Cheon Seong Gyeong Ⅱ - 400. The Concept of Peace
1 What is the most critical issue in the World now? World wars begin and end. Wars between nations end when the fighting stops, but the war between the mind and body is unceasing. The standard of peace can be found where we Succeed in conquering the body by following the desires of the mind. The foundation for peace develops where the mother and father, husband and wife, parents and children and the whole extended family become eternally one. For World peace to be realized, this foundation must go beyond individuals, clans, peoples and races to the ends of the earth. To achieve this, we need a revolution to re-create human beings. (203-351, 1990.06.28)
The true meaning of peace 2 The realization of peace means that the subject and object partners are United. The first syllable, pyeong (^p), of the Korean word for peace, pyeonghwa (2pft), means horizontal in English, and the second syllable, hwa (ft), means harmony. This signifies that the central being and its counterpart are not in conflict, but move toward each other and come into harmony. (082-132, 1976.01.04)
3 Humanity has desired peace since the beginning of history, but wars have continued without ceasing. Unfortunately, strong nations and powerful people have misused the word peace. Even while they spoke of peace, in practice they tormented people in ways that were the opposite of peace. The communists in particular would use peace as one of their favorite catchwords even as they habitually provoked others. In this way, the word peace has been used many times to camouflage injustice. As conditions in the world change, people become entangled in interests that conflict with those of others, making it impossible to establish true peace. In this world, there is no absolute standard by which worldly interests can be fairly evaluated. True peace can be established only on the basis of true love, and true love relationships can be experienced only when people understand the God- centered absolute values that bind human beings together. True peace is not dependent on knowledge, wealth, social position, political power or any other external condition. (130-011, 1983.12.18)
4 Throughout the long course of history to this day, the world has employed every possible method to realize peace and harmony. Yet this has not been an issue that the political, economic or military power of any single nation has been able to resolve completely. There needs to be a fundamental truth, in other words, a philosophy of peace, which can be recognized not only by those in the family, who are closest to the issue, but also by those in the clan, people, nation and world, and even in the realm that transcends this world. (381-142, 2002.06.12)
5 Peace refers to an even state where there are no wrinkles. It means everything has been harmonized, so it is smooth. When everything is completely harmonized, the result is a spherical shape. If you take clay and keep rolling it, it becomes rounded and in the end a perfect sphere is made. It has no wrinkles, every bit of it is completely smooth, and it takes on an absolutely spherical form. (109-277, 1980.11.02)
6 God is an absolute being and also is unique. Do you think this unique being set the standard of perfection for Himself alone? If He had, it would be a big problem! Someone who is in a void, alone, cannot use the words joy and happiness. Happiness arises from a mutual relationship. A mother is happy when she and her children are one. The very nature of the word peace, which means harmonizing into an even state, includes the idea of a counterpart, or other. The words peace and happiness refer not to someone who is alone, but to someone who is in a relationship. (136-104, 1985.12.22)
7 Peace has to do with relationships. An even state can be realized only when two people harmonize with each other. An individual alone cannot realize it. Two people can be happy when they are on an equal footing that pleases them both. When we speak of freedom, we realize there is no freedom without love. Love itself is boundless freedom. If you rule with love, you can be proud of being absolute about it. (112-316, 1981.04.25)
8 Peace refers to harmonizing in an even state. You cannot bring about peace alone. When people are harmonized with all the people in their lives— whether the relationships are up and down, right and left or otherwise, and when nothing is crooked—joy ensues and everything is amicable. This is the only road to peace. (86-098, 1976.03.14) |