Ep 382 - The Land of Death is the Land of Life, And the Land of Life is the Heavenly Land Part 1
The Land of Death Is the Land of Life, and the Land of Life Is the Heavenly Land - DP Intro 5 Principle Cause for the Inactivity of Religion - Lessons learned through Noah's family #17
♦ KEY POINTS: The Asia-Pacific Era is unfolding in earnest centering on True Mother. The providence of the Second Israel centered on the United States should bear fruit in Korea, the Third Israel centering on the Asia Pacific region. ♦ A principal cause for the inactivity and weakness of today's religions is that they have not overcome the self-contradiction between mind and body, spiritual and physical desires. Another cause is that their beliefs are not scientifically demonstrable. The Unification Principle is scientific. The order of restoration always starts with the external environment and becomes internal and then more internal. Ultimately religion, science, art or whatever we pursue must connect to God’s heart. True Parents say we are getting closer and closer to the spiritual world as the Internet begins to bring us beyond time and space. True Father said, “We have entered an age where the existence of the spirit world can be scientifically proven.” ♦ The Lord’s Prayer was meant to be fulfilled in Noah's family. It is God’s blueprint and dream for all time. God wanted Noah's family to be the center of the holy family and to realize heaven on earth. God cannot become holy by himself but only through his object partner, his children. It is our job to make God holy. We must first build heaven on earth, not go to a heaven that is already realized. Heaven is only realized when the Will is fulfilled on Earth. We need to nurture hearts, not build big church buildings. If we focus on going to Heaven after dying, it is easy to neglect reality and focus on individual-centered salvation, but salvation is for families. We need to become heavenly people, to respect, nurture and care for each other, and to create a culture of heart and build heaven, not just seek to go there. ♦
I am still in Hawaii. Today I go to Kona. I am still wearing a Hawaiian shirt. I have become Hawaiian. Here it is very, very lovely weather. I hope someday you will come here and enjoy Hawaii together with your family.
Yesterday we had a beautiful breakfast meeting at the Honolulu Church center with Tef (?) and Keiko Nakama, Hawaii state leader and the main members. Then we gathered at the holy ground with the members and prayed together. We had a group photo. So many brothers and sisters joined together! We had a lunch meeting with Bob McDermot (?) and his wife in the current Hawaii state House of Representatives. We had a really beautiful discussion together. It was a very good time. He is a righteous guy.
Then we had a meeting with the second generation and some first generation at the Honolulu Church center. I gave internal guidance to our second generation brothers and sisters. It was a really, really good time. We took a group photo with our second generation.
Today I would like to speak about “The Land of Death Is the Land of Life, and the Land of Life Is the Heavenly Land” from the contents of our True Mother’s memoir.
<Mother of Peace, Page 326-327> The 40-day course began in Cambodia. On November 19, 2019, at the personal invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen, which I gladly accepted, I flew into Phnom Penh. The Asia Pacific Summit was the first event that the government of Cambodia had ever co-hosted with a non-governmental organization. It was held in Phnom Penh at his office, which is known as the Peace Palace. At a reception prior to the Summit’s opening, he gathered the participating world leaders.
The prime minister spoke about the importance of the Asia Pacific Summit, the necessity for harmony and cooperation among Asian nations, and the efforts he had made to help develop Cambodia. I then spoke about the significance of this event. “The purpose of this Summit,” I said, “is to share that God, the Creator, from whom we have been separated due to the human Fall, is humanity’s Heavenly Parent. Our future is full of hope, since we are holding the Asia-Pacific Summit under God’s guidance.”
The Asia Pacific Summit was the first event that the government of Cambodia had ever co-hosted with a non-governmental organization. It was held in Phnom Penh in the prime minister’s office which is known as the Peace Palace. I was there. I was the main guy organizing the Asia-Pacific summit in Cambodia. This Asia-Pacific Cambodia Conference was well-known for the scale and content of the event as the Asia headquarters directly hosted it. My staff and I did a truly miraculous job. It was a miracle that this conference was held in Cambodia. In short, True Mother is the one who makes miracles wherever she goes. It was really an unforgettable memory and event. True Mother was so happy at the time.
The participants expressed their support for the goals of the Summit and applauded the Cambodian government’s groundbreaking initiative and cooperation with UPF. Prime Minister Hun also voiced support for my Asia-Pacific Union initiative as a path of cooperation that would lead to peace in Asia.
Following our meeting, he escorted me into the main auditorium and the Asia Pacific Summit began.
More than 800 representatives from 46 nations, including several heads of state, were present. I spoke to them about our role in helping bring Heaven’s providence to fruition and about the coming era of the Pacific civilization, the final point of settlement in Heaven’s providence. I stated that the Pacific civilization will be one of true love characterized by attendance to God as the Heavenly Parent. In the presence of several current and former heads of state and ambassadors, His Excellency expressed support for the vision of regional peace anchored in the Asia-Pacific Union initiative I had proposed.
Jesus said that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. This sentiment could be felt as these delegates, though far from Jesus’ homeland, signed the Phnom Penh Declaration and expressed active support for the vision of an Asia-Pacific Union. So much was accomplished for the providence; it seemed as if a thousand years had condensed into that one day. I felt that Heavenly Parent and True Father must have been very pleased with the outcome of the Summit.
Today I would like to introduce ...
True Mother’s Speech at the 2019 Asia Pacific Summit in Cambodia(Phnom Penh Peace Palace, November 19, 2019)
Human beings need to change. They must understand the true essence. When they come to clearly understand and realize that Heavenly Parent is their [ultimate] parent, no longer will human-centered systems cause problems.
We cannot say that all the institutions established for the sake of peace until now have been successful. However, you should know that this moment could happen only based on your wise Prime Minister Hun Sen’s determination, through which the Pacific Asia Union is standing with True Mother, God’s only daughter, in Cambodia. In this moment we can feel gratitude and glory toward Heaven and great hope for humankind.
True Mother said here “They must understand the true essence. When they come to clearly understand and realize that Heavenly Parent is their [ultimate] parent, no longer will human-centered systems cause problems.” This is Mother talking about the fundamental truth, the relationship between parent and child, between Heavenly Parent and us. If we know this point very, very clearly, which is the fundamental truth, we can resolve any kind of problem. We can completely rearrange and settle down human-centered systems.
There is no greater means than the parent–child relationship on the path to becoming one. Until now, fallen humankind did not know God, their Heavenly Parent, and a state of confusion prevailed. However, from now on humankind must seek Heavenly Parent and each must become a filial son or daughter to that parent. This is the only way to realize the peaceful kingdom of heaven on earth that humankind has been longing for. Please know that you, the Pacific Asia Union, are riding a Cheon Il Guk wave as you lead the way for the world to become one by fulfilling the leading responsibility.
The era of the Asia-Pacific Union has arrived officially. When True Father founded the Island Nation Federation, he said that Hawaii acts as a gateway in the Asia-Pacific era. The providence of the First Israel blossomed centered on the United States representing the Second Israel, and again the providence of the Second Israel centered on the United States should bear fruit in Korea, the Third Israel centering on the Asia Pacific region. True Father said that Hawaii would be the gateway that connects the Second Israel and the Third Israel proclaiming the arrival of the Pacific Rim Era in Hawaii. Now we can see that the Asia-Pacific Era is unfolding in earnest centering on True Mother.
As we complete our fifty state tour in the United States today, I think it is very meaningful to remind ourselves again of True Mother’s words about the Asia-Pacific Era in Hawaii. The Era of the Asia-Pacific Union has arrived officially. Now we are really focused on the Era of the Asia-Pacific Union. When I arrived in Hawaii the day before yesterday, I received the news that Hiroshi Masujaki (?), a 777 couple, just passed away. He was one of the main guys (in establishing) the Island Nations for World Peace. Let’s pray for him. It is really meaningful that I arrived in Hawaii when he passed away and we are again studying about the Era of the Asia-Pacific Union. Everything is really meaningful here.
Living Divine Principle: Introduction 5 - Principle Cause for the Inactivity of Religion
The Reason That Religious People Have Been Unable to Accomplish Their Mission
♦ What is the reason that religious people, though earnestly searching for internal truth, have been unable to accomplish their God-given mission?
♦ Just as people attain perfection of character only when the mind and body are fully united, the two worlds of essence and phenomena must join in perfect harmony before the ideal world can be realized.
♦ Spiritual joy is incomplete without genuine physical happiness. Religions have made strenuous efforts to deny life in this world in their quest for eternal life. They have despised the pleasures of the body for the sake of spiritual bliss.
♦ Yet however hard they may try, people cannot cut themselves off from the reality of this world or annihilate the desire for physical pleasures, which follows them like a shadow and cannot be shaken off.
♦ This world and its desires tenaciously grab hold of religious people, driving them into the depths of agony. Such is the contradiction which plagues their devotional lives.
♦ Even many enlightened spiritual leaders, still torn by this contradiction, have met a sad end. Herein is a principal cause for the inactivity and weakness of today's religions: they have not overcome this self-contradiction.
The Reason Another Factor Has Fated Religions to Decline
♦ In step with the progress of science, the human intellect has become highly sophisticated, requiring a scientific approach to understanding reality. The traditional doctrines of religions, on the other hand, are largely devoid of scientific explanations.
♦ The ultimate purpose of religion can be attained only when one first believes it in one's heart and then puts it into practice. However, without first understanding, beliefs do not take hold.
♦ Understanding is the starting point for knowledge. Today, however, people will not accept what is not demonstrable by the logic of science.
♦ Accordingly, since religions are now unable to guide people even to the level of understanding, much less to belief, they are unable to fulfill their purpose.
♦ Even internal truth demands logical and convincing explanations. Indeed, throughout the long course of history, religions have been moving toward the point when their teachings could be elucidated scientifically.
Let’s study more based on this EDP content. Let’s study Father’s words.
True Father: History is Headed Towards an Age of Science
<211-132> “History is headed towards an age of science. An age of scientific development pursuing the origin, researching the origin of species, and grasping the fundamentals of everything has come. Thus, religion too has to walk in pace with this. There, the religion with a subjective view which can prove the existence of God, explain the contents of creation and the world must appear. However, because such a religion does not exist, God has to prepare such a religion for as long as He lives.”
Many religions insist that people believe in God unconditionally rather than trying to understand and know the existence of God. Since we have entered the age of science these days, we have to prove his existence logically, scientifically and empirically. This is very important. Otherwise you cannot convince young people. We cannot simply say “Believe, believe, believe in God.” We need to explain (his existence) logically, scientifically and heartistically, so that everybody clearly understands the existence of God. Then many people can follow.
Unification Principle is Scientific
<219-178> “Unless a religious person comes forward with a logic that offers a clear scientific explanation of cause, process, and result, the religious world cannot be saved. The Divine Principle of the Unification Church has such logic.”
<210-225> “In this twentieth century era, we boast about our cutting-edge science. We pursue the formal logic of development, but there is no place other than the Unification Church where we verify the existence of God with a religious theory developed through formal processes.”
Therefore we should study the Principle thoroughly and Unification Thought as well.
The Order of Restoration (External-Internal-More internal)
♦ The Providence centered on Science & Religion
> The world of Science - The world of Religion - The world of heart
♦ Proof of God :
> Scientific Principle (logical and rational) - Spiritual Principle (spirit) - Heartistic Principle (heart)
♦ Restoration of religion :
> Scientific Religion - Spiritual religion - Heartistic Religion
Finally everything needs to connect to God’s heart. We need to remind ourselves that the final conclusion is heart. The order of restoration always starts with the external environment and becomes internal. The internal conditions become more internal. That is why finally any religion, science, art or whatever we pursue must connect to God’s heart. That is the order of restoration.
An Age Where the Spirit World can Be Scientifically Proven
<134-239> “The reason I told that special team to carry out a research project is because science is now highly advanced. I asked them to do research on the frequency that enables contact with the spirit world. The motions in the spirit world are all made up of vibrations. I instructed them to research this because we have entered an age where the existence of the spirit world can be scientifically proven. When we enter the age where the unknown spirit world can be rationally understood, the age of religion will be brought to an end. It would be an age where humankind would believe in God even if they were told not to. This is a great task.”
True Father’s guidance is amazing. True Father said -- and often True Mother mentions this -- we are getting closer and closer to the spiritual world, right? It is becoming a world that transcends time and space. Because of Covid-19 we use more Internet through the June(?) call (?). We can connect to anyone beyond space and time. In the spiritual world there is no space, no time. It is beyond space and time. When I miss someone, they immediately appear. Time does not matter. Now we are closer and closer to the spiritual world beyond time and space. Even though I am in Hawaii, I can connect to all brothers and sisters in the world.
Science is developing so much! Now is the age in which “humankind would believe in God even if they” do not believe in God. Do not think that achieving Cheon il guk is still far away, True Father said. There is a certain expectation and foundation that God may cause some kind of work through science to save all humankind in an instant, immediately. This kind of era has come. If we really show proof through science that the spiritual world does exist, God exists, no one can deny it, then who cannot follow God? Who would not believe in the spiritual world?
I truly believe that the age of science, a kind of spiritual science, is advancing and that (a time when) no one can deny the existence of God is coming very soon. Our True Parents have already laid the foundation. The era of indemnity is completely over now. That is why when we have a certain expectation and foundation and are increasingly creating unity and have scientific development and are developing all kinds of skills, Father said we do not know what will happen. Father said, “The motions in the spirit world are all made up of vibrations. I instructed them to research this because we have entered an age where the existence of the spirit world can be scientifically proven.” An amazing time has come already.
Today’s Youth Ministry: Lessons Learned through Noah's Family (2)
We will continue with yesterday’s topic of Learning through Noah’s Family.
1. Actually, the Lord’s Prayer was meant to be fulfilled in Noah's family.
2. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13): “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Jesus' prayer is not just for the moment. His prayer is really connected to God’s providence all the time. God’s blueprint, God’s dream in Adam’s family, in Noah’s family, Abraham’s family and even at Jesus’ time, all his dreams are connected. That is why we can learn from Noah’s family what the real meaning of the Lord’s Prayer is. Jesus said, ...
3. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” means that when children become holy, the father also becomes holy. This means that the father’s Will will come true on Earth. Therefore, God’s purpose of creation and my life purpose is to become a holy man and woman, a holy couple and holy parents.
What does “Hallowed” mean? Very sacred, very holy. “Hallowed be your name” means that when the children become holy, the father becomes holy. It means that the Father’s will will come true on earth. Therefore God’s purpose of creation and my purpose are (for me) to become a holy man and woman and a holy couple and holy parents. When I become a holy man, (a holy woman,) a holy boy and a holy girl, holy husband and holy wife, holy parents, then God’s will can be accomplished. Then our Heavenly Father also becomes holy. Even though God is (already) very holy, his object partner, his children, have not yet become holy. They are dirty and are going around and hanging around in the realm of Satan. How can they say that God’s will is completed? Who makes God perfect? Who makes God holy? Not God himself. It is up to his object partner. We call that father the father of “Your unfilial sons and daughters.” This is very important. That is why Jesus said, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Not in the spiritual world. On earth.
4. Depending on the level of the object partner, the level of the subject partner also varies. When I become holy, God becomes holy as well. Therefore, God's will will be completed only when God's ideal is achieved on this earth. God wanted Noah's family to be the center of the holy family and to realize the holy heaven on earth.
I think many religious people, including Christians, do not know the real meaning of what Jesus is talking about.
5. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” means that Heaven’s vision and ideal of creation must be built on Earth. This means that we must first build heaven on earth, not go to a heaven that is already realized.
What does “as it is in heaven” mean? That was God’s blueprint. God’s blueprint is already clear. God’s blueprint, God’s purpose of creation, God’s ideal is very clear. Even though he has his ideal blueprint and his vision, it should be realized on earth, not in heaven. “As it is in heaven” means that in God’s heart, it is already completed. His vision, his blueprint are already completed. That’s why his vision, his ideal should be done on earth. This is very important. Many people misunderstood this. “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” means that heaven’s vision and ideal of creation must be built on earth. This means that we must build heaven on earth, not go to a heaven that is already realized. That is the reason why, before passing away, Jesus passed the keys to the kingdom of heaven to Peter. What does that mean? Why did he pass the keys to the kingdom of heaven to his main disciple, Peter? Because Jesus said, “Your will be done on earth,” not in heaven. First we need to accomplish God’s vision on earth, not in heaven first. This is really incredible guidance by Jesus.
6. Until now, faith was the thought that Father's will was fulfilled in Heaven. Existing faith believed in having good faith and going to heaven even if the devil’s world continued to exist. However, Heaven is only realized when the Will is fulfilled on Earth.
Jesus said to build the kingdom of heaven first on earth. That is why Jesus said very clearly, “What you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” This is the important point from now on.
7. If we believers had known that Heaven’s providence is to be realized on this earth, we would not focus on the church's buildings or external growth, but on nurturing people. In the future, it is necessary to instill a philosophy of living for the sake of others with a focus on raising filial sons and daughters in front of Heaven.
Many religious people say this is just a temporary world. “No matter how much I suffer, I can surely enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is a completely different theory from Jesus' point of view, from True Parents point of view. It is completely different. Because of this wrong understanding of Jesus’ and True Parents’ theory, (many think that) this world is only temporary, just for the time being. That is why they don’t focus on the earthly world. They focus on the kingdom of heaven in the spiritual world. That is a problem.
If we knew we needed to build the kingdom of heaven on earth, then how should we build the kingdom of heaven on earth? Where should we focus? We need to focus on each human being, nurturing people, how they can become the people of the kingdom of heaven. We should not focus on building, on the external environment. If we know that we should focus on the kingdom of heaven on earth, then everyone will focus on nurturing people’s hearts: how we can become people of the kingdom of heaven, how we can become filial sons and daughters in front of heaven. Wow! I really failed True Parents.
Where should I settle down? If we settle in the spiritual world, then God’s providence is over. Why do we need all three worlds?(?) Why? Why do we need all three worlds?(?) What is the reason? Why does Jesus need to come again? Why? Because he needs to fulfill on the earth first. This is a very important point. Why are Christian people waiting for Jesus? For what reason? To build the kingdom of heaven on earth, not just to welcome Jesus. Even though we welcomed Jesus, I did not become a man of the kingdom of heaven, I had nothing to do with the kingdom of heaven -- nothing dealing with Jesus, nothing dealing with the second coming, nothing dealing with the kingdom of heaven.
8. If you focus on going to Heaven after dying, it is easy to neglect reality and focus on individual-centered salvation.
Just only focus on individual salvation: “I believe in Jesus. I will go to the kingdom of heaven.” That is fine. No need to focus. What is the Unification Church teaching? We need to build the kingdom of heaven together centering on family, on the tribe, on the nation. We need to work together, centering on togetherism. This is a completely different concept from existing religion. Completely different.
8a. To enter the kingdom of heaven, you must first become a man of the kingdom of heaven. The Unification Church is not a place where people are prepared to enter heaven, but a place that produces people who will make heaven. Therefore, I must first become a person of heaven.
Then we need to focus on nurturing people, nurturing brothers and sisters. How can I become a man of the kingdom of heaven? How can I attain individual perfection? How can I establish the ideal family? How can I establish the ideal tribe? How can we work together? How can we love each other? Wow! Where should we focus?
Is there no need to build the kingdom of heaven on earth? Then why is God suffering? Why did central figures sacrifice so much? Why did Jesus need to pass away? Why did Jesus promise to come again? For what reason? We never established the kingdom of heaven on earth. If we had, there would have been no need for Jesus to come again. The Divine Principle is so clear.
9. In order to block Satan, the whole nation must have respect for each other. You have to infuse the heart of missing God. Then, how do you infuse a longing heart? Others should become indebted to you heartistically. Show an example of a life of giving and giving. If you keep giving, your faith will develop a heart of missing Heaven and your object.
You need to become perfect beings as God is a perfect being. I have to become a holy temple, holy sons and daughters. That is individual salvation, the first Blessing. What is the second blessing? It is not in heaven, but on earth: Ideal parents, ideal couple, ideal siblings, ideal children in the family. This is the second blessing. It is already very clear. In Genesis in the Bible God’s dream is not vague. God’s vision is not vague. His dream, his wishes, his vision should be realized on the earth, not in heaven. “Oh, let’s go to the kingdom of heaven. This earthly world is just for living temporarily. Ok, nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Our main purpose is to know how to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Oh my goodness! That is why the focus on individual salvation is really terrible. We need to focus on how to nurture my heart, how to nurture your heart, how to nurture children’s heart, how to resemble God, how to resemble God’s holiness. Then I become holy.
10. If you want to raise a child as a filial child, parents should refrain from alcohol, smoking, drugs, and pornography for their children and live only because of their children. Then parents will have an obedient child. If your child knows that you work hard and sacrifice because of them, that child cannot act falsely.
If we show the model: no Chapter Two problem, no drug problems, you are free from smoking and drugs and sexual immorality, and you really have dignity and become a holy man and a holy woman as a holy couple in front of your children, the children will automatically obey. How can I become a holy man? How can I become a holy woman? That is why Jesus said, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is heaven.” Wow! Jesus’ declaration is very clear. But many people misunderstood Jesus.
11. In addition, what Unification Church members should do is create a climate of finding victimized people, comfort them, respect them, and love each other. Then Satan disappears. Of course, it is difficult to put it into practice, but Heaven will work if there is someone who practices with tears. Heaven is never indifferent.
We need to have that kind of culture of heart, loving each other, respecting each other, caring for each other. Those who have a miserable situation, we find them, talk to them, comfort them, help each other, and respect God and respect my spouse as I respect God. I need to respect children as I respect God. If we create that kind of family, that kind of individual, that kind of tribe, that kind of nation, that will establish God’s kingdom of heaven on earth. We learned many things today through Noah’s family.
Thank you.