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189 Selections from Master Haewŏl’s Discussion on the Teachings Section 2: Heaven and Earth Are Parents Heaven and earth are parents.1 Parents are heaven and earth. Heaven, earth, and parents are one body. The pregnancy of parents is the pregnancy of heaven and earth. Nowadays, people only know the principle of the pregnancy of parents, and they do not know the principle and life force of the pregnancy of heaven and earth. Heaven covers and earth carries; if it is not morality, what else might it be? The sun and the moon shine; if it is not grace, what else might it be? All beings are transformed and born; if it is not the transformation of principle and life force of heaven and earth, what else might it be? Heaven and earth are the parents of all beings. Therefore, the scripture says, “That which is the Lord deserves their respect and behaves as our parents.” It is also said, “If you examine the past and present, then it all deals with human affairs.” “That which deserves their respect and behaves as our parents” are the affairs that the ancient sages did not develop . Great Master Suun was the founder of the Great Way. If not for his attainment of virtue, who could perceive this? As for not recognizing the principle that heaven and earth are actually parents of all beings, fifty thousand years have passed. If nobody knows the parents of heaven and earth, then how can billions of people be filial to their parents and piously worship heaven and earth? To be constantly aware of serving heaven, earth, and parents is like reaching the edge of an abyss or walking on thin ice. So to be respectful and filial with ultimate sincerity is the basis of people as children. If sons and daughters do not respect their parents, parents become angry, and they punish their children, whom they love extremely. Be vigilant and cautious of this. 190 Translations As for the principle of serving our parents, how can we wait for other people’s words and forcibly act? This is all because great fortune [taeun] is not illuminated, and people’s diligence is not fully exerted. I really lament this. People are the refined life force of the five elements. Grain is the original life force of the five elements. Breast milk is the grain of people’s bodies . Grain is the breast milk of heaven and earth. The pregnancy of parents is the pregnancy of heaven and earth. When people are in infancy, they suckle their mother’s breast milk that is the very breast milk of heaven and earth. When they grow up, they consume the five grains that is the breast milk of heaven and earth. If it is not the mother’s breast milk for little infants to feed, what else might it be? If it is not the grain of heaven and earth for adults to consume, what else might it be? Breast milk and grain are the good blessing [nok] of heaven and earth. If people come to understand the good blessing of heaven and earth, then they must also know the principle of informing [heaven and earth] when eating. If they come to understand the breast milk of their mothers, then they must also feel filial piety. Informing [heaven and earth] when eating and rewarding deep affection is the principle of showing filial piety . When in front of food, you must inform heaven and earth. This is the foundation of being constantly aware of their grace. Not only do people need to get dressed and eat food, the sun also dresses in clothes, and the moon also eats food. People do not part from heaven, and heaven does not part from people . Consequently, one inhalation and exhalation, one movement and motionlessness , and one food and clothes of a person all pivot around each other. Heaven relies on people, and people rely on food. To discern everything , you need to know [i.e., eat] a bowl of food. People rely on food to grow into a perfect state, and heaven relies on people to materialize their transformations. The inhalation and exhalation , movement and motionlessness, flexing and stretching, and dressing and eating of people all are the efforts of God’s transformations as well as the pivots of interaction between God and people. In an instant, can these not depart? Section 7: On Treating People and Meeting Things2 People are heaven...

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