The Unification Church rope is plain nylon, but there is an anchor down below. Those people who advertise their beautiful rope criticize ours; even the government boasts how big its rope is and how fishy smelling the Unification Church is. But the difference is that we have an anchor and they don't.

Who will be the controlling factor or central person in the midst of this global catastrophe? Even the President himself will not be adequate because today's problems go beyond human comprehension; no human power will suffice. Do you just believe this or know it as a fact? Only a solution based on a message from God can work.

Can you think of any other religious leader in history who has raised as much controversy as I have, stirring up hurricanes on every continent I visit? The media have given me many unsolicited titles, such as Korean businessman, Korean evangelist, Korean prophet. All of those titles are correct, which means that I am not just a small religious leader taking care of one church; I am interested and involved in every sphere of life. Another recent criticism is the prediction that I will dominate the oceans and America's ports through our fishing industry. I definitely feel that some great fishing captains will emerge from among our Unification Church women. That will be our pride because usually American women stay home and command their husbands.

I have concluded that the day of consummation is here. What we need is vision to see our direction and guide human life in an orderly fashion and create the future world. At this turning point we need a central theme which comes from God's direct involvement in the form of the Messiah. Would you like to change your church to one that is more convenient? I'm sure some of you were atheists before joining, but now could you revert to that conviction and way of life? Wouldn't you get tired of looking at me sooner or later? I keep pushing you out, saying you must live for the sake of the world, but aren't you discouraged because you haven't even seen the world yet? If you don't move then I will push you out.

Would you rather push yourself or be pushed by me? How about being pushed by God? It is better not to have me or have God pushing you because then you carry a burden and face judgment if you fail, but when you push yourself there is always another chance. What route would you smart Americans take? If your eyes are drooping with sleep you have to command them to stay open. If your hands don't obey, you have to warn them they can't behave that way after meeting me. Tell your legs they have the wrong owner if they can't work harder. If you sisters have a bosom and hips that are so big they slow you down then you have to chastise them and shape up. Command your mouth to go without eating if it demands good food too much. Men are always greedy to get something for free, but now you can tell your brain it is time to give something free for others. Your mental processes have to change like that.

Will Orientals or Westerners see further into the distance? If a camera lens is opened wide then it only focuses nearby objects clearly, but when it is closed more than it can also focus objects far away. Westerners' eyes are always wide open so they focus on things closer at hand, so naturally they have created a great material civilization. Orientals' eyes are narrower. Even for an Oriental I have small eyes, so small that sometimes you wonder whether my eyes are closed or open. I have the vision to see far, far into the distance.

I have seen a great distance, enough to penetrate the heart of God, and because I know what lies ahead I can command my body and discipline my eating, sleeping and love life. When God sees this self-control He feels He can absolutely trust everything about me -- my legs, arms, mouth, and so forth. Can you Unification Church women control the desires of your body? If a handsome man is near don't you wish he would touch your body? You men are not any better! I sometimes hear very honest reports about members who act crazy because they cannot control their sexual desires. Do you have total self-discipline to control your love life?

We must either prepare the day of culmination or fulfill the day. Would you like to be those who prepare it, or be the central performers on that day? The Messiah is the culmination of God's work through history and he is needed by everyone, whether man or woman, American or Oriental, or even a Communist. We have to pinpoint what the central religion is. First Judaism and then Christianity held that position historically. The central religion always starts out from God and will continue until the fulfillment of its purpose at the close of the Last Days. God said that He is the alpha and omega, and this is reflected in the course of His central religion.

The first part of God's history was the Old Testament era, then the New Testament era, and now we are moving into the Completed Testament era. That era is the time for the completion or culmination of both Old Testament and New Testament history. Judaism cannot be consummated by itself; there must be an ultimate truth which will liberate it and lift it up to be completed, and Christianity as well. The Unification Church is functioning as a mediator to bring unity so that all religions can move toward culmination together. That is why you will find Unification members who come from every aspect of religious life -- Jews, Christians, Buddhists and so forth.

I can see that until now human history has been a failing venture. Who will take up the responsibility to mend the history of failure? Those who were responsible for history's failures are now in spirit world and they need to be liberated. That will come to them only when someone here on earth physically reverses their failure. This is why you cannot solve the problems of the present unless past failures are resolved. There must be some combined solution for problems of the democratic and Communist worlds, to untangle both the past and present. Without that solution there is no hope for the future.

Christians and Jews don't think in that fashion, but believe they will continue as they are for eternity. They can't even imagine the need for a day of consummation when they can be liberated. In the day of consummation, the past, present and future will be unfolded horizontally at the same time in different layers. If the Unification Church is the central faith in this period then we must have the solution for the past and present. You might see yourself as one insignificant individual, but you are the fruit of the past, you are the present and the extension of you will be the future.

All of you come into the era of consummation from all kinds of backgrounds, but you are united by the central theme of God. That's what your role is. Unless you discover the central theme and direction you cannot project yourself to the future in the direction of God, which is one vertical line straight up. You must find it, join it, and move with it to reach the spirit world and God. If your angle is even slightly different then you will eventually go an entirely different direction.

If Christianity had united with the Unification Church when it was born there would not have been a great spread of Communism or catastrophic turmoil which we see now in the world. Christianity is like a field prepared by God for the Kingdom of Heaven, and all that was needed was the birth of the new ideology which would take hold in the central position and expand this Christian territory. That is what God hoped would happen. This is why God planted the Unification Church on the worldwide foundation of Christianity. The first thing that should have happened was acceptance of the Unification ideal by the Christian community of one nation. Then it would have expanded to the rest of the world.

When Jesus came to the world, God had already prepared for 4,000 years so that the Messiah could win his own people first of all. Then the worldwide dispensation should have begun. Jews have strong national identity, but the Messiah did not come for Jewish supremacy; he came for the worldwide purpose, although he started on the national level. Why couldn't the Jews accept Jesus? Because they saw he was different. But naturally he was different because they were only on the national level and Jesus was living for the international level. How could he be the same?

The Unification Church is here with the universal ideology and it cannot be fit into any particular nation or part of the world. Existing religions see that we are different and don't listen to them, but naturally we are different and they should listen to us. We have a God-approved direction and philosophy and the guts to spread it around the world. If the Korean Christians in particular had wholeheartedly accepted the Unification Church many decades ago, would the Christian community of the world have been affected? If worldwide Christianity had been affected then the democratic world would not be as helpless as it is today. God had to allow the expansion of the enemies of the free world because nothing else would wake it up. Communism is threatening its very existence, but the democratic world is still asleep. Is the free world or the Communist world expanding its territory faster today?

God's greatest need is to raise up one ideology that will not be overwhelmed but will win over the Communist ideology and expand throughout the world. This is certainly a most logical strategy. The messianic ideal will therefore start out with the individual, tribe, nation and so forth, expanding to the world. But this ideology will not be just the product of one local culture; it will be a universal culture.

Because the 2,000 year old Christian community opposed the Unification Church, God is leaving the churches today. The Bible says that in the Last Days your own family members will be your enemy; now families are becoming enemies because of Satan's work. From the very beginning my concept was of a worldwide base. I started in the national environment of Korea because the movement had to begin from some local point, but I went beyond that boundary to reach out to the world. Because the great Christian foundation was broken, I had to erect the foundation step-by-step myself so that I could reach out to the world. That work began on the family level, then moved to the tribe and nation, and then I could leap beyond the nation. By 1972 the national foundation was laid.

After that I could move the worldwide crusade and I went from Korea to America, the central nation which represents the entire world. I came and prepared for one year and from 1973 on began a most extraordinary crusade. How can the opposition of Korean Christianity be indemnified? Yes, here in America. Up through the Madison Square Garden rally in 1974 America gave me an open-armed welcome in the first Day of Hope Crusade. A great number of citations, proclamations and letters of honorary citizenship were received. The Korean Christian community had rejected me, but initially the American Christian community welcomed me, and thus restitution was made for the Korean failure.

Based on that victory I organized the IOWC in 1974 and moved the crusade to Japan and Korea at the end of that year. Even though I had erected the national foundation in Korea, it was only spiritual and internal in content. Based on the victory in the Western world in 1974 1 could go back to Korea for the external victory.

In those days the Korean government was boxed in by Korean Christianity, which took an anti-government position. Furthermore, North Korea's warmongering attitude was so frantic in those days that there was actual danger to national security. In order to subjugate Korean Christianity, a patriotic theme was absolutely necessary. Once we won victory on the international level I knew we were bound to win on the national level. This was the significance of bringing the International One World Crusade to campaign in Korea. You remember the heavenly collision between the Unification Church and Korean Christians during my 1975 crusade there. We began in Pusan and won gigantic victories over an outpouring of opposition in every city as we moved up the peninsula, all the way to Seoul. The internal foundation was laid in Korea but the external victory was brought from America, another Christian nation. We imported that victory to become victorious in Korea externally as well and at that time the Korean people fully realized that the Unification Church was not just a Korean movement but that it had gone far beyond and become international. In 1975 I sent out missionaries to every comer of the earth.

In order to make restitution for the failure of Korean Christians I laid the spiritual foundation in Korea, came out and won the international victory externally and brought it back to Korea to make Korea's victory whole, internally and externally. This culminated in the World Rally for Korean Freedom on Yoido Island on June 7, 1975. At this rally the Unification Church demonstrated with sixty nations represented and I proclaimed our commitment to fight against communism on the worldwide level.

If the same thing had happened 2,000 years ago it would have equaled Jesus' victory in the Jewish nation coupled with an external victory in the Roman Empire, united into one culminating victory. Jesus could not win that victory in his lifetime, however, and both the Jews and the Roman Empire opposed and crucified him. This remained to be indemnified, and it was done by our victory in Korea and America. We have paid the indemnity for this.

With the completion of this internal and external victory in Korea, I came back out of Korea to America with a heightened dispensation. Now I had to export that whole victory out of Korea and make it a worldwide victory. The American victory was only external so it had to be make internal. A more substantial movement had to be erected in America, and that was the spiritual battle I began upon my return, starting the Yankee Stadium and ultimately Washington Monument campaigns.

From this point on American government and worldwide attention was alerted and opposition began, and the U.S. Congress in particular became a seat of opposition. The Roman Empire represented the world, and the failure of Rome in Jesus' time must be restored by America. Until that is done there is no way history can fully come alive. The entire world was united in opposition to the Unification Church -- the Christian community, democratic nations, and even Communists were agitating. I was confident that victory would be ours because we had already won the initial victory externally in America. Even though people who had initially welcomed me now turned to opposition, I knew the victory could be won. Every ounce of our movement's energy was mobilized to confront this opposition, and it culminated with the battle against the Fraser Committee in the U.S. Congress.

I am no enemy of America or Congress, but certain people were trying to cover me with this image. This paralleled the agitation of the Jews of the Roman Empire to kill Jesus. Jesus was a victim because he had no physical movement to mobilize to oppose that, but our situation was different. In the days of that confrontation even many of our American leaders expressed dismay at the situation and were skeptical of winning. I was the one person who truly believed in victory and I knew there was no way to go on without victory. When I instructed Col. Pak to go before the committee I told him to go fight and not hesitate or give excuses, but to go there like David before Goliath. I told him that in the name of God and True Parents he would win.

When you show your absolute oneness with God and His spirit, God always takes your side and a miracle will happen. This was an exception. This was a most giant, historical battle and I knew a miracle was needed. History is living, past, present and future, so the consequences of the past must be unwound today. Only I knew the historical meaning of that confrontation, so only I could plan precisely how it should be won.

Today we are celebrating a most important day in the history of our Church. The Washington Monument Rally was God's demonstration of power, organization and determination, and through that Rally the entire world learned about us. It was our supreme battle, our declaration of war against the entire world, not just the United States. September 18, 1976 was truly an historical day for the world, not just our movement. It was a life-or-death showdown, the culminating battle in Unification Church history, and I won the victory. I knew that God was with us in that victory, and afterwards I ordered all echelons of our leadership to be bold and strong whenever faced with opposition from our enemies.

Two most important events took place after the Washington Monument victory: on October 4, 1976 1 declared the Day of the Victory of Heaven, and in the following year on February 23, True Parents' birthday, I declared the day one in the year one of the Kingdom of Heaven. That was the culmination of my mission. I was liberated at that time and now I can go anywhere at any time. Also at that time I declared that now we would proceed with the legal battle and not tolerate any longer the unconstitutional treatment we had been given. We have to demonstrate legally our righteousness and it should be proven that the American Constitution is on our side.

Many victories have been won in that battle, and this will be completed by the middle of 1981. We have been pursued by many government investigations, but one by one we have won. The courts are on our side and our constitutional rights have been upheld. The IRS has been looking for years to find something wrong in our finances, but they have found nothing so far. The historical universal program has been fulfilled and the past failures of history have been restored; no historical figure can point a finger at me.

Congressman Fraser represented a far left political viewpoint and supported the anti-war movement during the Vietnam years, and such liberals were the victorious heroes in recent years. But Fraser's defeat represented the fall of liberalism on the far left, and now more conservative, patriotic Congressmen are emerging on the scene. From now on the presidential candidates will be younger men in their 40's, not older politicians. Younger men like Jerry Brown, Edward Kennedy and Philip Crane have emerged as candidates.

A refreshing new tide of revived Christianity will occur soon in this country. A longing for a new Christian revival will emerge in America, and I want you to be flag bearers when that time comes. The same old evangelism of established religious leaders will not suffice when that time comes; a new outlet is needed and you can be the heroes in that time. This is why I am enhancing the CARP movement in this country. When a new spirit is generated I will reappear in the public eye.

I see that a major victory is needed in the area of the media now, as well as acceptance of the Unification ideology by the academic community, particularly by theologians and philosophers. I have already gone a long way in this direction. I want you to understand that a day of hope is coming, and in order to meet that day I have been pushing you and demanding that you do incredible things. We need to educate the leadership of this nation so we need well-trained intellectual members who will not be dominated by the present intellectual climate but will be champions and leaders. This is why I am sending our graduate students to graduate schools all over America. They are entering the major universities of America, inviting major professors and teaching them Unification principles.

Theory is important in the academic world, and in that area academicians have already surrendered to Unification theology. Now they see that we are not just people of theory but are doers, and they see they cannot compete with us here either. In that way our victory over them is complete. Now these academicians are realizing that to be well-off in the future they will have to be experts on the Unification Church so they are writing books on us, on me, and on our social impact; they know that these books will sell and bring them money. They love to get some kind of cooperation from us for these projects, but later, instead of just giving endorsement I will reappear in public. This is not just a dream or plan, but is already going on.

Once America has exhausted all means of opposing the Unification Church, the rest of the world will also be helpless to say anything against us. Many research papers will be publicized about us and widely read by the public, particularly by the leadership. If they truly understand the meaning of our Church, that will be end of their opposition. I want you to teach this ideology to the leaders in America, not just the students. All the failures of Israel and the Roman Empire as well as Korea shall be restored here in America; this is the final battleground.

On the foundation of all these victories I have explained I could conduct a special ceremony for the liberation of the spirit world. As long as spirit world was not liberated it was divided into compartments with many, many boundaries, but on November 2, 1978 at Chung Pyung Lake I conducted a special ceremony to break down all those barriers.

There is no national boundary in the Unification Church. Once the Unification Church moves to a new nation, we meet many national patriots and patriots of the Kingdom of God on earth. In each nation we raise up people who are more patriotic than anyone else in the history of that nation. Because they want to serve humanity and the rest of the world, how can anyone say those people are wrong?

All the religions of history had a central goal and moved toward the center, and the Unification Church throughout the world is following the same pattern. When you become faithful men and women and create faithful families, you have to create a faithful nation before you can love the world. With this ideology each person becomes a messiah; could you hate the people then? No, you would love them.

Why am I pushing the Home Church providence so much? It is your way to become messiahs. I have done so much to win my victory and I want you to be qualified to inherit this glorious foundation. Home church is that qualification. Your 360 homes are your own world, both internal and external. You begin with the internal dispensation but ultimately will win them externally too. The spirit world will be linked with your work and spiritual phenomena will happen there. Home church is where you will win your victory, and then you will move into the national and world levels and be liberated. If you try to bypass Home Church you cannot be a world citizen of the Kingdom of God. You are creating 360 homes of your own in your area.

People will reject you initially, of course, just like the Messiah was rejected. Would you welcome True Parents if they came to visit your home? Your Home Church should be the place where you are welcomed as true parents. You can never reach this goal by attacking the people; only by overcoming the persecution and opposition of the people can you do this mission. Through Home Church you will be united with spirit world and your ancestors will come to assist you. Furthermore, you are becoming one with the physical world because your 360 homes represent the world. You are in the position of completed, perfected Adam and Eve, so where is your garden of Eden? That is your Home Church. Your area is Cain's territory, spiritually and physically. By creating your own garden of Eden in this Home Church area you are consummating your internal and external dispensation, spiritual as well as physical.

The unity between God, Adam and Eve, and the angelic world should have brought the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, but division came in the form of the fall. Now in restoration, by doing Home Church, you and God are united, like God and Adam and Eve. You and Home Church are united, like Adam and Eve and the angel. That restores unity of all three worlds. This is why spiritual help is bound to come when you do Home Church work.

In order to bring down help from spirit world you must do one thing: demonstrate a spirit of service and more loyalty and piety than anyone else in history. Then your ancestors will come down to your Home Church area and join with the people there wanting them to bow down to you. That is how these two worlds will be united and how you can set the condition of having subjugated the entire spirit world and physical world. There is no other way you can gain this condition. You should be very grateful for this Home Church providence for this is where you can unite with the entire spirit world and physical world and become perfected Adam and Eve.

Home church is the great finale of God's providence. I started out in the individual dispensation then moved to the family, tribe, nation and world fighting all these years for the global victory. After that I liberated the entire spirit world. Now I want to give all that to you as your inheritance. Home Church is the final chapter of the dispensational history of God. The ultimate victory celebration will be held not at the New Yorker or Manhattan Center, but when you can invite Mother and myself to be with you in your Home Church.

Three generations will be linked in love -- True Parents, you, and your Home Church people. When I come to your Home Church area I want to say, "It is very good," and hear your people say, "It is very, very good." Then you can say, "Yes, thank you, True Parents and Home Church. I feel very, very, very good." Home church will be the base on which a society, nation and Kingdom of Heaven on earth shall be erected.

You can be deeply grateful that upon the Washington Monument victory came the victory of heaven, which led to the new history of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, which ultimately comes to you when you make a small condition to inherit all of that. It is an amazing fact. Since the spirit world is now one, all the religious figures of the past can come down, guiding people to learn Divine Principle. Many Buddhists, for instance, will be guided by Buddha to find out about the Unification Church because Divine Principle is the culmination of Buddhism. Until now the entire world has been in blackest darkness, but now everything is lighting up. The spirit world sees the Unification Church as the fulfillment of messianic accomplishment, so people of all religions in spirit world see their religious goals fulfilled and want to unite the world with that goal.

What was the messianic role? The messiah is perfected Adam, the head of the family and of his own tribe, the father of mankind. At the same time he is the king of all people in parental heart. He is coming with dual purpose -- to become the parent of mankind and also the king of all people. You don't use the term king in referring to your own family, but only when you are talking about many other unrelated people. In Home Church, therefore, you are becoming a parent to your people; since your area represents the world it includes all races and peoples. You will love them as a parent but govern them as a king, teaching them the truth and teaching them the heavenly moral standard.

A society and nation are but an expanded family, so one family is only a model, and once it is formed a society can be formed by expanding that foundation. No one questions that they have some relationship with their parents. At the same time you recognize that they are more than parents; you recognize them as king and queen who govern. In the Kingdom of Heaven those children who are not recognized by their own parents as filial children shall not be recognized anywhere else. In Home Church you shall be recognized by parents first. So far I have been describing Cain-type Home Church, but the Abel-type Home Church of your own relatives must also be developed. There your parents must be the first people to recognize you, before you are recognized by the society.

The Unification Church is now to become a True Parent and king of true people. When Home Church is completed and perfected, no sovereign nationhood will be needed. No matter how people criticize, this will be done because it is God's will. Home Church is the altar where you and your family go to pray and present yourself as a living sacrifice; that will be the most beautiful thing to behold in the future. Again, there will be three generations offering that prayer -- God, you and your children -- united in one prayer. Horizontally, True Parents, you and your children are three generations.

Through the True Parents you are educated about how to love parents; from the vertical parent, God, you receive the love of true dominion and justice. The love of God is a most disciplined love. Ultimately your goal is to be loved by God in heaven and True Parents on earth. To receive recognition of the True Parents you must be loved by the Unification Church; to receive the love of God you must be loved by the spirit world.

You accomplish all that in Home Church; that is your area to fulfill these ideals. If you have some sad thing to cry out about, go to Home Church and cry. If you have ecstatic joy to express, go to Home Church and laugh. If you feel like dancing, go there and dance. Whatever life you have led so far, you should lead a more exciting one in Home Church. I am the one who has paid all the indemnity for the sake of the individual, family, nation, world and spirit world. Now I want to share all these assets with you. Even if it takes seven years, you must determine to fulfill the Home Church providence. If you cannot, it will be extended 21 years. In my case, because of opposition from Korean Christians my seven-year course was extended to 21 years.

Those who cannot do Home Church well, cannot become national or world leaders because you will always be faced with Satan's accusation that you are unqualified. No matter how much education you have, until you fulfill this one condition you cannot be accepted anywhere else. Eventually you will do Home Church because each year it is getting easier as the Unification Church and Reverend Moon are more widely accepted. The actual order of things is that first you do Home Church and then receive the blessing. The only reason you can have a blessed family before then is because True Parents and God regard you as a branch of True Parents, who are that trunk and root. When True Parents bear fruit, then you bear fruit because you are a branch. The significance of the fruit you bear is up to you, however. This is where your test is.

I have explained God's view of historical dispensation. When the world is more enlightened about this then people will come and I will travel from nation to nation without any visa. That day must surely come and it will be hastened because of our missionaries in many nations. They are not only missionaries teaching the Principle but patriots of those nations and will be respected as such. American, Japanese and German citizens went to those nations but loved them more than the native people; how could they not be respected in those nations?

When you see the whole view of dispensation, no one can claim to be ignorant of the present time. Now you know where we are, how many more years are left in the third seven-year course and what will happen in 1980 and 1981. The time will come when I will not say anything more, but people will have to push themselves because they already know the dispensation. People will even ask me to push them and I will refuse. This opportunity to hear me speak for hours at a time will be rare in the future because I will not have the time.

When the third seven-year course is over I will be traveling and not be here much. I will be going to many famous places and doing many things. Even the American people will take it for granted that I deserve to have many wonderful homes in different parts of the world. Who will accompany me when I travel? It is most natural that the Home Church champions among you will come with me. We will all be able to travel freely because no passports will be needed. When Harvard Ph.D.s join the Unification Church they will do Home Church. If they want to come to my home, they will have to come through even a small member who is a Home Church champion.

When I go to visit distinguished people I am thinking inside that they will some day complain that I didn't tell them about Home Church earlier. I will answer that. I talked about Home Church at Belvedere service at 6 a.m. and ask why they weren't there even once to hear me.

Who can come freely to hear me? You are those people. People so far have not known that the culmination of the dispensation of God is Home Church; religious leaders and saints never knew the final destination. I searched throughout the spirit world, knocking on every door and found the solution; otherwise, you would never know it. The greatest thing is that I have found the realistic way to find all the ideals described in the Old, New and Completed Testament. We can either be governed by or govern the spirit world; that era is coming.

Shall we hasten to fulfill Home Church? This September 18, 1979 is a most memorable day to commemorate the True Parents' victory. Will you pledge that you will complete Home Church successfully? The conclusion is that the goal of God's dispensation shall be fulfilled by completion of Home Church. Let us pray.

Let Us Analyze Ourselves

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
September 16, 1979
Belvedere
Translator: Bo Hi Pak

My topic this morning is our internal situation: Let Us Analyze Ourselves. If you assemble a large crowd, among them you will find young people and old, men and women, and people of five races. You will find people of different circumstances: happy and sad, healthy and sick, excited and discouraged. In a gathering of a thousand people, there would be a thousand different situations.

Here at Belvedere this morning there are about a thousand people; each of you has slightly different motivations and situations. When you step outside the gates and head out in a continuous line, you will find a totally different society in Tarrytown, in Westchester county, in New York state, in the United States, in the entire world, and in the spirit world.

Every person or circumstance you encounter will have a different internal situation. Suppose one person, a supervisor or whatever, was told to find answers or solutions to all these different circumstances. What would you think about such a responsibility? Would anyone here volunteer for that job? All people who have ever lived have encountered circumstances that they want an explanation for. All these historical expectations have been accumulating until today.

There are basically two types of people: one kind seeks to advertise their circumstances and explain things, while the other type is more reserved and silent, thinking that explanations are not needed. Of these two types of people, which is more respected? The second type, because those who speak up and advertise themselves normally want to get out of their situation and finish things up quickly, while the others will persevere, confident that they can overcome circumstances on their own.

Those who speak out and try to advertise their difficulties may cause others to be unhappy. They may cause their parents to cry or their brothers and sisters to worry about them. Those who persevere do not make that kind of impact on their neighbors and their surroundings. Those who advertise for help in face of small difficulties are somewhat shallow; those with an internal sustaining power will persevere without letting small things bother them.

Who generally make more effort to justify themselves, men or women? It has been proven historically that women have more of a tendency to explain their situations. You women may not want to accept that statement, but just close your eyes and say, "Yes, Father"! Men who have a depth which they don't easily reveal are more attractive; they can sit down with dignity and make wise observations.

Men and women present contrasting images. Women have smooth, soft skin, while men are bearded. Women tend to explain things, using beautiful adjectives to compose poems and write romantic letters. Men, on the other hand, with their tough looks and closed lips, sit with weight and dignity. In contrast with feminine qualities, these masculine qualities are more trustworthy.

Those who tend to speak too readily-in most cases women-reveal things quickly and their listeners soon get bored. But those who don't expose themselves quickly are more attractive, and people are more inclined to listen. They wonder what is on their mind. Those who give quick explanations soon disappear from sight, but people with hidden depth hold others' attention out of curiosity.

Now, I want to ask you women to raise your hands if you really like those feminine qualities and don't long for something opposite to what you have. Women are always moving around, changing from one position to another; you need an anchor line to keep you from floating away! Do you realize that? The role of the man is like an anchor, holding onto the woman. On the other hand, you tough-looking men, instead of mingling with others like yourselves, go after those charming, talkative women. Men are impressed by women's smiling faces, those gracefully-moving lips, those sweet utterances. Men, who were born to be tough and strong, lack such qualities. Without those feminine qualities, you men can't charm others!

Generally speaking, the talkative people lose the battle and fade away. That is usually the case in history. On the other hand, reticent people maintain their strength and persevere. Well, do you realize that this is a fact, or do you consider it just my theory? In history, what kind of person generally governs? It is the thinkers, the people of few words. They don't have time to talk much because they are busy thinking and dreaming. The men and women who made gigantic contributions to history have generally been this type of person. The people who are busy talking, looking around, having fun, and getting involved in this and that are generally shallow. The people who sit on rocks and meditate for hours on end have depth and sustaining energy. Then which type of person is wiser? The second.

In comparing religious and non-religious people, the truly religious people are generally people of few words; they tend to pray and meditate more. Non-religious people seek to excuse and justify their actions. The Bible encourages people to persevere, be patient, and endure; those are prime virtues taught in the Bible. The Bible doesn't urge people to go out and fight to prove their worth. Even if there is an enemy, the religious people commit the enemy into God's hands and let God ultimately dispose of the adversary position. The first virtue the Bible teaches is to forget the other person's shortcomings and wrongdoing. Furthermore, the Bible instructs us to love our enemy. It is not easy to love one's enemy. Nobody is truly perfect in loving the enemy. Therefore, since you cannot really live up to that credo, you should be silent instead of trying to justify yourself; in such a situation, it is best not to talk too much.

The adversary's side has every freedom to criticize and accuse, but your position is to love them, even though they are your enemy. Therefore, if you don't live up to the Bible's standard, you don't have much to say. If you habitually talk back to your enemy, pursue them and try to justify yourself, people will tend to abandon you instead of supporting you; they may even join the other side. This is the reality of the world.

Consider the United States. If America is to have a vision for the coming days and hope for the future, it needs leaders who are thinkers, people of few words with the capacity to persevere and move forward. Then this land will have hope. The kind of leader who can embrace the entire nation and have room for more will eventually embrace and control the future of the nation. Leaders who get upset at any small situation and instantly react to it reveal themselves as shallow thinkers. Suppose a crisis develops and all 240 million Americans shout and complain about it and ask their leader what he thinks. If he doesn't say much but looks at them wisely, the people will be attentive to him; he will have a certain charm and attractiveness. Such a deep-thinking, patient leader would not respond to his people with hate, but with love. How do you think the people would react to such an expression of love? They would love such an answer! This is precisely why the Bible says to love your enemy; this is love in action.

To review, there are basically two types of people: those who are talkative and those who are reticent. Within each group, there are two kinds: one loquacious person who speaks for egotistical reasons and the other for unselfish reasons. One reticent person keeps silent out of unselfishness and love for the enemy, and the other keeps silent for self-centered reasons.

In handling a great deal of criticism from the public, how should a loving leader respond? How can someone in authority really convey a loving heart to others? The best way for a leader to show care for the people is to demonstrate affection quietly. When people see that their leader is truly concerned about them and the future of their nation, they will recognize the leader to be a dedicated, unselfish person who deserves their respect. The citizens of the nation will support such a public-minded person, and history will give its approval.

Instead of pushing forward greedily, a reticent person gives priority to the public purpose and unselfishly serves the nation, conveying a spirit of hope. Such a person definitely makes an important contribution to history, and history shall record that person's deeds. Such a person will have an international following; not only Americans but British, Koreans, Japanese and citizens of all nations want to see such a leader emerge. Since such a person has a broad public support, the popular sentiment that develops represents God's sentiment. That means that God also likes and follows such a person. Isn't that true? You agree. Even if God were to come out and say, "No, you are wrong; I'm convinced I'm right," you could defeat God, for God cannot win over the principle, since the principle is God. Do you agree with my conclusion?

So look up at God and ask Him what kind of God He is. Ask Him about His characteristics. The principal characteristic of God we learn from history is that He is reticent. God would answer, "Well, if I open my mouth, there are millions and billions of things to explain. I could talk about how much I suffer, how heartbroken I am, and how much people mistreat me. I am the most mistreated being in the entire universe, but I still maintain hope; I have great hope for humanity, and I keep persevering, with few words, seeking to restore all people."

God is a public being, the center of public consciousness. God is God because He is the most public-minded being under the sun. That is His nature because He has no selfish motivation. In doing so, however, He keeps the greatest silence. God never loses sight of the ideal; He never loses hone for tomorrow.

God saw Satan come and subjugate His son and daughter, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, destroying the entire blueprint for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Yet God remained silent. When God sent His son Jesus Christ to the world and the people misunderstood him and crucified him, God still remained silent. Today God loves me and has sent me out to the world to accomplish revolutionary changes in it; yet He remains silent in spite of so many upheavals. If God were like American women and tried to explain it all and get everything off His chest, none of you would be able to bear it; none of you would remain.

Unification Church members are the masters of history; you are the hosts and hostesses of providence. Those who play a central role in history are those who most resemble God; those who speak little but think and act for the sake of the public good shall be the central people of our church. Why? Because that is how God is. Because that is the kind of person God loves. Because that is the kind of person who will endure and prosper. Anyone who disagrees with this conclusion please raise your hand. Anyone who agrees with me that God loves those who resemble Him please raise your hand. You raised your hands to the second proposition, but they didn't go up very fast. You responded slowly because you realize that it isn't easy to be like God, isn't that so?

To try to learn sophisticated techniques and proper methods to reach God will not work. I want to teach you the simplest way to achieve the goal. The simplest way to become like God is to live with a sacrificial spirit. You should silently seek to sacrifice for the sake of others, for the sake of the public good.

When you read the Bible you find mention of all kinds of offerings and sacrifices made on the altar to God. Today we are talking about a living sacrifice. When you become a sacrifice, you don't make any excuse; you don't go from one village to the next proclaiming that you are a sacrifice that will be placed on the altar the next morning. A sacrifice is always silent, always obedient. The cow, lamb and pigeons cut in two for the sake of history are silent even at the final moment of offering. That is the way it goes. Somebody else will speak up for you; eventually the public will recognize you.

This is how history operates. The people who make incredible contributions to history are little known in their own time' but history bears witness to them. Suppose the members of the Unification Church were the worst, most unforgivable kind of religious people-we would have a lot of explanations to make. We wouldn't want to be silent. Yet the Unification Church basically remains silent. People will see Unification Church members working quietly, without losing their temper. When you go fundraising you are mistreated in incredible ways. If you were to explode about the injustice, you could do it several times a day. People give you dirty looks, spit at you, hit you, and may even stab you. You experience all kinds of persecution. But instead of trying to explain yourself, you keep busy with your positive mission; instead of confronting the negativity, you keep busy with the positive work of constructing the Kingdom of Heaven. You have no time to fool around with people.

If you remain silent, maintain your composure and hold your peace, people will wonder about you. They will say, "What kind of crazy people are these? Even when we criticize them severely, they remain silent. They must be really dumb!" If the entire village comes against you and criticizes you, keep your composure and your smile. Those who are as reserved and composed as you will marvel, "He is an amazing person; he is just like me!" Normally, the people who see your true value and recognize your unselfishness will be high-quality, influential people. They and their children will discover your worth. They are the thinkers; thinkers search for the essence. On seeing your young, noble face, such people will wish for a husband or wife like you. "I have never seen a person of such rare quality," they will exclaim. These things have actually happened.

Do you love me? Why? Even though you know that I have been so badly misunderstood, attacked and persecuted? Even though people say all kinds of things about me? At least one thing is for sure: I have set the record for getting a bad reputation. I have first prize in that category. No one has been so harshly criticized in his own lifetime as I have been. Not only one class of people has opposed me, but people of all classes, all races and all continents. There is no nationality of people who have not said bad things about me. Are they testifying to the truth? Am I evil? Here you see the same principle at work: everybody says I am evil and wrong, but you disagree. Likewise, when you go to a village, 99 percent of the people may misunderstand you, but at least some will recognize your true value. People around the world have misunderstood me, but you comprehend my worth.

So whoever wishes for a good husband wants someone like me, right? I'm sorry Mother isn't here. Mother is very tired, since she is expecting a baby in the next couple of weeks, and she has to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes or so. Since that is a biological need, I cannot ask her to stay here for two and a half hours, or however long the sermon lasts. The biological need must be met; she is going to the bathroom for a public purpose. Normally you would not walk out of the room during my speech, but if your leaving is for a public purpose it is forgiven.

Many people criticize me for taking American youth away, like a Pied Piper. However, you are participating in a cause far greater than anything they can conceive including staying home and serving your parents. Therefore, your devotion is beautiful in God's sight, and it shall be respected and praised in history. Your parents misunderstand your reasons for joining the Unification Church because they are ignorant about our church and its true cause. Once they understand they will be the first to urge you to go forth. They will say, "I respect you, my child, and am proud of you; please go and serve the public purpose."

I came to the United States and indeed made an impact. Has that impact been good or bad? You are a small minority, compared to the entire 240 million people in this land. You call the impact good, but the rest of the world does not call it good.

When you say good, you are using a gigantic word. Look how it is written: the four letters are formed by four circles. A circle represents at the same time zero and infinity. Thus a circle is a symbol of infinite value, infinite quality. It seems to be nothing; therefore, it is everything. You can make the circle as big as you want and have it contain as much as you want; that is the nature of a circle.

Now where does this gigantic word good start: from a gigantic big place or from a small place? Let's look at the beginning, God. God never spoke the word good when He was by Himself. He only uttered the word good when He began creating. He only pronounced, "It is very good," when He first saw Adam and Eve. He created heaven and earth in six days, but they were just good. However, when God saw Adam and Eve, for the first time He said, "Behold, it is very good." What is so very good? Before Adam and Eve, even though so much had been created, nothing actually existed for God's sake. When Adam and Eve were created,

God saw the possibility of give and take of love, the fulfillment of love, an object whom He could love. God wants to enter into that fulfillment of love.

Which is bigger: God or love? Love is so all-inclusive that it can wrap up even God and float Him away! Enclosed in a love-bag tied with a cord, God doesn't even say, "Ouch!" Instead, God will beg that the pressure of love be increased. God longs for the excitement of love. Therefore, we could say that God exists solely for the sake of love, and that love is everything.

Have you ever seen love? Can you carry it in the palm of your hand? Where is it? Love is not activated until you see an object with whom to have give and take. No matter how beautiful a woman you may be, looking at your face a hundred times in a mirror doesn't excite you too much. But when a tough, stern, ugly man shows up, something inside you starts to warm up, and instead of looking at your own face although it may be lovely enough to grace a Miss America-you find it much more interesting to look at the ugly face of a man. Because the most beautiful woman can find true beauty and excitement in the face of the most ugly man, God pronounced human beings very good.

Actually when a beautiful woman and a handsome man love each other, it is good; but when a beautiful woman loves an ugly man, that is really very good. Is the Unification Church a good group or a bad group? In order to become a very good group, black, yellow and white people should all mingle together, right? When people of all races and all degrees of attractiveness come together, it is very good.

God's nature encompasses both day and night, not just day, not just night. God can rejoice during the day and at night. There may be some situations in which only white people laugh, other situations in which only black people or yellow people laugh. But when black, white and yellow people can laugh together with the same happiness, that joy is universal. God envisioned such universal enjoyment when He pronounced mankind very good.

Today I'm talking about our tradition, our circumstances. Our first conclusion is that selfish situations have no value and should not even be the subject of discussion. Do you American women accept my conclusion? You might want to reply, "That sounds very good, but I want to give a little explanation about myself."

When I started out on this course, I came to the conclusion that the winning way of life is the unselfish one. I decided that the guiding principle of the Unification Church shall be the unselfish way of life; the Unification Church shall not consider any explanation based on selfish reasons.

Upon undertaking this course I resolved to live 100 percent for the public purpose. When I came to the United States, I devoted myself to teaching that way of life to the American people, in whom individualism is strong and selfish motivations prevail. Of course this nation does not eagerly accept this notion. This is like a shock treatment. People react, "Oh, no, Reverend Moon. That is not my way of life. Don't talk about such a thing to Americans. You may live like that, but I'm an American and I won't."

Protests come from all directions: the cats complain, "Meow, meow"; the dogs bark, "Woof, woof"; the tigers roar, "Go away." Everybody reacts so violently to the principle of unselfishness. Let the cats cry and the dogs bark I will remain in peace and quiet. I am engaged in building the kingdom, and I'm building it my way. I have been so busy building that the cats and dogs who close their eyes in violent rejection will suddenly open them and wonder where everybody is. They will find themselves all alone.

How different we are from the cat and dog types of people. Who really loves America? Who is truly concerned about America's future? Who has caught the vision of this great nation? Should people stay in the cat and dog groups, or join our group?

When you came to our group you weren't always treated so kindly; you may not even get eggs for breakfast. In contrast, when you go home your parents may fix you eggs and even serve you breakfast in bed! They may give you whatever you want.

To follow Reverend Moon is not easy; the path is filled with hardship, suffering and tribulation. If you seek a relaxed, easy way of life, go live in a comfortable place. Here you work all day long and the next morning you can't even sit down to enjoy your breakfast. You eat standing up and go out and work all day again. I never praise you, just chase you out again. If you are chastised and challenged over and over, will you still like it?

When will all this be finished? When the world is restored to God's world. When that task is done I will say, "Go and sleep 24 hours, sleep 48 hours, and you will find a whole steak-or even a whole cow-coming and standing on your plate. Then your clothes will be decorated with diamonds. "

I tell my own children to study hard, do their math homework, etc. When they go to high school I increase the pressure, and in college even more. My children might protest, "What kind of father are you to keep pushing me? I'm always obedient. I always try my best. I always get A's." But children cannot complain like that, because they know that the motivation comes from parental love and that their parents want them to succeed.

The same holds true in the Unification Church. You are children of God. I am not going to stop and praise you; you must keep pushing and challenging yourself, because my goal and expectation for you are so great. This pushing comes from pure parental love. Do you follow?

It's hard for children to study every day; but when they are pushed to do the toughest job and accomplish it, the end result is joy and happiness. Even after their parents have died, children recognize that whatever they have accomplished-in serving mankind, becoming a leader, making some contribution to history-they owe to their parents. They realized that their parents pushed them towards such success.

So when I push Unification Church members it is not out of exploitation but simply because the goal is so high and the task so great and I want you to succeed in these tasks. The children who understand the true motivation of their parents and appreciate them shall become great children- and eventually great men and women.

When you joined the Unification Church you frequently heard about a three-year course. But consider the value of three years of schooling. After the three-year course there is a seven-year course, and after that three consecutive seven-year courses! How long a course do you want to enroll in: the shortest or the longest? Would you like to enroll in that triple seven-year course? Twenty years is a long time in relation to the human life span; a lot of things can happen in 20 years. To stick to the vision and goal for 20 years, rain or shine, is not easy; but once you reach it you know you have accomplished something truly great.

How did people view me 30 years ago? Pretty small. How much did I grow in the meantime? Am I still small? What is the difference between the Reverend Moon of 30 years ago and today? Are they two entirely different persons? The only difference is that 30 years ago there was a small circle, and now there is a gigantic circle. What made me great? Three consecutive seven-year courses. I always persevere and push myself forward in a straight line. Each year I have focused on traveling forward in a straight line, but at the same time God has been expanding my territory, using the length of that line as the diameter of a circle. Thus the circle has been getting bigger and bigger all the time.

You may sometimes question what kind of God we have, because the course He has given us seems too much to bear and you wonder why we need to continue. I too had those feelings, but then I would turn around and look at the territory I had covered, and every time I would be amazed and flabbergasted at what great blessings God has bestowed on me. One by one, the people who had seemed so powerful have become smaller and smaller as I look back. They have become so apologetic, so appreciative of my work, so filled with love and respect. This is God's strategy.

I am just one small Korean. Here there are people whose bodies are bigger or taller than mine. There are many great Americans. So why has my stature grown to the point where people consider me a giant? Because I keep pushing myself toward the public, unselfish way of life. Many people had predicted that the Unification Church would be a passing phenomenon and would not last beyond a few years. Instead of fading away, however, the Unification Church is growing and growing. Why has the Unification Church not been destroyed? Simply because we are living God's way of life, and God cannot afford to be destroyed.

You may become so tired and frustrated within the church that you decide to leave; but when you look back in from the outside, you will realize what a precious life is contained in the church and how noble the members are. You will recognize that I am truly following God's way.

Such phenomena have not been occurring in the United States yet, but they happen all the time in Korea. There were many early followers who became so tired and disillusioned that they left. Now, however, when I return to Korea these people cannot lift their faces to me; tears trickle down their cheeks, and from the bottom of their hearts they seek to show me respect and love. They are saying, "Father, you have won our respect. You broke through such adverse conditions. No one can stand in front of you." They realize that if I were a person like them, there would be no Unification Church; God would have nothing to hold onto. That would be a poor and miserable day for world history. But now these early members say, "Father, I'm glad you did it. You won." Sometimes I felt so deeply that I had to succeed, if for no other reason than to show the critics that God is alive. I determined to win because I could not afford to lose.

After listening to all this, would you try to explain your circumstances to me? No, you would shake your head and say, "Father, don't worry about me. Don't worry about my petty situation. I don't have anything to explain." I'm sure that after two long, thirsty months without me you must have been thinking, "When Father returns, I must discuss something with him. My leader doesn't understand my situation, so I will explain it to Father. My Abel figure never listened to me, so I must go directly to Father." Can you do this? No? Thank you very much.

On my part, I too can speak to you only about public matters, not petty, selfish things. There are many public issues to speak about, for the sake of this nation, the world, the destiny of our mission, and the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. You should go out and proudly repeat these things. You can shout them out, knowing that you are speaking for a public cause.

Even without rich food to eat or milk to drink, you can persevere on the public path and nobody will be able to criticize you even one iota. You can tell yourself that the milk and cheese you are foregoing will be saved for the rest of the world. Instead of wearing the best clothes yourself, you can think that you are saving them for the rest of the world.

You may have had a hard day fundraising, but you don't come back and announce how great you are afterwards. You may have gained good results and you feel like stopping at a nice restaurant and enjoying a juicy steak; even with the money in your pocket and knowing that nobody will stop you, if you choose to go to McDonald's instead God will look down upon you with tears trickling down His cheeks. I too look at you and want to give you not just a piece of juicy steak but a whole cow and more. This is how parents feel. This is the link in the chain linking God, True Parents and you. No one-not even God, myself or Satan-can cut that chain.

Last night I spoke to many members who are pursuing a doctorate degree. They feel that so many things remain to be achieved. However, these intelligent people were amazed at the gigantic things I have been accomplishing so quietly that they didn't even notice. Totally surprised, they asked when I did them.

I have a tremendous plan for a future university. According to the master plan presented at a briefing the other day, about $250 million will be needed to build it and $250 million to sustain it. That means $500 million. Do we have the money? The people asked me to call on God to make it work, but I am not in that kind of position. I myself must find a way to make it work.

God Himself looks down and says, "Father, why don't you rest a little bit? Just go slow and easy. It's too much money; just wait." Mr. Kamiyama might feel like protesting, "Father, you are funding so many projects I simply cannot keep up with you." Even though he might think this, he won't say it. It's not easy to make my wishes a reality. We have been working so painstakingly, but look around now and see how much has been accomplished: missionary work all over the world, the top-level Little Angels school, the motion picture "Inchon" filmed on location in Korea, the fishing industry and my vision for the sea. Feeling that what I am doing is so big, have you ever wondered how your efforts can help?

Returning to our situation, do you have more to say to me, or do I have more to say to you? The entire world is watching us. There are a lot of "Moon watchers" around, standing with mouths agape wondering what I will do next. People's mouths are opening wider and wider all the time. You get tired just thinking about this, but still you can renew your energy and walk out with pride to the world.

If each of you follows my prescription precisely, you are bound to be a success. Do you believe this just because it sounds good, or because you know it is a fact? Now, when I say something you believe it, but it used to be that when I talked of so many crucial things you just couldn't believe. It isn't easy to believe. It takes time. Faith and trust must be earned, and I have earned them. Now when I announce something, you can accept it and believe it.

Many years ago I talked about international marriages as the basis for the ideal. I stated that the various combinations of blacks marrying whites, whites marrying Orientals, and Orientals marrying blacks make up the beauty of the human race. It sounded good and logical, but people felt it was naive and irrational to propose such a thing because it could not become a reality. Now what happened this year? At the matching you volunteered for international marriages; even in some cases when I didn't recommend an international marriage you still insisted. It was so amazing and so beautiful. What I used to speak of is no longer just an ideal but it has become a reality.

As you know, the movie industry is a very powerful force but also very immoral. It needs a revolution; a new heavenly spirit must enter it. Those Hollywood considers superstars have great influence among young people, but their impact is often ungodly. The government cannot alter this; only a spiritual revolution can transform the situation. Sometimes I go to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno, and so forth, to observe what is going on in the world of gambling. I must get first-hand information. Cancer is brewing in such places; there are many cancerous threats to civilization growing in Hollywood, Las Vegas and New York. Eighth Avenue in New York, where the World Mission Center is located, is a hub of immorality, and I have a strong desire to clean it up.

The time has come for America to give us due recognition. We must let- the world know. CARP is our task force, heralding the message on the campuses and to the intellectual communities. The seminary graduates joined CARP for active duty as front-line soldiers. They are attending a workshop on the West Coast, and in a couple of days they will be coming to East Garden to listen to me.

Whoever envies my position, let him volunteer to take up my role. Would you like to carry out my task here? After three hours you would probably give up and run away. That is the kind of pressure under which I have been operating.

Do you really want to know about my situation? I have been fishing for tuna off the coast of Massachusetts, and tuna fishing is truly a battle. People go out in luxury yachts looking for the "New Hope" and trying to find out if I am on board. They are curious about my appearance and my actions. They don't imagine that I would go out every day, because serious tuna fishing is a tough job. They assume that I go out just once in a while for enjoyment. I'm out there every day, humbly dressed, working all the time; and looking through their binoculars in our direction they assume I am not there. They think that I haven't even shown up this summer. They don't even consider that the ordinary-looking fisherman they see wearing humble clothes and humble hat could be me. They envision me seated on some throne atop the "New Hope."

Every time I catch a tuna we take it to the pier for processing. People pass by me and notice my fishy smell, but they never consider it might be me. When they see some of the Moonie supporters they tell them, "Please tell Reverend Moon that I missed him. Please tell him hello from me."

Even in tuna fishing there is a need for a lot of creative thinking. I speak few words; mostly I experiment. For three consecutive years the "New Hope" has been setting new records. As you know, people have been fishing for tuna for many centuries, and until now, professional fishermen with 10 or 20 years experience have always held the record for the greatest number of tuna caught. But three years ago they lost the record; they can no longer keep pace with me. Each year that I have set a new record in Gloucester, those proud professional fishermen say, "How can we be defeated by the Moonies? We can't afford to do that." So they go out at 3:00 am, and I go out at 2:00. Then they resolve to leave at 1:00, and I leave even earlier. They cannot sustain this pace more than a day or two, but I do it every day. That is the difference.

No one used to be on the boats at 3:00 am, but now there are as many as 20 boats in operation at that hour. All the boats used to return to harbor at 3:30 in the afternoon, but since I stay out until 7:00 others routinely stay out until dark too.

It isn't necessary to say a lot of words to people; just be disciplined, and they will demonstrate their respect by wanting to follow your pattern. There was a great deal of hostility in Gloucester the first year I set a new record. Now the fishermen have resigned themselves to defeat, and rather than fighting us they join us. Wherever the "New Hope" goes people follow closely, watching every move. They try to imitate my pattern because they too want to catch tuna.

Three years ago I invented a new method of tuna fishing. Until then all the fishermen used a pole and nylon lines. When I stopped doing that three years ago, the professionals thought I was doing something strange. Now, all tuna fishing in Gloucester is done by my method.

Gloucester is the most famous tuna fishing port in the world; people come there from all over the world. So whenever the "New Hope" goes to New Jersey, Los Angeles or Alabama people recognize it and want to honor it.

Three years ago when I first started. tuna at dockside was worth only ten cents a pound. Now, it's $1.75 per pound, and eventually it will rise to $5.00 per pound. My intention is that as prices rise, a 700 to 1000 pound tuna will be worth $3,500 to $5,000. That will provide a good income for anybody. So everybody wants to get into the great gold-rush.

I want to assemble all kinds of boats for tuna fishing. As is common at many fishing ports, the economy of Gloucester has been depressed, but the people of that small fishing village who have been so unkind to me and mistreated me so badly will see their whole town come alive because of my presence. Gloucester will boom and prosper economically. The people of Gloucester will owe me so much, and I'm sure they will come and bow down. So which boat will be most welcome in Gloucester? The "New Hope." The "New Hope" will always bring new hope to Gloucester.

This year I invited all the elder leaders to Gloucester for tuna fishing-the toughest kind of workshop. Next year we will assemble both small and large vessels, about 50 altogether. Can you imagine how much controversy it will create when 50 Moonie boats are launched each morning?

Why am I so interested in tuna? Because solving the challenge of freezing tuna and preserving its freshness will bring a technical revolution to American fishing industry. The Japanese are consuming a lot of fresh tuna now because they love sashimi, the very popular dish made with raw fish. To ship tuna from here to Japan takes much time, and in many cases the tuna do not arrive fresh. However, I invented a certain method for optimum preservation of tuna, and this year the Japanese importers sent telegram after telegram to their suppliers asking them to process tuna like the Moonies do. The Japanese instruct their suppliers: "The Moonies' tuna is always fresh, but yours is no good. What happened? Go and learn how the Moonies process tuna."

I have been going to sea for six years. Would you like to do the same? Let me see the hands of those who say no. Let me see the hands of those who say yes. It is not easy to take care of even one boat; a lot of work is involved. To organize an entire fleet is even harder, and more difficult still to organize an entire fishing industry. We work hard, and we accomplish things step by step. We go the tough way every day. Ten years from now we can turn around and be astonished at how much territory we have covered.

I would like to see the headquarters building of each mission be larger than the city hall. After all, it is God's house. Isn't that a good idea? Some may answer that the idea is good, but it's so tough to accomplish. Well, that's why we do it. It should have been done a long time ago.

Let the world's people do the easy things; the Moonies will do the tough things. And let them take ten years to do it, while we do it instantly. That is what I would prefer. Do you agree with me? Even if you don't like it, still you will go on. Wherever the course may take you, you will not regret it; you will not be disappointed. Instead, you will rejoice at the results.

Is home church an easy job? To do home church means to become the historical number one servant to 360 homes. You start out as a servant and rise from that position to become ultimately the number one master. In home church you construct a ladder which you can climb from the bottom of hell all the way to the top of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Who will make this ladder? You may be a pale, weak-looking woman with small slanted eyes and thin lips, but you are a Moonie and you commit yourself to do it.

When will you do it? Today? Ten years from now? Most people work only eight hours a day and the remainder of the time they rest, eat, or sleep. But we can work 24 hours without eating or sleeping very much.

People will observe you and estimate that you will last no more than six months; but they will be amazed at how you persevere step by step for one, two, or three years. Initially, people in home church will mistreat you. The normal pattern will be for them to mistreat you, spit at you, criticize you, chase you out, do all kinds of things. But you shouldn't care, because eventually, after one, two, three or ten years, you will be like their king and queen. When you leave your area they will shed tears for you. In this fashion you will become the host and hostess of history.

I have many historical episodes stored inside me which I have not spoken about. I am a champion, but not like the wrestlers who boast of their prowess. I am the kind of champion who pleases God, one who is silent.

Regardless of your past, I am interested in only one thing: that you become a champion of history. Sometimes I will agonize for a week before I decide what mission to give a certain leader; during that time I consider that person's various qualities. If someone is not cooperative, it might seem easy to give up and decide I need another person for that position. But when I chastise a leader and move that person to another place, there are historical consequences; the person's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are affected, so how can I not be serious about such decisions?

Normally I don't give many commands. My practice is first to do something myself and then let others observe it and follow. Do you understand? Each of you has individual circumstances and goes through internal struggles. I know that. I understand your situation better than anyone else. However, if you work silently, always moving forward toward the goal, and after 10 or 20 years you still see no results, then you have something to speak to me about. But without even beginning on the journey, if you complain about various things, making all kinds of noises like an empty drum, your objections are not acceptable to me; they don't fit into God's principle.

This is now the month of September. We are in the latter part of 1979. I know you have been doing your best so far, but not to the degree that is pleasing to me or to God. We need a rejuvenation, a revitalization, a new beginning. This is the month to do it.

There are two kinds of motion: disintegration and reconstruction. If decay proceeds more rapidly than rebuilding we will eventually lose the battle. We need to gain speed and apply the brake to America's decline. Do you take exception to this statement?

In summary: be silent, set a high standard and goal, and keep moving forward.

You are entering the arena of the final battle. You are like champions walking into that arena. Would you like to participate in that final battle? When you look into the mirror in the morning and see your face clouded with unhappiness and discouragement, ask that person in the mirror: "What are you doing? Why are you so discouraged? Get up and go! Go! Go!" Evaluate yourself. Such negative attitudes can destroy the entire dispensation, block Heavenly Father's cause, and frustrate history. Tell that person in the mirror, "I cannot afford to let you become a rascal!"

How many of you became engaged this year? Every day you have been thinking of your fiancée, right? Every night you have been wondering why you didn't get a letter, right? You feel that you have given up everything and you need at least a letter. I understand that feeling. But what does your fiancée expect you to do: abandon all other duties to sit down and write a long letter, or go forward and win the victory that day, even though it means you cannot write that letter? Which attitude characterizes the more public fiancée? When the latter type of couple eventually meets, even though not too many letters were exchanged they will experience tremendous understanding and love. When a public man and a public woman are in love, their cause is a public cause.

I am not saying you should not be in love, because I really support intense love. But you are like students facing an exam. Your prime duty is to pass the test of being a public person.

After hearing me speak this morning at Belvedere, please write a short letter to your fiancée today stating, "If I don't write to you for the next six months, I want you to understand that I am perfecting my public character." What kind of spouse do you prefer: someone who forgets the mission out of love for you, or someone whom God recognizes as a public person? What kind of husband would you want? What kind of wife would you want? You are greedy; I know what you want. What I am teaching you today is very correct. Do you agree with it? Some of you didn't answer; you need to decide whether this is right or wrong.

If I were to explain fully Heavenly Father's circumstances, you would be so ashamed you would have no place to hide. If you knew my circumstances and God's circumstances, you would have no room to complain about your situation.

God is God, even when He is sleeping. In other words, God is number one in whatever He wishes to do, even sleeping. If sleeping were the course that would win the race, God would win. On the other hand, God is also the champion at playing. So you wonder how God decides what to do, don't you?

God is always my guide in decisions. I always follow the public purpose. God has already determined what the public purpose is: pursuing His cause, even if it means sacrificing sleep. Therefore, God doesn't sleep at all; there is no night for God. God can play, but He doesn't; as a public being, God has no time to fool around. All the difficult things God wants to bear; all the easy things He wants mankind to do.

God's position is not easy, yet He utters no word of complaint. God will let accomplishments speak for themselves; until then God remains silent. That is the way you too must go. Don't explain yourself away, but let your deeds and results speak for themselves. Until then, your will should be as unshakable as a rock; keep going forward with an iron will. Then you and I shall certainly end up together in God's heaven and rejoice over the same quality of joy there. You will meet God and me in heaven. That is what God is anxiously awaiting to happen.

Your eyes must work for the public purpose, not for selfish reasons. Look at other people as public persons as well. Don't think of one woman as prettier than the other, or one man as friendlier than the other. Those are not qualities by which to evaluate people; you should consider the degree to which they are working toward the public purpose, the degree to which they are advancing God's cause.

Put your conviction into action and let the world see your achievements. Then you won't even have to ask for anything, because the entire world will bow down to you. Do you understand?

In conclusion, there are two sides to every situation: the external and the internal. One side is always trying to move you toward a selfish purpose and the other side is always trying to move you toward an unselfish, public purpose. You must evaluate each situation, determine which is the unselfish purpose, and then advance toward it. This is the wisest, most successful way of life. Always pursue the greater cause rather than the smaller cause.

At least dedicate yourself for the national cause; when a person speaks for the sake of the nation, it is not out of selfish purpose. Furthermore, the world is a more public concern than the nation. When a person is concerned about world events, national considerations become small and selfish. Beyond that, the spirit world is much more public than this earthly plane; so for the sake of the spirit world a person must learn how to sacrifice our world. Ultimately, God is the most public being of all, the supreme public; therefore, for the sake of God's public purpose, a person can abandon everything else.

All the saints of the past walked this way of life. Jesus lived this way. I am living this way. And so should you. You call me Father, and in that name we gather together. If you are that kind of person, you should follow my way. When you speak, do so not for your own situation but for your public purpose. Instead of doing silly things that get your body tired and make you feel knocked out, open your mouth even 24 hours a day to speak for the public purpose. Use every ounce of your energy for the public purpose, until you fall down with exhaustion. This is the sacred way of life.

Now you realize how God works and what His principle entails. Now you know how to become sons and daughters of God. Now you understand how to become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let's persevere until the final victory is won. Until God declares the final victory, we shall go on. Are you glad I said this?

Today, September 16, those who will fulfill without making any mistakes, raise your hand as a pledge to me. Thank you.

Restoration Means to Trust and Love

Sun Myung Moon
July 13, 1979
Excerpt
God's Will and the World
Myself1
Belvedere, NY

Unofficial Translation

What is the purpose for which God created man? God created man to be His object that would be worthy of His trust -- as an unchanging counterpart to Him. Therefore, throughout history, God has maintained His trust and faith in man even though man had changed all the time. God is willing to trust in you even though you are not trustworthy. He believes in you, even though you betrayed Him. This is how God is. He is willing to love you; and wanting to live with you. I am the same. Your parents are like that too, right?

They believe in and trust people whom they cannot believe. At this standard, you must become an unchanging and pure person. You must know this. A real person should fulfill this standard of trust and love. Do you agree with this? Once you become such people, you will trust each other, love one another and live together. Such a place is the Kingdom of God on earth. That is the Heavenly world. You feel the same, right? You want to have a husband or wife who shares God-like characteristics in terms of love and trust. Everyone feels the same way.

Believe someone who is not worthy of trust, Love someone who is unlovable, and live together with someone who is undeserved. Human beings, then, will be moved and inspired by such unchanging and unconditional love and trust; thus, they will definitely come back to God. In order to keep a path for man to return to Him, God has been conducting His work of restoration in this manner. The reason why Jesus is called a saint is that, subsequently, people in the world have been moved and inspired by the fact that he had loved and blessed his enemies, even on the cross. Therefore, believers wanted to believe in and to live together with Jesus. Jesus, therefore, changed and guided human history.

In the sixty six books of the Bible, you may find various topics and issues; however, in summation, there is no other focal point other than you must trust and love one another, and live together. Then, in Unification Church, who is considered more trustworthy and pure? Such a person would practice continuously believing in people, like God, even though no one can trust them. Then you love people who are unworthy and unlovable to you. You will offer to live together as a brother or sister even though they are not worthy. If you continue practicing this standard, you will definitely be victorious in the environment where you are placed.


Note:

1 In God's Will and World in English Edition includes True Father's sermon "Myself" (Same title) given on January 13, 1980. However, the Japanese Edition includes the sermon in the same title given on July 13, 1979. This is the translation from Japanese edition.

Thanksgiving To God's Will

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
July 8, 1979
Belvedere, Tarrytown, NY
Translator: Bo Hi Pak

You are some of the many young people living in the present time. When we look at young people on the college campuses or on the street, we wonder where they are headed. They live lives of intoxication, but without a goal. They don't care much about the past or worry much about the world, and they don't care too much about the future. They would rather live a free style of life at random, without contemplating any responsibility, and are basically self-centered. They don't worry about such fundamental questions as why man was born.

They have also forgotten about the founding spirit of America, which was basically religious and focused on a God-centered ideology. When you really study the founding spirit of this nation, you come to the conclusion that this nation is really not a democratic country but a religious nation founded on the spirit of God. That has been the national motto.

At the present time, however, America is not living like a religious nation and is even less than a true democracy. Right now the American way of life is totally materialistic and money seems to have become almighty. People are trying to locate human value within the realm of money to such an extent that they are incapable of thinking outside that sphere. But who should be subject, dollars or man? In the present way of life in America none of these things are clearly defined or realized.

In America the most important information is the minimum wage law, which says that a worker is worth at least $2.95 an hour. America is so totally enslaved to the money system that every measure of human value is translated in terms of dollars. When you hear $10.00, you think that is worth three hours. If you loan someone $10.00, you think that you are entitled to three hours of work. Sometimes children loan their parents $100.00, and before thinking of their parents as parents they think, "You owe me thirty hours." It is to the extreme that the money concept dominates all other human relationships.

Money has become the tyrant of America's way of life. Children often resent having poor parents and think that if their parents were better people they would be rich like some other people. Sometimes children are very critical of their parents simply because they are poor.

Particularly when looking for a husband, American women are checking in terms of dollars. "How much is that man worth? " Many women marry because the man is very well off, forgetting, however, that money cannot stay in one place. Once the money is all spent, those women who married for wealth start complaining. If their husbands don't earn good money, the wives become scornful towards them. Money increasingly supercedes other human values, such as character, morality, religion, etc. These are the more valuable things but money seems to be blinding people. This is the kind of life we see around us.

How much value do we have as men and women? Man's value has become so small that people are considered insignificant unless they have money behind them. If offered a choice between having money or good men and women around them, people would normally choose the money. You say no, but that's the way American life seems to be going. When people cannot satisfy their fantasies through money, they seek to intoxicate themselves with other external methods, such as drugs. They are trying to find intoxicating happiness through many external means.

What would be the end result'? The fundamental illness of today's society is irresponsibility. People don't want to take responsibility so they abuse freedom and reject any kind of disciplined or organized life. They have no goal or master plan for their lives so they live capriciously. In the final tragic result of such a life a person will feel he has hit a stone wall and be shattered into pieces. If individuals are living in that fashion, they will form an irresponsible society, which will lead to an irresponsible nation and an irresponsible world.

Knowing that such a way of life will eventually lead to disaster, people must start a trend or new movement that denies the existing value system. We see this trend in the attitudes of young people who question why they need money, democracy, parents, or the institution of marriage. If a person is only denying all the objects of the world without a clear cut goal to substitute for them, he will soon conclude there is no reason to exist and eventually come to deny even himself. He cannot avoid the fact that in this world no one can survive all by himself, so he will either end his own life in despair or live out his days as human trash.

There are two ways to deny life and value. One way is to deny a lesser value by securing a greater value. Denying the lesser value in order to search after a greater value is the right thing, but total, blanket denial is dangerous because then people cease searching after true goals or the true way of life. There are many thinking people in this country who are searching and experimenting with new values. That's how the hippie movement began. But people couldn't find values they were seeking there, and in their search many even ended up in a Communistic way of life without knowing its true nature. They thought they might find something worthwhile in Communism and never realized that once a person gets in he becomes a victim of that philosophy, which denies human value.

In the Communist system no individual, no human rights, and no freedom are recognized. Communism itself becomes god. To ensure the survival of that god, Communists would sacrifice anyone without a second thought. Compared to Communism, human life and even love is considered unimportant, and even the family system is forcibly sacrificed to promote the prosperity of the Communist system. The Communists claim that their ideology will bring utopia, that it is the ideology of ultimate human satisfaction. If that were true, maybe their sacrifice would have some meaning, but we know that Communism is based on lies. There is no truth in it.

Today both Communism and democracy have come to a deadlock. Then what do we need at this juncture of human history? Even though Communism and democracy can be shattered into pieces, there must be one ideal that can survive and clarify the value of human existence. Where can we find this ultimate human value? The dilemma is this: the world is dirty, yet you can never totally deny the whole world and live all by yourself because you need someone to live for. On the other hand, you can't completely embrace the way the world lives either. This is the dilemma of our society today.

No matter how great the democratic ideology is, it cannot digest the human situation, and neither can Communism. Then what kind of ideal do we need? An ideology is needed which can start out small and grow to greater and greater horizons, finding something that is greater than the world, the universe and the cosmos. Some ultimate destination must exist, but without an ideology of this dimension it would be impossible to reach. It is almost like climbing over a mountain with a small ladder. As you climb further and further, instead of finding your small beginning disappearing, you will find it becoming wider and wider and providing you with a much sounder foundation for your further climb. Whoever goes by that route and climbs step by step to the end will win the respect of all people because it's a goal everyone aspires to.

Every individual has certain aspirations and desires to climb higher and higher to a commanding position. You have ambition, don't you? Everyone wants to fulfill his own aspirations, but today most ambition is squelched by the world, and instead of bringing fulfillment it is only one more heavy burden. When all ambition is shattered, your life is hell. No matter how many great things you are given, if you are in that position then nothing can satisfy you because no one lifts your burden. We are in a contradictory position because each individual is small compared to the world, but our ambitions, goals and ideals are so big that they are greater than the universe. This is man's eternal dilemma.

Then how can we satisfy these contradictions? Suppose you become a billionaire. Even with great wealth you are still small compared to the world and are unable to change or deal with the entire world. There is a vast world out there untouched, so where can we find true inner satisfaction? All men and women have an inherent ambition to become conquerors of the world. First, everyone wants to rise to the top of the world, and second, everyone wants to possess the most precious thing in the world. Do only Americans harbor that kind of ambition? All people want to fulfill that kind of dream.

As you know, each person has two aspects, mind and body. Which one should be subject? Which one would you follow? Do you live for your ambition, desire and ideal, or for your physical body? You may work very hard, but is work itself your goal in life, or is it the means to fulfill the goal of your life? That goal is always ahead of you, and though you can't see it you are always working toward it. Then what should become your fundamental concern-giving satisfaction to your mind or your body? Does that mean you neglect to give your body food and sleep? The most ideal situation is to give satisfaction to both your mind and body. In lieu of the ideal, however, there could be a very easy solution: give the body enough to maintain itself, but give the utmost satisfaction to the mind. If there s such a way then that should be the ideal. In other words, you may not eat or dress like a millionaire, yet your mind is infinitely free and happy. Your ideal is there and being fulfilled. The person who lives this way must be a very happy person.

Two ways of life can be seen among men. One kind of person doesn't care about the desire of his mind or about pursuing a larger will or ideal; he just follows the sensual desires of his body for good food, lots of sleep, fun and sex. The other kind of life doesn't pursue the satisfaction of the body but of the desires and goal of his mind. These are the two basic types of life that can be seen in our world today. Which one would you prefer?

What about the happiness of the body? That's happiness, too. A person is basically dominated by the ambitions and desires of his mind, however, which govern his entire life. No matter how some tyrant may try to eliminate ambition or desire from man, it is impossible because a person's goal, desire and ideal are greater than the universe. Each individual has his own universe. When you are centered upon the goal of your mind, even though it seems to be difficult to achieve in the beginning, there is always hope for opening greater horizons everyday. But when you only seek to gratify the desires of your body you know that your momentary pleasure will not last and that you are headed down the road to despair.

Basically we can define good and evil by saying that the direction pursued by the mind is good, while the direction pursued by the body is evil. As a result there are two types of people in our world: conscientious people are trying to satisfy their own consciences, while others are only living for the carnal satisfaction of their bodies.

Who is the man of conscience? He lives for the public purpose and is willing to give himself as a sacrifice. In doing so he sacrifices his outer person, not his inner self, which is steadfast and constant. When you try to be humble and meek, you are making an effort to control your body. At the same time your ideal is not limited but is as free and as great as it can be. Your ideal is pursuing the benefit of others and the public purpose, the purpose greater than yourself. Your mind unceasingly pursues that goal.

National laws or constitutions are enacted in any good nation, basically to enhance the public way of life. The philosophy and basic nature of the law is to uphold the giving way of life and to attempt to limit those who would live only for themselves. Once you make yourself the center and try to pursue only self-centered goals, the more effort you make, the more you narrow down your life, ultimately confining yourself to darkness and despair.

Many people today embrace the "me-first" philosophy. When you pursue that goal, you evaluate everything in terms of how happy it makes you. Actually the opposite will occur; your nation and society will turn away, and your parents, friends, and brothers and sisters will all go away. Even your children will leave you. In the end you will be left all by yourself and you will eventually hit the sharp edge of a stone wall and get a bloody face. The outlook will be so dark that finally you will not be able to see any more hope to continue. Though you tried to be happy and to gain the most for yourself, you actually suffered the most. Your suffering begins inside yourself because you will be struggling with your conscience.

Everyone has another public man inside himself who keeps insisting that living selfishly is wrong. The person who tries to ignore his conscience is only torturing himself. If a dog barks at him, his first reaction will be to think that the dog doesn't like him. If he passes by Belvedere and hears the birds singing, he won't think their songs are for the glory of God, but will feel the birds are criticizing him.

A person who is this self-centered is so closed that he cannot relate to anything. Consequently he is perpetually scared to death that everything is coming against him. In the end, he will feel he is no good and that everything is against him and then he will want to kill himself. That is why the suicide rate in this country is phenomenal. The statistics show that last year at least 38,000 young people committed suicide, and the rate of attempted suicides was 50 per cent greater than that. This is the reality, but it is only the logical outcome of the way America is heading now.

Where are you? Have you hit the stone wall? There is one hope for democracy, for this nation and the free world, and that is to create a movement that will deny the materialistic and self-centered outlook. We must find the way of life in which our greatest ambition and ideal can be freely pursued and a sense of fulfillment attained. Even the smallest person has a dream and a goal and wants to possess the entire world. That is an undeniable dream.

Everyone also has the desire to be liked by everyone and everything, even the birds and the flowers. That's a natural desire, but how can we satisfy it? It's impossible to erase this desire from within yourself. Do you want to possess the United States or the world? When you go beyond America, you do it joyfully because you receive the world instead of one nation. What is greater than the world? When you receive a greater value, you can give up a lesser value without any complaint. The earth is a very small particle compared to the universe, so if you can own the universe then you are willing to give up the world. Is there something greater than the universe? If there is some greater value than the universe, then in order to receive that value you can gladly give up the universe. What is greater than the universe? How do you know there is a God? Have you seen Him?

Deciding whether or not there is a God is really a problem for many people. When you look at the universe, however, would your logic tell you that everything came about at whim or random, or that there is someone who planned and willed the universe to exist? We live in a solar system in which the earth is but a very small particle, and there are millions of other solar systems and galaxies in our universe. These heavenly bodies are not stagnant or still like a dead fly on the wall, but are in constant orderly motion. Not one heavenly body is standing still for one second. Have you ever heard of a traffic accident between planets in the universe? The earth has been rotating for millions of years, but have you ever read that one day God's alarm clock didn't work and the earth didn't get in on time and 365 days became 379 days? The exactness of the universal movement cannot be compared to any man-made computer system.

Is it logical for someone to say that all these things just happened at random with no will behind them? The logical answer is that there must be some cause or will which preceded all existence. There was an invisible cause somewhere and the universe was the result.

During my school days I knew many people, some of whom were Communists who argued that material is real because they could see and touch it, but God is a fantasy because He can't be seen. I said to one fellow, "You believe in logic, don't you?" He replied, "Yes." "Then if I logically explain that there is God, would you accept it? Let me ask you a question. Do you know the history of your eye? Where did your eyeball originate? The first man on earth must have had eyes, and whether born with his eyes open or closed, he eventually opened his eyes and saw." This person knew that no baby has his eyes open in his mother's womb, so he said, "I'm sure that baby's eyes were closed before he was born." "When you close your eyes, do you see your eyeball?" I asked. "Then was the eye the result of some accident?"

He replied that it must have happened at random because there is no will in such a thing. Then I asked him which came first, the sun or the eye. The eye was made to perceive light, and without it the eye has no function. The eye of the baby inside the mother's womb didn't know the sun was shining, but someone else had to know because the eye is made in such a way that it can function in sunlight. The eye didn't know but some cosmic knowledge knew and matched the sun's rays with the eye.

If everything can happen at random then the eye could have been like the sole of your foot. "Now think," I said. "Was there some knowledge prerequisite to your birth and the creation of your eye." There was some universal intelligence existing that organized the two to match. Either the eye knew everything that was going on outside and decided to become as it is, or else there must be some outside will or intelligence which matched the eye to the sunrays. The eye certainly had no consciousness of it. Then what do you think? There must be some previous intelligence. You may call him anything, but we happen to call him God.

"Before you were born, did your eyelash know that there would be lots of dust in the air? Some will or universal intelligence knew there was air and dust outside and that your eye needed something to prevent the dust from coming into the eye. There is also a water supply which moistens your eye all the time. Do you think the eye knew that there was heat and dry air outside that would prevent the eye from functioning unless there was moisture always available?"

"Do you know how hard your eye works? Try lifting your hand and blinking it all day long like your eye does. It's hard work, isn't it? If your eye was open 24 hours a day it would dry out like a fish eye after three days. But because your eyelids blink, your eyes are cleansed and moistened. If someone says that everything happened at random and no one planned this universe, I have to say he is crazy. How can you say that material comes first and spirit second," I asked this communist. I was young and very excited, and at the end of our heated argument the first Communist surrendered to me.

From today on, when you look in the mirror look at your eye and appreciate it. "God, thank you for giving me a built-in water hose and for eyes that blink."

When I first came to America and saw how women here talk so fast, I wondered how their lips could work that quickly. What kind of incredible skin did God give to American women? When you think of the beauty of man and the intricacy of the human body, you come to the conclusion that the human body is a mystery palace. There is incredible beauty and mystery within your one body, which is a microcosm of the universe. One human body is so delicate and complex that the entire universe cannot compare with it.

The human ideal is infinitely gigantic and there is no limit to the capability of man's mind. Every man is born with ambition. The ultimate question is: If there is an Almighty God, would you want to possess Him? There is only one God, but billions of people want him. So what should we do? To whose home should He go? If God has only one body and everyone wants Him, it's a great problem. God thought, "Everyone wants me, so in order for me to go to everyone's home I should be invisible. Now I'm available to everyone and they will come to me in spirit."

With what spiritual substance would God want us to make a relationship with Him? With what kind of love? Does true love have a string attached? When you go to God with true love, He has no sensation, but as soon as you contact Him with true love He will jump from the shock of it. You don't want to touch a live wire, do you? If you attach a live wire to a wooden stick and touch someone with it, he won't feel any sensation. If you connect it to metal, he will feel some sensation, but if you connect it to pure gold then all the electricity will be conducted and the person will really jump.

God said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." The love God is talking about is not just wooden love or metal love, but genuine gold love with 100 per cent conductability. When the gold wire is connected to a source of electricity it doesn't make any difference whether it's 1,000 miles away or one mile because the same sensation and power are conducted. There are all kinds of love, but true love has that 100 per cent conductability. What kind of love do you have?

Are your body and mind united into one, or is there some struggle within you? Your mind and body may be pretty good friends, but you should make them absolute friends. Are you the kind of person whose mind conceives some thought and whose body then gets excited and echoes that thought to your mind? This morning your mind said to go to Belvedere early and sit right in front of me, but your body said to forget 'it and sleep a couple of hours longer. Normally does your body come to Belvedere first and then your mind follow, or does your mind come first and your body follow? Your mind comes to Belvedere and then your body wakes up and says, "Mind, where are you? I want to go to Belvedere too. Why did you leave me?" Do your mind and body work together as one team and does your body respond quickly to your mind? If that is the case then your mind and body are one. If you are genuine gold, you should act like that. What is your real situation?

The man of conscience always has his body under control. God is invisible, but we know through Divine Principle that God has internal and external characteristics, sung sang and hyung sang. Even though God is invisible, He has two parts which work together 100 per cent. When you love someone with your mind and body in total oneness, you are completely flexible and can penetrate anything. The heart of God is perhaps the most impenetrable of all things, but when a bullet of gold love hits it, even God surrenders. When true love hits the heart of God, it causes the greatest thunder and lightning.

Even the birds sing songs of love in the spring. Then how much more glorious would it be for man, God's greatest creation, to sing an eternal love song? Their love together would be the supreme power. Have American men and women thought about noble and true love? When that love hits men and women, they become totally consumed into love. How can two things which are utterly melted into one be separated? Even at death that love cannot be parted. If I think and preach in this fashion, how much more must God have this conviction?

Is there divorce in the spirit world? Are you convinced you can give a shock treatment to God with true love? Do you want to be the men and women of love? How beautiful you are. When you look at each face here, there is none that is truly ugly. When you just look at the surface it may be sometimes ugly, but when you see the origin of your life, everything is so beautiful. When you know your true origin, everything on your face-your eyes, nose, teeth, lips, hair, ears-possesses incredible beauty and mystery.

Do I look like an ugly man, like a potato or pumpkin? Even if I do, it doesn't make any difference. When men and women come into the Unification Church do they love me? Is it because I give you sweet things all the time? Your simple answer is that you like me, even if you don't know why. When you come to see me you feel different vibrations, don't you? People outside our Church can't understand these vibrations and so they decided you must be brainwashed. They are trying to describe me, but they can't do it because these vibrations can't be detected by any instrument.

When sunrays shine onto a dirty mirror they aren't reflected well, but a clean mirror gives 100 per cent reflection. If sunlight is being reflected from a mirror into a cold room, then warmth and light come in there. You feel that reflected warmth and move closer to it. I am like a mirror reflecting God's love, so in this cold and freezing world you want to come closer to be warm.

If I taught that there was no love and no ideal, would it do any good for you to come here? If I only craved power and money, there would be no attraction or vibration between us. God doesn't need money or power or knowledge. God needs only two items: true life and true love. True life is lived by men and women who have mind and body united. What is true love? It is the infinite give and take between God and yourself. Only through true love can you have give and take with God heartistically. Our ambition is bigger than the universe. If there is a God then we want to conquer Him, but there are many different ways to possess God. You can possess God's wealth, God's things, or you can hold God's hand or body, but the ultimate way to possess God is to conquer His heart.

The heart has different contents, so where would you like to concentrate? The center of the heart of God is love, and in the deepest corner of God's heart is true love. The Unification Church was born in heart, shimjung. You don't have a word in English to translate shimjung, so I created a new word, heartle. The wisest men and women aim at this innermost heart of God. Snatch it and put it in your pocketbook, for as long as you have God's heart in your possession He cannot leave you.

Imagine a gigantic powerhouse generating millions of watts of electricity. If that power is burning within instead of being sent out over the lines, how big an explosion will be generated? The power of it will shock the world. This is what I am like inside.

When you touch true love you can taste and appreciate it, and then when you look at the spirit world you understand it completely. In true love there is nothing you cannot see, so getting a diploma from Harvard or Yale isn't worth as much; in true love you have the highest education of all. When you look at the world through the eyes of true love, you already know the world. When you look at the spirit world through the eyes of true love, you already know what is there. There is nothing more you can learn.

If that is the case, are you an unhappy, miserable person? If you have this ambition and come to experience true love, is there anything else you need? No more effort is needed because you have reached the peak and you can stay there for eternity. You live in love, dance in love, sing in love.

If that is the case, do you think love should be the ultimate goal of life? Then what is the Unification Church for? We are very greedy people, so greedy that we want to possess the universe and more. No matter how much we are persecuted, we persevere because we are greedy. I, for example, am the greediest Moonie and I go on and on because nothing bothers me. We are so greedy that we can't stop until we reach the heart of God. Once you arrive at the center, you can occupy the precious heart of God. Then the whole universe and the entire world of persecution will be turned around.

Recently a report came from Scotland about a minister who was so vicious in his attacks on us that one day as he was making an anti-Moon speech he collapsed and was taken away on a stretcher. We don't advertise such events, but many such mysterious things have happened around me throughout my life. The Japanese members had a certain fund raising goal to meet this year, and it was reported to me that most of the result is coming through the activity of spirit world. Often a person has received a revelation or had a dream to have a certain amount of money waiting. Then when our member knocks on the door, his response is, "Please come in. I was waiting for you."

The other day Mr. Kamiyama met with me and we discussed whether the outstanding MFT (Mobile Fundraising Team) members would like to receive good watches. Mr. Kamiyama said they didn't want anything like that; they wanted a picture signed by me instead. Unification Church members don't care about money. It has no value to them. Can you find young people anywhere in the world who say they don't need money? That's why people think you are crazy. In the world money governs everything, but in our world money has no power. Everything is secondary to receiving the love of God.

Do I have lots of money or very little money? I myself don't have any money, but when some goal is given to raise money in fifty days, can I do it? Everyone thinks I am a billionaire but my pockets are empty. I have a need for money because there is so much to do, but not a single penny goes for my own well-being. It all goes for the sake of the world. Therefore, I don't love money. I love God and mankind, so money is merely the instrument with which to do God's work.

A diamond ring is actually only valuable as an expression or an accessory of love. The money I spend is also an accessory of the love of God. I would like to give every American a diamond ring as an expression of God's love. In a way I am doing that now, and because our work represents God's love it would be more precious than any other diamond under the sun, even the First Lady's diamond.

People know that I am doing many projects and spending much money, but they only see that external aspect. What they do not know is that this expenditure of money is an accessory of the beautiful love of God. The day will come, however, when Americans will know the true meaning of my presence in this country and my projects here. Once they come to understand the core of it, they will cry out in praise. If this generation doesn't do it, your ancestors who are already in spirit world will do it. This is the truth.

The man who pursues the "me-first", materialistic goal will hit a stone wall because he is living a contradiction between his mind and body. The ultimate freedom and liberation is not offered by democracy or Communism, but by the one ideology which will offer total harmony between man's mind and body. That is Godism, the absolutely God-centered ideology. The Unification Church possesses the ideology that can satisfy the infinite ambition, will and ideal of man. That means we have the possibility to help man settle in the ideal world.

No matter how powerful or greedy a person might be, the love of God can satisfy him instantly. The purpose of life here on earth is to develop our sensitivity and capacity to have give and take of love with God. That's the way God intended life to be, but because the fall of man shattered everything into pieces we need salvation and restoration. The consequence of the fall was the total loss of everything, and the most precious thing to mankind -- God. God is our common parent, the beginning and end, alpha and omega. When we discover our eternal king, we discover ourselves as eternal princes and princesses. The ideal world is the atmosphere or circumstance in which that prince and princess can receive a formal education of the love of God.

The love of God will fill you according to the size of your container. When you have a greater container, more love comes. Our job here on earth is to expand the capacity of our containers. Are we then creating a better world than the democratic and Communist worlds?

The American people are basically smart, so when they compare the conventional way of life and this new way of life, they will see that the new way is a greater, more valuable way. Then they will get rid of their old mode of life.

When you come to the Unification Church you can find an incredible value that cannot be swapped for anything. Sometimes your parents or your society persecute or kidnap you, but nothing can stop you because you have found your ultimate value. If you are kidnapped, will you want to stay with the kidnappers? If loving husbands tell their wives to stop coming, will all the wives not come again? Even your husband should not be allowed to become a barrier between you and the ultimate love of God. That doesn't mean he should be cut off but that his wife must win him. Go to the goal and come back with a rope strong enough to pull him there with you.

If two people are caught in a flood, the best way for both to be saved is for one to somehow reach shore, anchor himself and then pull the other to safety with a rope. That's the way you must think about your life now. Sometimes your parents can't understand your mission and don't have the patience to delay judgment about what you are doing. Nevertheless, many members have succeeded in winning their parents.

When God looks down at how the secular world is doing things and how we are doing things, which side do you think He will take? If God doesn't support me but sides with the world, when the world crumbles God will crumble too. Do you think God can afford to crumble? There are many prayers petitioning God for my removal, such as "God, Reverend Moon is a heretic from the Orient. Please summon him to spirit world soon so that we can be without him." Do you think God will listen to that prayer? He comes to me and says, "My son, this person is praying for your death. But keep going 100 per cent."

The Unification Church will provide the ultimate satisfaction. We have the ideology and the way of life to attain the ultimate ambition and ideal that mankind can possess. But at the same time, Unification Church members are not living in a fantasy on cloud nine. We are bringing practical restoration starting at the individual level by upholding one central way of life. First you perfect the individual, then restore your mate, create your family and have children. Finally you change your society, nation and world. We have a practical master plan to build the kingdom of God here on earth.

Ultimately when we restore the entire world we will liberate God. Have you ever heard anyone talk about liberating God? It is an incredible proclamation. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God loves the world, but the circuit of love has been broken and God is not in a position to truly love the world now. We must liberate God so that the circuit can be reconnected and God can truly love the world once more.

There are many ideologies in the world, but nothing that surpasses this Godism that I am proclaiming. All the great professors and theologians are entitled to inherit these things, but the inheritance is going elsewhere instead. The inheritance of the blessing is one thing, but fulfilling the responsibility that comes with it is the problem. You can do it, however, because the message is a simple one. No one is asking you to lecture at Harvard University; all God is asking you to do is practice true love.

There is a specific way to practice our love of God, and your 360 home area is your battleground. This is your university curriculum. You should receive at least eighty points of credit, so in order to make this grade at least 288 homes in your area must say, "Yes, you are truly my tribal messiah. You are a great savior and subject of love." What kind of men and women should you become in your Home Church? Suppose there is a newly married couple who have just come back from their honeymoon. If they are in the bedroom when you knock on the door, then they should want to jump up to greet you.

The amazing thing in the Unification Church is that wherever I go, no matter how much a couple love each other, they follow me rather than each other. You should also be followed and respected to that degree. If you truly represent God then your Home Church people should respect you that much. Recently I tested what kind of standard our married couples live by and called all the wives to assemble for new missions. All the husbands urged their wives to go instead of trying to hold them back.

There is no doubt that I have become controversial, but it was inevitable because without undergoing persecution we could not kindle the revolution of love in this world. We are the planters of the universal standard of love on the individual level, and when you extend this standard it will cover the family, tribe, nation and the entire world. That's the way step-by-step restoration will be conducted. Are we doing it? We possess the loftiest ideology, but at the same time we have a very realistic master plan to fulfill it. We are not just dreamers. Every individual knows where he is standing now, what he has achieved and how much further he has to go. You know whether you have passed the examination, or are just a first or second grade student because you have a standard to measure by. We have triumphed over the individual, family, nation, world and spirit world.

With this central standard we are changing ourselves. The important thing is to deny the world first and then to rebuild it. When you deny the old, you already have a responsibility to build something better. I deny the democratic world and the Communist world because I have a plan to build a better America and world. It is only upon that condition that I can speak out. If you just deny for the sake of denying, you will become the enemy of this nation and of the world.

The only thing I want to say to those who deny me is this: show me your blueprint to make this nation better, and to make this world better. If you don't believe me, show me a better alternative. But no one has submitted a better proposal. Therefore, we can come to the conclusion that I have already won this battle.

Do you think I am just sitting idle because of all the persecution that has been directed against me? I am thinking of all possible ways to go. I lived in the worst kind of concentration camp for several years. Do you think I just sat back passively and waited for something better to happen? That is not the way I am. I thought out every possible way to solve the situation. As an individual and as the head of a family I have fulfilled my responsibility. As the head of the society, nation and world I have been fulfilling responsibilities as well.

When we had the 705 couples engagement, I declared to you that we are the love race. Does the love race consist of white marrying white, black marrying black and yellow marrying yellow? It was beautiful to have a lovely white woman say, "Give me a black husband." When God saw that did He say, "What's wrong with you? You will stain your beauty by forsaking your tradition that way. Don't do it"? No, God said," She is part of my love race." That is not just an ideal. It has become reality. The world is small for Unification Church members. Going to England is like a weekend sightseeing trip.

Where are all your chairs? You are sitting for hours on a concrete floor. Because we live with all kinds of cultures, we can be comfortable wherever we go. In Asia, Africa, Europe, South America we are comfortable because we have the capacity to embrace different cultures. I am doing the most incredible mission possible, but is this making everyone miserable and unhappy? Before we began our new life we were lost people. We had lost God, the universe, the world, the nation, and ourselves. But as soon as we came to this new vision of the world, we found we got everything back and more. Now our hearts are filled with gratitude and excitement. That should be our way of life.

When people persecute you, have mercy on them instead of being mad at them. Have a compassionate mind which is big enough to embrace them and smile. Actually, they are jealous of your position. They feel you have come to this position without any qualification and that they should have come first. That's why they come against you. By persecuting you, they will make you greater sons and daughters of God because through them you can fulfill all the qualifications. Don't go in a mediocre way but prove yourself worthy.

I created the Home Church system to give you an arena in which to be persecuted and to realize what your position is, to feel gratitude and really live the heart of God. You must have a grateful heart and really understand the life we are living at this time in history. We know the most precious truth under the sun so now we have a great responsibility. The entire world is like a rag that we must mend, and even though our hands are roughened and hardened by mending this dirty rag, we will be grateful.

Even though you have been persecuted, you can be grateful for being born in this country because it is here that we met. Thank your father and mother for giving you birth at this particular time in history. Be grateful to all the teachers who instructed you, to everyone who benefited you so that you could be in this position today. Thank all things of creation which provide you with physical food. Thank the birds for singing a beautiful song of God. Thank the farmers and their fields for providing for you.

Declare to all creation that you have become the princes and princesses of true love and love them as a representative of God. Love the grass and the trees. The entire earth is like a glacier, so now you must bring the warmth of the love of God and enable the earth to truly feel the cosmic spring. Do you feel the joy of being the harbinger of the cosmic spring? Feel the warmth in your heart, that satisfaction and purpose of life. Look at the world and all things of creation with that frame of mind. We have discovered God's will and dispensation and will live on earth in eternal faith and gratitude.

Even though your heart is willing to give thanksgiving to God, sometimes your body lets you down. Always repent that your body can't keep up with your will. That way God will be very sympathetic with you. Can you complain then? The moment you know the will of God and His dispensation there is no way you are entitled to utter even one word of complaint until you die. You should not even know how to complain. Are you living that way? Even though you go through the valley of the shadow of death, fear no evil but be grateful instead. We have so much to be grateful for. We should begin our life in gratitude and end our life in gratitude. With this heart you can desire to bear a greater burden and be grateful for it.

If anyone lives this way of life and it comes to no avail, then he can accuse me. I myself have lived this life and been persecuted, but many incredible things happened. When other people wanted to see me destroyed, God was right behind me and I became more and more prosperous year by year.

The road of dispensation is our way of life and the way we can restore the individual, family, tribe, nation and world. Our way of life is the way of restoration. Every feeling and sensation in your body should be an expression of gratitude. Would you be grateful to the will of God? After working all day in the heat like a horse, would you be grateful at night when you come back home? One brother requested a Korean bride, but I gave him a white woman instead. Is that reason to complain? You must always think you were given the best.

Recently I declared an emergency situation at The News World and now everyone is going out to get fifty subscriptions. Should you be doing that with a complaining heart? Would you wish I would go away because you don't want to do it?

Mother has carried many children and her physical ordeal is great, but my mandate to her was that she must have twelve children. Should Mother pray to God, "My husband is crazy. How can I have twelve children? Could you somehow convince him to be satisfied with less than that?" Mother is precious because she is grateful to God for her mission. It is an incredible mission but that's why she is even more grateful. That is also why each child is more beautiful and great than the ones before. Then Mother wants to give more because God is rewarding us in such a fantastic way. God shows His love by blessing this family.

If you want to start complaining, you have all kinds of reasons to do so. "Why do I have a flat chest," or "Why do I have no hips?" God has a reason for everything so you should be grateful for whatever you have. If you are big and walk heavily, think of the thin person who looks at you and is grateful to be thinner. Have that kind of serving attitude. When your body has some abnormal condition, you are serving some godly purpose.

If you are crippled, thank God. There are many healthy people who don't appreciate their condition, but when they look at you they must appreciate being given two healthy legs.

We have gotten so involved this morning that we have forgotten the time and it's almost time for the Home Church service. So in conclusion, everyone lift your hands and open your eyes and mouth and thank God. God bless you.

Opening Talk - Morning Session Fourth Directors' Conference

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
Fourth Directors' Conference
Master Speaks
July 4, 1973
Translated by Mr. David S. C. Kim

Now, this place is to produce world leaders, here at Belvedere. Sometimes we have to dig the whole ground, too, if necessary. Sometimes we may not have this kind of privilege, having tractors to ride around on -- we may have to go back to the old way of digging. Our tractor will be the peak. So, there is a need for this kind of training.

So, you have to have an international sense in your work -- you've got to realize that. You are not going to stay forever in America. You should know all four directions, east, west, north and south, if you are to be a great leader. To say that you know only the east side of the geographical territory is not to say you know the full territory. You have got to know the rest of it also. You may not know the real meaning of hunger -- you, have never experienced it -- you just know how to talk about it. You don't know what the real taste of hunger is. When you really experience hunger -- you know, fasting -- when you actually fast for seven days, you will know what the taste is of good food or even poor food -- what the real taste is. When you reach your peak, after seven days -- going from seven days to eight days -- then you may, think, "I will eat something." But you have to realize, have to think within yourself, how wonderful the taste will be when you eat the rice or the food after seven days -- even if you are thinking 15 minutes later, "My time is here."

So, training all the time, training, training. Special training, on a continual basis, for, a stronger army and troops. This is the common sense of the logical or scientific. How well you can, perform the part unless you practice it, you train yourself -- just by shouting, you are not going to break the bricks, (you know what I mean) -- you have got to be trained. Then, you actually produce the results of bringing the greater -- continual basis of trying and practice. The accumulation of the force of power is that you can break the bricks, Before you reach your thirties our Family should receive intensive training in many, many, areas. Even he (Master), planned his own life: with preparation up to 33 years of age; up to 45, he was practicing; the rest of his life, after 45 years of age, he planned for his accomplishments -- the consummation of his mission. So, he lives his life according to the schedule. So, the preparation period takes a certain amount of time. So, if you miss that kind of second realization period, or practicing period, it is too late, too late to do God's will. You haven't planned your life. All this preparation and practicing -- then you can be successful. Success does not come in an instant, without any labor -- like a miracle. You have to do it by yourself.

In 1945, he began to establish the sacred Holy Grounds. In the 1960's, he, set up the worldwide mission he is now launching -- that you area, part of. He is like this, scheduled already. But if you don't have a preparation period, for your training, all of your life will be nullified and invalid. And when the time comes for the practicing period you will be missing that important part (the preparation period) of your training. That period is very important. During his thirties, he tested all kinds of leaders in Korea and Japan -- he himself visited, investigated, prepared for the future. He did this in his thirties. When you prepare some kind of a feast, big party, you cannot be sleepy -- you have to work hard. Same thing: you have to have preparation; no time to be relaxed, no time to be lazy. You have to be busy during the practicing period. The problem is: who is going to put more time in, where do we get more time? The only place you can get your extra time from is your leisure time, your resting time, your free time. Master eats his meal in three minutes. So you have to prepare your stomach to quickly receive food, even in three minutes. Some times, he eats without chewing the rice in his mouth or, putting the rice in his mouth -- for a certain purpose. Then you will not have any problem with stomach disease.

So, in case of war, we have to train ourselves, for the rainy day, for the war to come, train yourselves. Sometimes you have to sleep sitting up. So when Master goes somewhere in the car, he is sleeping while sitting up. You have to know yourself, be analysts of your own physical body: how much you have, how much is your maximum. You have to know your body. Even now, he sleeps only two to three hours per day. He watches and studies TV and English until three o'clock -- until you are sound asleep. He sleeps from four to six, two hours sometimes he sleeps; this is now his schedule. Sometimes you are tired, your eyes are bugging out -- this is how to release it. You have to have some secret of exercising. You look like an ogre (he did not say "ogre") -- but this kind of a face. You have to think of taking care of your body. Massaging will have an equivalent effect.

If you have a bad physical condition, another force is moving within your body -- overwhelming -- that disease or fatigue will be ousted from your body, so you become fresh -- if you use this practice of massaging your vein system, it can be positive if you are sick. So, he uses this method. You are perspiring -- this fatigue will be going away -- so suddenly he becomes fresh, as if he had slept eight hours. In five or ten minutes, he is perspiring and then he is relaxed and his fatigue is gone. So this is give and take -- exhaust pipe and then you are filling up with gas -- and give and take is important within your physical body. Some of the joints in your legs are very important when you are becoming old; you have to take care of them. Our Master, preparing for future events, is taking care of his joints. So, he is a fast, fast walker -- the fastest walker. Usually, he goes hunting in the mountains -- not necessarily looking for game, but for the exercise, for keeping his body in shape. So you have to always train yourself -- so as not to be deteriorating your health level. Your body is so precious, you have to, take good care of your body -- you have to be in good shape. When you get married, blessed, and have children -- you have no time to train yourself. While you are single and have precious time -- you have got to have this kind of training.

So it is his philosophy of life to let you people be trained until your thirties -- some say above thirty -- but the same "thirty" category. That area -- you have to be trained, and intensively in many areas. The same thing if you are going to a big family, you have got to have lots of collections. Same thing when you are (changing) your way of life, you have got to be prepared. A voyager needs what -- in the sea you need to be prepared, for the rainy days, for the stormy days, rain and storm, hurricane. So this is good for you to hear.

So, even when he goes shopping for the European leaders -- I don't know what they got -- he is faster, he is surpassing everybody, he is faster than anyone else. Usually a woman -- maybe Mother -- Mother takes three hours, when she need only go an hour -- one third, like that. In three minutes he will finish it -- one, two, three. In three hours, he can look at 300 suits and know which to buy and which to wear -- because he was trained in this area while he was young, when he was in his thirties. So he already trained himself. When he sees something, he thinks, "What is the center, what is the main theme of it, what are its contents?" He is trained to suddenly visualize what is the subject -- where is the subject position? -- he reasons that way -- the subject-object relationship. Where is the four-directional existence? -- he sees it like that -- he was trained in that way. Horizontally or vertically, he sees through it, and he knows if it is harmonized or not harmonized or anything like that -- anything (human, relations, etc.) object anything, any being. So when he looks at a person's face -- his body is the center. What are this man's characteristics? -- right there -- he sees that. He sees not only the external appearance -- he sees more. Sometimes the center of the person is the hips -- too wide; sometimes the legs are too long, sometimes they are balanced or unbalanced -- is it beautiful there or ugly there? So when he looks at the face, is it harmonized or not? Location of the eyebrows or nose -- how is it situated, how is it located? -- he sees that. When he looks at the mouth, he sees the, arrangement of the teeth. He sees the characteristics of this guy or this girl -- right there. When he looks at someone's hairstyle -- he feels bad, he just doesn't like it -- suddenly, he sees why he doesn't like it, he finds some error there. If that face becomes a looking down face, if you are all the time gloomy -- then the gloominess becomes ugly. Even when you laugh or smile -- your smile will be sinking down, while it should be lifted up; because of this kind of facial expression, you have the wrong expression. Sometimes laughing or smiling helps somebody to climb up -- it is giving an uplifting feeling -- sometimes the smiling will come up. This kind of thing, he sees this in you people. Subject-object relationship based on Principle, he sees this way; he Principally sees and talks and lives it.

So when you look at him, in a second he picks everything up, right there. Now Mr. Aum is an expert in [architecture] the whole of his life. And our Master, Father, looks at this fountain, he looks at it differently -- right there, he gives a critique -- what the center is. He is the only specialist in the world -- our Master knows everything. Then he said, Mr. Aum said, "Where did you learn all this, specially?" If the specialist looks at something -- what he says should fit the Principle. If truth is truth, beauty is beauty, and so forth. So, he cannot be contradictory. So an expert's view should correspond to his view -- because he is based on the Principle. Even a necktie, when he picks it up and gives it to somebody, he sees it in different combinations. The changing variety of beauty -- even in wearing a man's tie -- always brings a different handsomeness or beautification.

So if you have got this kind of talent -- you have got to be based on the Principle -- then automatically, you will train yourself to see this way, to have a deep perception. So even if he sits by himself, he does not feel lonely. Everything -- many things to look at -- this way he is enjoying it, even when he is alone. He creates another curiosity, another interest. All day, by himself, he is doing something else. Somebody may say, "Why is he sitting all day here?" -- but he is doing something else, internally. We all see the trees, the highway, all the grasses -- why is this planted here? -- he is criticizing and trying to relocate it. He has his own hobby, heavenly hobby, even when he is alone. For this, he needed training. It did not come about overnight.

When you confront hardship, trouble and suffering, this is a symbol that goodness or happiness shall come through this hardship. You have to indoctrinate yourself. Hardship and trouble are necessary for us to overcome, to bring others. This is a sinful world anyway, a world full of junk. You don't think that way, you never thought about that -- this kind of philosophical connotation. Trouble is for future happiness. Then, if you get through the persecution and the trouble, when you pass through, happiness comes, success comes -- there is a real feeling of success. There is value right there, because you have a comparison: hardship is overcome, then success comes. When you have more hardship, more persecution, more rejection, then you expect more success, more happiness, more good results. That is the way you have to dive into this thinking, this kind of positivity. You will have the attitude, "What kind of trouble is coming, what kind of hardship is coming?" You are interested to know what will be next; you look forward to the problems. If you are scared, you are right there a victim, bait for the devil, Satan. If you are this type of person, you will never get it, you are not qualified. Instead of tackling the problem, you escape, scared. That is exactly the way that Satan wants you to be.

Now, if you want to be a number one honor student, that is not easy -- you have to got to work hard. You cannot cheat. Honor students, it is not easy. So if the trend is that all average American boys and girls, men and women, escape from trouble, while our Unification Church members go in and tackle and solve the problem -- naturally, they will respect you as a leader of this nation. Why not look for trouble? So, he wants you to have more training; he thinks you need more training. Then, how do you think now? Would you like to rob a house -- how do you feel right now? [Great!]

If you have knowledge, if you know the meaning of something, you feel wonderful, beyond the physiological barrier, or inconvenience. So the Bible says that if you know the truth, the truth will liberate you. That is exactly what he is talking about.

Now, only one person -- question will be answered. You have the feeling, "if I meet our True Parents, I will ask him a directed, serious question." Then, only one person will be allowed at this moment to ask him a question before our formal conference begins. Now, who has a serious question? A deeper question, which cannot be answered by your local teachers. Only one person, who has a meaningful question, can have this privilege -- it must be a serious question.

Question: What is the meaning of Brezhnev coming to the United States?

Answer: You better ask President Nixon -- write him. That is a serious political question, but not for this setting.

Question: Well -- most of us have come from Christian backgrounds -- and a question that has really been bothering me is exactly how much did Jesus accomplish -- because it seems like he accomplished very little. I just wondered how much he really did accomplish.

Answer: Nothing. There was but one thing left. He died for God and heaven -- that is the only thing he accomplished. He died, "Not my will, but I'll die for God" -- that is the only thing he left. Nothing was accomplished, nobody, no disciples at all, nothing, just death. Christianity started after his death anyway.

How serious have you been? How serious have you felt when eating? Have you thought about it? There is a seriousness in everything. Even at this moment, many people are dying -- for this serious aspect -- because of the food problem. How seriously have your eyes been looking at the people? Have you thought how seriously you wanted to see those persons -- seriously wanted to see somebody through your eyes? How seriously have you wanted to listen through the physical part of your ear? How seriously are you trying to touch with your sense of touch? How serious have you become? How seriously have you felt within yourself -- your feelings, inside, how much you have become? So this degree of seriousness in these five senses must be different in you -- in everybody to a different degree. We cannot see this. Always, when you look at this, there is a difference in seriousness; you cannot say that you started from the same point of seriousness of these five senses -- you never started there. When you are working, how seriously have you thought while you are working, "Why am I working; why am I walking on the street?" Have you seriously thought about that? Even your sleeping: instead of just sleeping biologically, how much have you been sleeping with a meaningful seriousness? How seriously have you ever thought about something coming from your mouth -- the word of God?

During your 30 years of age (using this as an example), when and during which years have you ever seriously spent your life? How much of that time have you spent seriously? When (in relation to this question), you are not absolutely serious, you are just casually passing by. When you look at this kind of a thing, when you look at your body, your person as a person, this means you did not think seriously of God's will. Naturally, we can reach safely . . . your body, your self, was not becoming seriously centered on God's will.

If you become serious with your five senses, in everything, then naturally your being, your self, will be fitting to God's overall plan, dispensation or will. It is supposed to be fitting. When your friend or relative is dying, then you become serious -- but we have here a much more serious condition. When you are doing God's will, things are more serious than people dying, more important than your best friend dying. So, to what degree must we become more serious in centering on God's will? There are many, many serious things in this world. One's family may be destroyed or corrupted, there may be a national disaster; but God is more serious, it is more serious to do God's work, to center on God's will. You have to realize this. (If God's will is not fulfilled) then the whole nation will be destroyed, not just families and individuals. There is a more serious dispensational meaning behind God's will than the idea that the whole world is going to be doomed to destruction. If this nation of America -- God's blessed nation -- does not become serious in taking this kind of responsibility, according to God's point of view, then God's Will will be nullified. This nation will then be destroyed. If there are any groups of people who think along this line, who are concerned about the destiny of the world as a whole -- even if America is doomed to destruction -- then God will be with this kind of group -- if they are more concerned about the world than about their own national situation. If there are no groups in this nation who are this serious, then God will find people in another country -- people who are more serious and more dedicated than any other persons or nations in the world. God would be pleased with them. There is no (other) salvation. Even if God smites that nation, that is the only group of people that can save that situation. Thus, God will abide with that group.

Even those spirits who died in America, if they don't have this type of seriousness, then there is no way for them to be saved, even in the spirit world. Do you understand, at least vaguely? You don't know how much our Master, the True Parents, are serious about God's will -- nobody knows. So, all the time you criticize him, centering on yourself, not centering on God's will -- there is a vast difference.

If you do not succeed this time, by following His will, there will be more hardship, more serious persons, more than our Master. There is no other way to come out and save the whole nation, the whole world. This is a serious problem: centering on God's will. How serious are you about centering on God's will? The Heavenly Father and our Master are seriously looking at everything, perceiving everything centered on God's will. This is a most serious matter. We have to go beyond the waiting from above, from Him; we have to go beyond that. We have to be . . . beforehand, you should be ahead of His plan. If you are serious enough, you will do that. That's why he is talking about this issue, this problem of seriousness centering on God's will. There is a difference between your seriousness and God's seriousness. It cannot be the relative position . . . vast difference, if you are in this relative position. So, when you think about it, we have no room for complaint. We have, after all, only the value of death. We are dead already. So you cannot say that it is too hard, too much suffering. (Gaining) heaven requires much more suffering and rejection, and is much harder. If you think about this: if you retreat from that position, you will get in trouble.

We are different from worldly people. We have to be serious in centering on God's will not on our own. All ways of education in this country -- freedom, wrong freedom -- they got it, they were brought up that way, they were educated that way -- it does not fit in the new kingdom. So (the individual has) become the standard: "I am my own standard." Thousands of people, thousands of scales -- there should be one standard scale somewhere. If you have this kind of "freedom " -- different understandings or standards -- then later you will have a collision, fighting. There should be but one standard. All other scales should be merely copies.

Even in building a house, you start at one point, as in the drawing, the blueprint. The designer had a center from the start, and that center is right there, no other center but that one. Then the angles come out; all varieties of drawings and designs come out centering on God's standard. So, if they said, "Drawing on the line, this is my center" -- no, you cannot do that. This drawing is the only one. If we do not practice this way, very soon, the nation of America will be doomed to destruction. So, the same thing has to apply in centering on God's will -- no "I," no "me."

The main thing is: how serious are you as a State Representative? How serious must you be as a Mobile Unit Commander? How serious do you have to be as a Church Center Director? Then you say, "I will do it." God must come first, not "me" first, not "my" circumstances first. Heaven is very serious; God's will is serious. So, you would be then adding more trouble to God's will, you would not be relieving the burden of God and our True Parents. You are adding more negative things to it, you are not gaining positive results, you are actually making more trouble. It would be better if you did not exist.

How many of you try hard not to sleep when you are sleepy -- because you have to do something, something of God's will centering on the True Parents? How many of you are resisting your sleepiness? How serious are you about something that you cannot overcome? How can you have difficulty in seriousness? So, have you thought about that? Be more serious persons. You have to think along these lines, centering on God's will. That is the problem right now.

The more trouble, the more hardship you have, the more serious you should be -- centering on God's will. It will be wonderful -- your seriousness and God's seriousness approaching each other. That is a serious situation, that is the area where you are really contributing something. And the problem is, even 21-50 Mobile Unit Commanders in the process of forming new mobile teams . . . he is certain that if you have eight people you will have another van for your transportation. Then think, "How I am going to get eight people?" How soon? Have you been seriously thinking about accomplishing this goal -- even if you have only four people?

Have you ever thought that, in this position, you should be more serious than heaven, more serious than anyone in your country, more serious than any of your members? If you did that, you would have a better position by now; then difficulty would be clearing away for you. You must become serious in this matter, even in forming a new mobile unit. If are not serious, if you are not doing things on a continual basis, then no spiritual help will be given, you are not on the track you are not fulfilling yourself. So you have to be serious. You have to be really getting on the right track. If you cannot serious enough, then you have to consult your members or your assistant, so that you can have an extension of this kind a successful period -- and through this you will get serious thinking. So, if you are not serious enough to qualify for the leader's position, you have to find your successor within your group, so that you can retreat while the other one climbs into your place This is instead of trying to hold your empty position, with no result, sinking down -- you can't do that. Have you ever thou about someone who is going to die or be sent to jail . . . if you save them, how much you become saviors in that case? Seriously you become saviors, if you can save the other person.

This is the question: how much are you saviors? How much have you been saviors since being in our group? Do you long for the people to come and listen to your lectures? Are you serious when you look out the window and think, "Where is she coming from, where is he coming from, when?" You have become involved in this serious, situation; your heart should become serious. And if you have this kind of seriousness, the people will automatically flock to you. That is the secret right there.

So, if you are serious enough, you will get up early, you will want to be moving, centering on this world, then you wonder, "Why doesn't the early morning come? I want to teach the people. I want people to be coming to the morning lecture." Have you ever thought about it in a serious way? Have you people thought, "I am expecting somebody"? You must be longing for this kind of situation. From this, you become serious. So, if you are serious, and yet nobody comes, he wants to tell you not to be discouraged. Then, even if they don't come once, twice, a third time, heaven loves you; so heaven will give full cooperation according to how much you have been serious. Maybe the second time, nobody comes; third time, nobody comes; fourth time, somebody comes; and by that time -- very easily impressive scene -- suddenly they will be signed, too, and that is the way it works -- through your serious thinking, centered on God's will. Have you ever practiced it? Then, when you meet each other, you feel you have met somewhere else -- so no reason for you to talk -- people together, spirit to spirit, mind to mind, crying with each other -- right there.

So, when somebody is leaving after a lecture, you want them to stay, even want to give seriously of your heart of God, you want to give something. You have become involved seriously -- you really love somebody -- have you ever done this? If a person comes to your center and you meet them, they cannot go out easily. So, if this person feels this kind of serious heart of God (from you, our Master, the True Parents) -- even though you don't ask them to come back, they will automatically do so. They will automatically come to your place. This depends on how serious you have been centering on this work, centering on this Gospel. So how serious are you when you lecture, study and teach the Divine Principle, which was so difficult for our True Parents to discover, to bring to us. How serious are you?

Master discovered the Principle in the dungeon of hell, dungeon of suffering. Even though you cannot attain that same degree, how serious have you become in teaching, learning and studying -- that is when your serious heart is important. So, when you look at each page, you cannot do so without tears, experiencing his suffering, his hardship -- his suffering in order to find this message for all mankind. Have you ever thought about that? Do you think that any Korean missionary whom he sent to this country -- the leaders -- do you think any one is more serious than our Master? No? Without this kind of education, you may say, "I am by God; I know better than our True Parents." You can never say that, and never think it. If God is a fair God, He knows everything; God will be that kind of character to people of our True Parents, of our Master. So, you have to critically evaluate yourself; be critical about yourself. On whom are you centering? Where are you fitting in, where are you standing in the world of God's heart? You have destroyed your body -- you are an enemy right there -- you are trying to eat for yourself, not God. You have to see something lost or bad, evil, instead of God's centering with you. And the same thing here: your whole body is not centered on God's will, it is centered on you. You have to claim yourself, you have to evaluate yourself. So, even in this context, you should never lose your seriousness. If your intentions along this line are not serious, there is no room for you in this universe -- you cannot exist. So you are naturally so prideful at times; you act as if you know everything. In that sense, there is a vast difference between him and you people.

When you come to Belvedere you have to be serious and think, "Why have I come here? Why am I here?" To be serious -- how serious are you, being here -- chosen to be here. This is worthwhile. You have to evaluate yourself: compare the old you before the Principle message with the new you after the Principle message -- and then the new you as a leader of this movement. You have to evaluate yourself. You have to criticize yourself: "What is my family doing? Is it standing for God's will; am I seriously doing His will?" You have to think of that. Why did he (Master) do all this, for what purpose -- for your own love, for your pleasure? So, man-woman, brother-sister -- all relationships -- you have to be serious, too. Why do we have to be this way?

These things are from July first, when we set up the Day of Resolution of Victory. From now on, you have got to make it work -- the times are in favor of us. You have to re-evaluate and re-locate yourself at a different level. So you have to pledge yourself, swear yourself and your life -- with determination -- as a Commander, as a State Representative, as a Church Center Director -- you have to make anew commitment. Until you fulfill your promised pledge, you have no room for complaint, no time for that. Because you are resting and doing something else, you cannot accomplish your mission. If you cannot accomplish things the first time, try twice or a third time. There is no room for failure if you do it this way. Under these circumstances we cannot think that it is too hard for us to carry out. So you should pledge your life first, in front of God, to do your mission, in this serious setting.

Even the almighty God took a providential course of 6,000 years. We are going to do it in our own generation, centering on our True Parents. Then, how much harder we have to work. 6,000 years God took to make it possible for this time to come. And you think, "I am a big shot, I am a Commander." You are so self-complacent. State Representatives: you have a certain power, you are able to occupy the position without any results -- this is your fault. In the Principle, you must be more serious than God, more serious than anyone else to do your mission in the best way possible. You have the subject position -- which is serious-even if you have to cater to your ancestors. You have to be a good influence in your mission, not only for your relatives. You must have serious thinking. Even if the Heavenly Father has been working with someone for a long time, if he is doing his own will and his own hobby, then God is not going to work with him. Because he is a savior for the Heavenly Father, that is why He is working with him. Don't you think so? [Yes!]

America is going to be doomed to destruction. Who is going to save this nation? The person or group which is more serious than any other will save this nation. Is he mistaken or is he logical? [Logical!] So, you have to think of going to three million state residents there: "I am obligated to give the light to these people. Even during the night our light, the candle light, is shining -- that these people can come. I am the only one who can do this work to save these people." Even during your sleep think, "Please, Father, give me more power to save these people." Such serious thinking -- you need it. By doing so, heaven will help you. Everyone will be proud of you before your ancestors, because you are better than they in this area of hard work and seriousness. Do you understand so far? [Yes!]

Even when you are eating delicious food, he wants you to think, "it is really delicious, centered on God's will" -- in a serious way -- just meaning that. If you reason this way, you will know where you are standing and how to proceed, how you are going to fulfill -- your answer will be coming. Do you understand? [Yes!]

So, don't be ashamed, don't have a shameful feeling, if you have only a small house as a church center. Don't feel that. Even though you live in a very poor house, if you are serious, you are a spiritual child, you are a heavenly treasure right there. When he started from North Korea, he started from Pusan (southern part of Korea) -- a small place there, he set up a small cottage. It was actually less than a cottage -- just like a dog's house. Now, pilgrims are coming to this place -- they cry-- there are pilgrimages on a continual basis, from Japan and Korea. There is a world of heart -- seriousness -- it is there, because he shed his blood, his sweat and his tears. Even if you have no material house, there is something different right there, so don't be discouraged or ashamed when you have a poor house. But you have to carry in your heart a seriousness centered on God. Do you believe it? [Yes!] Even if the house is humble and looks very poor and unacceptable, if you carry this heart, there is the center of the heart in your state right there. Your heavenly serious process begins from right there. If you have this kind of heart, if you [persevere] this way, it in fact shall happen -- because he did it. And people will automatically come. They will come to you even when you have no money, no food -- many people will come around. Spiritual cooperation will come. So if you continue to work with this kind of heart of gold, spiritual cooperation will come -- these people should be fed. So the ancestors of that state, in spirit world, have to mobilize and bring the people to you, to get rid of your sorrowful heart. That is the way it works.

Now, he is thinking, when he comes to America, "How much more serious can I be than I was in Korea, in the early days? I have to be more serious than President Nixon, or any of the American senators or congressmen." That is his way of thinking. He wants to be more serious than anyone else in this country. This is illogical; but with proper analysis, through this kind of thinking, he is positively serious. Even if somebody temporarily departs from this work, then ultimately, at a later date, months or years later, they have to come back -- because all the personal circumstances will be doomed to be judged -- so that they have to mobilize in the spirit world -- eventually they will have to come back. No other place to go. Once they are in here, they have to come back. This is the Principle.

Poor people sympathize more with other poor people. It's the same in the world of heart: we sympathize more with a person in the same world of heart. So when you think seriously of God's will, you unconsciously have a chance, you have the experience of shedding your tears, unconsciously. You have experienced God's role. Do you think of God, and suddenly start praying? You will experience the seriousness in your tears. He is still living this kind of life of hard work. So when you pray, when he prays. It is logical: to go to heaven, you have got to have the heart of God, with seriousness centering on His will. So there is a vast difference between us and our True Parents. With a heart of sacrifice you have to be carrying out this approach -- eliminate the past.

In America, you think, even in the Family -- instead, of God's will first, you are concerned more with your future: "My part to be." You are concerned more about that. Frankly speaking, you are more concerned about your spouses than about God's will. Now, when you look at the girls or handsome boys, do you think to yourself, "I would like to have that handsome man for my husband," or do you think, "How am I going to make this man God's child?" Frankly speaking, which one have you been thinking? Principally, speaking, which is normal, which one should it be: "That girl is wonderful, my wife to be," or "I am going to make this girl God's daughter"? Which one is better, Principally speaking? [Second One!] They know better. Now you know that, but sometimes you don't. So, that is the wrong idea (the first one). You have to love God first, more than your future whatever -- your husband or wife. Then whenever you say to God, "I don't ever think of it -- everything is up to You," and you do it this way, then the best husband, best wife will be provided by God. That is the little secret there. So, when there is a head there, there is a tail there, the end of -- the Alpha and the Omega. If you are put in the Omega -- you naturally are coming there -- if you convert this boy or this girl, automatically -- leave everything to Him -- you will have it. But your reasoning is to want it -- you are short-sighted -- that's the problem. So, you have to think Principally, not the American way, not the sexual way, not the democratic way -- but Principally.

So, from now on, when you have to come here, reason this way, live this way and think this way. You have to think -- if you are really qualified to be the State Representative for that state -- all the souls are dying. You have to evaluate yourself critically: are you qualified for this state, are you a qualified Commander, are you a qualified Church Center Director? So, you have to receive more training if you are not qualified, instead of holding that heavenly position without any qualification. If you people are not qualified, if God's help is not there, it is non-Principled; you will get into trouble. So, without any help you are standing up -- catch up, set up the condition -- you have to drive yourself very hard. Prayer is wonderful. Pray before going out, to bring the people that way; it is more effective. Action! Practice! Then God will take this humble boy or not-so-beautiful girl -- doing wonderful -- then God will come to them and say that is wonderful, and He will be with you and love you more and give you more good luck. It is not your knowledge, not your ability, not your talent -- the heart of the world is God's heart. If it is your heart also, if you carry that, it is right. You must be serious -- then everything will be in your favor.

So, when you go back, always think of it -- criticize yourself, evaluate yourself effectively -- and He will help you this way, when you go back. Practice this way, reason this way, think this way -- then you will have good results.

Record-Setter Of History

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
July 1, 1979
Belvedere, New York
Translator: Bo Hi Pak

Whenever a champion enters a contest or major competition, his foremost desire is to set a new record. For example, in the Olympic games all the contestants go hoping to set a new record. To do so they have to follow all the rules and regulations set forth by the Olympic committee. A new record cannot be set just by doing things at random, but only within strictly disciplined limits. No matter how capable an athlete you may be, the moment you violate any rules not only the judging committee but all the other participants as well will rule against you. The judges will disqualify you and you will lose your chance. That is the most fundamental thing a champion must remember -- he must obey all the rules of any competition.

Sometimes the rules change and then you have to understand and obey the new rules. All competition heads toward the matching of better and better contestants.

When we talk about records, the first thing that comes to mind is athletic games, but actually there are far greater competitions going on at higher levels. Nations are competing with each other in world affairs, and we can also consider each nation as one stadium where competitions are being held. Do you think there are rules on all those levels as well?

Certainly the people of each nation must follow the rules, and not only that, but follow tradition as well. A nation can set a record among other nations, but to do so it must clearly abide by the rules of international competitions; it must be recognized and respected by a multitude of other nations. In this game different nations are champions while mankind are the spectators, with God acting as the judge or referee. In our world today there are two ideologies in competition -- democracy and Communism. It is an invisible, yet bitter battle between the two.

We can see confrontation and competition in every area of our lives. In America here we see on-going political competition between the political parties trying to win power in government. Here again, certain rules must be followed. In every arena of competition there is a law, a kind of covenant which clearly sets forth the goal and is derived from the tradition of the past. This phenomenon is everywhere -- in government, schools, families, every facet of our lives.

In order to become the greatest champion you begin as a small competitor, starting in local competitions, then state, then regional, before you enter national competition. That is the way champions are selected. I can draw an important conclusion here, that our lives and careers are always exposed to some kind of competition. That's life. We eat and sleep and handle mundane things every day, but in addition we are each engaged in some kind of competition. Your eating and sleeping is for the purpose of maintaining your well -- being so that you can be a winner. Who is going to be a victorious person who sets the record?

The ultimate competition is that of life. If there is a way to win that competition, it is the ultimate, and for that goal we should be able to give all kinds of sacrifice. In that competition we want to be victorious and set the record. Which direction should we go? What will our strategy be?

Suppose there is a competition in track; the fastest man cannot win if he runs anywhere else except the track because no one will acknowledge his accomplishment. The way you want to do things is unimportant because the rules are all-important. Each champion is required to run around the track. Perhaps one contestant might think he is clever and plan to run across the track instead of around it. Some people in our world think about how to get around the rules and snatch the victory and they ridicule those who follow the rules and do things the hard but legitimate way.

How many in America are trying faithfully to abide by the rules? Many people in America today lead lawless lives and they see no reason to abide by the laws or put up with authority figures, like parents and teachers. People have come by this wrong idea by thinking that they have freedom from any restraints. They want to know why they aren't recognized as the victors, but theirs isn't the logical way of doing things is it?

Unless you abide by the rules of the school, you cannot pass your courses and no one will give you credit. Competition in life is just the same. In school you may complain about required reading or tough homework; you feel the pressure of measuring up to regulations and getting a good report card. You may feel as though you are being hung by the system, imprisoned by it, but actually your liberation comes when you fulfill triumphantly, not by avoiding it but by confronting it. Then you are free and the school, the teachers and even the books will welcome you.

In school the teachers, the dean, the other students are all competitive, yet you can truly achieve the level where people can't help but recognize you for your accomplishments. That is real liberation in school. Without that accomplishment there is no freedom and you will always be under pressure.

Where can we truly find human freedom? Freedom can only come after the requirements are fulfilled. Freedom comes within discipline, within the law. It is not abuse or license. There is law everywhere: If you disregard nature's laws, you will die; this nation is governed by law; the world is under law. Therefore, you will be triumphant in freedom when you triumph within that law, not outside of it. The law is the most common sense direction. For example, there is a certain way a spoon is to be used. If you use it right side up it is useful, but if you turn it upside down or on end it won't be any good. There is a common sense way to use a spoon well.

The law is always seeking the optimum situation. In history that optimum law continues and is universal, needed by everyone. There is no law that prevents you from blinking your eyes. It is nature's necessity. Yet there is an optimum way of blinking the eyes, perhaps a certain number of times a minute. Then there is a way of blinking too much that is detrimental. Even in such a small thing it is noticeable when someone does something outside the law. In everything there is an optimum way, even in breathing. There is an optimum way to listen; no particular facial expression is required. How you sit can also be evaluated, as well as how you dress. There are certain rules to follow. The law is not there to harass you but to guide you to the ideal situation.

Sometimes we resent the law, but in this perspective is law a necessity? Liberation always comes through fulfillment of the law. With the fulfillment of family law, for instance, you shall be liberated centered upon the family. Some people might wonder why they need parents or brothers or sisters, or why they have to sleep in a bed instead of anywhere they choose. That attitude will eventually bring that person to destruction. The man who tries to live like that would never even think of setting a new record, and even if he did, no one would recognize it or give him credit. Even a mechanical device moves precisely as it is designed to do, following certain principles.

Here in America some people claim to be patriots and champions of the nation. The patriot is a law-abiding person, not the one who disregards the law as being too clumsy. Without even knowing the laws, can you claim to be a good citizen? If you actually try to live up to every article of the U.S. legal code, you could spend your whole lifetime just trying to understand it. What I mean here is the spirit of the law, the attitude that by following certain principles everyone can be benefited, not just individuals.

The law always follows certain patterns based on experiences of the past, moving in the direction which benefits the most people. When we look at the behavior of Americans today, we see that most of them are ill with "excess freedom." They are freedom-crazy. Will anyone say that is not true? No matter how prominent or exceptional you try to make yourself, if you don't understand the true spirit of freedom or the true meaning of tradition, whatever record of accomplishment you make will have no purpose. For America to truly enjoy freedom, each individual must be disciplined in the law of the nation. If a person is triumphant in that way then he will truly set a new record.

Our life is already a competition, so we must learn how best to engage in that art. First, we must acknowledge the past and its tradition. Also, we must recognize the necessity of the present time and recognize a certain vision that can be welcomed by the future. These three conditions must be met. What is the central game or event in the Olympic Games? What is the most spectacular game? There is no question about it: The Olympic marathon is always the central game, in the past, present and future. A marathon is the longest race, so is it easy or tough to run? It would be easy to cover the distance in a helicopter, but to win the race you have to cover every inch of ground on foot. There is a common definition of why the marathon is spectacular, why it is recognized as a great achievement. In it a person has to give his own sweat and labor for a great distance. To run that race is a great strain, and people have died attempting it.

What is our marathon in life? Again, it requires going the longest distance against the toughest odds. In our arena of life competition there must be some central event. Philosophy is one area, sport another; the cultural and academic worlds and field of religion are also areas. Each of them is a game in life. Which of these goes the longest distance? Christianity has talked about the coming of Christ for 2,000 years and still it is not known how many more years it will take. Truly the religious arena involves the longest distance.

Is the religious way of life an easy way? In religious competition the regulations are stringent. For example, you have to fast, endure suffering, be humble and avoid temptations. Religious competition seems totally apart from common sense. For instance, Jesus said, "Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." What kind of dilemma is that? Many people just cannot put up with it. People may look like slaves under religious rules.

God knows that He imposed the toughest of all rules in religious competition, but He is doing so because He has to select one champion. Will He pick one politician or academic? God must pick from the toughest arena of all areas of human life, which is religion.

Does anyone like religion? You are crazy; that's why you like it! You live only one life on earth so it is an acceptable desire to want to go the toughest course and meet the toughest challenge of all. As ambitious young men and women, what area would you prefer to set records in? We recognize that religion is the arena that everyone must ultimately participate in.

Suppose this circle is the globe. We are heading toward the highest pinnacle, starting from all directions and going out. Some people may come close, but miss by a few inches and then have to go all the way around again to try. The person going this route doesn't see the overall picture, just the same angle and height, so even if he reaches the top he may not realize it. So far no explorer has gone over the entire planet to make a map with clear directions to the pinnacle. Without clearly defining their goal, many people just keep walking, wasting their lives.

Human ambition is a great thing. For instance, many people deeply desire to climb the tallest mountains. Recently two ambitious Korean climbers wanted to climb Mt. McKinley; they made it to the top, but on the way down they met with disaster and were killed. They came all the way from Korea to die on Mt. McKinley!

Because religion has not given man a clear map or course, mankind has suffered tremendous harm in seeking to fulfill religious ambitions. Without knowing the goal clearly many people made attempts to reach the pinnacle but died along the way. Do we have to give up religion because of that? No, because religion is man's ultimate destiny. Can you eliminate the marathon from the Olympics simply because it is so tough? If so, the Olympics will no longer be exciting. There is no question that the religious field is tough, and because of that the world's people ultimately must be interested in religion.

What arena are you in? Did you come here to make money, or to be a famous politician or to get married? You are actually champions in this toughest of all arenas in life. We have clearly defined the goal so that we shall not falter but go on to set the new record. New champions always emerge to surpass the records of the past, and the same is true in religion. What past saints and prophets have said is not the ultimate statement of faith so we look forward to a new record being set. Therefore, we are inheriting the record and tradition of the past, as well as recognizing the present, and going forward to set the record that will remain in the future.

There is no other church or religion that has inherited the past more perfectly than this one. For example, the Bible records an account of the fall, but many contemporary religions regard the fall as nonsense. Yet we absolutely know that it did happen, and not only that, but how it took place. We recognize everyone in the Bible -- Adam, Noah, Abraham -- as well as internal things about the dispensation that are not even explained in the Bible. We know precisely what happened. There is no doubt that the Unification Church has absolutely inherited the tradition of the past. History is on our back; we stand on the foundation of the history of God.

We know many hidden secrets about what went wrong in the past, such as the failures of the central figures which the Bible does not explain. Therefore, we know precisely why certain faiths and religions failed in the past. By knowing this we have a new set of tools which will not fail us. There are many scholars and theologians who concentrated their study on the Old Testament, but when we ask them certain questions they have no answers; yet we know the answers, which are only common sense.

It is a natural conclusion that the Unification Church has a most authentic historical inheritance. The New Testament is also a book of mystery, but we have brought it into the sunlight, explaining the mission of Jesus, how he came, and what he tried to do. We know in what way the New Testament dispensation was not completed, that Jesus came to marry, not to die as a single man. These things are so shocking to conventional Christians that they practically have heart attacks hearing us, but when you come to the bottom line, who has the most realistic view of the situation? Our proclamation today is so drastic and dramatic that millions of Christians around the world look at us as heretics. Which view is more faithful to the Bible and to the will of God? Our philosophy and belief is certainly the one.

The tenth anniversary of the moon walk is coming shortly, and people are thinking all the time about it. There are many philosophically minded people in the world today, and they are all caught in one universal disease, which we call moon-phobia. Already people look at you as an extension of Reverend Moon. Are you?

We are not in politics or economics, but in the religious arena. Are we in an exciting or dull game? Are we the winners in the competition with contemporary Christianity? We are running in the marathon with the Christians of the world. They are accustomed to resting when they are tired and eating when they are hungry, but we take the kitchen and water tank right along with us so we don't have to stop. The conventional religious way of thinking is that the preacher preaches and the congregation pays his salary, but the Unification Church doesn't work that way. We create our own money and resources, and in the process I have accumulated many titles by starting work in many areas.

We are talking about a new game with new rules in a new arena. The old ways will not work in this new arena so we have custom made our way of doing things for the new. We are determined not to be defeated but to be victorious in the religious Olympics. We have been called heretics, but even those name callers cannot disregard us. Even while they are accusing us they are learning our methods. It is common sense that all the runners in a race as well as the spectators focus on who is in the lead because they want to beat him.

The Unification Church has definitely inherited the traditions of the past and we have also devised a realistic way of doing things. We are not in the clouds but on solid ground. We also have a realistic future vision of how to bring down the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, and we are not just talking about it but living it. What is it? Home Church.

Many people in the religious arena are going in circles at random but we are going in a straight line, like an arrow to the bulls-eye. Did God say that one of the rules was that the champion in the religious arena had to be a white man? Must he also be an American citizen, or adhere to the democratic way of doing things? Or did God leave the door wide open so anyone can participate in this most difficult of marathons?

The Unification Church is a spiritual athlete in this toughest game. What will the trophy be? The love of God is the ultimate reward. We alone in the Unification Church are talking about the heart of God, the love of God for the world, nation, family and individual. Suppose the winner of the marathon was an American. When he entered heaven I am sure he would go first to the treasure house where the jewels are stored. Another champion might go first to the world of culture and the arts. Another champion might go first to the dining room, while yet another might look for the department store and wardrobe room to get all the things he lacked on earth.

When the Unification Church runner enters that world, where will he go? You said he would go to the heart of God, and you know the heart of God is not in any of those places I mentioned. God has suffered so much that He is down in some storage room in the basement of heaven. If you found the heart of God in a corner covered with dirt and dust, what would you do? When you find Him there would you give a shout of Mansei in excitement, or cry out to find that the heart of God was burdened with so much suffering?

Then you would say, "Heavenly Father, don't worry; now your child is here. Let me escort you out so you can really sit on your throne and receive joy from the world. I will make it happen. I didn't come to receive glory from you, but to liberate you and ease your sorrowful heart. Since your heart has been suffering, the entire world has been suffering. I come to liberate your heart and in turn liberate the world."

If you are a champion with that kind of goal and heart, do you feel you are going toward the noblest of all? Can you think of any higher goal than that? We are motivated and challenged for this purpose and goal, and there is nothing we cannot do; we can give all our money, our lives, any suffering necessary. We are a group of people gathered together who are crazy for God. Indeed, if you enter heaven in any but this way then there will be still more competition to go through. But when you set the liberation of God's heart as your goal there is no higher place to go. Ultimately that is the highest.

I am motivated to achieve this goal and my will is of iron. No matter how people treat me, I am unswerving in this goal. I thought this conclusion out on my own, but do you think I was smart or dull? You came here to join, so are you smart or not? Are you better than me or less so? God keeps telling me that I think of things even He does not think of. God is asking me to be like that, and you as well. I am determined to do something that God could not do, and I am asking you to do things that I could not do. Would you smart men and women accept that challenge?

If other people sleep two hours, would you sleep only one hour? Normally people who try to drive after not sleeping at night will nod off at the wheel, but we are challenged by this extraordinary task and we will never sleep. We see the bulls-eye of God's love so clearly that there is no moment we can be dull and sleepy. Since this is the moment of competition, how can we let up? In a boxing match your opponent could jab you at any moment so you must be alert to any eventuality. The arrow flying toward the target doesn't care what anyone is saying.

Now nearly all of you are matched, and I can see that most of you still haven't come back to earth yet. If you got the perfect match then do a perfect job to deserve it. You and your fiancée have to inspire each other, competing with each other and with other engaged couples. Life is a competition, after all. Will you accept the challenge? Are you fortunate to be in the Unification Church?

How many years will it take for you to win the marathon? Three, ten? Even for the unbeatable Reverend Moon it took sixty years to cover the course and still I have not finished the race. Last night after graduation at the seminary I took all the leaders fishing. It was in the midst of a thunderstorm and we were cramped in a little boat. Even though they didn't say this, inside they were probably thinking, "What kind of Father are you? Can't you have even one day to rest?" Even though I gave Col. Pak permission to be with his family that day and Col. Han didn't go because he had only dress clothes to wear, I told them that really those were not acceptable reasons.

What does it matter if it is night or day once you are going toward this challenge? Would you prefer a leader with absolute determination, regardless? It is normal to rest after a day's work, to have meals at mealtime and to sleep at night. But here our standard is to keep going for all 365 days. That is not acceptable to many people, but would you do it? Do you like my type of leadership?

You never hear me praising or complimenting anyone. I only push them harder. Do you like it? Why? Each time you are pushed by me you are going farther toward the goal, even though it is painful. If I am coming at night or at a difficult hour to see you, you may flee but under any circumstances don't complain. The place to hide is home church.

What are we going to do? I want you to understand that the Unification Church is here to set the record, and in order to set the record you have to live in an abnormal way and go an incredible distance. There are two worlds of East and West today, and the Orientals want me to win big but the Western world is trying to push me down. There is a competition between the two worlds centering on me. Many governmental agencies are investigating us, which is a sign of how the Western world feels about me, wanting me to decrease. Even you are skeptical sometimes you may cheer me, but then when you look around and see that the rest of the country is not cheering, you feel doubtful. Whether America recognizes it or not, historical events are happening now. Why has this one individual become so controversial? Why are people so apprehensive about me? This kind of phenomenon is new to America.

Where do we go? To our pinnacle. How far away are we? Soon Americans will change and come to confess that they have evaluated all the other possible ways but they didn't succeed, and the only way of hope is Reverend Moon's way. Do you think that day will come soon? Do we have the capability to present hope to America? 10% or 100%? If America continues as it is will America decline or prosper? Would you leave it alone?

First you have to apply the brake. The 240 million people of America must be stopped, then turned around and headed toward the goal. Have you ever thought that sparks and heat will start flying when the brake is applied? Do you want to go first and have the brake applied on your back, or wait until next in line? Who will be the young people who can apply the brake 24 hours a day?

In the religious arena I want to be the champion. Who of you in the Unification Church wants to become the champion? Sometimes you are exuberant and answer me enthusiastically, but many times your answer turns out to be a lie. We need money and people to move America, but is the government going to provide the budget? Some rich foundation? No, they regard us as their enemies, so we will trade our blood for the money. Some people may worry about the social courtesies and their reputations, but who will worry about America's decline? America's future is more valuable than any of those things.

If we are too late to save America then the Unification Church is also part of America's defeat. I want you to understand that our survival is directly linked to the survival of America; we must survive for the sake of America. America's survival is vital because it means the survival of the free world. In the free world Korea will remain as well. If you think that the communists would not kill you if they had the chance then you don't understand the reality of communism. That kind of consequence is not far away.

The ultimate confrontation over the championship is being waged now. In Japan we have won heated confrontations with the Communists. Here in America we are confronting the churches as well as Communism, and we will never avoid it. We are runners, and though we may feel suffocated at the moment, we keep running for we are in the marathon race.

We are not spectators, but participate in the race as champions. I am determined to be the champion in the arena of religion in history, determined to be a champion in the arena of the Unification Church. Ultimately the heart of God is our goal, and I want to liberate Him. Once you set that kind of record, it is the alpha and omega, and when God blesses such people, it brings consummation, completion.

When a person occupies love, he occupies all other authority and dignity as well. The record-setter is the kind of person God and history are looking at. God is expecting you to become one who sets the record, so this is a one-in-a-million opportunity. I am now investing much energy in the fishing industry and I am determined to make it successful. When you see my desire, you should put your shoulders to the job to be a champion in that arena. I would like to see all the seminarians and church leaders go for sea duty for one and a half years. At this time there is no master or host who is claiming or leading the American fishing industry because this is one arena God carved out and saved for the heavenly dispensation.

What if I supply sufficient fish and say that Unification Church members will eat nothing else for six months, not even bread? We will give all the good fish to the trade and eat the leftovers ourselves. Will God say we shouldn't eat just the leftovers, or will He be touched? Who do we suffer for? For God and humanity. By doing it we are covering God with an invisible net, making Him our prisoner. All you have to do then is pull that net and God will have to follow you.

Did anyone in history ever have this kind of thinking and ideology? Look at me. All this time many people through the country have been trying to destroy or discredit me -- in Korea, Japan and America -- but I have survived and am still going strong. That in itself is a miracle. You think you do the Unification Church work, but in reality it is the spiritual world acting. All you have to do is set the condition. You are here as a remnant, not out of your own goodness, but because of spiritual pressure and guidance in dreams or visions. Does existing Christianity have such things? There is an amazing power behind us pulling us into oneness.

You have entered the competition in this arena now. Would you run with your full might, or only half-heartedly? Our Unification Church freedom is not just that of eating or sleeping and doing things as we like. Your real freedom comes through our victorious achievement, and then you will receive recognition that you are free. Before heaven and earth you will present yourself as the victor who won the race within the heavenly discipline and law. You strive to become a champion in this situation so that you can set a better record than anyone else, one which will command the respect of the people. Then you can be a victorious person before heaven and earth.

You men who think you are pretty smart, strong and capable, raise your hands. Now you confident women raise your hands. None? By worldly standards we may not be attractive or ideal, but we are applying to be champions of highest quality. Once you win this race, all the good men and women of the world will come bow down to you, however imperfect you may be. That is the kind of authority you will be given once you finish the race. Many women in particular agonize over their faces but that is useful thinking in the sense that they can turn that energy into service, into giving an additional kick to themselves. "My shortcomings will all be overcome when I set a record," they think. That's why God is sending ugly men and women to the Unification Church!

Since we are already lowly people here, we have nothing to lose. The amazing thing is that with this kind of attitude once you hang on until the end you shall be gloriously triumphant, a record-setter. We have records in witnessing, in MFT (Mobile Fundraising Team), in many arenas. I want you to be champions in your specific area. When we gather the record-breakers together to work we can set American records. Our combined effort will do that. I used to feel that Col. Pak was really pushing you for Home Church and I liked that, but nowadays Col. Pak is too gentle and not pushing enough. You can't complain because I am commissioning him to push you, and the purpose is for you to become record-setters.

The Unification Church is here to be a champion and God is depending upon you. God wants you to set records on the universal scale, not just in one nation or organization.

Today is July 1, which usually falls on a Sunday. Those who will become record-setters, raise your hands. I want you to become record-breakers in every way. You can even set a record in eating, but at the same time you can fast more than anyone else. Even in sleeping set the record, all month long, but then stay awake all month and work. Set a record in putting on makeup -- white people use black makeup and black people use white makeup. In sleeping don't lie down in an ordinary way but lift your leg up in the air. When you sleep plug up your nose and don't breathe the way ordinary people do. In the bathroom set the record for the shortest possible time, or sit down and stay all day long.

Do you understand what I have been saying? When you become a record-setter, then God will be a record-setter. Will you do it? Let us pray.

What Kind Of Thought Do You Have?

Reverend Sun Myung Moon
June 10, 1979
Belvedere, New York
Translator: Bo Hi Pak

If all of a sudden someone asks you what you have, you may hesitate to answer, not knowing exactly what to say. You may start to answer this question by naming the things closest at hand, such as your face, hands and eyes, but is that all? You also have your mind and thought, but then what is the difference between mind and thought? Can you think because you have a mind, or do you have a mind because you think?

Whatever you have is a property you can utilize and be benefited by, such as money. Thinking more broadly, what do you have as American people? People here have their families and relatives. No one would raise an objection when someone claims possession on that level, but when an individual says he has his nation and society, Americans become suspicious. Do you control or administer America as your property? As Unification Church members what do you have? We say it is our goal to unify the entire world and cosmos, but many people wonder how they can have a relationship to the world or cosmos, and whether it is possible to control or administer them. We know the cosmos exists, so by whom would it want to be possessed and controlled? All things of creation want to be dominated or controlled by men. Do they want to be conquered by man's power? By his knowledge? Indeed, all things of creation want to be conquered by the love of men.

What about God, who created the universe? God would say the universe belongs to Him since He created it, but would He think He is entitled to keep it because of His power? We have to consider the purpose for God's creating such a magnificent universe. I am sure God had a reason in the goodness of His heart for doing so, but is that enough reason for the things of creation to want to be dominated by God? All things of creation would reply that that is not enough and they want something else. They want to relate to whatever there is in God's heart that is of the utmost value and goodness.

What is the best part of God? Is truth the most important part of God? If God and the things of creation are interrelated, what good would be brought about through truth? Truth is actually a cold, impersonal quantity stemming from logic, not from heart. Truth can specify facts, but has no warmth. Truth can describe something, such as how a dot and line create something through their harmony, how the dot moves and creates the line, and then the line in harmony creates the circle. In light of this understanding, would the power of truth be the best part of God?

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by me." Ultimately speaking, what good would it do to be the way, truth and life? If life itself is the ultimate goal, what is good about it? We can conclude that the culmination of the purpose of existence is found in one word-love. When Jesus said he was the way, truth and life, that key word of love was contained but not expressed there.

If there are swimming pools of truth, of way and of life, which would you prefer to swim in? Whether handsome or ugly, everyone would prefer the pool of love. Love has incredible power, and as soon as you speak about love everyone comes alive. Love has incredible power, and as soon as you speak about love everyone comes alive. When you are embraced within love you already feel life and power and truth. God is truly the king of wisdom, and when in His wisdom He made all things of creation He wanted dominion over everything through an ultimate goal He had in mind.

When you are in the dominion of love, sunlight and darkness are both fine because you can relate everything to love. Both daytime and nighttime are wonderful. Night is the time when God isolates you from the rest of the world so you love only one object. That is God's mandate. During the day you embrace all things of creation in love, but at night God wants you to love Him alone. During the day a husband and wife are bustling about in many different activities, but at night they are isolated from the rest of the world and the darkness is better for loving each other. The darker the better!

No other element in the universe enhances both day and night except love. God must think in that fashion, and if the creation has the power of thought I'm sure love is the center of their thinking as well. Agreed? No one in the world would say no to love. Love must be the center of the creation.

Today many people who graduate from a good school are proud of themselves and the degree they obtained. There is a saying that knowledge is power. Many scientists think that science is almighty and that computers will solve the problems of the world, and indeed, computers are asserting a new tyranny over human affairs in many areas. Scientists feel that the human mind is limited compared to computers. Why do you laugh? It is because you know in your heart that mankind is not going to be dominated by computers.

When we consider what we have in the universe that is of real value, what do we find? Unification Church members are poor people in material things, yet we are definitely here to obtain something. If there is something universally needed by the individual, family, society, nation and world and even by God, we want to have it. You said it is true love, but what then is true love? Is true love true seeing? Is true love a true smell? Is true hearing true love, or real eating? True touching? Where can we find true love? Do you see God?

As a patriot you say you love your country, but can you see that element called love of country? We are confident it exists, but where can we find invisible love? Let's analyze it. Is there more than one kind, with one type for each race? No, there is only one, and the answer to where we find it is very simple. Mankind is composed of two major elements-men and women, so can true love be found between women and women, or between men and men? Between men and women? Yes, true love can be activated between men and women.

What are men and women then? When a man and woman meet, they are coming from two entirely different sets of lineages and backgrounds. True love has to have a true history and background, as well as a true present and true future. But today when men and women meet does their love have a true background and do they know that it will continue for eternity? Nowadays love is cheap. You may see a couple who have a few conversations and then think they are in love, but how long will it last? Fifteen minutes?

The root is the important thing, the place where the true love of men and women begins and connects with the present time. The relationship of men and women is a horizontal one, no matter what, and once the horizontal line of today's love is broken there is no way to re-connect it because there is no power to bring the two parts back together. Therefore, the American family system today is breaking down for lack of anything to sustain the horizontal relationship. Often one squabble snaps it apart. Horizontal love by itself has no depth, and as a result it is not only cheap but fragile.

What is needed, then, is a horizontal relationship supported by the vertical. What is that? There must be some vertical reciprocal relationship between subject and object, in this case between parents and children. Why is that relationship vertical? Because it begins at birth. A horizontal relationship begins with a meeting or encounter, but a vertical relationship is one that is born into and which no one can change, even after death.

A father and mother should have a vertical relationship both above and below them, in addition to the horizontal line between them. The unchanging line which no one can sway is the vertical line. No matter how many children you have, the father-son relationship is unchangeable. Furthermore, there is an unbroken line from the parents to the grandparents, and so forth all the way back. Is that vertical line crooked and changeable, or unbending? Would your forefathers agree that it is best for the vertical line to be crooked or straight? It should be a straight vertical line which no one can change.

Who do you find at the top of that line? Would God, who is in the position of super-grandfather, think that the vertical line should be crooked at some point in history? I am sure God would declare that He is setting the vertical tradition in loving His children, and that they in turn will love their children the same way, and so on forever. Since God Himself set the tradition, all his descendants will continue that tradition forever.

What if some parents somewhere down the line think it will be adequate to have 75 degrees of love instead of 90 degrees? In that case a complete circle could never result, but only a rectangle, and that would distort the entire tradition. The unchanging vertical line has been drawn by God, so husband and wife are supposed to be at precisely 90 degrees to the vertical. As much as the vertical line is absolute, the horizontal line has to be absolute as well. The vertical sets the standard. Why would you agree to that? Unless an absolute line is derived somewhere, the entire universe would wobble and shake.

What do you think is the longest thing in the universe? True love is so wide and vast that everything can be embraced in true love with room to spare. Would anyone ever complain that things are too cramped in true love and they need more room?

The highest position, which is God's, and the lowest position can still be harmonized in the one substance, which is true love. One direct vertical line drawn from the highest point of the universe, God, down to the depths of the universe is still one line. That unchanging, stable vertical line is the line of true love from God to all creation and man. No matter how high God is or how low this world is, these two points are connected with one line.

This line which God has drawn is the axis of history, while the history of every man forms one horizontal line. The diagram of this would be many different circles which vary in diameter; the length of the diameter determines the size of the circle, but as long as the horizontal line is drawn correctly, perfect circles will always be formed.

You want to be great men, don't you? What should you do to become so? There is only one simple definition: a good man is centered upon this one central vertical, eternal line. That is how you become a good child, husband or wife, in-law, and parent. We frequently use the word "true," but what is the definition of true son, true father, etc.? True refers to anything that has a perfect 90 degree relationship with the vertical line. When four perfect 90 degree angles are formed by the vertical and horizontal lines, a perfect circle is formed, with four equal segments.

This 90 degree relationship is a central pattern, and no matter where you go, that angle will fit exactly with another 90 degree angle. When you make that relationship with the vertical then you can call it a true one. Then what is true love? In true love your horizontal relationships engage this vertical line at 90 degrees and your love is eternal and unchanging. When men and women engage in true love, wherever they go the vertical line automatically forms 90 degrees. True love is established when you recognize the two kinds of love-vertical and horizontal. What is the most valuable thing you possess? Now you can answer.

Why did you gather here in this room? What are you going to do with true love? What are you gaining by being here? People outside our Church commonly make vicious allegations against me, but did you come to be a subject of the worst dictator? No? Then why did you come?

You wandered many places and explored many alleys and streets in life before you came to sit here on this concrete floor. We gathered here for some common purpose and have a reason to be here. We recognize that our world is crumbling and the truth is not to be found in it. You know from your own experience that the world is deceitful and artificial, so you came here to find the answer in something real and eternally true: true love. We want to consummate our lives in true love.

We emphasize trueness. Therefore, we draw the vertical line first of all between True Parents and true children. I did not create this terminology. It was there at the beginning of God's creation and of human history. God has always wanted to leave the true tradition throughout history and I merely came to manifest it. But the truth was always there and so this is nothing new. In the Unification Church we first make our vertical tradition clear, then we try to engage that vertical line at precisely 90 degrees.

The Unification Church is like a workshop. For three years you recognize the True Parents and put yourself in the true son's position, trying to be truthful to this relationship. Here we have a tradition that we are joyfully obedient to the vertical mandate, not forced or doing so only out of duty. That is the key. Yes, you have physical life given by your natural parents, but true life begins with the True Parents because this is the first time the true vertical tradition of God has been brought down to earth. Our lives must conform to this eternal tradition and life. By being part of it you will be resurrected and receive that eternal life.

Before you can talk about anything else you have to come back to this vertical relationship. This is the most fundamental effort you must make. Once you are perfectly aligned according to the vertical line you can talk about horizontal love, or what we call the blessing of men and women. The true relationship of love is actually a sacrificial relationship of giving. Parents are those who are willing to give themselves and even die for their children. That is the true tradition of parents. Children as well could give their lives for their parents. That is the tradition of vertical love which God initiated in His love, the fundamental truth of the universe for which we are willing to give our lives. That is what truth is all about.

Love is sacrificial and thus is true and beautiful. Do you accept that in logic? Since what I am teaching is this eternal and vertical tradition of truth, it matters not whether 240 million Americans accept it. Eventually all mankind will have to accept it because this is not my theory but God's theory. Once we know this much about the vertical tradition which God is trying to consummate, we can seriously commit ourselves and give ourselves totally to it. We have the father-son relationship everywhere. You are in the position of parent to your spiritual children, so you love them unconditionally and sacrificially, even being ready to die for them.

Before you talk about loving your husband or wife you must set the tradition of loving your children, whether spiritual or physical. Why is that? Because of the fall the Cain-type world exists and we must subjugate it with love, bringing it to the true love of the father-son relationship. When you see a husband and wife in your Home Church area who have a beautiful relationship of love then you can feel that you must love your spiritual children more than they love each other. That's how you must inspire yourself. Your line will get longer and longer when you acquire the true vertical tradition.

You are creating a vertical line from the horizontal line downward, but don't worry about the vertical line upward yet. If you love your spiritual children then the vertical line above the horizontal is formed automatically. When you create the line downward which is truly straight, the extension of that line upward is automatic and your relationship with God is automatic. The relationship, tradition and achievement that you create in that vertical line is your precious asset. My situation is just the same.

Outside of the Principle I have no reason to come to America. No one invited me and no one welcomed me, so why did I come to a country with a foreign culture? Because it is my divine duty to set the heavenly tradition, whether it is done in the Oriental or Western world. Since Americans today are ignorant of this, people have come against me with tremendous hostility, but it is inevitable that this truth will prevail in America within three generations. Are you convinced?

Can anyone remove the chapter of American history that I have written here? Later on in history this teaching will shine as even more brilliant because it is God's principle, not mine. This is why I am pushing you out to Home Church, the world where you will become a tribal messiah. The entire universe is ready for restoration but the center is empty. The whole environment is ready for the Kingdom, but the very essence is non-existent.

The relationship of parents and children is confused and the relationship of men and women here in America is void because tremendous chaos and confusion persist. The vertical father-son relationship is not clear and the horizontal man-woman relationships are all confused, so all other relationships are entangled and confused as well. That is the state of this society at this time. We need a policeman to guide all this traffic to the one vertical line where it can all be organized.

The Unification Church teaches what God is and what ideal men and women are, and as a result we are learning the foremost essential elements of the universe. In many cases men and women see no reason for God to be part of their private love lives, but no matter how much fun they try to have in life, they always need an axis to turn around. Without an axis no one can turn. If you are not stable then you will be self-destructive. When you are in a right relationship, however, all you have to do is hold each other and the universe will turn you, just like riding a merry-go-round.

From this viewpoint today's America is far from God's ideal, sunk in immorality, and God finds no joy at all in this society. God is determined to bring change about. Do you really agree with this? There is no question that America is headed for decline if it continues this way, simply because no society can endure if it departs from the Principle of God.

Because the world is slipping toward the cliff, we have to put on the brakes and stop it. When the wheels are turning fast and you apply the brakes you have to exert much pressure and inevitably much heat is generated. People wonder why I came and stirred up so much controversy, but I cannot be quiet because the world is crumbling and we must stop it. If you want to stop this crumbling world you have to be stronger than the world. Are you strong enough?

Love of God is the key; when you have that you have everything and need nothing else. First there is the vertical relationship of True Parents and true children, and the horizontal relationships you have with each other. We are engaged in many activities and there is nothing we do not do. Many segments are needed to make a complete circle, so we are doing all kinds of things. Because our radius of activity is so wide, some things may appear to be unrelated to the overall goal, but actually it all is part of the same horizontal line of true love.

Home Church is our system for filling the void in society. If all of your 360 homes are realigned in this vertical love relationship, would it be a noteworthy happening in America that would draw much attention? It would be like a volcanic explosion, a panacea for society's ills made visible, and in every state people would try to make it work. Many people in history will start out in Home Church and compete to see who becomes the tribal messiah first. This is the one way we can make unification of the world possible without fighting and killing.

I am the judge of this competition and I will go all over the world to find the best one. Will that title of best in Home Church last through eternity? The entire spirit world will erupt in recognition and there will be a great celebration there, with the ancestors of that person rejoicing and telling everyone their good news. Once you have that title, all your ancestors will claim relationship with you, no matter how distantly related they are, trying to link up with you for some benefit.

We are tilling the void in society. In God's sight there is nothing out there so we must fill it with something substantial. The Unification Church is here in order to inherit the tradition of true love, both vertically and horizontally, and by doing so we can truly create harmony, which is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. That crusade is on now and I have made a covenant with God that the Unification Church will do it. This crusade of true love will be the first article in the constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Why should the True Parents take so much time and effort to bless you men and women in families? Simply because we want to fulfill this ideal and the blessing is an integral part of that. If I chase you out of the Unification Church, what would you do? You may cry on your way out the front door, but then turn right around and come in the back door. If you are that kind of child then I can never be separated from you. That's the secret I learned from God, who is just the same.

The entire world comes against you so life each day is not easy, but some day when you look around you will realize that the whole world is ours because God was always supporting us and He has given it to us. I work on that principle. When I came to America this country was hostile and negative, but I pushed and God pushed, and now we see that this country is being swayed one way or the other by me.

God is more eager than anyone else to get this done, far more than you are, and He is relentlessly pushing you so that His ideal will prevail. It is inevitable that America opposes me, but eventually even this society will accept this ideology as the way of salvation and thank me. Once that happens the entire world will follow.

Why did you come to the Unification Church? You came to receive the inheritance of true love and to learn from the living example, to love our Heavenly Father as True Parents do so that you will set that vertical tradition. As I love God, you love me. As God loves me, I love you. This example will set the eternal vertical tradition and no one can alter or sever this relationship. The amazing thing is that your mind is not happy unless you do this. You don't need extensive logic as motivation for doing this, but unless you go in God's direction your mind and conscience are not clear. Love your spiritual children as much as you love me. That is how this tradition will be passed down.

We are drawing this vertical line. No matter how many times you die, you will not become a rebellious son or daughter, right? Those who are ready to receive engagement and the blessing should be able to say that no matter what happens they will never be rebellious, but be completely obedient to this tradition.

A vertical tradition has been set and a horizontal tradition is now being created, so since the prototype is established all you have to do is fit into it. Should you have your own unique way and want me to follow it? You don't feel you can do that because you came to accommodate the vertical line, not for the vertical line to accommodate your wobbling horizontal line. This is why you come to me to be engaged and blessed and to be directed in your life.

The Unification Church has set a tremendous tradition in the horizontal. We are truly horizontal because there is no difference between races here and no national boundaries. The greater power of true love is penetrating them all. Are you single minded in concentration or is your mind wandering? You must be single-minded toward the one woman or one man who is your spouse. In the garden of Eden were there many choices for husband or wife? No, there was only one man and one woman. If Adam and Eve were engaged by God but later Adam slipped from a cliff and was crippled, could Eve say he was not qualified to be her husband? Then there would be no husband for Eve for eternity. It was a very simple situation! You engaged men and women are in exactly that same position so you should see only one man and one woman. It is very clear.

An eyeball has one vertical and one horizontal line, which meet in the center. The eye moves as a unit; the center doesn't move one way and the periphery of the eye move another. You have two eyes, but do you see two images when you perceive something? No, you see one image, not two, so in marriage your focus should be one as well. Man and woman are two individuals, but your one focus is love of your child. You love your parents as much as you love your children, and that's how you restore the vertical line. The truth is always simple.

This is the great conclusion of the Divine Principle, that the whole purpose of creation is the completion of the four position foundation. You have received a tremendous treasure without even knowing how valuable it is, yet it is given to you unconditionally. Once you become principled men and women you will be the center of the universe wherever you go, whether to Mars or to the moon, to the spirit world or physical world. No matter how small a portion you may occupy in the center, you are still in the image of the prototype and the circles are the same, though of different sizes. You will fit into any place in the universe and be accepted.

We are trying to create the core truth here, with love of parents and children and love of husband and wife like the first atom or cell. Our effort now is to expand it to the worldwide scale. That is the Unification Church.

When you look at a black grandmother or grandfather, don't view them as strangers but as your own grandparents. When you meet people the same age as your parents, whether they are beautiful or ugly you can relate to them as to your own parents. When you meet your peers, they are extensions of either your husband or wife. When you meet younger people, see them as your own children, or as your younger brothers and sisters. If you are familiar and comfortable in that way of life then you are living in the one family of the world and you will fit in anywhere in the universe; you will not be rejected anywhere, even in spirit world, because you are the basic cell which can fit anywhere in the world God created.

When you men look at women, don't do so with the archangel's point of view but from Adam's perspective. Satan always knew that Eve did not belong to him but to Adam, yet he still wondered if there was some way he could conquer her and entice her away. A woman can also harbor the mind of Lucifer, looking at a handsome man who is not her husband and wondering if there is some way she can win his attention. The safest way to look at a man is through the eyes of your husband. The men should look at women through their wives. That's essential. When you do so, the entire world will be the extension of your family.

How will a sense of ownership and value be determined in the future? The assets you are entitled to possess will be determined by how far you can expand your central truth to influence your surroundings. That will determine the size of your world. When you have a true horizontal line, the true vertical automatically comes into being; when you have a true vertical line, the true horizontal line automatically comes into being. A perfect plus comes whenever there is a perfected minus, just as a high-pressure area is automatically attracted to a low-pressure area and generates thunder and lightning. Anyone living in this Principle, regardless of how they look, is sending out beautiful vibrations, and everyone who comes near won't be able to help but love them.

If you are white, you must ask yourself what you have done for the black and Oriental people. What you need is the whole world, not yourself alone; you cannot survive without the world. Do you think this ideology should be welcomed only by white society? Or only by Asians because I am Oriental? Or only by black people? If I should be welcomed on the universal scale then I should bring God's conviction and way of life of lovism.

What do you gain in the Unification Church? I am anxious to give you much, but have you received it or are you in the process of receiving it? I can classify you in one of three ways-those who have received, those who are thinking about it, and those still in the process.

Some people claim they have been members for twenty years, but they have been spectators, only trying to gain something without investing themselves too much. For those people it doesn't matter how long they have been here. Also there are those who think they should gain some benefit from the Church, such as housing or money. Supporting the Church is actually only the first level because eventually you are going to support the nation and the world. It has never been my philosophy that the Unification Church 'should prosper; it is my philosophy that the Church should sacrifice for the sake of the nation. Am I pulling the Unification Church to the goal, or is the Unification Church pulling me to the goal? In that theory should you be pulled by the Church, or do the pulling? Just as I am pulling the Church, you too should be taking the initiative to pull the Church to the higher goal.

For instance, do you come here to Belvedere because you are required to, or because you want to be better locomotives? Should members come only when I am here, or should more people come when I am away? It is absolutely true that when I am not here you should be even more strong, taking my position. No one else will lead if you don't. If you are always passive and I am the only one pushing you all the time, then when you come here you will only think that you are being pushed some more again.

You should be a radiator of the love of God to influence the world more and more. That's how your value will be determined. During your student days you asked your parents for an allowance, but then when they told you to study you resented it and grumbled about the generation gap. Our life here is similar because I am always pushing you and when I am away I send Col. Pak to push you, so you think that there is no respite. Do you think I do that to earn my meals? No, I am investing every penny I have, and the harder you work the harder I must work to provide funds for all your activities.

This is the only chance to make you into gigantic men and women in the sight of God so I have to push you hard. For the first time God is relieved, knowing that I am doing this work for His sake. For the first time in history God has found a representative to push mankind.. America is proud of all her accomplishments, but unless they are connected to true vertical love they have no value in an eternal sense. That's why reorganization is necessary in order to bring everything back to the central line and that's what we are doing in the world. Has anyone else even attempted this?

Last month there was a momentous engagement. Is that the end of it, or just the beginning of expanding this true love to every continent? That engagement is symbolic of uniting the entire world in reality. Will that concept of unification be welcomed by each continent? People point their finger at me and accuse, but do they have any better alternative? Then who shall ultimately prosper and win? You shouldn't say we will, but say "I will" instead.

The topic today is "What Kind of Thinking Do You Have?" You are creating the heavenly four position foundation, and without it the universe will crumble and salvation cannot be brought to the world. It is the purpose of your life to start the living tradition of that foundation. That's why you need your wife or husband and children-not for your own security and enjoyment, but to fulfill the heavenly foundation. You are becoming the point of stability in the universe and because of you the world will be stabilized.

Can we swap that value even for the whole of America? Even if the whole universe is handed to you it would not be a fair exchange for this value. You cannot even swap it for God and True Parents. Do you want to have that value? How much have you been yearning to possess it? This process is one of trying to sculpt men and women together into harmony with the universe. Carving yourself out of stone is painful, with all kinds of hardships coming to you as the chips fall away. After many years of tumbling around in running water gravel has smooth edges, but imagine how harsh an experience it was to become nicely rounded. We are going out to the world, which is like the running water, to smooth off our rough edges. Through your experiences you will get harder and stronger, but the water will round you off and make you into a beautiful shape. Do you have confidence in this?

For a few days you people who were just engaged were enchanted by having your new object, but after a while you looked closely and thought perhaps that he or she was not so attractive. Did you ever think back nostalgically to the days of having your former girlfriend or boyfriend? Inevitably then your skepticism would expand to include the True Parents who matched you. Do you have confidence that will not happen? Why? Because your engagement has common ground in true love. For the sake of the world and the future you are going to be a pillar to support the world, so you cannot crumble, either of you. It doesn't make any difference whether this pillar is a little short or fat or thin. That person can be fat like a potato and it won't matter as long as he has this burning desire and radiates true love.

At this particular juncture of history God is using me to be a mediator of this true love to disseminate the example of a true individual, true family, true ideal society, nation and world. The Unification Church, therefore, is the place where you will receive it because I am the mediator to do that. Eventually you will receive God, and He will find His dwelling in you. Do you think you have received this inheritance or are you still receiving it? If you have received it are you really taking care of it? Are you using that inheritance in your own life?

God created His world of love, and in the same way I am asking you to create your own world to love. You are in the process of recreation-of yourself, your family, the nation and world, and eventually even the entire universe. In love you are the builder and you administer your house with love Don't you want to become that kind of men and women? Is it easier than getting Ph.D. from Harvard or more difficult? It is so difficult that I have given all sixty years of my life to it and still I am working on it. No other thought even enters my mind. Do you want to receive that inheritance? Do you have the genius to do this? If I have struggled with my whole might for these sixty years, then how much more would you do?

How many years would you need to live to do it-several hundred? You know you won't live that long, so since your time is limited don't you think you should be desperately hastening toward the goal? Then should I encourage you to relax? If I have a real heart of love then should I push you to work harder than I do? That is why I clearly say that if you have a real ear and real thought then go ahead and analyze this task and do it.

What do you have? You have the ideal of the heavenly four position foundation. Would you put it in storage somewhere? If we have this ideal then we must fulfill it in every way to create a new world of unification culture. You will have to invest every talent and skill you have to fulfill this heavenly four position foundation. If you don't have too much talent then invest your body and do it, but don't ever be idle. You must not be a burden to the Church or to me, or to the nation and world. You must not be indebted, but give grace so the world will be indebted to you.

At home you want to be a good child who will not burden your parents, so you take care of your brothers and sisters and bring comfort to your father and mother. If you die with a great debt then you will be bowed down eternally and not able to lift up your face, but when you make the world indebted to you, you can look at God face to face. That is the secret of heaven. That's why I never wanted to be indebted when I came to America, but to make this nation indebted to me instead. Many times I have seen members trying to take advantage of me, but I am still giving and trusting because my life has been given and God's life has been given.

The young people of America have come to me, but they are indebted to me, not vice versa. The same principle works at my home with Mother and the children. I have received a great inheritance so I must be in a position to give abundantly. This is true for you as well, since you have received so much. Don't worry whether your work will be recognized or whether people know what you have accomplished. Just live the Principle. I may not recognize what you have done, but that doesn't mean you have been deprived; your assets will remain and no one can take them away and there is no way you can complain. No matter how well you do, you know you have not yet fulfilled your responsibility to the nation and society, so as a person who has not finished how can you lift up your head or complain?

Do you have this inheritance? I am a man with bare hands who has nothing except the most precious gift-truth. Millions of people of all races have to follow me because they want to receive that inheritance. Everyone comes to me to drink the water of life.

Amazingly enough the entire spirit world is supporting me. There are many great ministers in the world, but even though I am unjustly persecuted spirit world is working with me and all kinds of miracles take place in our Church around the world. It is because I have the central truth of God; I am the heir of God's kingdom and the mediator between God and mankind.

Today is June 10, 1979. Today you undoubtedly received the inheritance of the true love of God from His mediator, the True Parents. Then what can you do? You have to give it to others. Go to your Home Church and give it away, and go to your nation for True Parents and God. At the beginning of this sermon you couldn't answer the question, "What do you have?" But now you can answer that you have the true love of God.

Those who pledge that you have received that inheritance, raise your hands. Thank you. Let us pray.