Section 14. Prospects for the Future

1.
The Great Master said, "In corrupted and troublesome times, there always appears a savior of the world who has the Law capable of reversing the spiritual trend of the universe, correcting the evils of the world, and harmonizing the minds of people."

2.
The Great Master, after his enlightenment, wrote many songs and verses in Chinese characters. He compiled a collection of these songs and verses in a book called Pup Eai Tae Chun (The Great Collection of Dharma Words). Their meaning was so obscure that they were incomprehensible to the ordinary person. Generally, however, their meaning was taken to be that the morality which disappeared once would be restored and that the period of Rationality would be followed by a period of Irrationality. His intention to establish a Buddhist Order in the future was also included in the collection. Afterward, however, he burnt the book so that it would not remain in the world. However, the first line of its introduction, that is,
'From the beginning of the Great Absolute, the Original Heaven comes down into the mind,
and the following lines of verse have come down to us as oral tradition:
Up and down, through thousands of steep mountain paths,
I came to meet the Host of no worldliness and no marks.
Greenery grows under the grace of rain and dew,
Heaven and Earth recover their fortunes and await a right mind.
When an arrow pierces the bright sun in the Heavens,
Clouds of five colours burst from the hole and surround me.
A divine being on a cloud, seeking an overview,
Is most pleased when all is in harmony and peace.
A river flowing many miles embraces the will of the world,
Truth is found in the mountains and rivers and harmonizes Yin and Yang.
What should the Honam Region be compared to?
It is the most blessed area in the world.
The width and depth of the Universe is taken by a measure,
And transmitted, that humanity might rejuvenate itself.
All things in the universe mature in its womb;
The alternation of the sun and moon harmonizes the day and night.
Heaven and Earth roar as wind blows in the air;
The moon hanging over the east brightens the whole world.
When wind and rain, and frost and snow, have passed.
Flowers bloom at one time, and spring is eternal.
By training in the Way, the mind surpasses the moon above mountain peaks;
With cultivated virtue, the body looks as rich as a ship fully loaded with rice bags.

3.
The Great Master warned one of his disciples, who stressed the value of Chinese characters, by saying, "The value of morality originally does not depend on literary knowledge. Stop thinking in this way from now on. In the future, all sutras and scriptures should be written in plain words to be understood by ordinary people. After the sutras and scriptures have been written in our language they will be translated into various languages of the world and will be studied by all peoples. Therefore don't value only the Chinese characters, which are so difficult to learn."

4.
When the Great Master first constructed the Headquarters in Iksan City, he asked a few of his disciples who were assembled in a small straw thatched house, "At present, what should our Order be compared to?"
Kwon Dae-Ho answered, "It is to be compared to a seedbed.'
He asked again, "What makes you think so?"
Dae-Ho answered again, "At present, in such a small house, our Order has only a few followers to enjoy the Law together. However, this will be the seedbed and from this, our Law will prevail all over the world in the future."
The great Master said, "You are right. Just as all the rice plants in those vast fields started from a patch in a seedbed, all of us here today will appear as ancestors of a great religious Order which will be widely known in the world. Some may laugh at my prospective, but after the first generation of our Order there will be an increasing number of people who seek after our Law. After several decades it will be prosperous inside the country and after several hundred years it will be adopted by people all over the world. After that, numerous people will be sorry for not having had the chance to see me and not only you my disciples here, who are not more than one hundred in number, but also people who have become members in the period of the first generation will be looked upon with unaccountable envy."

5.
The Great Master, when he came back from a sightseeing tour to Diamond Mountain, wrote a verse for his disciples:
As Mt. Diamond comes to be famous in the world,
The Land of the Morning Calm is reborn.
Then he said, "Mt. Diamond is widely noted in the world, and in the near future it will be designated as an international park which will be taken care of by all countries. After this the people of the world will start to look for the owner of the mountain competitively. If the host-to-be is not ready to meet the guest, how could the host satisfy them?"

6.
The Great Master, on the occasion of an anniversary of the founding of Won Buddhism, said to the assembly, "We have a great treasure known as Mt. Diamond. This country will become known to the world because we have Mt. Diamond and in turn Mt. Diamond will become more glorified by its owners. Thus this country, Mt. Diamond and its owners are interrelated with inseparable ties and together will become the glory of the world.
Accordingly, you disciples, don't be discouraged by the present situation of our country, but constantly make efforts to cultivate your personalities so that you may qualify as the owners of Mt. Diamond. The owners of Mt. Diamond have to establish a personality like Mt. Diamond; cut and polish yourselves so that your personalities will be brightened like a diamond.
To become like Mt. Diamond, embody its simplicity and honesty and do not lose your genuineness, embody its solemnity and concentrate upon your duties, embody its solidity and do not let your faith and will-power deteriorate. The mountain denotes the standard and humanity is the function. The standard stays motionless and the function moves. The mountain as standard stays motionless according to its role, but humanity becomes the function through human activities. Therefore, you disciples, study the Buddha's superior great Way diligently, so that you may be welcomed by all people just as Mt. Diamond has become distinguished among other mountains in the world. And also, make your religious Order a model for all other Orders. Then both country and people will be brilliantly glorified."

7.
When the Great Master took a trip to Chonju he said to Moon Jung-Kyu and Park Ho-Jang, who came to extend their greetings, "I have seen some ridiculous things on my way to Chonju. I saw a man still asleep although it was noisy and he was not aware that the sun had already risen. I saw a man sowing seeds in a frozen field in a winter storm. Another man in summer clothes was shivering in unbearable cold."
Jung-Kyu, comprehending the meaning, asked, "When will the sleeper in daytime awake and start working and when will the man sowing seeds in a frozen field and the man wearing summer clothes in winter come to realize the right time to do things?"
The Great Master gave the following illustration: "The one in deep sleep without knowing the sun has risen will be awakened by the continuing sounds of things outside. Then he will open the door and recognize that the sun has risen and will start doing his work. The man sowing seeds in the ice and the man in summer clothes in winter will doubtlessly fail in their work because of their lack of knowledge about when to do things. After suffering from countless frustrations and hardships caused by the failure of their business, they will watch other people who know the right time to do things and will gradually learn by themselves when that right time is."

8.
Kim Ki-Chun asked, "Recently many people have organized groups, asserting themselves and calling themselves teachers. However they have nothing that would qualify them as teachers. Should we regard them as true teachers?"
The Great Master said, "They are true teachers."
Ki-Chun asked again, "Why do you say so?"
The Great Master said, "You said that you yourself learned about truth and falsehood from these people. Is it not enough for them to be called teachers?"
Ki-Chun asked again, "Then do they deserve to become true teachers someday?"
The Great Master gave an illustration, "When people are disillusioned with falseness, it will pass away and truthfulness will be regained and appear vividly. Through constant training in what is true and false, the false teachers will eventually become teachers of the truth.'

9.
The Great Master said, "These days there are many people who dream of being enlightened to the Way without studying, who wish to be successful in doing things without effort, who just look forward to having a chance to achieve things without making any preparation, and who manipulate the Great Way with witchcraft and who ridicule justice in tricky ways. Each of them makes a fuss as if doing a great thing. They are called daytime ghosts. Such beings, however, will find no place to stand in the brighter period of the world. Only the righteous law, indispensable for human life, will be accepted by the world. Such a world will be regarded as a truly bright world."

10.
One day when the Great Master was taking a stroll in Namsan Park in Seoul, several youths, noticing the extraordinary dignity of his appearance, approached him and offered him their name cards. When the Great Master offered his name card to them in return, the youths showed him some newspaper accounts regarding a new religious group which had caused great trouble in society.
They said, "The religion has committed many misdeeds. Therefore, our group of young people is going to attack them for their misdeeds and eliminate them from society."
The Great Master asked them, "What did they do wrong?"
One of them answered, "They took over property from poor farmers and lured them by superstitious teachings that after a while a wicked influence will prevail over the world. Such a religion should be exterminated from our Society."
The Great Master said, "Your intentions are understandable. However, who can check a person from doing what they desperately want to do? None will be able to prevent the religious group from doing what it wants to do."
The young man asked him, "Do you mean that the religious group will maintain its ground forever?"
The Great Master said, "I am not talking about the length of its duration, long or short, but rather that nobody will prevent other persons from doing what they want to do. Everyone likes advantages but hates disadvantages, and an advantageous relationship with other people will last longer than a disadvantageous one. A right way will appear to be disadvantageous in the beginning, but it will turn out to be advantageous; a wicked way in the beginning will appear advantageous, but in the long run it will bring disaster. Therefore if the religious group is teaching a right way, you will never succeed in destroying it despite your intentions. On the contrary, if it teaches a wicked way it will eventually destroy itself."

11.
The young man asked again "Then what do you think is the proper way to teach the world in order to achieve success?"
The Great Master said, "There is no special way. However I will give you an example of how to teach. If a farmer who owns a vast farm is versed in farming, works diligently, and has the best harvest, all the farmers in the area will naturally follow that example. However if the farmer does not have a good harvest, but teaches how to farm with words only, the others will never follow. Therefore I would say that in teaching others, first practice, yourselves, what you would teach."
The young man said. "You teach the world in such a superior way! But that religious group which leads people into distress should be exterminated from the world."
The Great Master replied, "The religious group is working for the world, as are you."
The young man asked again, "Are they really working for the world?"
The Great Master answered, "That religious group can be compared to a hound when hunting; without a hound, how can the hunter catch the prey? This is the time to reconstruct a new world. But the unambitious people are in a deep sleep, unconscious of the situation. In such circumstances, these religious groups arising everywhere are a kind of help in awakening people from deep sleep and inspiring them. Then all talents will be stirred to work in the world, experiencing truth or falsehood, deceiving others or being deceived by others. In the long run they will come to realize what is true and what is false, or what is right or wrong, and will be able to select a right religion, right people, and right work. Without these various churches gathering these people this will rarely happen. Accordingly, that religious group is working for the world."
The man continued and asked, "Please illustrate, then, why you say that we are working for the world?"
The Great Master explained, "You observe these religious sects and report their good actions to the world and you criticize their bad conduct. Everybody, almost without exception, will get angry and stirred up by being attacked and at the same time will reflect upon their own conduct, being careful not to be a target of criticism. Therefore, by your actions you are encouraging the religious groups to work for the world and at the same time are giving them an opportunity to reflect upon themselves. Without people like you, the religious sect will rarely examine itself and make progress. Therefore, your contribution is also not to be ignored."
The youths, being deeply impressed by his words, paid respect to him and said, "Through your enlightening teachings, everything is clear to us now."

12.
A visitor said, "I believe that your teachings are not only adequate for this generation but are most right. However, I am not without a little concern about your teachings, particularly after your generation has passed. Having only a short history, the teachings are not deeply rooted yet."
The Great Master answered, "If you accept my teachings as the right Law, you do not have to be concerned about the prosperity of my teachings after me. Look at the problem of stealing. The government fries to exterminate stealing and society hates stealing. The stealing, however, is never eliminated and gives us a lot of trouble. This is because there are some people who need to steal even though they know it is an evil act. It is more frequently the case that, with the right Law, all human beings will feel the need to follow it. Let me give you another example. People of the world make use of all materials and techniques not only for the sake of the inventor but for convenience' sake. If they find them useful for their lives, they will continue to use them even if they are told many times not to use them. Likewise, all religious teachings if they prove ho be beneficial, will be followed by people even if they are told not to believe them. And the more this following is increased, the more the teachings will prosper."

13.
A person asked, "In the east and the west there have been a considerable number of old religions disputing each other for thousands of years. In addition, various new religions have recently been established which assert only themselves and reject other religions. This causes more noisy disputes. What will become of these religions in the future?"
The Great Master said, "Suppose that a person with children living in Seoul took a world tour and in several countries had children by other women before returning to Seoul. Afterwards, when these children grew up in their own country and came to see their father, would it be possible for them, with different complexions, speaking different languages and with different habits, to become harmonious and intimate in a short time? However, in spite of different languages and habits, the children will be able to know and understand everything better in time. If they come to realize how they were born as brothers, they may live in harmony. Likewise, all sects and schools of religion come from one source. Accordingly, someday, when people become more intelligent and the world is brightened by the light of morality, all religions will become one home and will be closely related to each other in harmony."

14.
When Cho Song-Kwang came to see him for the first time, the Great Master said, "You look different from other people. What is your religion?"
Song-Kwang answered, "I have been an elder in the Presbyterian Church for some years."
The Great Master asked, "As you have believed in God for so many years, can you tell me where God is?"
Song-Kwang replied, "God is ominiscient and omnipresent. It is said that we see him everywhere."
The Great Master asked again, "Then, have you seen him often, and have you heard him talk, and has he taught you directly?"
Song-Kwang answered, "I have not seen him nor have I talked with him yet."
The Great Master said, "Then you are still not qualified to be a true disciple of Jesus and have communion with him."
Song-Kwang asked, "Please tell me how to see him and how to be taught by him."
The Great Master said, "If you constantly study so that you may become a true disciple of his, you will see him and can be taught by him."
Song-Kwang continued, asking, "In the Bible it is said that Jesus will come back at the end of the world, but like a thief, and that there will be many proofs of his coming. Will he really come back someday?"
The Great Master said, "A sage never tells a lie. If you study well and attain enlightenment, you will notice the coming of Jesus."
Song-Kwang said, "I have been looking for a great teacher who can instruct me directly. Great Master, today I have been so satisfied by seeing you that I am anxious to become one of your disciples. However I would feel myself to be apostate if I became your disciple and it bothers my conscience."
The Great Master gave him an answer. "Even a Christian, if he deserves to be a true disciple of Jesus, will understand what I am doing. Also, my disciples who deserve to be my true disciples will understand what Jesus was doing. Therefore those who make separations between religions, who regard it as apostasy to change their religion, and who cherish hostility toward each other are not aware that the difference between religions is just a matter of names which were given differently according to time and place. The enlightened, however, regard all religions as one family under one roof. Therefore, it is your own decision whether or not to become my disciple."
Song-Kwang bowed to the Great Master and asked him again to take him as a disciple.
The Great Master gave him permission to join him, saying, "Even after this, you should believe in God in order to become my true disciple."

15.
The Great Master said, "One day I was reading a scripture and found the following story. One of Buddha's disciples asked him, 'Whenever we see you and listen to your teaching, our hearts are filled with respect and ecstasy. But there are some people who would rather speak ill of you and criticize you, even hindering us from coming to listen to you preach. Please tell me why they act against Buddha, who with compassion always teaches us.' Buddha answered the question by saying, 'When the sun rises in the east, it first shines on the peak of the highest mountain, Sumeru; next it shines on the plateau, and lastly on the lowest fields. The sun does not shine on the highest mountain first and lowest field last out of a sense of discrimination. The sun shines unconsciously, but the difference in the height of the ground causes the sequence.' The preaching of Buddha can be compared to this case. The light of his wisdom shines on everything without discrimination. According to the fundamental ability of each person, some are quick to understand his preaching and others are slow. Among the audience listening to Buddha, the Bodhisattva is the quickest to understand his Dharma preaching, next the Pratyeka-Buddha, who is followed by the Sravaka, and next are those destined to become enlightened. Lastly, even sentient beings which haven't had any relation to Buddha will gradually be blessed by the light of his wisdom. One who slanders Buddha's teachings by being blind to the benefit of the light of Buddha's wisdom is just like the blind person who cannot see the sun and therefore denies the benefits from the sun.
Therefore, you disciples, be faithful to what you should do. Never hate thoughtless people, fall into despair or be defeated. Everyone has a different degree of intelligence. Now, you disciples, do not take this teaching lightly, but value it as a treasured lesson for your constant study. Do not pay much attention toward you. Like the changes of day and night the world also changes and in the bright world all sentient beings will be aware of the benefit of Buddha, and will make efforts to return the benefit."

16.
Choi To-Hwa asked, "A number of people are anxious to see the coming of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha-to-come, and the establishment of the Dragon-flower Order in this world. Please tell me about them."
The Great Master answered, "Maitreyn Buddha symbolizes the Truth of Dharma-kaya Buddha, which is to come forth. The Dragonflower Order stands for the world that is perfectly bright. In other words, it is the world where the teaching of 'All are incarnations of Truth-Buddha; do each thing as an offering of worship to the Buddha' is widely practiced."
Chang Juk-Cho asked, "Then when can such a world be realized?"
The Great Master said, "It is already being realized."
Chung Se-Wol asked, "Who should be the first host of such a world?"
The Great Master answered, "Anyone who is awakened to those truths first will be the host."

17.
Park Sa-Shi-Hwa asked, "In some sects and schools they are asserting that Maitreya Buddha has already appeared, and that they are establishing the Dragonflower Order. Which of them is the real Dragonflower Order?"
The Great Master answered, "The Dragonflower Order cannot be established by words. Even without saying anything, if any of the sects and schools are aware of the real meaning of Maitreya Buddha and practice what Mattreya Buddha does, it will naturally become a Dragonflower Order and will even see Mattreya Buddha."

18.
Suh Dae-Won asked, "In the Mattreya Buddha's period of the world when, on the whole, the Dragonflower Order is established, what will happen to the world situation?"
The Great Master answered, "In this period, the wisdom of human beings will become brighter, no conflicts will be created, truth and falseness will be differentiated and gradually none will worship Buddha images for their blessedness and longevity, but will seek all their fortunes by means of accumulating merits in any circumstances and situations. Each of them will try to be a living Buddha, knowing that everyone is empowered like Buddha. Buddha will be everywhere and so will our temples. It is beyond our ability to express the vastness of the Dragonflower Order in words and in writings. Once the Dragonflower Order is established in the world, Buddha Dharma will prevail all over the world and differences between monks and laity will be abolished. Laws and morality, study and actual living, will be consistent and will benefit all sentient beings."

19.
The Great Master said, "Recently some people have said that the world, which is in its last period, will be destroyed, but I do not believe that will happen. Doubtlessly, the world in which has not existed a sage for a long time, is in its last period, with justice and morality in decline. Still, the world will not be destroyed. A more civilized moral world is coming. Now is only the end of this degraded world, but at the same time, it is the beginning of the new world. It may be rather hard for ordinary people to foresee the future, but those who are able to foresee the civilized world have great pleasure."

20.
The Great Master continued, saying "I predict that people in the coming world will behave as follows:
Whereas contemporary people struggle to take from other people and to defeat and hurt others, people in the coming world will be eager to share and will be anxious to make concessions to others and to help others.
Whereas contemporary people are anxious to make profit for themselves and to gain power and fame, on the other hand people in the coming world will be anxious to work for the public welfare and will be worrying about losing time for meditation by accepting opportunities to gain fame and power, instead of having leisure time to meditate.
Whereas contemporary people are likely to commit crimes, as evidenced by so many jails,. and individuals, homes, societies and nations all greatly exert themselves to defeat each other, and build walls and fences between themselves, the people in the coming world will hate crime, with individuals, homes, societies, and nations coming out of their shells to build harmonious relationships.
Whereas materialism dominates the contemporary world, a supreme morality will prevail in the coming world, cultivating the human spirit and overcoming the materialism. The material civilization will become useful for elevating morality. In the near future, the perfect civilized world will be realized, where no thief is in the mountains and no one picks up things on the road for the sake of self."

21.
He continued, saying, "Now we are in a world where the dark night is almost over and the sun is about to rise in the east. But, just as the sunlight rises in the east and reflects on the western sky first, the western countries have become civilized before the eastern countries. When the sun reaches to the high middle sky, the light will shine on every part of the world, and then the world of great morality and true civilization will be realized."

22.
The Great Master said, "The world in the past was immature and dark; those of power and knowledge were able to live through forceful extortion. The coming world, however, is sagacious and bright. Even those of high rank will never be able to extort things from the weak. Accordingly, the vicious and dishonest people will be miserable, while the rightous and honest people will naturally become prosperous."

23.
The Great Master said, "Since Koreans started to modernize, they have made a lot of improvement in their standard of living and their stubborn and obstinate thought has changed for the better. Still, they have problems which need improvement in the future. Morally, however, Korea will be a superior country in the future. Now this country is like a lizard which is growing gradually into a dragon."

24.
The Great Master continued, saying, "People in the coming world will plant various trees and flowers on the beautiful top of a high mountain, will make a pond and breed fish, and will arrange rocks; stones, and old trees to make a wonderful park under which there will be a tunnel and houses that take in the sunlight, and there will be electric lights at night. Besides, everything will be beautiful and convenient. Outside of the brilliant houses the trees will have a thick growth, and at the top will be different kinds of birds and insects dancing and singing among the pretty flowers and lovely plants in full bloom. In our country, also, the powerful may be able to build their mansions even on top of such famous mountains as Kumgang, Chiri, and Kusoo. Some will even build artificial mountains on which to build their mansions. Even in the construction of their houses, they will prefer to make use of natural stone over synthetic material, thus showing their love for the beauty of nature."

25.
The Great Master continued, saying, "In the coming world, a wealthy religious group will establish an airport and a park on the top of a big mountain, and also will build a gorgeous and magnificent portrait shrine, enshrining the portrait and history of those who have sacrificed themselves on behalf of the public. Then sightseers coming from everywhere will pay homage to them. The well-known Dharma masters will live their disciplinary lives in some monastery located in a beautiful place and when they visit some temples to preach, the people will give them a large and warm welcome. All the people will entertain them with food and ask for a sermon. Then the Dharma masters will preach to them on the principle of the way of humanity which is necessary for wordly life, on the Truth of Cause and Effect, or on the abstruse principle of the Nature. The gathering of followers, then, offering things to the masters, will do their best to express their gratitude. The masters will leave those offerings for the use of the temple and will visit other temples in turn, where they will also be accepted warmly."

26.
He continued again, "We will see schools in every town and village, and in every part of the country, temples and churches will be built and everyone will attend regularly. An ceremonies of coming of age, marriage, funeral, ancestor worship, special sermons, and some conferences will be conveniently held at those temples and churches. In contemporary society, generally, people are not willing to trust the religious, because the many religious people have not been thoroughly trained in their religion as believers are supposed to be. In the coming world, however believers who belong to the temples will possess different personalities than ordinary people who have not been trained in the activities of religious groups. Accordingly, institutions or societies will try to find useful persons from among religious people more than among unbelievers."

27.
The Great Master continued, saying, "Even nowadays there are employment agencies in big cities, but in the coming world, however, even more employment agencies will serve those looking for jobs. Marriage offices will assist those who wish to get married and day nurseries will be established in many places so that mothers can go out to work without any concern for their children. Old people without protectors will live comfortable lives, without anxiety, at homes for the aged, which will be established by the government, by organizations or by social and charitable workers. Nowadays, life in a remote place is inconvenient, but in the coming world, life in even the remotest place will be surrounded with the most convenient cultural facilities. Quick cafeterias will provide us with food adequate for our needs, so that we may not have to cook all the time at home. There will be many tailors, dressmakers, and laundries helping busy people by making their clothes and doing their laundry."

28.
The Great Master said. "In the past, people took for granted that they would hand over their property, whether much or little, only to their own descendants. If they did not have any blood descendants, they did not hesitate to adopt a son to receive their property. Accordingly, the descendants thought they were the only ones qualified to inherit property from their parents. In the coming world. however, many people will use a part of their property to educate and maintain their children, and the rest for missionary, educational and charitable works for others. These days, people make profit by taking advantage of others, but in the coming world people will profit for themselves by helping others to make a profit. This is because people with increasing intellectual ability have come to experience the principle that when we hurt others the hurt turns toward ourselves, and when we do something for others, much profit returns to ourselves."

29.
When the Great Master preached a sermon, his virtuous dignity seemed to reach the 'Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds,' and all living things in the Six Paths and the Four Forms of Birth seemed to enjoy listening to his sermons. In such circumstances, Park Sa-Si-Hwa, Moon Jung-Kyu, and Kim Nam-Chun always started dancing, with their gray hair waving, and Chun Sam-Sam, Choi To-Hwa, and Noh Teok-Song-Ok started worshipping the Great Master on their knees, stirring up and inspiring the minds of the followers on the hall. It seemed as if the whole uni verse was in triumph.
The Great Master, seeing it, said with a smile, "When a great Order is established, in the invisible realm of Truth, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, prior to their incarnation, meet and discuss their roles. Then, shouldn't we think of them as Bodhisattvas who have been reincarnated with the roles of dancing and worshipping on their knees? At present only we are enjoying this, but in the future the whole universe and all beings of the Six Paths and the Four Forms of Birth will be enjoying it together."

30.
One of the disciples asked, "I believe our Order is established under a great sign of fortune. However, I wish I knew for how many millions of years our Order will be prosperous?"
The Great Master said, "This kind of Order is rather different from preceding ones and its kind is rarely established. This is the Order which is to be established only according to the era when the world returns to an original state. Therefore, it is born with limitless fortunes."

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