The Teacher

Teachers should set A Good example of integrity in their own teachings and impart moral teachings in accordance with their own high standard of conduct.

They should have mature faith, rich experience, and discernment to treat each student in the way that best suits the student’s individual temperament and interests. They should regard their task as not merely to impart knowledge, but also to motivate and inspire their students with a vision for their lives.

Most of all, the best teachers have the heart of a parent, training their students as they would their own children. The ability to teach is a gift from God, and teachers are in a sense, partners with God, the divine Teacher.

Therefore, good teachers show God’s unconditional love by devoting themselves to all who wish to learn regardless of their ability to pay. When they lecture, they are mindful that God may wish to use them as His mouthpiece.

The final passages thus describe teaching as a divine calling. These include examples of Father Moon’s advice to pastors about delivering a sermon.

Qualities of a Good Teacher

Teachers train the pupil in what they have been trained; they make him hold fast to moral precepts; they thoroughly instruct him in the lore of every subject; they speak well of him among his friends and companions; they counsel him for his safety and benefit. Digha Nikaya 3.185-91, Sigalovada Sutta (Buddhism)

Set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.17 1 Timothy 4.12-16

The teacher, brethren, should regard the pupil as his son. The pupil should regard the teacher as his father. Thus these two, by mutual reverence and deference joined, dwelling in community of life, will win increase, growth, progress in this Norm-discipline. Vinaya Pitaka, Mahavagga 3.1 (Buddhism)

As in the sky flies the white-clothed crane, Keeping its mind behind, In its heart continually remembering its young ones; So the true Guru keeps the disciple absorbed in the love of God, And also keeps him in his heart. Adi Granth, Gauri, M.4 (Sikhism)

When, therefore, anyone takes the name of Abbot he should govern his disciples by a two-fold teaching; namely, he should show them all that is good and holy by his deeds more than by his words; explain the commandments of God to intelligent disciples by words, but show the divine precepts to the dull and simple by his works. Saint Benedict of Nursia, The Benedictine Rule 2 (Christianity)

Harun ar-Rashid said to his son’s tutor, “I have delivered to you my own blood and the treasure of my soul. You have authority over him and he has to obey you, so be worthy of the trust that the Caliph of all Muslims has placed in you. Let him recite the Qur’an, teach him history and read him poetry. Teach him the traditions of the Messenger and politeness of speech, and not to laugh except when it is appropriate. Let no hour pass without teaching him something that will benefit him, but do not hurt him, as this may quash his thoughts, causing him to love idleness and become familiar with it. Correct him with kindness and compassion. Only if he refuses to obey can you use punishment and force.” Ibn Khaldun,18 Raising Children in Islam (Islam)

Confucius said, “The thought that, I have left my moral power untended, My learning unperfected; I have heard of righteous men, but have been unable to go to them, I have heard of evil men, but have been unable to reform them. —it is these thoughts that disquiet me.” Analects 7.3 (Confucianism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Professors should inculcate in their students strong determination and clear values for meeting the challenges of the times. In this sense, professors and religious leaders share a common task.

More than merely transmitting knowledge and publishing the results of their research, they should inspire their students to live a life of responsibility. (130:16, December 18, 1983)

Everyone should meet at least one mentor in his life on whom he can totally depend, to whom he can offer himself unconditionally, whom he can trust never to violate his heart, and to whom he can entrust everything he has and feel totally at ease. In this way he can understand the heart of God. He can taste the heart of a true child in relation to his Heavenly Father. (4:168, April 6, 1958)

Teachers, you should protect your school as you would your own home, with a sense of ownership. You should teach your students as you would your own children, with the heart of a father or mother.19 (203:308, June 27, 1990) Teachers should educate their students with love, standing in the place of parents (in loco parents).

They should teach with love that is eternal, building ties with their students that last beyond their school days. They should make such efforts to form such deep, loving relationships with their students that they never forget them for the rest of their lives. True teachers imbue their teaching with love.

They do not teach just to earn a living; they teach out of an irrepressible love and desire to teach, even at great personal cost. Teachers and students should have such a relationship that, night or day, the teachers long to meet them and convey their knowledge—always with love, and the students are eager to receive it. (127:17, May 1, 1983)

Schoolteachers who care for their nation’s destiny dedicate themselves to inculcate their students with the proper values. Holding their hands and with tears in their eyes, they tell their students, “More than you have obeyed me, be loyal to your nation.” Students who receive such teaching will fulfill their teachers’ hopes.

When dedicated teachers regard the nation and the world as more precious than themselves, and when parents raise their children with sincerity while upholding the nation and world above their families, they will educate those young people to become the future pillars of the nation. (25:98, September 30, 1969)

Teachers and professors have a great deal of influence on young people. However, their parents influence them even more. It is the family that exerts the most influence on the formation of an individual’s character.

The family is the school of love, the most important school in life. In the family, children expand the capacity of their hearts through education in love and emotions that only parents can provide.

This becomes the cornerstone to form the children’s character. Further, the family is the school teaching virtues and norms. Education in academics, sports, technology, etc., should be given on the foundation of this primary education in heart and norms; this is the heaven-designed way.

Hence, just as parents should become true parents and give their children true love, they also should become true teachers and educate their children properly in heart and norms.

Though children may not be aware of their parents’ role as true teachers, inevitably they learn from them and come to resemble them. The role of parents is that important. (271:80-81, August 22, 1995)

Teachers that Value Their Students

Confucius said, “From the very poorest upwards—beginning even with the man who could bring no better present than a bundle of dried flesh—none has ever come to me without receiving instruction.” Analects 7.7 (Confucianism)

I teach young children, and I treat the children of the poor exactly the same as the children of the rich. Those that cannot afford to pay, I teach without charge. Since I am also a fisherman, to encourage those who do not wish to come and learn I give them each a fish to take home. Talmud, Taanit 24a (Judaism)

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13.6-9

The sage always excels in saving people, and so abandons no one; Always excels in saving things, and so abandons nothing. This is called following one’s discernment. Hence the good man is the teacher the bad learns from; And the bad man is the material the good works on. Not to value the teacher Nor to love the material Though it seems clever, betrays great bewilderment. Tao Te Ching 27 (Taoism)

There are four types of men: The man who has knowledge and is aware of it is a scholar—follow him. The man who has a great deal of knowledge but is not aware of what he has is asleep— wake him up. The man who knows nothing and is aware that he knows nothing is ignorant—teach him. The man who knows nothing but is not aware that he knows nothing is a devil—avoid him. Al-Ghazzali, Ihia’ Ulum el-Din 59.1 (Islam)

The Master said, “Only one who bursts with eagerness do I instruct; only one who bubbles with enthusiasm do I enlighten. If I hold up one corner and a man cannot come back to me with the other three, I do not continue the lesson.” Analects 7.8 (Confucianism)

Socrates to Ischomachus: “Does teaching consist in putting questions?” [Ischomachus replies]: “Indeed, the secret of your system has just this instant dawned upon me. I seem to see the principle in which you put your questions. You lead me through the field of my own knowledge, and then by pointing out analogies to what I know, persuade me that I really know some things which hitherto, as I believed, I had no knowledge of.” Socrates, in Xenophon, Oeconomicus (Hellenism)

Much Torah have I learned from my teachers, more from my colleagues, but from my students most of all. Talmud, Taanit 7a (Judaism)

Even when walking in a party of no more than three I can always be certain of learning from those I am with. There will be good qualities that I can select for imitation and bad ones that will teach me what requires correction in myself. Analects 7.21 (Confucianism)

That which gives a sage his sageliness is fondness for learning and inquiry from inferiors. Take Shun: From the time when he plowed and sowed, exercised the potter’s art, and was a fisherman until he became emperor, there was no time when he was not learning from others how to practice goodness. Chu Hsi (Confucianism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
God does not demand that you exist for Him; rather, He says that He exists for you, His creations. Who are true parents: those who want their children to live for them, or those who live for their children?

Likewise, who is a true teacher, the one who tells his students that they come to class only so he can earn a salary, or the one who says, “Even though you cannot afford to pay tuition, I will still teach you.” A true teacher loves his pupils regardless, and would even sell his own suit to get money for a student's tuition. (104:210, May 6, 1979)

When you meet someone, do not treat him casually. Always consider whether he or she can teach you something. Have a hungry mind, eager to learn something new from him or her.

You should discern right away whether to relate to that person as your subject partner or as your object partner. By attending to this point, you are always ready to learn. (76:132, February 2, 1975)

When a teacher gives an exam, he usually asks a few questions that he thinks the students do not know. If he has a class of 50, he gives a very tough problem to pick out which of his students is truly the best.

The professor will make a special relationship with the student who solves that difficult problem. From then on, he will greet that student warmly and encourage him.

If he puts forth a problem to you that nobody else was ever able to answer before and you find a way solve it, it becomes the basis for you to become his successor. (66:45, March 18, 1973)

God has been merciless to me. God opposed me every step of the way as I climbed up from the very bottom. Yet I endured it all because I knew that without me, God would be all alone. I passed all the tests, and now God believes in me.

It is the same with you. If a doctoral candidate writes an excellent dissertation, then his professor will say, “You have taught me something new; now you are my teacher.”

The professor and all his colleagues will approve of you and even boast about you. Will you do likewise, so I will be able to praise you through all the ages? (320:250, April 16, 2000)

Co-Teaching with God

This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. Luke 21.13-15

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field. 1 Corinthians 3.6-8

He who sees through the eye tells proverbs.20 Igala Proverb (African Traditional Religions)

To many, it is not given to hear of the Self. Many, though they hear of it, do not understand it. Wonderful is he who speaks of it. Intelligent is he who learns of it. Blessed is he who, taught by a good teacher, is able to understand it. The truth of the Self cannot be fully understood when taught by an ignorant man, for opinions regarding it, not founded in knowledge, vary one from another. Subtler than the subtlest is this Self and beyond all logic. Taught by a teacher who knows the Self and Brahman as one, a man leaves vain theory behind and attains to truth… Words cannot reveal Him. The mind cannot reach Him. Eyes do not see Him. How then can He be comprehended, save when taught by those seers who indeed have known Him? Katha Upanishad 1.2.7-8; 2.6.12 (Hinduism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
God is the true teacher, who teaches with true love. (203:237, June 26, 1990)

When you stand at the podium to teach, believe that God is standing beside you. When you lecture, speak representing Jesus and all the founders of religion, and represent the president of the nation and its people.

Believe that through your teaching, you can bring your students to a place where they can live with God. (148:277, June 5, 1977)

Through a life of prayer, you can feel indescribable joy, even the joy [of anticipation] that God felt in His heart before creating all things. If you have a sincere, dedicated prayer life, you can reach the spiritual state where you know, “This is it!”

That is the very position in which God stood when He was creating all things. In that mystical state of creating through the Word, you should proclaim the Word. Then people will definitely be touched by the Word. (29:321, March 13, 1970)

Had there been no Human Fall, we would have had God as our best parent and best teacher.

Since God is full of love and knowledge, who could teach anything better? Yet in this fallen world, Satan says, “Go to the best university! Find a lover!” to capture young people for himself.

Does American-style love have anything to do with God?

God still wants to teach us two things: "I am your True Teacher, and I am your True Parent." If we could only learn that, we would know everything. (102:233, January 1, 1979)