Here are my notes from Hyo-Jin-nim's speech Sunday 26 March 2006. My writing speed and ability to convey what was actually said are limited. These at most convey some sense of what Hyo-Jin-nim said and are not a verbatim record.

Joe Kinney

All welcome Hyo-Jin-nim and everyone offers a 1/2 bow.

Today I want to talk about addressing problems.

We all have problems.

Nobody here can say they don't have any problems can they?

I'm trying to find some kind of universality to use to deal with addressing problems.

I guess the way to address problems is to find some kind of absolute value on a primary, secondary, and tertiary level.

The first level is the absolutes like the laws of physics, laws and principles that cannot be changed.

The second level is the laws that we create by our intellect, like the laws of governments. These aren't as absolute as the first kind but if you violate them there are consequences.

The third level is etiquette or proper manors. For example some people get offended if I use colorful words.

Having said that, the problem is that certain individuals don't recognize absolute values on the first second or third levels.

How many of you live alone? In society, most people don't live alone. Even if you do you still must work and interact with society to live. That is unless you are like Jeremiah Johnson [a movie character who went to live alone in the mountains] living in the wilderness by yourself.

So when you talk about basic human reality, you have to consider gregarious society which creates complexity.

You might think that you're unique of special. Maybe you are, but still you have to live in society and interact with others.

How many parents think that they really know each of their kid's connection or viewpoint of reality?

I want to ask my own Father that.

How well do parents really understand their children?

To understand something you have to understand each of the components and how they relate.

If you say that you have problems that can't be solved, that is because you don't understand all the factors that combine to form the problem.

If you can understand all the factors then you can understand the problem.

Take disease for example: To create a cure for a disease scientists have to break it down and understand each component.

The same is true for changing the world.

Changing the world will take generations, so don't take your selves too seriously.

Just recently a member that I know passed away. I hope that she will have a peaceful transition and settle in quickly.

I just want you to consider that our lives are so short.

Just because you have the position of leader, you can't lead if you don't know how the people below you work. Of course a leader has to show the way.

The Peace Corps was founded in the '60s by Kennedy, right? Christian charities that do missionary work in Africa or something. Even Jimmy Carter and his Habitat for Humanity. They are all doing good work, leading by example.

You have to know your limitations, your responsibilities, your boundaries and how we relate to others.

This should come down from above. Otherwise you're just doing your own thing.

You can't change your self if you're going to pretend. You can't change the world if you don't change yourself.

You can only get better if you understand your limitations. If you understand your limitations, then you can expand them.

The things that start problems are often immaturity, selfish arrogance.

If we clearly understand each component of our problems, then we can solve our problems for our selves. We don't need to ask for God's help or for Father's intervention.

We can do it starting from this room.

You have to know your self and the people around you.

Start small, with the people around you.

You have to have life experiences, not just intellectualize.

You have to have experiences. Tell your self that these experiences are for me, for my growth.

Don't say that all these experiences are for the sake of others. That sounds so phony.

The nature of a humble man is just a man that keeps his arrogance to him self. We are all arrogant to some extent.

So if we understand our limitations and the components of our problems we can start to change our selves.

You have to do it because you FEEL it, because you KNOW it!

That something that we must do is to change our selves.

I'll be away for a month.

I'll see you in May.

I've got something to take care of.

Sorry.

Thank you.

What Hyo-Jin-nim so humbly referred to as "something to take care of" is His concert tour in Japan.

The itinerary is:

April 6th Kumamoto
April 8th Kagawa
April 11th Shiga
April 14th Nagoya
April 16th Ishikawa
April 20th Chiba