[026] World Scripture - The Moral Law - 1. Living by the Law

[대태양/김현수]

World Scripture Ⅱ

Part One - God and Creation

Chapter 2 Truth and Universal Law

2) The Moral Law

Divine law, the immutable law of nature, is inherently moral. It embraces in one principle the cosmological, ethical, social and legal spheres. Religion, therefore, cannot accept the modern distinction between fact and value; rather the moral law governing human life is as absolute as the law of gravity.

Since the order of the universe and the order of life cohere; establishing right order in our lives is the way to prosperity and longevity. Following the moral law leads to life and heaven; ignoring the law leads to decline, suffering and death.

The moral norms of human life are revealed in sacred Scriptures are variously called the Law or Torah (Judaism), Dhamma (Theravada Buddhism), Tao (Taoism), Dharma (Hinduism), and Moral Order (Confucianism). Yet these are but expressions of a natural law, inherent to our being and written on the heart, which transcends religion or social circumstance. In fact, as Father Moon teaches and Confucian texts confirm‎‎, it finds its foremost expression‎‎ in the family. The fundamental principle is to establish harmonious relationships, and this is achieved by practicing unselfishness and living for the sake of others.

1. Living by the Law

Religious scriptures

The Lord commanded us to do all these statutes,
to fear the Lord our God, for our good
always, that he might preserve us alive, as at
this day.
Deuteronomy 6:24

Easily known is the progressive one,

easily known the one who declines.

He who loves Dhamma progresses,

he who hates it declines.
Sutta Nipata 92 (Buddhism)

God has revealed the fairest of statements, a Scripture consistent,

[with reward] paired [with punishment],

at which creeps the flesh of those who fear their Lord,

so that their flesh and their hearts soften to God’s reminder.

Such is God’s guidance, with which He guides whom He will.
Qur’an 39.23

The night passes; it is never to return again.
The night passes in vain
for one who acts not according to the law.
Uttaradhyayana Sutra 14.24 (Jainism)

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever;
The ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalm 19.7-10

Those who live in accordance with the divine
laws without complaining, firmly established in
faith, are released from karma.

Those who violate these laws, criticizing and complaining,

are utterly deluded, and are the cause of their own suffering.
Bhagavad-Gita 3.31-32 (Hinduism)

Every one then who hears these words of mine
and does them will be like a wise man who built
his house upon the rock;

and the rain fell, and the floods came,

and the winds blew and beat upon that house,

but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

And every one who hears these words of mine

and does not do them will be like a foolish man

who built his house upon the sand;

and the rain fell, and the floods came,

and the winds blew and beat against that house,

and it fell; and great was the fall of it.
Matthew 7.24-27

The blessed Buddhas, of virtues endless and
limitless, are born of the Law of Righteousness;
they dwell in the Law, are fashioned by the Law;
they have the Law as their master, the Law as their light,

the Law as their field of action, the Law as their refuge.
The Law is equal, equal for all beings.

For low or middle or high the Law cares nothing.

So I must make my thought like the Law.
The Law has no regard for the pleasant.

Impartial is the Law. So I must make my thought like the Law….
The Law does not seek refuge.

The refuge of all the world is the Law.

So I must make my thought like the Law.
The Law has none who can resist it.

Irresistible is the Law. So I must make my thought like the Law.
The Law has no preferences. Without preference is the Law.

So I must make my thought like the Law.

The Law has no fear of the terrors of birth-anddeath,
nor is it lured by Nirvana. Ever without
misgiving is the Law. So I must make my thought like the Law.
Dharmasangiti Sutra (Buddhism)

What Tao plants cannot be plucked,
What Tao clasps cannot slip.
By its virtue alone can one generation after
another carry on the ancestral sacrifice.
Apply it to yourself and by its power you will be freed from dross.
Apply it to your household and your household
shall thereby have abundance.
Apply it to the village, and the village will be made secure.
Apply it to the kingdom, and the kingdom shall
thereby be made to flourish.
Apply it to an empire, and the empire shall
thereby be extended.
Tao Te Ching 54 (Taoism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

The way of prosperity is to follow God’s law. The reason is simple: God protects and helps anyone who follows God’s law because He wants to see His purpose of creation fulfilled. Hence, if we observe God’s law we will prosper. If we oppose God’s law and follows Satan’s law instead, we will perish, for God will strike us.

(103:275, March 11, 1979)

How do we describe a person who lives in accordance with the law? Do we say he is arrogant? No, we say he or she is as an honest person. The Korean word for honesty (jeongjik) is composed of two Chinese characters, 正 meaning “right” and 直 meaning “straight.” The law establishes what is straight. With the law we separate good from evil and distinguish between right and wrong.

(37:112, December 23, 1970)

This is a meter ruler. You cannot arbitrarily make your own meter different from the standard length. You have to measure distance according to the standard of the original meter. In other words, you should measure your words and deeds according to the original standard.

(51:80, November 11, 1971)

The law of the universe, which upholds the welfare of the whole, is a proper standard of judgment. All human beings come before its court, and at the trial each is judged according to its statutes. What sort of people will be justified before the law of the universe? They are men and women who willingly sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the whole. On the other hand, those who dislike sacrifice, who pursue their individual interests and even take advantage of others, will be found guilty. Do you understand?

So what kind of people are good people? They are people who work for the sake of others. What kind of acts are good acts? Surely, they are acts of self-sacrifice and service to benefit others. From this point of view, are today’s young people who live lives of self-indulgence good people or bad people? They are bad people, without a doubt.

The law of the universe applies not only to human beings, but to the all beings in the material world. For instance, the cells of the eye cannot act as though everything in the body exists only for the eye. If the eye were to say to its owner, “Submit to me. If you as a human being, employ me for your sake, I, your eye, will rebel against you!” that kind of attitude would lead to its destruction. Rather, the cells of the eye exist for the benefit of the entire body. The eye should think, “Although my cells are precious, serving my owner is the public purpose, so I will follow the law of the universe.” That which is public has greater value. This can be affirmed in every instance. Since we know this principle, we cannot complain.

(105:93, September 30, 1979)