Hoondokhae

CSG 2014, Book 11, Chap. 2
Section 3. The Practice of Hoondokhae

9 It may seem as if I speak at random, but in fact my words fully explain the Principle. Before long I will have to go to the spirit world. That is why I am now reviewing the content of the words I spoke with all my heart and devotion over the course of the past fifty years, to evaluate how they will impact the world after I pass. I am the champion of hoondokhae. From whom did its words originate? They originated from God. Since I know this truth, I cannot take hoondokhae lightly. (321-285, 2000.05.09)

How to do hoondokhae

10 Prepare in advance the hoondokhae content relevant to each of the 365 days in a year. A unified hoondokhae program must be implemented throughout the whole world. You should be able to say, “The hoondokhae reading for today is” Whether eating or occupied with work, whenever you have the opportunity, you should discuss and converse on the content for that day. (314-038, 1999.12.30)

11 From this time forward, hoondokhae should be the ultimate form of education. You must read the content again and again. Mark the words by numbering them as you read, so the next time around you can read important parts that previously took you one hour in just thirty minutes. This can be done easily. This is how you should educate people to cultivate their spirituality through hoondokhae. The books I leave behind are your teacher. I am telling you to study them, not just read them. (291-146, 1998.03.06)

12 Do hoondokhae during your lunch break or whenever you have spare time. You should read first, and then have the group read out loud in unison, keeping the same pace. Train yourself by reading at home. Then you can keep the same pace at church when you lead the group to read together in unison. Husband and wife as a rule do it together at home. If the husband attends hoondokhae service at church, he should tell his wife which part he read that day. Then she should read that same part so they can keep on the same page. (314-038, 1999.12.30)

13 How can you get the maximum benefit from doing hoondokhae? After passing out the hoondokhae books, begin by having one person read aloud. Then have the reader call on someone else to read, and so on. Train them to do it this way. If ten people gather to do hoondokhae, make sure that one-third of them asks questions on the parts they are interested in. If there is not enough time, allow just a few people to ask questions and then discuss each one. This system of learning is more effective than a lecture. If you read a hoondokhae book this way three times, you will clearly understand its content. (296-330, 1998.11.18)

14 When doing hoondokhae, it is better that the participants take turns reading a portion of the book rather than just one person reading it to the group. Decide up to what point each person in the group will read, and then designate the next person to continue. While reading the book, each reader should be moved by his or her own voice. If readers cannot feel moved by themselves, they need more practice. Therefore anyone who may be designated to read should practice reading the book at least ten times before reading in public. I do the same thing. When I have a speaking tour, although I know the content of the text I wrote, I still make the effort to saturate the words with a prayerful heart. (296-331, 1998.11.18)

15 From now on, whenever you do hoondokhae, do it in a group and share the reading aloud among multiple readers. One person should read one section and then designate another person to read the next section by calling out his or her name. Establish the tradition of calling each person to read next by name. You can address important points or questions the group wants to raise. You can set the standard, saying, “In today’s hoondokhae the content to be studied is this, and we must absolutely maintain such-and-such as our principle.” (297-110, 1998.11.19)

16 1 have lived according to the Will, trying to build the kingdom of heaven on earth and in heaven by fulfilling the dutiful way of loyalty and filial piety and the dutiful way of saints and divine sons and daughters. This has brought me into a precious relationship with God. In order that you do not fall short of that standard, each of you must establish and uphold it within your family. Only by doing so will you return to the Garden of Eden, where God will allow you to be in the realm of His direct dominion. Only this standard will spread out in thousands, even tens of thousands of branches and remain forever. In order to bequeath the tradition of the True Parents, I started this tradition of hoondokhae. Until I did so, you did not know anything about the True Parents’ situation. (289-307, 1998.02.02)

Mother Moon’s Anthololgy, Book 1, Part 3
Hoondok and the Importance of the Word

The importance of the Word

True Parents’ words are like a textbook that we should read every day. It is a guide for our daily life. If you read their words, you will get an idea about what you should do today. Unlike the past, you must have confidence and take pride in mobilizing all of the spirit world together with True Parents. (2006.07.02, Valletta, Malta)

To you, True Parents’ words are a guide and text book. The person who has no work to do is the most pitiful. We are happy people because we have a lot of work to do. You should be able to share this happiness with those around you and have a great dream to return that happiness to God abundantly. I believe that only True Father’s words and ideas can resolve the problems happening all over the world. That is why leaders who can give lectures must be sent out to many nations. We need many leaders. If you equip yourself with True Father’s words and teachings, then you can accomplish the work of 100 people. Imagine if all the people around you would come together for the sake of carrying out God’s Will. (2006.08.18, Honiara, Solomon Islands)

You will not be able to do hoondokhae without shedding tears as you begin to realize and feel the depth of these teachings. If you do hoondokhae every day, then your heart will begin to change. You will see the world in a different way. Even True Father, who is the embodiment of the Word, reads the Word up until it is time to come out and do hoondokhae with you. You have to be grateful for God’s infinite love for humankind and become people who can share that love. The Word will become your daily guide and textbook depending on how well you prepare the standard of your heart. (2006.07.19, Nairobi, Kenya)

Hoondokhae life

You should show an example to your children by reciting the Family Pledge every day. You have not properly raised the second-generation in front of God. You may have several excuses or may blame it on the wilderness era, but now times are desperate. Out of those who carry responsibility [in the church], the younger ones are in their 50s and many are in their 70s and 80s. For the sake of the future, we need to educate and nurture our second-generation blessed children in front of God’s Will. (2012.09.17, Cheon Jeong Gung)

I have told families to do hoondok every day together because I felt urgent about educating our children, the second generation. You made excuses that you were doing public work and neglected your children. Yet, even so, you should do hoondokhae with them. You must begin your day this way. You need to raise the second generation well. No matter what position you are in you must think about the future generations. Moreover, leaders should think about our own future. However, you should repent with a desperate and earnest heart for not finding someone to take your place. If you haven’t done that already you should start now. You must be ready to die for it. (2012.10.01, Cheon Jeong Gung)

In the early days of the church, there was no environment prepared. It was as if the first members of the church were in a wilderness era. However, what are your circumstances today? Of course, there are people who have a hard life, but when we think of our future, it is hopeful. You should have confidence. You should be proud of True Parents. With just that, your descendants will have an easy path. You should work hard to fulfill your responsibility as tribal messiahs. You must also educate your children through a life of family hoondok so that not one of them falls behind. Believe that Heaven is with us. This way, our country will fulfill its responsibility to become God’s homeland. You should become citizens who reciprocate Heaven’s grace. Many people around us are still unaware. You are trailblazers. Please nurture your children so that there is not a single family in which anyone is left behind. (2015.04.26, Cheon Jeong Gung)

If you do hoondokhae every day, you will gain wisdom on how to live in your daily life. Now all the good ancestors in the spirit world are coming back and are working with us. God is with us and this is the era when He can exercise His authority. Therefore, you should read the Word day and night and you must be able to convey it fluently even as you fall asleep at night. You must gain wisdom through the Word and propagate it. It is the same for students. You should strive to become one in heart with God through doing hoondokhae in the morning before going to school. If you go out with the sincere heart to meet a student who can work even harder than you in realizing God’s Will and restoring this nation, then naturally a prepared student will emerge and come to find you. (2006.06.18, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)