ORDER NUMBER
79-09-16
REVEREND SUN MYUNG MOON
SPEAKS ON
LET US ANALYZE
OURSELVES
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 wrongdoings. 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 lifespan; 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 fiance, 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 fiance 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 fiance? 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 fiance 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.