DIVINE PRINCIPLE
PART I
CHAPTER 1
PRINCIPLE OF CREATION
Throughout history, man has been struggling to solve the fundamental
questions of life and the universe. Yet no one has been able to give
satisfactory answers, for no one has known the original plan for the
creation of man and the universe. Furthermore, there remains a
fundamental question to be settled, a question not so much about the
facts of existence as about the cause of existence. Questions about
life and the universe, of course, cannot be solved without
understanding the nature of God. The "Principle of Creation" deals
with these fundamental questions.
SECTION I--THE DUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD AND HIS WORLD OF CREATION
1. DUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD
How can we know the characteristics of God, who is an invisible being?
We can know them by observing the world of His creation. For this
reason, Paul said:
Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature,
namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly
perceived in the things that have been made. So they are
without excuse.
(Rom. 1:20)
Just as the work of an artist is a visible manifestation of its
maker's invisible nature, every creation is a substantial object of
the invisible deity of God, the Creator. His nature is displayed in
each creation. Just as we can sense an author's character through his
works, so we can perceive God's deity by observing His creation.
In order to know the nature of God's deity, let us examine the common
factors which can be found throughout His creation. A creation,
whatever it may be, cannot come into being unless a reciprocal
relationship between positivity and negativity has been achieved, not
only within itself but also in relation to other beings. For example,
particles, which are the essential components of all matter, have
either positivity or negativity, or a neutrality which is caused when
the positive and negative elements neutralize each other. When the two
characteristics enter into a reciprocal relationship, these particles
form an atom.
Each atom assumes either positive or negative characteristics, and, as
the dual characteristics within each atom enable that atom to have
reciprocal relationships with other atoms, they proceed to
form molecules of matter. Matter, which is formed in this
way--according to the reciprocal relationship between these two
characteristics--becomes nourishment for animals and plants when it is
absorbed by them.
All plants exist and multiply through a relationship occurring between
the stamen and pistil, while the same process occurs in the animal
world through a relationship between male and female.
As for man, God created a man (male), Adam, in the beginning; then,
seeing that it was not good that man should be alone
(Gen. 2:18), He
made a woman (female), Eve, as Adam's object, and for the first time
God saw that His creation was "very good"
(Gen. 1:31).
Just as a
positive or negative ion, even after dissociation, is found to be the
combination of a proton (positive) and an electron (negative), the
stamen or the pistil of the plant and a male or female member of the
animal kingdom can also exist only through a reciprocal relationship
between their dual essentialities of positivity and negativity. Also,
there is a female characteristic dormant in every man, and a male
essence in every woman. The aspects of each thing in the creation
exist on a reciprocal basis, such as: inside and outside, internal and
external, front and rear, right and left, up and down, high and low,
strong and weak, long and short, wide and narrow, east and west, south
and north. This is because all things are created to exist through a
reciprocal relationship between their dual essentialities.
As we have seen, all things exist through a reciprocal relationship
between the dual essentialities of positivity and negativity. We must
also know the reciprocal relationship between another pair of dual
essentialities, which is even more fundamental than that of positivity
and negativity. Anything in existence has both an external form and an
internal character. The external form is visible and reflects the
internal character, which is invisible. Though the internal
character cannot be seen, it assumes a certain form, so that the
external form resembles the internal character as its visible form.
"Internal character" and "external form" refer to the two characters
which are the two relative aspects of the same existence. In this
relationship, the external form may also be called a "second internal
character", so together we call them "dual characteristics", or "dual
essentialities".
We can take man as an example. Man consists of body, or external form,
and mind, or internal character. The visible body resembles the
invisible mind. The body assumes a form resembling the form projected
by the mind. This is the reason one can perceive things about a man's
invisible character and destiny by his outward appearance.
We call the mind "internal character" and the body "external form".
Here again, since our mind and body are the two relative aspects of
the same man, the body may be called the "second mind", or a
duplication of the mind. We call these two together "the dual
characteristics of man". Now we can understand the fact that
everything exists through a reciprocal relationship between the dual
characteristics of internal character and external form.
What then is the relationship between internal character and external
form? The invisible internal character is the cause and is in the
subjective position, while the visible external form is the result of
the former and stands in an objective position to it. Accordingly, the
reciprocal relationship which exists between the two is one of
internal and external, cause and result, subject and object, or
vertical and horizontal.
Let us again use man as an example. Since mind and body correspond to
character and form, the body is a copy of the mind and should be
completely under its command. Thus man can direct his life according
to his will and purpose. The mind and body also assume a
reciprocal relationship of internal and external, cause and result,
subject and object, or vertical and horizontal.
Likewise, all the things of creation, though they may vary in
dimension, have an invisible internal character which corresponds to
the mind; since this is the cause and subject, it manipulates the
external form, which corresponds to the human body. This relationship
between mind and body enables the individual creation to maintain its
existence as a being with a certain purpose. Animals have an aspect
which corresponds to the human mind; since this is the subject and
cause which directs towards a certain purpose, the animal body is able
to live according to the purpose of its individual being. A plant also
has an internal character which enables it to maintain its organic
function.
Men can be united because the mind is common factor in every person.
Similarly, positive and negative ions are united to form a certain
material because within each ion there are aspects of both internal
character and external form which tend to unite, thus forming a
molecule. Again, when an electron revolves around a proton to form an
atom, it is because each contains an aspect of "character" that
directs it toward the purpose of constructing an atom.
Modern science tells us that the particles forming the atom all
consist of energy. We know that within energy itself there must also
be an attribute of "character" which strives toward the goal of
constructing a particle. Even beyond this, we must seek an absolute
being as the ultimate cause of the entire world of reality. This
cause, with its ultimate and unique character and form, brought all
energy into existence. This ultimate being must be the First Cause of
all beings, containing the absolute and subjective character and form.
This First Cause of our existing world we call God. We call God's
subjective character and form His "essential character" and
"essential form". As Paul indicated, when we examine the factors which
all creation have in common, we finally come to understand the God is
the First Cause of the world of creation, and He exists as the
absolute subject, having characteristics of both essential character
and essential form.
We have already clarified the fact that everything in the creation
exists only because of a reciprocal relationship between its dual
characteristics of positivity and negativity. We naturally conclude
that God, being the First Cause of all creation, also exists because
of a reciprocal relationship between the dual characteristics of
positivity and negativity. Genesis 1:27 says: "So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he
created them.". This, too, explains to us that God is the absolute
subject, who exists with His dual characteristics of positivity and
negativity.
What is the relationship between the dual characteristics of character
and form and the dual characteristics of positivity and negativity?
Fundamentally, God's essential character and His essential form assume
a reciprocal relationship with His "essential positivity" and
"essential negativity". Therefore, God's essential positivity and
essential negativity are the attributes of His essential character and
essential form. So, the relationship between positivity and negativity
is similar to that which exists between character and form.
Accordingly, positivity and negativity also have a reciprocal
relationship existing between internal and external, cause and result,
subject and object, vertical and horizontal. This is the reason it is
written in the Bible that God created the woman Eve as an object by
taking the rib from the man Adam, who was the subject (Gen. 2:22).
Here we call the positivity and negativity of God "masculinity" and
"femininity", respectively.
The universe which was created with God as the center is similar to a
man who has been created with his mind as the center. The universe is
a perfect organic body created completely in accordance with God's
purpose of creation. For this reason, the universe as an organic body
has its own internal character and external form, with God as its
internal character, while the physical universe is its external form.
This is why God said that man, who is the center of the universe, was
made in His own image (Gen. 1:27). Before creating the universe, God
existed as the internal masculine subject, and He created the universe
as His external feminine object. I Corinthians 11:7 says that man "is
the image and glory of God", which testifies to this theory. Since God
is the masculine subject of internal character we call Him "Our
Father", emphasizing His masculine nature.
In brief, we know that God is the subject who consists of the dual
characteristics of essential character and essential form. At the same
time, He is a subject consisting of the dual characteristics of
masculinity and femininity, the former representing His essential
character and the latter representing His essential form. In
relationship to the whole creation, God is the masculine subject
representing its internal character.
2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND THE UNIVERSE
We have learned so far that each and every creation is God's
substantial object which is the manifested form of the invisible
essentialities of God. Every substantial object is called an
"individual truth incarnation". Man, being the substantial object of
God who was created in His image, is called the "individual truth
incarnation in image". Since all creation, other than man, is the
symbolic object of God created in His indirect image, it is called the
"symbolic individual truth incarnation".
Any individual truth incarnation, since it is a substance which
manifests God's dual essentialities, can again be divided into a
positive element and a negative one, the former resembling masculinity
as the essential character of God and the latter resembling femininity
as the essential form of God. Also, each individual truth incarnation
is a substantial object of God; therefore, each not only reflects
God's dual essentialities of character and form in the individual
self, but each also has within itself the dual essentialities of
positivity and negativity.
To sum up the relationship between God and the universe as seen from
the viewpoint of its dual characteristics, the universe is God's
substantial object consisting of individual truth incarnations. These
are the manifestation of God's dual characteristics both in image and
in symbol according to the principle of creation. That is, man is
God's substantial object with His dual characteristics manifested as
"direct image", while all things of the universe are the substantial
objects of God with His dual characteristics manifested as "indirect
image" (symbol). The relationship between God and the universe and the
relationship between character and form is the same as the
relationship between internal and external, cause and result, subject
and object, and vertical and horizontal.
Let us examine the fundamental theory of the "Book of Changes (I
Ching)", which is the center of Oriental philosophy, from the
viewpoint of the principle of creation. This book emphasizes that the
foundation of the universe is Taeguk (ultimacy) and from this comes
Yang and Yin (positivity and negativity). From Yang and Yin come the
"O-haeing" (five elements: metal, wood, water, fire and soil). All
things were created from O-haeing. Positivity and negativity together
are called the "Tao". The "Tao" is defined as the "Way", or "Word".
That is, Taeguk produced the word (creative principle) and the Word
produced all things. Therefore, Taeguk is the first and
ultimate cause of all existence and is the unified nucleus of both
positivity and negativity.
By comparing this with the Bible (John 1:1-3), "The Word was God...and
all things were created through him", we can see that Taeguk, the
subject which contains positivity and negativity, represents God, the
subject who contains dual essentialities.
According to the principle of creation, the word (Logos) also consists
of dual essentialities, and so the universe which was created by the
Word contains dual essentialities. Consequently, the assertion in the
"Book of Changes" that "positivity and negativity together is the
Word", is valid.
However, the "Book of Changes" which observes the universe only from
the viewpoint of positivity and negativity, does not explain the fact
that all things have an internal character and external form within
themselves. Accordingly, it has only verified the fact that Taeguk is
the subject containing positivity and negativity and has not explained
that Taeguk is originally the subject containing the dual
characteristics of essential character and essential form. Therefore,
the "Book of Changes" does not reveal that Taeguk is a God of
personality.
Here we have learned that the foundation of Oriental philosophy
contained in the "Book of Changes", can ultimately be elucidated only
according to the principle of creation.
SECTION II--UNIVERSAL PRIME ENERGY, GIVE AND TAKE ACTION, AND THE FOUR
POSITION FOUNDATION
1. UNIVERSAL PRIME ENERGY
God is the Creator of all things. He is the absolute reality eternally
self-existent, transcendent of time and space (Ex. 3:14).
Therefore, the fundamental energy of His being must also be absolute
and eternally self-existent. At the same time, He is the source of the
energy which enables all things to maintain their existence. We call
this energy "Universal Prime Energy".
2. GIVE AND TAKE ACTION
When a subject and an object are engaged in give and take action
within a being, after having established a reciprocal relationship
between themselves through the Universal Prime Energy, the energy
necessary to maintain the existence of that being is produced. This
energy provides power for existence, multiplication and action. The
process which generates the necessary energy is called "give and take
action". Therefore, Universal Prime Energy and the power of give and
take action form a reciprocal relationship of cause and effect,
internal and external, and subject and object. Consequently, Universal
Prime Energy is a vertical power, while the power of give and take
action is a horizontal power.
Let us further investigate God and His creation from the standpoint of
Universal Prime Energy and give and take action.
God contains within Himself dual essentialities which exist forever.
Through Universal Prime Energy, these two form a mutual or reciprocal
relationship which develops into an eternal give and take action. The
energy produced through this process is the force of give and take
action. Through this force, God's dual essentialities establish a
reciprocal base. This results in the "foundation of existence" upon
which God, Himself, exists forever.
Each and every creation enters into give and take action between the
dual essentialities that form an individual self by forming a
reciprocal relationship through Universal Prime Energy. Through the
force of give and take action, the dual essentialities
produce a reciprocal base, which in turn produces a foundation of
existence in an individual self; then upon this foundation, the
individual self can stand as God's object and receive all the power
necessary for its own existence.
For example: an atom comes to exist through the give and take action
between a proton and an electron. This is the action of fusion. A
molecule comes into being through the give and take action between a
positive ion and a negative ion which causes a chemical reaction.
Electricity is produced through the give and take action between
positive electrical charges and negative electrical charges, which
causes electrical action. All plants multiply through the give and
take action between the stamen and pistil.
Animals maintain their existence and multiply through the give and
take action between male and female. Between the animal kingdom and
the plant kingdom, co-existence is made possible through give and take
action. Plants give oxygen to animals and animals return carbon
dioxide to plants. Flowers offer nectar to bees and bees pollinate
flowers.
When we study the heavenly bodies, we find that the solar system
exists through the give and take action between the sun and the
planets. The earth and moon are also able to maintain their orbital
movements through give and take action.
The human body maintains its life through the give and take action
between arteries and veins, inhalation and exhalation, sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems. An individual is able to achieve his
purpose of existence through the give and take action between mind and
body.
There is give and take action between husband and wife in a home,
among individuals in a society, between government and people in a
nation, and among nations in the world. Give and take action governs
all relationships within man and all relationships among men.
However evil man may have been through all ages and in all places, he
at least has the power of conscience remaining in his inmost self.
This conscience is always at work, influencing him to live for
righteousness. No one can prevent this power from operating within
himself. It causes him to feel conscience-stricken at the moment of
committing evil. If there were no conscience left in fallen men, God's
providence of restoration would be impossible. Where does this power
of conscience originate? Since all power comes from give and take
action, the conscience must be no exception. The conscience is able to
operate because it stands as an object to a certain subject, thus
performing the action of give and take on a reciprocal base formed
between the two. We know that the subject of the conscience is God.
The human fall signifies that through some act, man was cut off from
having a give and take relationship with God, thus failing to unite
into one body with Him. Instead, man entered into a give and take
relationship with Satan, forming a reciprocal base with him. Jesus,
having become one with God through the relationship of give and take,
came to this world as His son. Therefore, if and when fallen man
unites with Jesus in a perfect give and take relationship, he will be
able to restore his original nature, thus entering again into a give
and take relationship with God and becoming one with Him. Therefore,
Jesus is called the "mediator" for fallen man, being the way, the
truth and the life. He came to serve mankind with love and sacrifice,
giving even his own life. If we turn to him with faith, we "should not
perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
True Christianity is a religion of life, through which men can restore
the vertical give and take circuit with God by establishing, through
love and sacrifice, the horizontal give and take circuit between men
centering on Jesus. The teachings and deeds of Jesus were solely for
this purpose, as he indicated on numerous occasions:
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you
pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will
be the measure you get. (Matt. 7:1-2)
So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to
them; for this is the law and the prophets. (Matt. 7:12)
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will
acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 10:32)
He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall
receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous
man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous
man's rewards. (Matt. 10:41)
And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of
cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he
shall not lose his reward. (Matt. 10:42)
3. THE FOUR POSITION FOUNDATION; THREE OBJECTIVE PURPOSES THROUGH
ORIGIN-DIVISION-UNION ACTION
(1) Origin-Division-Union Action
When, through Universal Prime Energy, the dual essentialities of God
enter into give and take action by forming a reciprocal relationship,
the force of give and take action causes multiplication. This action
causes the dual essentialities to separate into two substantial
objects centered upon God. The substantial subject and object pair
then enter into another give and take action by forming a reciprocal
relationship, through Universal Prime Energy. By forming one pair they
become an object to God. In this manner, God, as the origin, is
divided into two separated substances, after which these two again
unite to form one body. We call this process "origin-division-union
action".
(2) Three Objective Purposes
When, according to origin-division-union action (O-D-U action), the
origin has divided into two separated substances of subject and object
which have again united into one body, four positions are formed. One
takes a subjective position while the remaining three stand as
objects, thus producing three objective bases. When they enter into
give and take action among themselves, one of the four
positions assumes the role of subject, while the other three fulfill
their objective purposes respectively.
(3) The Four Position Foundation
When, according to O-D-U action, the origin is divided into two
substantial objects, they assume the roles of subject and object
respectively, and finally unite into one body. Thus three objective
positions are fulfilled. Since these three objective positions are
centered on the origin, four respective positions are formed
altogether. This creates "the four position foundation".
The significance of the number "four" is derived from this four
position foundation. And since this is the result of the fulfillment
of the three objective purposes, the significance of the number
"three" is also found here. The four position foundation is manifested
as God, husband and wife, and their offspring. With God as the origin,
husband and wife as the manifested subject and object, and their
offspring as the result of their unity, one can see three distinct
stages. Thus the four position foundation becomes the basis of the
three stages because it is fulfilled in three stages according to
O-D-U action. This is also the basis of the significance of the number
"twelve", because each of the four positions will take three objects,
thus bringing about a total of twelve objects. The four position
foundation is the base for the fulfillment of God's goodness and is
the ultimate goal of His creation. This is the base through which
God's power is channeled to flow into all of His creation in order for
the creation to exist. Therefore, the formation of the four position
foundation is ultimately God's eternal purpose of creation.
(4) The Status of Existence of the Four Position Foundation
Whenever a creation has formed a four position foundation by
fulfilling its three objective purposes through O-D-U action,
it begins to perform global spherical movement in order to maintain
its three-dimensional existence. Let us now investigate the reason for
this.
When God's dual essentialities are divided and manifest into two
substantial objects, one serving as subject and the other as object,
they enter into a relationship and produce a reciprocal base. The
object enters into give and take action by centering itself on the
subject through centripetal force and centrifugal force. Consequently,
the object begins to revolve around the subject, and thus they form
one unit. According to this same principle, the subject, in turn,
becomes an object to God, revolving around Him to form one unit with
Him. When the object forms one unit with the subject, together they
become a substantial object to God, since they reflect His dual
essentialities. For this reason, any object must first unite with its
subject before it is able to stand as an object to God.
This substantial object to God has within itself the dual
essentialities of subject and object which perform continuous circular
movement respectively, due to the give and take action between the
two. Therefore, this circular movement forms a specific orbit on a
horizontal level according to the particular motion of the subject and
object. However, since this movement is generally performed with the
angles of the orbit constantly varying, centering on the subject, this
circular movement will eventually become spherical movement, making
the manner of existence three-dimensional.
Let us look at the example of the solar system. With the sun as the
subject, all the planets act as its objects by forming a reciprocal
relationship with the sun, through the action of give and take.
Through the action of centripetal force and centrifugal force, each
planet consequently revolves around the sun. During this process of
revolution, the sun and the planets become one unit, thus
creating the solar system. The earth, which in itself is a complete
body of dual essentialities, is not the only body which rotates on its
axis. The sun and the planets around it, which are complex bodies of
dual essentialities in themselves, also rotate upon their own axes.
The circular movement of the solar system which has been caused by the
give and take action between the sun and the planets does not always
occur on a single plane, but constantly changes its angle of orbit
around the sun. Thus the solar system, by performing the spherical
movement, becomes three-dimensional. In this manner, all the heavenly
bodies exist in three dimensions, through either circular or spherical
movement. The entire universe, which consists of numerous heavenly
bodies, exists as one unit through give and take action, and moves
spherically under the same principle, thus existing
three-dimensionally.
When a proton and an electron, by forming a reciprocal base, enter
into give and take action with the proton as the center, there occurs
a circular movement which makes the two into one unit, and thus an
atom is produced. The proton and the electron also have dual
essentialities which are engaged in continuous individual movement.
Therefore, the circular movement caused by the give and take action
between the proton and electron does not occur on a horizontal level
alone, but constantly changes its angle of movement so that it becomes
spherical movement. Thus the atom, too, exists on the
three-dimensional level.
The magnetic force occurring between the positive and negative poles
of electricity also exists in spherical movement by the same
principle.
Let us take man as an example. The body is the object to the mind,
which is the subject. When the body forms a reciprocal relationship
with the mind, it performs circular movement centered on the mind,
thus forming one unit. If and when the mind becomes the object of God,
and revolves around Him, becoming one unit with Him, and the
body unites with the mind, the individual then becomes the substantial
object to God, since he reflects God's dual essentialities. In this
way he becomes a man in whom the purpose of creation is accomplished.
The body and mind each contain a dual essentiality which continues to
move individually; and so, the circular movement occurring through the
give and take action between such a body and mind finally becomes a
spherical movement by revolving around God, constantly changing its
angles. Therefore, the man in whom the purpose of creation is
accomplished is a three-dimensional being, always living in a
spherical existence centered upon God. In this way he will be able to
dominate even the invisible world of spirit (cf. Part I, Ch. 1, Sec.
VI--57).
Similarly, when the circular movement between a subject and an object
occurring on a horizontal level becomes a spherical one through a
three-dimensional orbit, the wonders of creation come into existence.
That is, the beauty of the things of creation exists in infinite
variety, and this is due to their varied orbit, form, state,
direction, angle and speed of individual give and take action.
Every existence has it own internal character and external form, and
naturally its spherical movement also contains that same aspect of
character and form. Accordingly, there are both the center of
character and center of form, even in the center of movement. What
would the ultimate center of this spherical movement be? Man is the
center of all creation, which was created to be the symbolic
substantial objects of God's dual essentialities. God is the center of
all men, who have been created to be His substantial objects in His
image. Therefore, the ultimate center of the spherical movement of the
whole universe is God.
Let us further investigate this matter. Every substantial object of
God contains a subject and object within itself, and the subject is
the center in their relationship. Therefore, the center of
the unified body of subject and object also lies in the subject. The
ultimate center of the subject is God, and the ultimate center of the
unified body is also God. Therefore, when God's three objects form a
respective basis of reciprocation, and their three centers (subjects)
enter into give and take action, centering upon God in complete
oneness with Him, fulfilling their three objective purposes, the four
position foundation is complete for the first time.
Consequently, the ultimate center of the four position foundation is
God. Every individual creation, having thus fulfilled the four
position foundation, is an individual truth incarnation. As mentioned
before, this exists in two forms: the truth incarnation in image (man)
and the symbolic truth incarnation (all creation except man).
The universe consists of countless such individual truth incarnations,
mutually related in good order, from the creature of the lowest grade
to the highest, with man as the highest truth incarnation. Again,
every individual truth incarnation moves spherically with the lower
individual truth incarnation in the objective position to the higher
ones. The center of the spherical movement of this objects is in the
individual truth incarnation which is in the position of subject, on a
higher level. Likewise, the centers of countless such symbolic
individual truth incarnations are connected with one another from the
lowest to the highest. Man, the individual truth incarnation in image,
is the highest and central created being.
Let us illustrate this with an example. Today's science states that
atoms are made of elementary particles which are composed of energy.
Observing the purpose of existence of the individual truth
incarnations at different stages, we can understand that energy exists
in order to form elementary particles. The elementary particle, in
turn, exists to form an atom, an atom to form a molecule, a molecule
to form any type of matter, and all matter to form the whole universe.
For what purpose, then, does the universe exist; and what is its
center? The answer is none other than man himself. That is why God,
after creating man, told him to subdue the earth (Gen. 1:28). If there
were no men to see and appreciate the universe, the universe could be
compared to a museum without any visitors. The articles exhibited in
the museum can display the value of their existence only when there is
a man to appreciate, love, and take delight in them. Man is able to
form a close relationship with them, and in this way, they assume
value. If there were no man to appreciate them, would they have any
significance?
The same applies to the case of the whole universe with man as its
center. Only through man are they mutually related in a united
purpose. The relationship becomes apparent when man clarifies the
source and the nature of all materials which form the whole creation.
Man alone studies and classifies the true characters of all the
animals and plants, including everything on the earth and sea as well
as the constellations which form the whole universe. As the center and
subject of the creation, man enables the things of creation to have an
organized mutual relationship with each other. Materials absorbed by
the human body are changed into elements which maintain the
physiological function of man, while the whole creation provides the
material to make a pleasant living environment for him.
On the basis of external form, these are man's relationships to the
universe, with man as the center. But there is still another
relationship, with man as the center, on the basis of internal
character. We may call the former a "physical relationship" while the
latter we may call a "spiritual relationship".
The physiological elements of man, which consists of material
substance, respond to the intellect, emotion, and will of the mind.
This indicates that materials have certain elements through which they
can respond to man's intellect, emotion, and will. Such
elements form the internal character of matter so that every creation
is able to respond to human intellect, emotion, and will, though the
degree of response may vary. It is because man is the center of the
internal character of creation that he can become intoxicated with the
beauty of nature, and experience the mystery of being one in harmony
with it. Man was thus created to be the center of the whole creation,
and so the point where God and man become one united body is where we
find the center of the macrocosm.
Let us discuss man's being the center of the macrocosm from a
different aspect. We call the two worlds, the visible and invisible,
the "macrocosm", with man being the substantial center of this total
macrocosm. Every creation forming the macrocosm is divided into a
subject and an object element.
Here we may reach the conclusion that if Adam, who was the first human
ancestor, had been perfected, he would have become the substantial
embodiment of all the subject elements in the creation; and if Eve had
been perfected, she would have become the substantial embodiment of
all the object elements in the creation. If Adam and Eve together had
grown wholesomely to the perfection stage--one becoming the lord of
all the subjects in the creation and the other becoming the lord of
all the objects--and had they joined into one body as man and wife,
they would have become a central body dominating the whole universe,
since God created man to have dominion over the creation.
Man was created to be the center of harmony with the whole macrocosm.
Thus, if Adam and Eve had become husband and wife after perfection,
thus joining into one body as the substantial center of the dual
essentialities contained in every creature, the macrocosm, which was
created to have dual essentialities as an individual being, would also
move in harmony with Adam and Eve as the nucleus, Likewise,
the point at which Adam and Eve join into one body as a husband and
wife is also the point at which God, the subject of love, and man, the
object of beauty, become one unit, thus establishing the center of
goodness. Here, for the first time, the purpose of creation is
accomplished. God, our Parent, is able to abide with perfected men as
His children, and peacefully rest for eternity. At that time, this
center would become the object of God's eternal love, and through
this, God would be stimulated with happiness for eternity. Here God's
Word would be physically incarnated for the first time in human
history. Therefore, this point would become the very center of the
truth and also the center of man's original mind, which has been
directing man to attain the purpose creation. Consequently, the whole
universe will perform a spherical movement of unified purpose,
centered on the four position foundation, when a perfected man and
woman become husband and wife, with God at their center. However, the
universe lost this center when men fell; consequently, all of creation
has been groaning in travail, waiting for the children of God--that
is, men whose original nature of creation is restored--to appear and
take their position as the macrocosm's center (Rom. 8:19-22).
4. THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD
Our understanding is thus increased, and we know that the four
position foundation, having completed the three objective purposes
through the O-D-U action, becomes one body with God through spherical
movement centering on Him. This creates the basic foundation of both
the power within every existing being, through which God may work, and
the power which enables all beings in creation to maintain their
existence. Likewise, God is omnipresent in the creation.
5. THE MULTIPLICATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL BODIES
In order for a physical body to continue to exist, it must multiply,
and this multiplication occurs through the O-D-U action caused by the
action of give and take. For example, seeds of plants are produced
through a give and take action between stamen and pistil. They will
again multiply themselves, repeating the same course. In the animal
world too, the male and female grow to have give and take action with
each other, thus breeding and multiplying. The cell division of
animals and plants also occurs through the give and take action.
If the body obeys the mind's desires, according to a certain purpose,
it enters into the action of give and take with the mind, and they
become companions. Whenever friends have give and take action
wholesomely between them, their friendship will increase. Seen from
this aspect, the universe is the substantial manifestation of the
invisible God, occurring through the give and take action between His
essential character and form, centered on the purpose of creation.
6. THE REASON EVERY BEING CONSISTS OF DUAL ESSENTIALITIES
Everything, in order to exist, needs energy--and this comes through
give and take action. However nothing can perform give and take action
by itself. Therefore, in order to generate the energy to exist, there
must be a subject and object who can perform give and take action.
Any movement that goes in a straight line will finally come to an end,
and no being performing such movement can exist eternally.
Consequently, in order to exist eternally, everything moves in
circular motion. In order for revolution to occur, the action of give
and take between a subject and an object must take place. Therefore,
in order to exist eternally, God has dual essentialities. If His
creation is to be an eternal object, it must reflect God's
dual essentialities. In this way, "time" also maintains its perpetuity
by going through periodic cycles.
SECTION III--THE PURPOSE OF CREATION
1. THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
Whenever God made a new species of creation, He saw that "it was good"
(Gen. 1:4-31). This indicates that God wanted all of His creation to
be good objects. This is because He wanted to feel happiness whenever
He looked at His creation.
What, then, should His creation be like in order to make God happiest?
After having created the universe, God finally created man in His
image, after the pattern of His own character, with tremendous
potential. Man was intended to enjoy and appreciate his position as an
object to God. Therefore, when God created Adam and Eve, He gave them
three great blessings: to be fruitful, to multiply and fill the earth,
and to subdue it and have dominion (Gen. 1:28). Had man followed the
words of this blessing and become happy in the Heavenly Kingdom of
God, God also would have felt much happiness.
How should God's three great blessings have been fulfilled? This could
have been possible only when the four position foundation, the basic
foundation of creation, had been fulfilled. God's purpose in creating
the universe was to feel happiness when He saw the purpose of goodness
fulfilled in the Heavenly Kingdom, in which the whole creation
including man could have established after completing the four
position foundation centered on God and fulfilling His three great
blessings.
Consequently, the purpose of the universe's existence centered on man
is to return joy to God, the Creator. Every being has a dual purpose.
As already explained, every existence has both character and
form; accordingly, its purpose is two-fold. One purpose pertains to
internal character and the other to external form. The relationship
between the two is exactly the same as that between character and form
in any individual being. The purpose pertaining to the internal
character is for the whole, while the purpose pertaining to the
external form is for the individual. In other words, the former and
the latter relate to each other as cause and effect, internal and
external, and subject and object. Therefore, there cannot be any
purpose of the individual apart from the purpose of the whole, nor any
purpose of the whole that does not include the purpose of the
individual. All the creatures in the entire universe form a vast
complex linked together by these dual purposes.
2. OBJECT OF GOODNESS FOR THE JOY OF GOD
In order to understand more precisely the questions concerning God's
purpose of creation, let us first examine how joy is produced. Joy is
not created by the individual alone. Joy comes when we have an object,
whether invisible or visible, in which our own character and form are
reflected and developed, thus enabling us to feel our own character
and form through the stimulation derived from the object.
For example, man feels joy as a creator only when he has an object;
that is, when he sees the product of his work, whether it be a
painting or sculpture, in which his plan is substantiated. In this
way, he is able to feel his own character and form objectively through
the stimulation derived from the product of his work. When the idea
itself remains in the objective position the stimulation derived from
it is not substantial; therefore, the joy derived from it cannot be
substantial either. God's joy is produced in the same manner as man's.
Therefore, God feels joy when He feels His original character and form
objectively through the stimulation derived from His substantial
object.
We have explained that, when the Kingdom of Heaven is realized through
the fulfillment of the three great blessings on the foundation of four
positions, the perfect object through which God can feel joy is
formed. Let us study how the perfect object for God's joy is formed.
God's first blessing to man was the perfection of his individuality.
In order to man to perfect his individuality, his mind and body, which
are the divided form of God's dual essentialities, must become united
through the give and take action between them. Thus they form an
individual four position foundation centered on God. The man whose
mind and body have formed a four position foundation of the original
God-centered nature becomes God's temple (I Cor. 3:16) and forms one
body with Him (John 14:20). This means that man attains deity. Feeling
exactly what God feels and knowing God's will, he would live as God
would want. A man with his individuality thus perfected would have
perfect give and take between his mind and body. In uniting together,
his mind and body would form a substantial object to God. In that
case, God becomes happy because He can feel His own character and form
objectively through the stimulation coming from such a substantial
object. Man's mind as subject feels the same way in relationship to
his body. Therefore, when man has realized God's first blessing, he
becomes a good object for the joy of God. A man with perfected
individuality feels all that God feels, as if God's feelings were his
own. Consequently, he cannot do anything which would cause God grief.
This means that such a man could never fall.
In order for man to realize God's second blessing, originally, Adam
and Eve, the divided substantial objects of God, after having
perfected their respective individualities and thus fully reflecting
God's dual essentialities, should have become husband and wife,
forming one unit. They should have multiplied through having children,
and established the four position foundation on a family
level centered on God. Any family or society in which such a four
position foundation centered on God is established would resemble a
man of perfected individuality. Thus, a family or a society becomes
the substantial object of man centered on God, and man and his object
together become the substantial object of God. God and man would then
be happy, for they would feel their own dual essentialities reflected
in such a family or society. When man has actualized the second
blessing, this also becomes a good object for God's joy.
Let us now learn why man becomes a good object for God's joy when he
has actualized God's third blessing. First, we must discuss the
relationship between man and the universe from the viewpoint of
"character and form".
Before creating man, God made all things in the image and likeness of
man's character and form. Therefore, man is the encapsulation of all
things.
God began His creation with animals of a lower order, then created
animals with a more complicated function; and finally He created man,
who has the highest function. Therefore, man contains the structure
elements and essential qualities of animals. For example, man's vocal
cords are so sophisticated that they are able to imitate the sounds of
all the animals. The human shape and line are the most delicate and
graceful, so that they often become a trying subject for student
artists to draw.
Men and plants are of different structures and functions, but are
similar in that they both consist of cells. Man contains the
structure, elements, and essential qualities of plants, also. For
example, a plant's leaf, seen from its function, corresponds to the
human lung. Just as a leaf absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, the
human lung absorbs oxygen. The trunk, stem, or branches of a plant
correspond to the human heart in supplying nutriments to the whole
body. The root of a plant corresponds to the stomach and
intestines of a man, which absorb nutriments. Further, the shape and
function of the xylem and the phloem of a plant correspond to that of
the human artery and vein.
Man is also composed of earth, water, and air; consequently, he also
contains mineral elements. The structure of the earth, too, is similar
to that of the human body. The earth's crust is covered with plants,
underground waterways exist in the substrata, and beneath all this
lies molten lava surrounded by rocks. This closely corresponds to the
structure of the human body: the skin is covered with hair, blood
vessels exist in the musculature, and still deeper lies the marrow
within the skeleton.
God's third blessing to man signifies man's qualification to dominate
the whole creation. In order for man to actualize this blessing, he
must first establish the four position foundation with the universe as
his object, centering on God. Then, with man as the visible object in
the image of God and the universe as the symbolic object in His
indirect image, man's love and the beauty of creation perform give and
take action to form one body in unity centering on God (cf. Part I,
Ch. 1, Sec. V, 2.3--56).
The universe is the object in which man's character and form are
manifested in substance. Therefore, man whose center is fixed upon
God, would feel immense joy when he objectively feels his own
character and form through all things as his substantial objects. In
like manner, God would enjoy utmost happiness by feeling His essential
character and form through the world of His creation, which consists
of man and all things in harmonious oneness. When man has thus
actualized God's third blessing, this also becomes an object of good
for God's joy. If God's purpose of creation had been actualized in
this way, an ideal world, in which no trace of sin could be found,
would have been established on this earth. We may call this world the
Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Man was created in the beginning
to live in the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. At the moment of his
physical death, he was to automatically transmigrate into the spirit
world where he could enjoy an eternal life in the spiritual Kingdom of
Heaven.
From all the facts explained thus far, we can understand that the
Kingdom of Heaven is the world resembling a man with his individuality
perfected in accordance with the essential characteristics and form of
God. Just as in man, where the mind's command is transmitted to the
whole body through the central nervous system, thus causing the body
to act toward one purpose, so in the Kingdom of Heaven, God's command
is conveyed to all His children through the True Parents, causing all
to work toward one purpose.
SECTION IV--ORIGINAL VALUE OF CREATION
1. DETERMINATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALUE OF CREATION AND THE STANDARD OF
VALUE
How can we determine the original value of things? The value of an
object, according to the common standard, is determined by the
reciprocal relationship between the purpose of the object and man's
desire for it. The original value of an individual body is not latent
in itself as an absolute. It is determined by the reciprocal
relationship between the purpose of the individual body (as a
particular kind of object centered on God's ideal of creation) and the
desire of man (as the subject) to pursue the original value of the
object. Accordingly, in order for an object to realize the original
value of its creation, it must unite with man through give
and take action, thus forming the original four position foundation by
becoming the third object to God.
Then what is the standard of original value? Original value is
determined when an object and a man, as subject, establish the four
position foundation centered on God. The standard of value is God, the
absolute being, because the center of the four position foundation is
God. Therefore, the original value of an object, which is decided
relative to the standard of God as the absolute reality, must be an
absolute one.
For example, how is the beauty of a flower determined? Its original
beauty is determined when God's purpose in creating the flower and
man's spontaneous desire to pursue the flower's beauty are in accord
with each other--when man's God-centered desire to find its beauty is
fulfilled by the emotional stimulation he receives from the flower.
This brings him perfect joy. In this way, the beauty of the flower
will become absolute when the joy which man feels from the flower is
perfectly centered upon the purpose of creation.
Man's desire to pursue the beauty of creation is the desire to feel
his own character and form objectively. When God's purpose of creating
the flower and man's desire to pursue its value are found to be in
accord, the subject and object form a state of harmonious oneness.
Therefore, in order for anything to possess original value, it must,
with man as the subject, establish the four position foundation by
becoming God's third object in a state of harmonious oneness centered
up Him. Then, the original value of all things, determined by their
relative relationship with God, is also absolute. Hitherto, the value
of an object has never been absolute but only relative, because the
give and take between the object and fallen man has not been centered
on God but on Satanic purpose and desire.
2. ORIGINAL INTELLECT, EMOTION AND WILL AND ORIGINAL TRUTH, BEAUTY AND
GOODNESS
The human mind has three basic functions, constantly in action:
intellect, emotion and will. Man's body acts in response to his mind's
command. From this, we may conclude that man's body responds to his
mind--and thus to his intellect, emotion and will. Therefore, man's
every act should be a pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness. God, who
is the subject of the human mind, is also the subject of human
intellect, emotion and will. When man responds with his mind to God's
original intellect, emotion and will, his body acts according to the
will of God. Therefore, man's conduct would display the values of
original truth, beauty and goodness.
3. LOVE AND BEAUTY, GOOD AND EVIL, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
(1) Love and Beauty
When the two substantial bodies which result from the division of
God's dual essentialities establish a four position foundation by
performing give and take action on a reciprocal base, emotional forces
work between the subject and object to unite them as the third object
to God. Love is an emotional force given by the subject to the object;
beauty is an emotional force returned to the subject by the object.
The power of love is active and the stimulation of beauty is passive.
In the relationship between God and man, God gives love as the
subject, while man returns beauty as the object. Between man and
woman, man is the subject, giving love while woman is the object,
returning beauty. In the universe as a whole, man is the subject, who
gives love to the rest of the creation, the object which responds in
beauty. However, when the subject and object become united,
there comes into being a love which is latent even in beauty and a
beauty latent even in love. This is because when the subject and
object unite in circular movement, the subject is able to stand in the
position of the object, and the object in that of the subject. Between
men, the beauty which a junior returns in response to the love of a
senior is called "loyalty"; the beauty which children return in
response to the love of their parents is called "filial piety"; the
beauty which a wife returns in response to the love of her husband is
called "virtue". The purpose of love and beauty is that the two
separate substances divided from God's dual essentialities may become
one through the action of give and take, thus establishing the four
position foundation, and, as God's third object, fulfilling their
purpose of creation.
Next, let us investigate the nature of God's love. The purpose of
God's creation of man will be fulfilled only when Adam and Eve, after
reaching perfection as the substantial objects of God's dual
essentialities, unite and bear children. Thus they experience the
three kinds of love which are given to their respective
objects--parental love (the first type of love given to the object),
conjugal love (the second type of love given to the object), and
children's love (the third type of love given to the object)--in order
to fulfill the three objective purposes and finally form the four
position foundation. In relationship to each of the three objective
loves in the four position foundation, God's love is subject.
Therefore, God's love is manifested in the three objective loves and
becomes the fundamental power for the establishment of the four
position foundation. The four position foundation is a perfect object
of beauty upon which we may receive and enjoy God's love perfectly; it
is also the fundamental foundation of goodness in which God's purpose
of creation may be fulfilled.
(2) Good and Evil
When a subject and an object fulfill the purpose of creation by
becoming one through the action of give and take, the action or its
result is called "good". When the subject and the object go against
God's purpose of creation by establishing the four position foundation
centered on Satan, such an action or its result is called "evil".
For example, when an individual fulfills God's first blessing to man
by uniting his mind and body through the give and take action of love
and beauty, and thus establishes the four position foundation of the
individual level, this individual or the actions which produce such an
individual are called "good". If Adam and Eve had become husband and
wife through the give and take action of love and beauty in the
respective positions of subject and object centered on God, and had
established the four position foundation on the family level with
their children, they would have created a family in which the purpose
of creation was fulfilled, thus realizing God's second blessing to
man. This family or the actions which establish such a family are
called "good". Further, when a man, having perfected his
individuality, places the creation in the objective position as his
second self and becomes one with it, he produces God's third object.
He then establishes the four position foundation under his control,
thus realizing God's third blessing to man. This state or the actions
to attain it are also called "good". On the other hand, when a man
fulfills a purpose contrary to God's three great blessings by
establishing the four position centered on Satan, this act or the
results of it are called "evil".
(3) Righteousness and Unrighteousness
In the course of fulfilling the purpose of goodness, the elements
which bring about a life of goodness are called "righteousness". In
the course of fulfilling the purpose of evil (Satan), the elements
which cause a life of evil are called "unrighteousness".
Thus, it is natural that we need to live a life of righteousness in
order to attain the purpose of goodness. This is why righteousness
always pursues the purpose of goodness.
SECTION V--THE PROCESS OF THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE PERIOD
OF GROWTH
1. THE PROCESS OF THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE
It is recorded in Chapter 1 of Genesis that the creation of the
universe commenced with the creation of light out of the chaos, void,
and darkness upon the face of the deep. God first created water and
then separated the waters which were under the firmament from the
waters which were above the firmament. Then He separated the waters
from the land. After having created the plants, fish, birds, and
mammals, He then created man. All this took a period of six days.
Through this, we can see that there was a six-day period involved in
the creation of the universe.
The process of creation as it is written in the Bible is in accord
with the evolutionary sequence of creation known to modern scientists.
In the beginning, the universe was in a gaseous state. Out of the
chaos and void of the anhydrous age, the heavenly bodies were formed.
After a spell of rainfall the world entered the aqueous age with a
firmament of water. Then, due to volcanic eruption, land appeared out
of the water, and was thus separated from the sea. Next, all the lower
plants and animals came into existence. Then came fish, fowl, mammals,
and finally man, in that order. Scientists calculate the age of the
earth to be some thousand million years. When we consider the fact
that the course of the creation of the universe described in the
Bible, which was written thousands of years ago, coincides with the
findings of scientific research, we are reassured that this record in
the Bible is an actual revelation from God.
The universe did not suddenly come into being without a lapse of time,
but it took considerable time for the generation of the universe to
take place. Therefore, the six days until the completion of the
creation of the universe are, in fact, not six days as calculated by
the repetition of sunrise and sunset, but an indication that there
were six periods in the course of creation.
2. THE PERIOD FOR THE GROWTH OF THE CREATION
The fact that it took six days--that is, six periods--to complete the
creation of the universe indicates that a certain amount of time is
necessary to complete the creation of any individual body in the
universe.
We read in Chapter 1 of Genesis the story of the creation of the
universe, in which each day's creation is described and each day is
designated by a number. By this, also, we can understand that a period
of time was necessary for the completion of each creation. The Bible
states that, after the creation on the first day, "there was evening
and there was morning, one day" (Gen.1:5). Somewhere in the period
from the evening, through the night, and until the next morning, the
second day should begin; but the Bible states "one day" or "the first
day", because any created being can realize the ideal of creation only
in the new morning, after its perfection through the night, which is
the period of growth.
Likewise, every phenomenon occurring in the universe brings about a
result only after the lapse of a time interval. This is because
everything made in the beginning was meant to be perfected through a
certain period of time.
(1) The Three Orderly Stages of the Growth Period
The universe is the representation of God's essential character and
form, substantially developed according to the principle of
mathematics. We may infer that God is, in fact, mathematical. God
is the absolute reality, the existing neutral center of the two
essentialities; therefore, He is the reality of the number "three".
Every created being, which is an image or symbolic likeness of God
(Gen.1:27), is created to go through the course of the number "three"
in its existence, movement and growth.
Accordingly, the four position foundation, which was God's purpose of
creation, was to be established through the course of three stages:
God, Adam and Eve, and children. In order to establish the four
position foundation and enter into circular movement, one must perform
the three-stage origin-division-union action, accomplishing the three
objective purposes, serving as object to three subjects and subject to
three objects. In order to stand in a stable position, a thing needs
at least three points to support it. Therefore, in order for any
creature to be perfected, it must grow to maturity through the three
orderly stages of "formation", "growth" and "perfection". The number
"three" appears throughout the natural world which consists of
minerals, plants and animals. For example: matter exists in three
forms--gaseous, liquid and solid; a plant consists basically of three
parts--root, trunk or stem, and leaf; an animal consists of head,
trunk and extremities.
Let us next draw examples from the Bible. Man, having fallen before
completing the three stages of the growth period, could not fulfill
the purpose of creation. Therefore, in order to attain this purpose,
he must first go through those three stages. In the providence of
restoration, God has worked to restore the number "three". As a
consequence, there are many records in the Bible of the providence
centered on the number "three": the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy
Spirit), the three stages in Paradise, the three archangels, (Lucifer,
Gabriel and Michael), the three decks of Noah's ark, the three flights
of the dove from the ark, Abraham's three offerings, the three days
before the offering of Isaac, the three days of calamity
during the period of Moses, the three-day period of separation from
Satan in preparation for the Exodus, the three forty-year periods of
restoration into Canaan, the three-day period of separation from Satan
centering on Joshua before crossing the Jordan, Jesus' thirty years of
private life and three years of public ministry, three wise men from
the East with their three gifts, three major disciples of Jesus, three
temptations of Jesus, the three prayers at Gethsemane, Peter's three
denials of Jesus, the three hours of darkness during the crucifixion,
and Jesus' resurrection after three days.
When did the first human ancestors fall? They fell during their growth
period, while they were still immature. If man had fallen after he had
achieved perfection, we could not believe in the omnipotence of God.
If man could fall after he had become a perfect embodiment of
goodness, then goodness itself would be imperfect. Accordingly, we
would have to reach the conclusion that God, the absolute subject of
goodness, is also imperfect.
In Genesis 2:17, God warned Adam and Eve that in the day that they ate
the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would
surely die. From the fact that they had two choices, either to
continue to live by obeying God's warning or accepting the way of
death by going against it, we can imagine that they were still in an
immature state. All things were created to reach perfection after they
had grown through the three stages. Man could not have been created
apart from this principle.
In which of the stages of growth did man fall? We can see that he fell
at the final level of the growth stage. This can be logically proven
by examining the various situations surrounding the fall of the first
human ancestors, and by the details of the history of the providence
of restoration. This will be further clarified by studying the first
and second parts of this book thoroughly.
(2) Indirect dominion
During the period of growth, each being in creation grows autonomously
by the power of the Divine Principle. Therefore, God, as the author of
the Principle, relates to the creation indirectly, dealing directly
only with those results of its growth which are in accordance with the
Principle. Therefore, we call this period God's "indirect dominion" or
His "dominion over the result in the Principle".
All things reach their perfection through the dominion and autonomy of
the Principle itself, by going through the period of growth (indirect
dominion). However, man is created to attain his perfection not only
through the dominion and autonomy of the Principle itself, but also by
accomplishing his own portion of responsibility in passing through
this period. That is, when we study God's Word, which says, "...in the
day you eat of it you shall die." (Gen. 2:17), we can understand that
man's fall was his own fault and not God's. The first human ancestors
were to become perfect by believing in the divine Word and not eating
of the fruit. However, in their disbelief, they ate of it, thus
causing the fall. In other words, the perfection or non-perfection of
man depended not only on God's power of creation but also upon man's
response. Therefore, man was created to reach his perfection by
passing through the period of growth (indirect dominion),
accomplishing his portion of responsibility, while God would fulfill
His part as the Creator.
God created man so that man could reach his perfection only by
accomplishing his portion of responsibility. God does not interfere
with man in this regard. Man should inherit God's creatorship and
participate in His work of creation. Thus, man may also enjoy the
authority of a master, enabling him to rule all things from the
position of the creator, just as God, man's Creator, has dominion over
man (Gen. 1:28). This is the difference between man and the rest of
creation. Thus, man reaches perfection only after having
acquired the ability to rule the rest of creation, including the
angels. He accomplishes this by going through the period of indirect
dominion, fulfilling his own portion of responsibility, and inheriting
God's creatorship. Therefore, man, who lost his qualification as the
ruler because of the fall, can never fulfill the purpose of creation
unless he goes through the indirect dominion. Thus, he may restore his
dominion over all things, including Satan, by accomplishing his
portion of responsibility in accordance with the principle of
restoration. God's providence of salvation has been prolonged for so
long because the central figures in His providence of restoration have
repeatedly failed to accomplish their portions of responsibility, with
which even God cannot interfere.
However great the grace of salvation through the cross of Christ may
be, the providence of salvation calling at man's door will be
nullified unless man himself has faith, which is his own portion of
responsibility. God granted the benefit of resurrection through the
crucifixion of Jesus, as His portion of responsibility, but it remains
man's responsibility to believe (John 3:16, Eph. 2:8, Rom. 5:1).
(3) Direct dominion
What is God's "direct dominion" and what is its purpose? Man enters
the direct dominion of God when husband and wife fulfill the purpose
of goodness through the perfect give and take action of love and
beauty between them according to the will of the subject, in perfect
oneness with God's heart, having established the four position
foundation by becoming one united body. Therefore, direct dominion is
the realm of perfection. We are destined to bring into being this
direct dominion of God because it must exist in order for the purpose
of creation to be fulfilled. What significance does the direct
dominion of God have for man?
If Adam and Eve had perfected themselves, centering on God, becoming
one united body to form the four position foundation on the family
level, and then had lived a life of goodness in perfect oneness with
the divine heart, we would call this state the "direct dominion of
God". A man in such a state can put into practice the will of God by
understanding it and by experiencing God's heart, which underlies it.
Just as each section or nerve of the body is set into action by the
command of the human mind, which is invisible, man would act out the
will of God in obedience to His command, thus fulfilling the purpose
of creation.
Next, let us discuss how man assumes direct dominion over all things.
When perfected man as subject, and the physical world, as his object,
become one united body centered on God and establish the four position
foundation and when man thus fulfills the purpose of goodness through
the perfect give and take action of love and beauty with the physical
world according to his will, in perfect oneness with God's heart, man
attains direct dominion over all things.
SECTION VI--THE INVISIBLE SUBSTANTIAL WORLD AND THE VISIBLE
SUBSTANTIAL WORLD CENTERING ON MAN
1. THE INVISIBLE SUBSTANTIAL WORLD AND THE VISIBLE SUBSTANTIAL WORLD
Since the universe was created after the model of man, who is in the
image and likeness of God's dual essentialities, every existence,
without exception, takes after man's basic form, which consists of
mind and body (cf. Part I, Ch. 1, Sec. I--20). Thus, in the universe
there exists not only the visible substantial world, which
resembles the human body, but also the invisible substantial world,
which is modeled after the human mind. We call the latter the
invisible substantial world, because we cannot perceive it with our
five physical senses; however, we can perceive it with our five
spiritual senses. The invisible world, like the visible world, is a
world of reality. It is actually felt and perceived, through the five
spiritual senses. The two substantial worlds together are called the
"macrocosm".
Just as the body cannot act without a relationship with the mind, the
original man of creation cannot act without a relationship with God.
The visible world cannot enjoy its original value of creation without
relating to the invisible world. In the same manner that we cannot
understand a man's behavior without knowing his mind, we cannot really
know the fundamental significance of human life without knowing God.
Without understanding the invisible world, we cannot perfectly know
the visible world. Thus, the invisible world is the subjective world;
the visible world is the objective world, the latter operating like a
shadow of the former (Heb. 8:5). Man, upon his death, after his life
in the visible world, goes to the invisible world in a spiritual body,
having taken off his "clothes of flesh" (Job 10:11), and lives there
forever.
2. POSITION OF MAN IN THE UNIVERSE
First, God created man to be the ruler of the universe (Gen. 1:28).
The universe, except man, does not have internal sensibility to God.
That is why God does not dominate the world directly; but by creating
man to have complete sensibility to the universe, God lets him rule
the universe directly. In creating man, God created his flesh with
ingredients from the water, earth, and air, which are the main
elements of the visible world. God did this to enable man to be
sensible to and to have dominion over this world. He created the
spirit man with spiritual elements to enable him to be sensible and
have dominion over the invisible world. On the Mount of
Transfiguration, Moses, who had died nearly 1600 years before, and
Elijah, who had died nearly 900 years before, appeared to Jesus (Matt.
17:3). These were actually the spirits of Moses and Elijah. Only man,
who consists of both flesh and spirit, which enable him to dominate
the visible and invisible worlds, can rule the two worlds.
Second, God created man to be the mediator and the center of harmony
of the universe. When man's flesh and spirit, by becoming one through
their give and take action, stand as the substantial object of God,
the visible and invisible worlds also become the object of God by
uniting through give and take action centered on man. Thus, man is the
mediator and center of harmony between the two worlds. Therefore, man
is like the air which enables a tuning fork to resound. Since man is
created to communicate with the invisible world, he is meant to
reflect everything happening in the world of spirit.
Third, God created man as the substantial microcosm of the whole. God
first created the universe by developing, in substance, man's
character and form. Thus, the spirit man is the substantial
encapsulation of the invisible world, since God created the invisible
world as the substantial development of the character and form of the
spirit man. Likewise, the physical man is the substantial
encapsulation of the visible world, since God created the visible
world as the substantial development of the character and form of the
physical man. Consequently, man is a microcosm, the encapsulation of
the whole macrocosm.
Because of the fall of man, however, the whole creation lost its
ruler. We read in Romans 8:19 that the creation waits in eager longing
for the revealing of the sons of God (restored men of the original
nature). Romans 8:22 continues with, "the whole creation has been
groaning in travail together". This is because the give and take
action between the visible and invisible worlds has been cut off due
to the fall of man, rendering them unable to unite, since man
was to be their mediator and center of harmony.
Jesus came as a perfect man in flesh and spirit. Therefore he was the
substantial microcosm of the whole. That is why the Bible says that
God has put all things in subjection under the feet of Christ (I Cor.
15:27). Jesus is our savior. He came to the world in order to perfect
fallen men by striving to have them unite with him.
3. THE RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL MAN AND THE SPIRIT
MAN
(1) The Structure and Function of the Physical Man
The physical man consists of the dual essentialities, flesh mind
(subject) and flesh body (object). The flesh mind enables the flesh
body to multiply and provide protection. The instinct of an animal
corresponds to the flesh mind. In order for the physical man to grow
in good health, it must absorb air and light, which are invisible
nourishment of a positive nature, while also taking in material
elements, which are visible nourishment of a negative nature. All
these must perform a perfect action of give and take through the
circulation of blood.
The goodness or evil in the conduct of the physical man influences his
spirit man to become either good or evil. This is because the physical
man provides a certain element to the spirit man, which we call the
"vitality element". In our everyday life, we know that our mind
rejoices when our body performs a good deed, but feels anxiety after
evil conduct. This is because the vitality element, which can be good
or evil according to the deed of man, is infused into our spirit man.
(2) The Structure and Function of the Spirit Man
The spirit man, which exists as an invisible substantial being, was
created to be the subject to the physical man and to be felt and
perceived through our spiritual senses. Through the spirit
man we can communicate directly with God and have dominion over the
invisible world, including the angels. Our spirit man is identical in
appearance to our physical man, and it lives for eternity in the
invisible world after leaving the physical body. Man desires to live
forever because he has within himself a spirit man, which has an
eternal nature.
The spirit man consists of the dual essentialities of spirit mind
(subject) and spirit body (object). The spirit mind is the spirit
man's central part, where God may abide. Our spirit man grows through
the give and take action between the "life element" (positive) coming
from God, and the "vitality element" (negative) coming from the
physical man. The spirit man not only receives the vitality element
from the physical man but also sends a certain element in return which
we call the "living spirit element". We have seen that a man,
influenced by another higher spirit, could feel infinite joy and new
strength swelling up in him, even making it possible to heal a chronic
disease. Such instances occur because the physical man receives the
living spirit element from the spirit man. Further, the spirit man can
grow only in the soil of the physical man. Therefore, the relationship
between the spirit man and the physical man is like that between fruit
and tree. When the physical mind responds to desires of the spirit
mind, the physical man acts in accordance with the purpose of the
spirit mind. Then the physical man receives the living spirit element
from the spirit man. This brings good feelings and energy to the
spirit man. Accordingly, the physical man, when it returns a wholesome
vitality element to the spirit man, influence it to grow normally, in
the direction of goodness.
The truth teaches us what it is that our spirit mind desires. When man
comes to understand, through the truth, what our spirit mind desires,
and why by putting it into practice he accomplishes his portion of
responsibility, then the living spirit element and the vitality
element enter into give and take action for the purpose of
goodness. The relationship between the living spirit element and the
vitality element corresponds to the relationship between character and
form. Because the living spirit element is always at work in every
individual, the original mind always inclines toward goodness, even in
an evil person. However, unless a man leads a good life, the living
spirit element cannot provide anything for the betterment of the
physical man. Also, it cannot enjoy normal give and take action with
the vitality element. Likewise, our spirit man can be perfected only
through our physical life on earth.
Our spirit man should perfect itself by gradually growing through the
three orderly stages in conjunction with our physical man, centering
on the spirit mind, in accordance with the principle of creation. A
spirit man which is in the formation stage is called a "form spirit",
in the growth stage, a "life spirit", and in the perfection stage, a
"divine spirit".
When our spirit man and our physical man establish the four position
foundation by performing perfect give and take action centering on
God, thus forming a united body, the spirit man becomes a divine
spirit. At this level, the spirit man can feel and perceive everything
in the invisible world. Since all the spiritual phenomena thus
perceived by the spirit man are reflected and echoed in the physical
man, presenting themselves as physical phenomena, man finally comes to
feel spiritual phenomena even with his five physical senses. The
Kingdom of God in heaven is the place where spirits go to live forever
after leaving their physical bodies, when they have ended their
physical life in the Kingdom of God on earth. The Kingdom of God in
heaven can be realized only after the realization of the Kingdom of
God on earth.
The sensibility of our spirit man is to be cultivated through its
reciprocal relationship with our physical man during physical life on
earth. Therefore, man should be perfected and experience
God's perfect love on earth in order for his spirit man to experience
God's perfect love in the invisible substantial world after his
physical death. Thus, the character and qualities of the spirit man
are formed during our earthly life. The aggravation of evil in the
spirit of a fallen man is due to his sinful conduct during his earthly
life. Likewise, the betterment of a fallen spirit man comes about only
through the redemption of his sin during his physical life on earth.
This was the reason Jesus came to earth in the flesh to save sinful
mankind. Thus, we must lead a good life on earth. Jesus gave the keys
to the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter (Matt. 16:19), and said that
whatever is bound on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever is
loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 18:18), because the
primary purpose of the providence of salvation must first be realized
on the earth.
The destination of the spirit man is decided by the spirit man
himself, not by God. Originally, man was made so that after his
perfection, he could breathe God's love perfectly. If a spirit man is
unable to breathe this love perfectly, because of his sinful conduct,
he feels pain when standing before God, who is the subject of perfect
love. Consequently, such a spirit would automatically go to hell,
which is the state farthest removed from the love of God. In addition,
the multiplication of spirit men occurs at the same time as the
multiplication of physical men through man's physical life, because
the spirit man was created to grow only in the soil of the physical
man.
(3) The Human Mind Seen from the Relationship between Spirit Mind and
Physical Mind
The relationship between spirit mind and physical mind is like that
between character and form. When these two become one through give and
take action centered on God, the spirit man and the physical man
naturally become one harmonious unit. The give and take
action between the spirit mind and the physical mind produces a united
body, the human mind, which directs the individual toward the
accomplishment of the purpose of creation. Man became ignorant of God
because of the fall. Thus, he became ignorant of the absolute standard
of goodness. But, according to the original nature of creation, the
human mind always directs man toward what it thinks is good. This
directing power is called human conscience. However, fallen man, being
ignorant of the absolute standard of goodness, cannot set up the
absolute standard of conscience. As the standard of goodness varies,
so does the standard of conscience, and this causes frequent
contention even among those who advocate a conscientious life. The
part of the human mind which corresponds to character and always
directs man toward the absolute standard of goodness is called the
"original mind", and that which corresponds to form is called the
"conscience".
Therefore, when man, due to ignorance, sets up a standard of goodness
different from that of the original nature of creation, the human
conscience directs toward that standard; however, the original mind
rejects it and tries to turn the direction of conscience toward the
standard of the original mind. When the spirit mind and the physical
mind which are under the bondage of Satan become one unit through the
action of give and take, man's development in the direction of evil is
accelerated. We call this unit the "evil mind".
The original mind and conscience of man repel this evil mind and
direct man toward goodness by helping him to separate himself from
Satan and to face God.
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