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Translated by Sungrak Mission Center

355-356 Shingil 3-Dong, Youndeungpo-Gu, Seoul 150-849, Korea Tel: 82-2-831-3851 Fax: 82-2-831-3854

* Senior Overseer of Sungrak Church * Chairman of Berea Academy Educational Foundation * Founder of Berea International Theological Seminary

All Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are from the New King James Version (1982).

PREFACE A testament to my works, my life’s experiences have been placed into the writing of hundreds of books, and I am compelled to continue until the strength in my hands fade. It is my mission; it is my calling and thus, I endlessly draw up all that I have within the deepest corners of my heart, to create the sway of manuscript.

I was born into the poverty of my family. Many times in my youth, I was exposed to occasions of starvation, and never have I scented the rush of sensation that comes from buying and wearing new clothes. Instead, I typically wore clothes handed down to me from the upper line of family, or those that had been disposed of by cousins and nearby neighbors. I often tailored ragged clothing to fit the emaciated figure I happened to be, such that my teacher of seventy years ago was able to recognize me by what I wore.

School was always beyond me. In saying that, entering school at the right time was but a broken dream. Whilst others were busily rushing through school, I labored as a hired hand at a neighbor’s house, at the debt of a bag of barley rice my family had previously borrowed to eat. Along with having become the janitor of a small company, I had worked a total of seven years at the lowest possible position of social order, before later becoming the founder of a university of which, I became the chancellor. I have now arrived at an old age, and should most probably resign from some of the involvements I have within the world. Nevertheless, I hope to continue writing for the remaining years to come, as I have done thus far.

In the processes of preparing this book, I came to realize how it may stand out as a contrast to the current ideals and cultures of

the modern day world. However, I have held onto my courage in releasing it, for I pride in strongly believing that this book contains great integrity and deep considerations for textual soundness.

Though my writings may display the poor qualities of a lack of education, I have progressed from professional to literary writings, producing hundreds of books. Whether as an essayist or a poet, I have written all texts based on past experiences of the works I have performed; indeed, there are no fictional novels amongst any of my writings and thus, each stroke of ink has been fueled by my character, honor and soul. Therefore, of all the hundreds of books I have published, I would like to confirm from the standpoint of an essayist and a believer of the Christian faith, that each represent true encounters I had over my life.

The idea of this book is built upon the image of a tree – as fruits develop with respect to the presence of the roots, trunk and branches of a tree, I, too, hope to produce this book as the result of how I have lived my life, for which my experiences are the roots of my writing, that the audience may not simply enjoy a good read, but rather, be moved by a surge of energy that rises from within them. With great patience and the continual remembrance of my calling, I have written each letter with care and thus, I eagerly hope the readers will take the time to read this book with the same endurance and will of the writer. Though writing often feels like the first step of a long journey, through it, I intend to share the hope of this small conqueror to the vastness of this world.

I am a Christian; however, I did not write this book with the sole intention of sharing the Gospel. Rather, I believe it applies more to the encouragement of human advancement and growth from an anthropological standpoint. Having recognized the reason and logic of this study, I have lived many years of my life carefully manipulating the words from my mouth and these that I write. He

who humbly observes and reflects on these teachings will surely acquire much, whilst on the other hand, those who choose to neglect its instruction will, in turn, lose grip of a great opportunity.

As the writer, I truly anticipate and encourage the readers to be enlightened of the path ahead, for which I hope to be joined – it may seem long and heart-wrenching; however, for I have begun my journey, I must press onward. Thus, when I look between my writing and the image of readers being drawn, a warm excitement grows within as I embark on a connection as dynamic as the flow of words that run through this book.

I am often so immersed into my writing that I lose track of time. I would be alarmed to see the sun already setting over the horizon of my window, when I am still yet to finish my book. Thus, I take the humble heart of a farmer, as he collects the fallen ears of grains scattered over the rice paddy, and patiently endure through each stroke of pen, for each letter will merge to form words and ultimately, a message to relay. Given this, I truly thank God for allowing me the courage to write, and furthermore, I sincerely give thanks to all the readers of this book.

There is no such thing as luck. The world has been blinded by its fabricated truth, and it will continue to propagate into the depths of time. Those who fail to deviate from this trail of thought ultimately become like the gathering of autumn leaves by the roots of a tree, waiting to be carried by the suppleness of wind. Indeed, I cannot sit by and watch this scene. Many times have my achievements been perceived by the people around me to be driven by the fortunes of luck. Nevertheless, my faith and commitment to the truth is not shaken by their comments, for I simply regard them as words of flattery.

I have never seen miracles arise from the fortunes of luck

throughout the length of my life; instead, I have applied all my strength in aiming to live a life of fulfilling the work of God. God alone possesses the power to reap from fields He has not sown and to gather where He has not plowed. Therefore, as for me, I have remained loyal and committed solely to the work I started, for which I continue to strive for. There has been no vacation, no Sabbath year; indeed, without rest, I have lived every day and every moment of my life for His given purpose for which, I certainly I have no regrets. Indeed, I can only give thanks.

June 2013 Ki Dong Kim

Table of Contents

1. Man is not an Animal 2. A Rock Must First be Refined for It to Become a Jewel 3. The Limitation of Man 4. What Parents Can Do for Their Children 5. Vitality Found in a Mustard Seed 6. To Learn than to Steal 7. Where There is a Will, There is a Future 8. Study with Purpose 9. Discover the Cause of Your Problems 10. Do not Give Yourself Rest 11. How do You See the World?

12. Do not Place Your Hopes on Luck 13. Impartations Greater than Dust 14. Live the Nine-Step Life 15. Trading Inferiority for New Strengths 16. Pride, the Self-Abandonment Disorder 17. Education Fuels the Expansion of One’s Mind 18. Enter the Work of Your Mind 19. Strive for the Success of Your Work, Not Money 20. Problems and Solutions Alike are Found in Me Alone 21. Ideologies are but Deluding Remedies

22. Be Far from Sin, for Holiness and Purity are the Passage to Wisdom 23. Adopt the Tortoise Philosophy 24. Fill Yourself Through and Through 25. My Child, in You We Grow Together 26. Knowing Yourself is the Beginning of All Wisdom 27. Faith is a Plus 28. Seek God; Knock and Ask of Him Closure

Man is not an Animal

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Animals are often loved by people as house pets because they are considered to be cute. These pets recognize their owners’ voice and smell; they also seem to understand and follow their owners’ hearts. However, animals are merely animals. Unlike man, they cannot express joy, anger, sorrow or pleasure. Indeed, they simply possess two glaring eyes which we believe to be a representation of their moods. On the other hand, emotions are clearly reflected on a man’s face and in this way, man alone possesses the capacity to reveal his inner self to others.

The two alike, grow inside a mother’s womb and meet the world upon birth. In the case of animals, a mother’s instinctive care is paramount in protecting the survival and growth of its helpless young. This applies to man all the more. For example, as soon as a calf is born, it must be able to walk within the first five minutes in order to function properly. However, this is not possible for man regardless of whether he is the son of a king or a commoner.

Irrespective of the parents’ intellect, a man cannot be born with a mind any more complex than the nakedness he reveals upon birth.

The moment a newborn breathes, he begins a new breath of life that cannot be regressed. Even with healthy limbs, the newborn baby is powerless, unknowing and empty-handed. Just like that, a frightening and mundane path begins for this baby, a journey so distant and relentless.

I do not believe in the essence of fate and hence, do not put any weight on its determinations. According to a certain fatalist, a child’s destiny is shaped as an innate outcome of the societal group they are born into, which in essence, only serves to identify that one was born as a human being and not an animal. In other words, fatalism, palm reading, and determinism offer but a moment of comfort. The only factor we can somewhat call destiny, is the place in which we are born. Other than this, we must recognize that

1. Man is not an Animal 13

from the moment a person is born, they gaze into the same distant sky, lose themselves in the same shifting clouds and are fanned by the same breeze as everyone else. Equally, they receive the same beads of seasonal rain and pre-occupy the same resources as the people around them. In this way, everyone starts their journey empty-handed, without the construing of their future “destinies”.

As they grow vibrantly under the parents’ care and provision, human characteristics begin to form and emerge, ranging from emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure to the ability to create physical movements. For example, when a baby lying in bed turns his body unaccompanied, waves of emotion overwhelm the entire family as they cry out in disbelief, “How can a newborn baby turn his body over with his own strength?” At that very moment, a joyful celebration and applause resounds from within the family – it is the fruit of a child’s growth.

Following these intriguing events is the child’s succeeding phase of development, where he transitions on to his feet. The sight becomes the joy of the entire family and the good news to share with the neighbors in town. The fact that a baby, born from a coagulation of blood, can now walk is an astoundingly touching moment, so much so that it is the point in time typically coined as the beginning of one’s life. From this time on, we witness the child’s stumbling first steps become a confident tread and eventually a storming sprint through the applause and encouragement of the family. Also, by this time the child’s intellect begins to develop. They start to understand words and grasp the ability to outwardly express their desires. The awareness of their ownership ripens and thus, they learn to also express jealousy and greed. The joy of the family magnifies as they witness the growth of their baby.

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In Korean culture, the parents hold a large ceremonial party for their child’s first birthday, in which they traditionally place a brush pen, a sum of money and a thread on the birthday table before the child. If the child reaches out for the brush pen first, people would claim, “This child will succeed in life as an intellectual person”. For grabbing money, people would say, “He will become wealthy”. Otherwise, if he grabs the thread, it would be declared, “The child’s lifespan will be as long as a thread”.

Resultantly, people are given a weightless anticipation for which they rejoice, as they applaud over the child’s behavior, which then becomes the talk of the town. This belief is clearly a myth, but it shows the parents’ desire for the child’s success in all areas of life.

It has become a longstanding tradition for people to place predetermined expectations on the child and to compare it with how they ultimately appear. This traditional event serves to highlight everyone’s hopes and expectations for the child to grow properly and finally become a great figure.

In this way, the baby’s growth depicts as definite contrast between an animal and man and thus, we can confidently claim that man is not an animal. This realization stems from the divine secret of our potential to enlarge the horizon of our minds, that is, through the education we receive. As a healthy tree develops towering branches with the enriching cascade of the sun, education cultivates man in a similar way. This type of education is prevalent when a scholastic environment and teacher intimately surround and connect with the child. In other words, education is an imperative aspect of a child’s life, and that is why parents are the leading illustrations of this responsibility.

In recognizing the influence of parents on children, we can see that the language and conduct upheld by parents is directly related to a child’s growth. For instance, an adult’s use of coarse

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language and unstable fluctuations in the intonations of their voice pose great impact on a child’s capacity to learn. Therefore, within a family that raises young children, it is highly recommended that parents do not yell loudly or express sudden changes in emotions as they argue with one another. Even in the event that an emotional argument sparks between two people, they must refrain from creating uncomfortable circumstances and instead, promote an amiable environment for the children.

As already mentioned, man is not an animal. Man is the embodiment of a natural instinct to advance, given his inherently inquisitive mind, suggesting that he has the capacity to seek answers for intriguing events and existences. He wonders as to whether the things he is capable of seeing is in fact reality, the very ways of life, which, in turn, ultimately become knowledge. Similarly, sounds heard by the child become his instruction. Such mysterious sounds develop to become impulsive discernments that potentially resonate throughout the child’s entire life. This notion of learning therefore emphasizes the importance of familial upbringing before public education and how it pertains to a child’s love for their parents, commonly known as filial piety.

Filial piety (Hyo Do in Korean, two letters derived from Chinese) can only be birthed through familial upbringing and is an attribute that can never be learned in school. The philosophy of filial piety can be seen in the Chinese letter, 孝, Hyo. This letter is etymologically a combination of two Chinese characters, 耂 (meaning respect for an elder) and子(which refers to a father-son relationship). I believe it denotes that a child who learns from an elder will simultaneously develop true filial love. Unfortunately, family upbringing is mostly absent in this day and age, such that many parents typically send their children to day care centers where they simply follow the center’s unilaterally designated ideals. This is

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why we see the absence of morality and a sense of values within the children of modern society.

Therefore, man must recognize the absolute value and hence the need for children to undergo familial upbringing until they are at the stage of entering into school. During this crucial process, they form a deep affection and relationship with their parents whilst becoming familiarized with the respective traditions and languages of their family or background. This stage in life becomes the priceless foundation and root of every man, settling as the absolute element that dictates what type of person they will become. Without filial piety (孝 Hyo), a man cannot serve nor achieve any great accomplishments for his family, let alone, his nation. So much so, that the most historically prominent individuals were regarded to have been driven by their upbringing and discipline. Thus, modern parents must recognize the significance of this form of nurturing in order to raise their children as humans and not mere animals.

There is no greater teacher than a mother, for her tenderness and genuine heart cannot be paralleled. She can be, at times, a language teacher or an educator and yet, equally be a guide who illuminates the mysteries of one’s values and morals, those of which contain the ideologies of patience and the preciousness of life. She teaches her child great wisdom with the hope of protecting his vigor and heart from the many pangs of life. She sincerely encourages her child with an embracing peace, supporting the healthy growth of his mind and body. Just as a house must first establish a strong foundation before its construction, early upbringing edifies and consolidates the fundamental principles that will stabilize the child’s life. In support of this, there is a widely known Korean saying that, “habits learned at the age of three will be relayed on to the age of eighty”, which is equivalent to the

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English saying, “what is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb”. The two statements clearly justify the significance of a toddler’s upbringing before the next stage of their development.

Up until this age, the child is yet to recognize the motions of the world, given his unrefined innocence. As of this point, a child’s growth will be shaped and molded by the things observed. For example, the chances of a flower or vegetable being produced by a seedling are based on how well its roots are anchored into the earth.

This is the case of child growth as well.

Parents must keep in mind that they have full responsibility of their children until they begin attending school and thus, it is not appropriate to invest large sums for education fees with the hopes of sending their children to a day care center or kindergarten during their early stages. Without a doubt, it is within the parents’ scope of responsibility to raise their children either to become an animal or a human being. In light of this, we can see that maternal instincts as a primary factor in raising children appropriately, is a divine blessing endowed by the Creator. As adequately known, the only person with the capacity to fulfill this natural influence is the mother alone, for she possesses an inexpressible form of love.

Though she may lack education, she holds the natural ability to nurture her child purely as a result of her maternal instincts. In this way, she develops the dreams and visions of her child’s graceful future, those of which she hopes to share with her child as he grows.

Amidst her teachings, it is also crucial for the mother to help her child understand his environmental surroundings. Upon realizing that there are indeed many other people living in the world, children should be taught of the equally distributed responsibility to connect with one another. The capacity to live with their siblings and family will soon expand over the encounters

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with the world, which in turn, will enlarge their hearts in the characteristics of love and patience. Furthermore, children should grasp the knowledgeable value of the tools used at home, the structure of the home and the characteristics of nearby horticulture and agriculture. Such teachings in consistent exposure to the environment would most certainly become transcendental wisdom and understanding for them, which should be grasped before entering into school.

On a side note, foods that a child would have tasted as a newborn baby will remain in him a powerful memory. As it is, piglets have the tendency to recall and hence feed from only the first teat it nursed from. Without feeding on any other teat, this piglet will remain influenced by this natural instinct throughout the whole of its developmental stage. Man develops in the same way.

Parents must train and protect the child’s taste buds before the age of three, in order him to become accustomed to healthy appetites and hence, eat nutritiously throughout his lifetime.

Additionally, it is also suggested that parents refrain from asking questions regarding which parent children like more, as this encourages them to separate the two, ultimately damaging their perception of parental influence. Children must learn to highly respect their parents equally and thus, they should not be exposed to languages that cause alienation towards either parent. Similarly in history, a king thoroughly educated and taught his prince with great instruction, as he was the heir to succeed the kingdom. Even in modern society, this is the familial upbringing that raises a child to become a nobleman in society. Furthermore, parents should thoroughly educate their children about the heart of independence and embracing the responsibility of a family, so as to expand their mind and bestow such power. In this way, children must grow by the necessary upbringing of their early stages, until they become

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adults.

As children mature and develop their rationale, they will begin to discover their identity and place in the world. Through their many experiences, they will undergo stages of self-actualization and of apprehending the notions of their outer self and the attributes they possess as a man. At this stage in life, children would begin to feel embarrassment as well as regret. Thus, it is not entirely advisable to raise children without forms of discipline, such as, spanking. However, this must not be misinterpreted as slapping their children or striking their head, as this is an extremely inappropriate behavior. This is an act that may potentially remain within the child as an abusive memory, that is, a painfully resonating inferiority. Rather, it is enough to discipline children by striking their calves with a thin wooden stick, as it is a disciplinary action proven not to become a traumatic experience that will affect a child’s future. If you do not want to raise your child like an animal, the mother’s wooden stick discipline method is recommended.

Throughout this chapter, I have clarified that animals born from their mother will forever remain as animals, despite their growth. On the contrary, as man grows, he develops superior abilities that no other existences can achieve: reflecting on profound philosophies, self-improvement and the active drive to fulfill dreams. Through it all, man ultimately becomes a great individual. Thus, parents must not abandon the responsibilities of raising their children as human beings. That is, they must persistently demonstrate the characteristics of man to their children.

In our society, man governs nature, raises livestock and domesticates animals. Man learns the difference between attributes of animals and the characteristics of man. Through such

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experiences, he understands the world. For example, raising livestock is not solely for consumption purposes, but is also instrumental in developing children’s characteristics and personalities. In this way, children must become aware of their nature as one that is greater than animals, so that they may live as such without hearing comments that degrade him to be “a rascal no better than an animal”.

Man is not an animal. Man is a human being and thus, children must reflect upon the profound ideas of language and integrity. How would you raise your child with their prospective future in mind? The only people who would sow dreams in children are their parents. Thus, parents must continually remind their children of the reality of their identity as humans, and not as animals. Such things can be accomplished by the mother, who is always observing the child’s growth, and through the collaboration of both parents.

Ultimately, animals cannot be educated. They simply live their lives structured by DNA. However, man learns and grows upon knowledge. For man, a great opportunity of education is prepared for him upon birth. If man does not receive education, he will be undistinguished from animals, or simply become a person no better than an animal.