14th Commencement Address - Be a True Master of All - Original Document

14th Commencement Address (Be a True Master of All)

Reverend Sun Myung Moon

June 30, 1990

Unification Theological Seminary

Barrytown,. NY

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to extend my warm and sincere con- gratulations to the •f.ORTY .,.TWO graduates. on this special 14th graduation ceremony of the Unification Theological Seminary. We look upon them as not merely graduates of a theological school receiving the masters de- grees of Religious Education and Divinity, but as future leaders who are willing to follow God’s will in solving the ·crucial problems of our society and world today.

First of all I would like to extend my heartfelt acknowledgement and recognition to the President, Board of Trustees, Administration, Fac- ulty, Staff and Students of the Seminary for your participation in the long-lasting effort of obtaining the Absolute Charter.

Secondly, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to the grad- uates. Today we celebrate the culmination of two and three years of hard work, not only academically, but physically and spiritually as well. Now you are ready to take what you have learned here and apply it to the world.

When we look at this world-wide situation, in this providential year ~f 1990, we perceive the· obvious truth that there is no real, authorita- tive sovereignty behind any system based upon socialism, secular hu- manism or joy-seeking individualism. There is no true master over any·· of these ideologies and systems of thought. What about the democratic and communist worlds? Are they creating harmony and unity among their peers? Centering on humanity, are they really united into oneness and forming unity? No, absolutely not. For that reason we cannot put any hope in the world as it exists today. It is a fact that every exploit- ative power will ultimately decline, while whoever suffers persecution for the sake of Good will ultimately be raised up by God.

Philosophically speaking, the wor Id of the mind could be called the theistic world, while the world of the body is a materialistic world. The ideologies and philosophies of the world are losing their strength. Today, the democratic world and the communist world are both seeking global domination, but there is no righteous direction and true master in either society because they have no true philosophy behind them. Hu- mankind is faced with the task of overcoming philosophical differences and realizing the ideal of a worldwide family of love through interna- tional cooperation. When viewing this task on the basis of a restored philosophy, we can clearly see the need for a philosophical renaissance.

Even after the ending of the so-called Cold War between free and cap- tive nations, we still do not see any true, victorious leaders emerging from either group. America, as a dispensational nation, is lacking in leaders who are morally and spiritually qualified to be the subject. To ---.. be a good subject, a leader or nation must first be a good object, going the path of unselfish love and service. Such a Godly nation, which could become the basis for a peaceful world, does not exist at this time. In- stead, many powerful nations have no connection with God whatsoever. But we know the heart and will of God must become the guiding force behind them if they are to survive.

In a democracy, the head of the nation is elected and given authority by the people to be their leader. Since there are no perfect men and women, we cannot say the leader of the democratic society is a true mas- ter of the system. For instance, the United States of America is a gigan- tic nation with a Christian heritage that is supposed to embody the selfless love of God as the binding source of the nation. What you have now is the opposite. Self-centered love is prevailing in the very fabric of American society, communities, schools and individuals which are tinged by evil. Do you think that most people in the United States today

have any idea that there is to be a loving and reciprocal relationBhip be- tween this nation and the rest of the world? No. International relation- ships have been secularized and demonized, treated like a business contract instead of a loving brotherhood of humanity.

Because of the human fall, instead of harmony and peace, there has been struggle in the world and alienation between God and humankind. Human beings are not living within God’s ideal. Therefore, there are many problems and disorder in human society. We can observe in the sociological institution of marriage and family that no one shows the way to right conduct or moral leadership. For example, instead of love binding people into one - between husband and wife, parents and chil- dren, - it divides them and has become perverted and destructively self- ish. The same can be said of the schools, the communities, the societies, the nations and the world.

Why is this so? The answer is simple. In these social systems there is no God. God is left out, God is completely lost. - Because of the fall of humankind there is no true ownership over the creation, no one is in the true realm of sovereignty over all. How can this situation be resolved? It is through religion that God is teaching people how to strengthen their God-centered original minds and reverse the body’s domination over their lives and personalities. By developing the religious and spiri- tual aspect of our selves, we can learn how to have God-centered, love- centered dominion over all aspects of our world.

The perfection of dominion over all things refers to the completion of the ability of humankind to dominate .the natural world and society through love. In Heaven, our Heavenly Father is automatically the true Master who has true dominion over all things in the universe, but on earth true ownership must be obtained through fulfilling the “Purpose of Creation.” In other words, true direct dominion of love can be obtained

by perfected men and women by centering on God and True Parents and becoming one through true love. Only then can we become true masters and lords of creation. This is God’s ideal. God wants Heavenly Families to become the center of True Love, thus expanding true dominion from the family to the schools, to the societies, to the nations and to the uni- verse.

I want to see you graduates become men and women who can go be- yond your individual selves, your family, your school and your country to love humankind everywhere as much as you love people of your own family. You are representatives of God’s providence of restoration. Put yourselves in the victorious position of persons who can restore the Heavenly birthright of true sons and daughters of God that was lost in the human fall. Develop the concept of victorious leadership through the heart of true love. ___..,___ The right of true direct dominion belongs only to the Creator. Never- theless, God wants human beings, His children, to have direct dominion over all things of creation. So you must inherit God’s parental position and heart in order to govern and lead humankind as heavenly rulers and masters of harmony. Become the masters capable of leading your nation. After that, develop the advanced level of true master of all things, all systems and all phenomena.

Where is the starting point? The natural beginning is at the individ- ual level. It is the fulfillment of the first blessing to form a perfect give and take relationship between the mind and body centering on God and from there gradually proceeding to the family, society, national and world levels.

Only on the foundation of the true dominion of your individual self you can advance to the next higher level. You can go from the family t \

. ·level, the..basic unit of Bociety, to _have true . leadership in ·school, the ex- tension o~the family; to the world, the extension of society; and finally to the entire cosmos, which is the extension of the world. You seminary graduates must practice this way of life and obtain ownership in the realm of true sovereignty. You must obtain dominion over all levels of development. This is your personal responsibility and you have to be se- cure and successful in reaching these stages and levels.

Then, why do we need to develop and practice this concept of true mastership? We are living in an age that is called to create a God-cen- tered world. In order to create a new world, we need new traditions. In this new age we must introduce the concept of true mastership as a new tradition in a world that has no idea of such a thing. As future leaders of this world, you UTS graduates should be in the vanguard of establish- ing and practicing this new tradition in order to build God’s Kingdom on earth.

Just as God is the True Master of all creation, you too can become the ones to be masters over the fallen institutions and human societies. Your constant effort and endeavors are greatly needed. If you can go the difficult path of the direct dominion of love, then heavenly providential forces and power will cooperate with you to help you reach the victory.

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to the FORTY-tTWO graduates on your achievements at UTS.

May God Bless you.