Category: Cheon Seong Gyeong

Perfection is a State of Unity With God

Watch or listen to the second part of the series on the Richard Urban Show, Why Abstinence Matters:
We Have Become Diseased both Spiritually and Physically on the Richard Urban Show.

Cheon Seong Gyeong 2156

The result of this Fall is that human-
kind became ignorant of such basic
issues as the facts relating to God, life,
and the universe. Throughout my life,
I have spoken in public more than ten
thousand times, and presented a true
view of the world, of life, and of history
based on the principles of ‘Godism.’ This
content in its entirety has been translat-
ed into twelve different languages and
published in a series of some three hun-
dred volumes. It was not brought to light
as a result of some kind of comprehen-
sive literary research or academic study,
but is comprised of the fundamental and
essential answers I found while freely
traversing both the visible and the invis-
ible worlds.

Richard: Very true. How many are aware of what the purpose of life is, as God designed it?

Cheong Seong Gyeong 1509

Where is the center of the universe?
It is the family. Where is the base for true
love to settle? It is in your family. There-
fore, the family of the original ideal is
one that grasps the love of the universe
and participates in the protection of the
universe. Also, such a family applies
the realm of love for the universe to the
national level in order to walk the way
of patriotism and finally, applies it to the
world level. People who love their family
are called filial sons or daughters, people
who love their nation are called patriots,
and people who love the world are called
saints. (Blessed Family – 925)

World Scripture and the Teachings of
Sun Myung Moon

Chapter 3

Perfection

Scriptures describe the virtues of a person who is one with the Absolute, who is firmly established in truth, who is without sin or bondage to worldly corruption, and who exhibits the fullness of sanctifying grace. He or she may be called a saint, a sage, a Buddha, or a divine man. This state of perfection is not beyond our reach; it is a goal to be attained, if we only make the effort. Gandhi once said, “Life is an aspiration. Its mission is to strive after perfection, which is self-realization. The ideal must not be lowered because of our weaknesses or imperfections.”
The passages in this section describe the excellent qualities of a person who has attained the state of perfection. Three characteristics of perfection in particular stand out: The first is mind-body unity. The saint has dominion over him or herself, having overcome selfish desires and been purified of any feelings of lust, greed or other cravings. As a result, he only wishes to do what is right—in accord with God’s will and the dictates of conscience. In Saint Augustine’s words, he is one who can “love God and do what you will.”
Second, perfection is a state of unity with God. God is the pattern and model for the highest human aspirations. Thus, the saint participates in God’s own perfection and comes to embody God’s attributes— absoluteness, unchangeability, compassion, righteousness, etc.
Third, perfection means to embody God’s true love. Love or compassion is the core of God’s being, as expressed in His untiring efforts to save sinful people. Therefore, a man or woman of perfection delights in the well-being of others and selflessly works for their benefit. Saintly love has no partiality, regards no one as an enemy, but always repays evil with good. (See also Chapter 13: True Love.)

  1. Perfection Begins with Unity of Mind and Body

A novice asked the Buddha, “What is goodness
and what is greatness?” The Buddha replied,
“To follow the Way and hold to what is true is
good. When the will is in conformity with the
Way, that is greatness.”
Sutra of Forty-two Sections 15 (Buddhism)

None of you truly believes until his inclination
is in accordance with what I have brought.
Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 41 (Islam)

One who is rich in the enlightenment will not
indulge in any sinful action, since his conscience is
guided by the intellect fully illumined with Truth.
Acarangasutra 1.174 (Jainism)

Whose minds are well perfected in the Factors of
Enlightenment, who, without clinging, delight
in the giving up of grasping, they, the corrup-
tion-free, shining ones, have attained Nibbana
even in this world.
Dhammapada 89 (Buddhism)

He whose senses are subdued, like steeds
well-trained by a charioteer, he whose pride is
destroyed and is free from the corruptions—
such a steadfast one even the gods hold dear.

Like the earth, a balanced and well-disciplined
person resents not… He is like a pool, unsullied
by mud; to such a balanced one, life’s wanderings
do not arise.

Calm is his mind, calm is his speech, calm is his
action, who, rightly knowing, is wholly freed
[from defilements], perfectly peaceful and
equipoised.

The man who is not credulous but truly
understands the Uncreated (Nibbana), who has
cut off the links, who has put an end to occasion
[of good and evil], , who has eschewed all desires,
he indeed is a supreme man.
Dhammapada 94-97 (Buddhism)

Arjuna: Tell me of those who live established in
wisdom, ever aware of the Self, O Krishna. How
do they talk? How sit? How move about?
Lord Krishna: They live in wisdom who
see themselves in all and all in them, who have
renounced every selfish desire and sense craving
tormenting the heart.
Neither agitated by grief nor hankering after
pleasure, they live free from lust and fear and
anger. Established in meditation, they are truly
wise. Fettered no more by selfish attachments,
they are neither elated by good fortune nor
depressed by bad. Such are the seers.
Even as a tortoise draws in its limbs, the
wise can draw in their senses at will. Aspirants
abstain from sense pleasures, but they still crave
for them. These cravings all disappear when
they see the highest goal. Even of those who
tread the path, the stormy senses can sweep
off the mind. They live in wisdom who subdue
their senses and keep their minds ever absorbed
in Me.
Bhagavad-Gita 2.54-61 (Hinduism)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as say-
ing, “The believers whose faith is most perfect
are those who have the best character.”
Hadith of Abu Dawud and Darimi (Islam)

The monk who has destroyed the cankers, lived
the life, done what was to be done, laid down the
burden, won the goal, burst the bonds of becom-
ing, and is freed by the fullness of gnosis, cannot
transgress nine standards: a monk in whom the
cankers are destroyed cannot deliberately take
the life of any living thing; cannot, with inten-
tion to steal, take what is not given; cannot
indulge in carnal intercourse; cannot intention-
ally tell a lie; cannot enjoy pleasures from mem-
ories as of yore when a householder; a monk
in whom the cankers are destroyed cannot go
astray through desire; cannot go astray through
hate; cannot go astray through delusion; cannot
go astray through fear.
Anguttara Nikaya 4.370 (Buddhism)

He who has achieved it cannot either be drawn
into friendship or repelled,
Cannot be benefited, cannot be harmed,
Cannot either be raised or humbled,
And for that reason is highest of all creatures
under heaven.
Tao Te Ching 56 (Taoism)

Keep Your Conscience Clear

Watch or listen to the Richard Urban Show:
Why Abstinence Matters-1: The Fall of Man

Cheon Seong Gyeong 343

Where does true love begin? True love
begins in True Parents. This is the best
news among all good news. Although
there may be some good news declared
in the world, and although “husband”
and “wife” are good words, there is no
better news than that of True Parents.
This is because without the appearance
of True Parents, no true husband or wife
can appear in the fallen world. You must
understand this clearly. (131-187, 1984.5.1)

What does it mean for you to serve
with all your heart, with your entire
mind, and with all your devotion? It
means to offer your life. Is there any-
thing greater than that? To devote your-
self with all your heart means giving up
your life. To serve with all your mind
and devotion means giving up your life.
Isn’t there a saying, “Sincerity moves
heaven?” Is there a limit to sincerity, an
end to one’s devotion? Put your life on
the line and offer devotion. God will rec-
ognize the person who is ready to sacri-
fice his life and offer a life of devotion.
(38-242, 1971.1.8)

Cheong Seong Gyeong 994

World Scripture and the Teachings of
Sun Myung Moon

Chapter 3

Conscience and Inborn Goodness

2. Struggling with One’s Conscience

Keep your conscience clear.
1 Peter 3.16

You may not see yourself growing up, but you
definitely know it when you are sinning.
Akan Proverb (African Traditional Religions)

The mind is said to be twofold:
The pure and also the impure;
Impure—by union with desire;
Pure—from desire completely free.
Maitri Upanishad 6.34 (Hinduism)

And I do call to witness the self-reproaching
spirit.
Qur’an 75.2

A certain person has done no lovely deed, has
done no profitable deed, has given no shelter
to the timid; he has done evil, cruel, wrongful
deeds. At the thought, “I have done no lovely
deed,” he is tormented. At the thought, “I have
done evil,” he is tormented. These two thoughts
sear the conscience.
Itivuttaka 25 (Buddhism)

My conscience hath a thousand several
tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.
William Shakespeare, Richard III

Every judgment of conscience, be it right or
wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or
morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise
that he who acts against his conscience always
sins.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Christianity)

If a superior give any order to one who is under
him which is against that man’s conscience,
although he does not obey it yet he shall not be
dismissed.
Saint Francis of Assisi, Third Admonition of the Order
(Christianity)

To the pure all things are pure, but to the cor-
rupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very
minds and consciences are corrupted.
Titus 1.15

The glory of a good man is the testimony of a
good conscience. Therefore, keep your con-
science good and you will always enjoy happi-
ness, for a good conscience can bear a great deal
and can bring joy even in the midst of adver-
sity. But an evil conscience is ever restive and
fearful.
Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ (Christianity)

Is it not the fact that there is in the body a
clot of blood which, if it is in good condition,
the whole body is, too; and if it is in rotten
condition, so too is the whole body? Is not this
the heart?
40 Hadith of an-Nawawi 6 (Islam)

I myself had reason for confidence… as to
the law a Pharisee, as to zeal a persecutor of
the church, as to righteousness under the law
blameless. But whatever gain I had I counted as
loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count every-
thing as loss because of the surpassing worth of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Philippians 3.4-8

Restore the Autonomy, Dignity and Value of the Self

Watch or listen to the Richard Urban Show:
Why Abstinence Matters-1: The Fall of Man

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1935
(Both me and Stacey got the same Rheama)

All of you must inherit the right of
the true parent. Then, centering on the
right of the true children, right of the
true parent, and right of the true king-
ship, heaven and earth must be unified.
First, there would emerge the Kingdom
of Heaven on earth; secondly, the King-
dom of Heaven in the spirit world; third-
ly, the kingship and the realm of the
royal family. What is the realm of the
royal family? The Cain world is still in
existence. Therefore, we need to restore
the right of the eldest son in the Cain
world, and transform the Cain figure
from a son bound for hell into an abso-
lutely obedient second son, and take
him to the Kingdom of God. That is how
the realm of the royal family will come
about. If Cain had not fallen, he would
have become a member of the royal fam-
ily. However, up until now, he has had no
other place to go except hell, and so we
must make it possible for him to enter
the Kingdom of God.

That is why the realm of the roy-
al family emerged. Then what follows?
It is justification by attendance; that is,
you need to perfect the family life of
attendance. In other words, once you
are standing on a victorious foundation
centered on the Kingdom of Heaven on
earth and in spirit world, kingship, and
the realm of the royal family, you need
to practice a family life that serves and
attends True Parents and God. By form-
ing a vertical relationship with God, all
of you must be registered; that is, all of
you must occupy the position of ances-
tors. (274-183, 1995.10.29)

World Scripture and the Teachings of
Sun Myung Moon

Chapter 3

The Value of Human Life

4. To Realize One’s True Value

Verily the most honored among you in the sight
of God is he who is the most righteous.
Qur’an 49.13

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor
to be what you desire to appear.
Socrates, in Xenophon (Hellenism)

Not by matted hair, nor by family, nor by birth
does one become a brahmin. But in whom there
exist both truth and righteousness, pure is he, a
brahmin is he.
Dhammapada 393 (Buddhism)

Whose deeds lower him, his pedigree cannot
elevate.
Nahjul Balagha, Saying 21 (Islam)

Four are the castes—brahmin, khatri, sudra,
and vaishya;
Four the stages of life—
Out of these, whoever on the Lord meditates,
is superior.
Adi Granth, Gaund, M.4, p. 861 (Sikhism)

The wise ones who are intent on meditation, who
delight in the peace of renunciation, such mindful,
perfect Buddhas even the gods hold most dear.
Dhammapada 181 (Buddhism)

Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

We can gauge a person’s value by seeing the quality of his or her love. (99:63, July 23, 1978)

Become such men and women of character that God will say He cannot live without you. (Way of
God’s Will 2.2)

When an individual is united with true love, it opens the way to elevate his or her value and dignity to the highest point. This is the state of mind-body unity, where the conscience and the body are resonating continually. Take two tuning forks of the same frequency: when one is struck the other one resonates with it; likewise, when true love strikes the conscience, the body will resonate with it. Such an individual requires no instruction about how to behave. (223:356,
November 20, 1991)

Had Adam and Eve not fallen, their bodily desires would not have led them on a path contrary to their mind. Rather, their body would have acted in total obedience to their mind. Because this did not happen, people today cannot attain God’s true love nor can they realize true human value.
(399:153, December 22, 2002)

The ultimate goal of fallen man is to restore the autonomy, dignity and value of the self, the potential that God gave him as the purpose of creation. (Way of God’s Will 2.2)

It Is Not Permitted to Destroy What is Conceived in the Womb

Watch or listen to the Richard Urban Show:
Why Abstinence Matters-1: The Fall of Man

Cheon Seong Gyeong 324

The person who has embodied true
love attains the ability and the right to
immediately possess everything God
desires to see in the original, ideal world.
Such a qualification, however, must be
attained on earth. By loving your fellow
countrymen, loving the people of the
world, and loving all things of creation,
you can feel the true love of God. (112-204,
1981.4.12)

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1272

In order to enter God’s realm of heart,
your lineage has to be the same. You
can only join that realm of heart after
changing your lineage, which originat-
ed from a different root. The stems are
different. The roots, stems and sprouts
need to be identical. For that to be so, the
great work of the conversion of lineage
is absolutely necessary. This cannot be
carried out alone. You need True Parents
for this task. (172-55, 1988.1.7)

World Scripture and the Teachings of
Sun Myung Moon

Chapter 3

The Value of Human Life

3. Murder, Suicide and Abortion: Crimes against Life

You shall not kill.
Exodus 20.13

A man who contributes to the killing of a
believer—even with a single word—will meet
Allah on the Judgment Day, with the judgment
upon his forehead, “excluded from the mercy of
his Lord.”
Sunnan Ibn Majah 2.2620 (Islam)

Do not take life—which God has made sacred—
except for just cause.
Qur’an 17.33

A man once came before Raba and said to him,
“The ruler of my city has ordered me to kill a
certain person, and if I refuse he will kill me.”
Raba told him, “Be killed and do not kill; do
you think that your blood is redder than his?
Perhaps his is redder than yours.”
Talmud, Pesahim 25b (Judaism)

All tremble at the rod. All fear death. Comparing
others with oneself, one should neither strike
nor cause to strike.
All tremble at the rod. Life is dear to all.
Comparing others with oneself, one should
neither strike nor cause to strike.
Whoever, seeking his own happiness, harms
with the rod other pleasure-loving beings,
experiences no happiness hereafter.
Whoever, seeking his own happiness, harms
not with the rod other pleasure-loving beings,
experiences happiness hereafter.
Dhammapada 129-32 (Buddhism)

And do not kill yourselves, for verily God has
been to you Most Merciful.
Qur’an 4.29

“Surely your blood of your lives will I require”
[Genesis 9.5]. This includes suicide, except in a
case like that of Saul.
Genesis Rabbah 34.13 (Judaism)

A monk who intentionally deprives a human
being of his life, or provides the means for sui-
cide, or praises death, or incites one to commit
suicide, saying, “Of what use to you is this evil,
difficult life? Death is better for you than life”…
commits an offense entailing loss of monkhood.
Vinaya Pitaka (Buddhism)

Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty.
We shall provide for them and for you. Truly, the
slaying of them is a great sin.
Qur’an 17.31

A bhikkhu who intentionally kills a human being,
down to procuring abortion, is no ascetic and no
follower of the Fraternity of the Buddha.
Vinaya, Mahavagga 1.78.4 (Buddhism)

When the sacredness of life before birth is
attacked, we still stand up and proclaim that
no one ever has the authority to destroy unborn
life.
Pope John Paul II 8 (Christianity)

Indeed for us murder is forbidden once and for
all, so it is not permitted even to destroy what
is conceived in the womb. To prohibit the birth
of a child is only a faster way to murder; it
makes little difference whether one destroys a
life already born or prevents it from coming to
birth. It is a human being, who is to be a human
being, for the whole fruit is already present in
the seed.
Tertullian, Apology 9.8 (Christianity)

For What Will It Profit a Man If He Gains the Whole World and Forfeits His Life?

Cheon Seong Gyeong 2356

In 1992, we announced the Messiah
and True Parents to the world. Focusing
on America, we announced the True Par-
ents and the Completed Testament Age
starting on May 13, 1993. I have made all
the necessary conditions. As you know,
America represents the entire world. It
is the final settling place in terms of the
Christian cultural sphere. This is the
time of transition into the new age cen-
tering on True Parents. We are enter-
ing the Completed Testament Age. Our
proclamation was the first time in histo-
ry for such an event. How long God must
have been waiting for this time! How
miserable God has been throughout his-
tory! Now the age of hope is approach-
ing. We are entering into the age when
we can proclaim the True Parents. It is
a historical and universal event. Noth-
ing like this has ever happened before in
human history. (248-175, 1993.8.3)

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1186

Since the vertical and horizontal
indemnity, the indemnity of the eight
stages was completed, last year, on August
31, 1989, I went to Alaska, the northern-
most place in the western world, and
conducted the “Ceremony of the Settle-
ment of the Eight Stages.” It was con-
ducted at the northernmost place. Then
on September 1, I announced the “ideol-
ogy centered on the Heavenly Father.” It
is the ideology of salvation through love,
which we know as the parent-centered
ideology. This ideology urges us to love
everyone. Satan cannot oppose love. If
Satan does not oppose the Unification
Church on its way, it will spread world-
wide in a flash. (199-157, 1990.2.16)

Richard: This Rheama is special to me and Stacey. August 31, 1989 is the very day that we moved from northeast DC to Capitol Hill. The purpose of our move was so we could do Home Church in the Capitol Hill area.

World Scripture and the Teachings of
Sun Myung Moon

Chapter 3

The Value of Human Life

Human beings have priceless value. Although in many fallen societies life is regarded as cheap, and despite the worldly illusion that a person’s value is determined by wealth, status, education or beauty, God endows every person with the absolute value of His love. He created us as His beloved children, infinitely precious—even equal to God. The texts gathered here express this exalted value of a human being.
A single person has the value of the whole world. Unique in all creation, he or she is irreplaceable. Moreover, the love of God, family, nation and all creation embrace each individual. Each individual is needed by all
existence. The death of any individual brings loss to all existence. For this reason, taking life by murder, suicide and abortion has no place in God’s world. Furthermore, since physical life provides the opportunity for growth
(See Chapter 5: Preparation for Eternity), taking a life robs the individual and the universe of a way to attain perfection.
Still, in a world fixated on materialism, few people have realized their exalted potential value, which derives
from the capacity to love God and humanity. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us all to cultivate the true wellsprings of value and become the children of God who are esteemed by the world and God.

  1. More Precious than Gold

For what will it profit a man, if he gains the
whole world and forfeits his life?
Matthew 16.26

Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds
me,
men who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly no man can ransom himself,
or give to God the price of his life,
for the ransom of his life is costly,
and can never suffice.
Psalm 49.5-8

“I got me slaves and slave-girls.” For what price,
tell me? What in the world is worth as much
as a human being? What price can you put on
a rational intellect? How many drachmas do
you reckon equals the value of one made in the
likeness of God? How many gold pieces should
you be able to get for selling a being shaped by
God? God said, “Let us make man in our own
image and likeness.” (Gen. 1.26) Since man
is in the likeness of God, and is ruler over the
whole earth, and has been granted this author-
ity over everything from God who is his Buyer,
tell me, who is his seller? To God alone belongs
this power.
Gregory of Nyssa, Homily on Ecclesiastes 4
(Christianity)

Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

People in this world believe that the good life is to live in comfortable surroundings, wear good clothes, drive a fancy car, and fly to any destination anytime they wish. You should know that their standard of judging what is the good life is a bad habit of worldly people. (131:171, May 1, 1984)

Americans may love material things, but I love people more. The winners are people who love people. Even if you lose all you possess, if you keep your human relations intact, the things will return.
Though we lose money, through people we will be able to obtain money. But if we break our connection to people, we will lose everything. (February 17, 2001)

What is exceedingly valuable in the world? It is not treasure such as gold or silver, nor is it worldly fame or power. The most valuable thing in all heaven and earth is you.
Nevertheless, when people are asked what certification they have that they are valuable, they cannot answer. Still, despite their many deficiencies, people want to put themselves before heaven and earth as the most valuable existence. It is our original human nature to do so.
Maybe you think you are already living for the sake of the nation and the world. However, have
you considered whether other people regard you as a valuable person? If they do not, then you need
to make a new determination and a new beginning. Ask yourself, “What do others see as valuable
about me?”
Can you become a jewel, one of a kind in the universe, a true treasure that God and Jesus would long to possess? The myriads of saints who formerly lived on earth, and all the philosophers
who planted their thought in the world, no matter how important they may have been during their earthly lives, would long for your treasure. All humanity presently living, and even people of the future, would also want it. They would adore its value. Yet who has believed that they could be such
a jewel? (17:13-14, November 6, 1966)