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 the 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, which 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.
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
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 the simple wise;
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 forever;
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 and death, nor is it lured by Nirvana. Ever without misgiving is the Law. So I must make my thoughts 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 to 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 follow 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 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 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)
2. Natural Law
The moral law is to be found everywhere, and yet it is a secret.
The simple intelligence of ordinary men and women of the people may understand something of the moral law; but in its utmost reaches there is something which even the wisest and holiest men cannot understand.
The ignoble natures of ordinary men and women of the people may be able to carry out the moral law; but in its utmost reaches even the wisest and holiest of men cannot live up to it. Great as the Universe is, man is yet not always satisfied with it.
For there is nothing so great but the mind of the moral man can conceive of something still greater which nothing in the world can hold. There is nothing so small but the mind of the moral man can conceive of something still smaller which nothing in the world can split.
The Book of Songs says, The hawk soars to the heavens above. Fishes dive to the depths below. That is to say, there is no place in the highest heavens above nor in the deepest waters below where the moral law is not to be found. The moral man finds the moral law beginning in the relation between man and woman, but ending in the vast reaches of the universe. Doctrine of the Mean 12 (Confucianism)
Law is twofold—natural and written. The natural law is in the heart, the written law on tables. Therefore all are under the law, the natural law, but it does not belong to all men that each should be a law unto himself. However, that man is a law unto himself who does the commandments of the law of his own accord and manifests the work of the law written in his own heart…
Nature herself is the teacher of good conduct. You know that one must not steal, and if your servant has stolen from you, you beat him, while if someone has lusted after your wife, you think he should be punished. Now, what you condemn in others you perpetrate yourself…
Saint Ambrose of Milan4 (Christianity)
The life of the moral man is an exemplification of the universal moral order. The life of the vulgar person, on the other hand, is a contradiction of the universal moral order.
The moral man’s life is an exemplification of the universal order because he is a moral person who unceasingly cultivates his true self or moral being. The vulgar person’s life is a contradiction of the universal order, because he is a vulgar person who in his heart, has no regard for, or fear of, the moral law.
Doctrine of the Mean 2 (Confucianism)
The principle of Tao is just as close as what is right in front of our eyes, in our everyday lives, in eating and drinking, and in the maintenance of normal social relationships—between ruler and subject, and father and son, and between brothers, and spouses, and friends. Chu Hsi (Confucianism)
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Like it or not, human beings live within a cyclical existence: people grow old and return to their original elements, and new people are born. Through this cycle, humanity develops and increases.
All things that exist move and function within their limited realm in accordance with the laws of nature that establish nature’s cycles. The nine planets of the solar system revolve about the sun.
Can a planet say, “I will go where I please”? No, it cannot leave its orbit. When spring comes, can any animal or plant say, “I refuse to grow”? No. Spring is the time to grow. Summer is the time for plants to become thick with foliage and their flowers to bloom. Then in autumn, they must bear fruit.
(207:61, November 1, 1990)
The solar system turns in a great, cosmic circle. What is its center? It is love—true love. Therefore, at home, we are taught to love and honor our parents, an expression of love called filial piety. We are taught to love our nation; that love is called patriotism.
We are taught to love humankind; that is to love as a saint. In other words, in the various orbits of our life, love should be at the center. When true love takes the center seat, everything else falls into its proper place. The right order is created around that eternal and unchanging axis. (146:166, June 15, 1986)
Just as the laws by which the sun, moon, and stars were created—the way of heaven—set up a system of vertical order, so also in the family there is a vertical order extending from grandparents to parents and children, and likewise a horizontal order formed by the siblings. The laws of heaven and the values or norms of [family life] correspond. (122:304, November 25, 1982)
In springtime the flowers bloom, in summer the plants grow, and in autumn they bear fruit. Likewise, when you live according to the laws of nature, it is a shortcut to the Kingdom of Heaven. (393:215, February 20, 2004)
What is the heavenly law? Have you ever heard of this religious term? You know what human morals are, but have you ever heard of heavenly morals? What is the origin of human morals? Is it the Korean constitution? No, the origin of human morals is the conscience.
Human laws today are based on Roman law, and Roman law is the foundation of world culture. However, human morals are based on the conscience. Conscience precedes law. Goodness is the foundation of conscience. When we deviate from goodness and go astray, our conscience tries to correct us.
Our concept of goodness sets the standard for our conscience. Hence, a universal society needs the moral law because its members seek a social order that is in accord with the untainted conscience. Ultimately, the root of human morals is the heavenly law. (33:44, August 2, 1970)
Human morals are rooted in the heart. Relationships in the family, norms of behavior, social systems, the social order and such should be rooted in the heart. Human morals begin with parents loving their children.
Then, by children loving their parents, they establish a true human relationship. A second true human relationship is established by a husband loving his wife and a wife loving her husband. Love is like the leaven for morality in all its aspects. (64:124-25, October 29, 1972)
Formulas rooted in laws have made possible the development of our technological civilization. Whether a scientific idea can be accepted as law depends on how widely it can be applied in its field.
Likewise, in our religious lives, we should not go by blind faith. God always carries out His Providence through formulaic laws, so we must understand these formulas.
There is a clear formula running through the history of the Providence of Restoration from the past up to the present. This is one of the most important teachings of the Unification Principle. (16:119, October 22, 1978)