21,000 Bows for The Temple For World Peace and Unity

21,000 Bows - A Passion To Save Mankind 

A man wearing hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) offered three thousand bows a day for a whole week. If you are wondering what might drive a Buddhist to do such a thing, you are only half-right. He is, in fact, interested in Buddhism but not a Buddhist himself.

The man in question is none other than the world president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unificationism) Rev. Hyung Jin Moon. Rev. Hyung Jin Moon is the youngest son of Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who is the founder of Unificationism.

The Buddhist community, which has recently been at odds with Christians and the government due to religious prejudice, now seeks to resolve conflicts through academic seminars, debates and forums. Given the current religious climate in Korea, the fact that the president of the Unification Church, who believes in the Christian God, offered a set of bows came as a surprise. As the feeling of pleasant surprise evolved into an epiphany that he could aid in seeking a solution to religious conflict, we visited Rev. Hyung Jin Moon in the church he pastors, the Unification Church World Headquarters Church in Cheong-Pa Dong on Aug. 12th.

Despite the fact that he had finished the 21,000-bow devotion only a few days ago, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon looked to be in good health.

Offering 21,000 bows for Peace
I asked him about his motivation for offering bows. His answer was simpler than I expected.

He said, “In the Unification Church, we bow to God as a sign of respect. There is nothing wrong about bowing to your own parents out of respect. It is customary for our church members to offer a predetermined number of bows.” He added, “The reason I offered a set of 21,000 bows was so that the holy temple of our church could be established smoothly. In the Unification Church, the number 21 symbolizes the period which is needed for human beings to achieve perfection.”

The Holy Peace Temple 

A place where all people can come together beyond race, religion, and culture in harmony and receive Heavenly Blessing is on Earth, the Fatherland of Korea. On October 12th 2008, Reverend Sun Myung Moon has initiated the historical task in building this temple. Cheon Bok Gung, the temple for world peace and unity. Today, it has been completed.

“Peace will never come to this earth unless we first tear down the walls between religions I have called on people until my voice is hoarse to transcend their religious factions and even their religions. They have fallen into a selfish thought process that puts their religion or faction first. They are oblivious to the fact that the world has changed and a new era of selflessness has dawned” says Sun Myung Moon.

A very unique thing in this building is it's prayer room, where there's paintings of the four great saints, statues of religious and also all centering upon the True Parents of Heaven, Earth and Humankind. All kinds of religious people are welcomed to pray in this room to their own respective religions and bow to True Parents. This is truly the actualization of inter-religious harmony. Rev Moon is truly the Messiah who brings unity among religions.

The Four Great Saints in the prayer room.

Mother Mary & Amitabha in the prayer room.

There has never been a place like this before, where all religions may come together, be represented and connected to a common purpose. We believe that God message is true love through universal shared values, and that the Temple for World Peace & Unity will be an ideal stage to bring this message to the world.

Posted in: Peace