The moral life is purposeful; it requires A Decision. People do not become good automatically; those who just drift through life are liable to drown in its evil currents. At every turn, we encounter two paths, the better and the worse, and it is our responsibility to choose between them.
The scriptures describe it as a decision between life and death, between the narrow gate and the broad road, or between two masters. Father Moon teaches that each person stands in the midway position, pulled in two directions by the opposing powers of good and evil.
It is a contest between God, who speaks to us through the conscience, and Satan, who prompts us to satisfy our self-centered desires. Under these difficult circumstances, it is up to each of us to choose our path and keep to it.
Sun Myung Moon
Man always stands at the crossroads of good and evil. Precepts 18 (Perfect Liberty Kyodan)
Both the good and the pleasant present themselves to a man. The calm soul examines them well and discriminates. Yea, he prefers the good to the pleasant; but the fool chooses the pleasant out of greed and avarice. Katha Upanishad 1.2.2 (Hinduism)
Surely, the path that leads to worldly gain is one, and the path that leads to Nibbana is another; understanding this, the bhikkhu, the disciple of the Buddha, should not rejoice in worldly favors, but cultivate detachment. Dhammapada 75 (Buddhism)
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6.24
God puts forth a parable: A man belonging to many partners at variance with each other, and a man belonging entirely to one master: are those two equal in comparison? Qur’an 39.29
Behold, I [Moses] set before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods. Deuteronomy 11.26-28
Hear with your ears that which is the sovereign good; With a clear mind look upon the two sides Between which each man must choose for himself, Watchful beforehand that the great test may be accomplished in our favor. Now at the beginning, the twin spirits have declared their nature, the better and the evil, In thought and word and deed. And between the two the wise ones choose well, not so the foolish. Avesta, Yasna 30.2-3 (Zoroastrianism)
Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7.13-14
Evil and good are not equal, even though the abundance of evil may amaze you; so heed God, you men of wits, so that you may prosper! Qur’an 5.100
Have We not given him two eyes, and a tongue and two lips, and pointed out to him the two conspicuous ways? Yet he does not attempt the uphill path. What will make you understand what the uphill path is? It is to free a slave, or to feed in a time of hunger an orphan near of kin or a poor man lying in the dust. Then he is of those who believe, who exhort one another to patience, and exhort one another to mercy. Qur’an 90.8-17
If by giving up a lesser happiness one may behold a greater one, let the wise man give up the lesser happiness in consideration of the greater happiness. Dhammapada 290 (Buddhism)
The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field. The kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it. Matthew 13.44-46
Sun Myung Moon
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
“I” am the crossing point of good and evil. (109:268, November 2, 1980)
We live in a world where good and evil confront each other. Good and evil each pulls our divided mind and body. Evil pulls us toward evil, and good pulls us toward good.
Human beings stand midway between these two opposing forces; they become good or evil depending on which way they travel from the center line. You are wandering back and forth across this line. (36:55, November 15, 1970)
If the first human ancestors had not fallen but had reached perfection and become one in heart with God, then they would have lived relating only to God.
However, due to their Fall, they joined in a kinship of blood with Satan, which compelled them to deal with him as well… they found themselves in the midway position—a position between God and Satan where they were relating with both.
As a consequence, all their descendants are also in the midway position… How does God separate Satan from fallen people who stand in the midway position?
Satan relates with them on the basis of his connection with them through lineage. Therefore, until people make a condition through which God can claim them as His own, there is no way God can restore them to the heavenly side.
On the other hand, Satan acknowledges that God is the Creator of human beings. Unless Satan finds some condition through which he can attack a fallen person, he also cannot arbitrarily claim him for his side.
Therefore, a fallen person will go to God’s side if he makes good conditions and to Satan’s side if he makes evil conditions. (Exposition of the Divine Principle, Restoration 1.1)
How do we cross over the dividing line between good and evil? Good abides where we live for others and evil abides where we live centered on ourselves.
If we look within, our [original] mind always tries to lead us towards good thought and a good direction. It says, “Serve others. Have an affectionate heart for others. Sacrifice for others. Live for others.” Such is the path of goodness. (65:14, November 13, 1972)
If you act as your body desires, you are connected to hell. On the other hand, if you act as your mind wishes, you are connected to the Kingdom of Heaven. You alone are the dividing line between the Kingdom of Heaven and hell. (214:283, February 3, 1991)
Do you know what spiritual food is?
Even when you are hungry, if you have to choose between spiritual food and physical food, you should feel that spiritual food is tastier than physical food.
Then you can survive and stand on the side of God. Living your life based on spiritual power should be much more appetizing than the taste of life lived with physical power. (131:211, May 4, 1984)
Looking back at my youth, I remember how serious I was. I was at the point of deciding what to do with the rest of my life. At that crossroad, I knew that I should not let humanistic concerns determine my decision. Instead, I concluded that I had to make my decision in accordance with God’s Will. (211:134, December 30, 1990)
If I had not taken this path, surely I would be a powerful and respected man in some secular field. I would be recognized for my intelligence. I have the ability; I could have risen to leadership in my nation. Yet, instead, I chose a life filled with tears and sorrows.
Ever since I came to know God, I have shed tears for Him. Do you think I am incapable of avoiding persecution? Yet, I endure and tolerate the persecution because I know God’s situation—He has gone through far greater tribulations than mine.
Do you think that when I was a young man, I did not have any personal dreams and ambitions? I certainly had great ambition and dreams.
But once I decided to go this way, I cut them off, and ever since, I have never nursed any personal ambition. That is how I could become who I am today. (God’s Will and the World, May 1, 1977)
Sun Myung Moon