Seventh Annual UTS Commencement Address by Founder - Original Document

by Founder, Rev. Sun Myung Moon

..,Gn~ ?.5, 1983 Ladies and Gentlemen: I am truly grateful to y’ou, the parents ‘a.nd f an1i 1 fes of

the graduating students, friencl.s, professors, and distingui:c-h(: d guests, for your attendance at this seventh gr.:i.duation ce:r.emony of the Unification Theological Seminary. The Unification Church has recently emerged as a Uilique group, without precedent in history. Parents of our rn~mhers, the larger society, nations, and the world recognize our uniou~- ness but they generally fail to understand the nilture of lt. Everyone in the world tends to see things prim~rily from a self-centered perspective. However, mera~ers of the Uni.ficati on Church learn to view everything from a higher and larger dim-2n- si0n. For · example: money, power, kno.,.;led9e-- even Su 1 vation--

are regarded from a worldly v,i ewpoint: as benefiting t.hQ indi- vidual, or at most the family. How rare it is to [ind a p12;_· s on who puts even the welfare of the nation ::il>ove th2t of t h e f;1T”,i.ly ! But for us the entire cosmos, both spirituc1l c.nd physic.:!l, t2b,f; priority c,ver the individunl, the family, ana ev<.’,, th~ r~.:1t.ic J;1 .

Goals such ar.; liber.aticn, freedom, end h:”Jpp i.ncss nrc 9’.:n ··

erally sought for the sake of a few people rather t11,;:1 the L1.: :1~r.n

family ns a ,,·hole. Bu·i.: \mlik~ the res·:: or U:e ,-;!_,rld, wt~ st-. ·. ·j v --::

toward liberation, freedom and happiness not only for all of

mankind, but ev e n for God. l\nyonc who ov c rJook.s this cliffrr c n-.::<:> fails to understand our true nature.

Because our perspective is different ~na our goal is dif-

ferent, the direction and contents of our li~es arc different. This difference i~ analogous t~ that bct~ecn a sprinter and a . marathon runner. Like the marathon runner, we need not only

long-·rangc thinking, but also ~ore training. Our tflsk de mands more perseverance, longer periods of self-sacrifice, and more

pain. Coming from a narrower perspective, many parents, families, and even nations have failed to understand this, and have opposed us. In spite of this opposition, \ ·lE” lrnvc tr icd to c·mb:-cace every -

one; and fortunately, more and more people are now reflecting on their previous attitude and beginning to undcrstnn<l us. From the point of view of the family, sons and daughter~

who love and s~rve their parents for the benefit of the entjre

family are called children of filial piety. Frorn the point of

view of a nation, citizens who luvc and serve their country an,,

called loyal patriots. From .:i global point: of view, p<::opJ c. \•:ho love and serve all of mankin<l are c.::llcd saints. i\rtd from c1

cosmic point of view, those who love and s0rv~ hcnvcn as wall a~

mankind are c~lled holy sons ~n1 daughters of God. In the Uni-

fication Church, our 90211 is to bcc.:ornt? hoJ.y ~ons ancl <.la1~9l-1ters .--.r God.

What docs history need most? D00.s it n e ed p0ople with a

narrow, worldly perspective, or does it need the Unification

Church? If the conscientious people of the world really under- , stood the Unification Church, they would - agree that history

needs us more than anything else. And if we <,•ere to ask God,

the answer would be the same.

As sons and daughters of God, we can be proud of our hi.s-

torical mission. When our generation passes nway, we must lc-!i”!V c

behind a worthy history, a secure mankind, and a satisfied God.

Such a mission enjoys the protection of history, mankind, and

God; and for this, we can be grateful in our d a ily work.

Those of you who are graduating from the Se minary today

are part of this historical mission. Reverend Moon und thci mem-

bers of the Unification Church have devoted consiacrnblo ef f ort

to your education, and have high hopes that in your futv r e care~~ ~

you will become true leaders of tomorro,,·. h’c are praying thc.tt

you will establish a royal pattern which \,•iJ.l 1 ibcrutc munkinc.1

and God, ~nd will defeat Satan ?.nd ccmmuni sm. ~,’ c arc .:-, 1 :: o pr c1y -

ing that you will establish a new and higher lt”.:1ciit i on for :’.:”ut u:~·c

hi~tory, mankind, and God.

I would like to close by con(_Jra”i:ulu.Ung the g rucluJ. Lc•c, or,

their ac:hi1;vernent; and by tr1an}·.ing once “Sv…i. •1 the pdu;n,.-. s of

these historically import.-:!nt young peop le, the profci~sc- ~~:-; ,,,~·:o

huvc instructed th~se people whon hislory n ·~: e:c”’i s, ~rn , 1 l! ll.’ ::5.:.: :< i :

guis;hea-· 911ests who will ·wilt.ch O\’ C.’l° th,:- rri .,.-ft)·, \