The importance of “growing pains,” the distortion of human values, the separation of religion and politics, subjective vs. objective values, and the four methods of love. Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Character Profiles
- Huh Kyung young | Lecturer | Delivers a lecture on the truth of growing pains and human values.
- Jo Gyosu (Professor Jo) | Discussant | Mentions religion and the constitution, prompting further discussion from Huh Kyung young.
- Kim Gomun (Advisor Kim) | Discussant | Asks questions about subjective and objective values, and the meaning of “beast” in the Bible.
- Lee Seonsaeng (Mr. Lee) | Discussant | Participates in the discussion, answering questions from Huh Kyung young.
- The Second Lieutenant | Past Acquaintance | A junior who was helped by Huh Kyung young in the military and later became a prosecutor.
- The Prosecutor | Past Acquaintance | The Second Lieutenant, who Huh Kyung young met again after many years.
- Kennedy | US President | A Catholic president who ordered schools to stop prayer before class, leading to an increase in crime and his assassination.
- Johnson | US Vice President | Became president after Kennedy’s assassination, raising suspicions of involvement.
- Jacqueline | Kennedy’s Wife | Expressed discomfort with Johnson’s immediate inauguration after Kennedy’s death.
- The prodigal son | Biblical Figure | A son who wasted his inheritance but was welcomed back by his father, representing objective value.
- The Elder Son | Biblical Figure | The diligent son who resented his father’s welcome of the prodigal son, representing subjective value.
- Adam | Biblical Figure | The first man created by God.
- Eve | Biblical Figure | The first woman created by God, created to accompany Adam.
- Cain | Biblical Figure | The elder son of Adam and Eve, whose offering was not accepted by God.
- Abel | Biblical Figure | The younger son of Adam and Eve, whose offering was accepted by God.
- Buddha (Sakyamuni) | Religious Figure | Emphasized that no one can live alone and that all beings are equally precious.
Scene-by-Scene Summary
#1 (00:00:00) The Truth of Growing Pains and Human Value
- Huh Kyung young begins the lecture by discussing the “truth of growing pains” and human value .
- He recounts an anecdote about helping a second lieutenant who later became a prosecutor, highlighting how those who experience hardship understand others .
- He criticizes modern children who lack “growing pains” and respect for elders, comparing them to hollow bamboo that easily breaks .
- He emphasizes that current values are radically inverted (전도), meaning they are upside down or fundamentally misplaced.
- He clarifies that this inversion also implies delusion (착각) and distortion (왜곡), where people consciously act against what is right.
- He connects the lack of growing pains to an inability to understand human value, citing the Sewol Ferry tragedy as an event that made parents realize the preciousness of their children .
- He asserts that older generations (post-1965) experienced immense hardship, leading to respect for all elders, regardless of their past .
- He criticizes younger generations for not understanding the struggles of their elders, leading to a lack of respect .
#2 (00:05:50) Subjective vs. Objective Value and the Separation of Religion and Politics
- Mr.Huh introduces the concepts of subjective and objective human value .
- He discusses Article 20 of the Korean Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, and criticizes the suppression of religious groups based on events like the Sewol Ferry tragedy .
- He explains that Article 20, Paragraph 2, mandates the separation of religion and politics, meaning neither should interfere with the other .
- He argues that misinterpreting this separation has led to corruption in both politics and religion, advocating for mutual intervention to ensure longevity, similar to how spouses’ arguments can prolong a marriage .
- He cites the example of US President Kennedy, a Catholic, who ordered schools to stop prayer, leading to a 70% increase in juvenile crime .
- He suggests that Kennedy’s assassination was a consequence of his religious suppression, as the 99% Christian population favored Vice President Johnson .
- He describes Johnson’s controversial inauguration in the hospital where Kennedy’s body lay, highlighting the tension between religion and politics .
- He concludes that religious freedom means people can choose whether to listen to religious discussions, but repetitive preaching is ineffective .
#3 (00:14:50) Understanding Human Value from a Divine Perspective
- Mr.Huh defines subjective value as one’s self-perception and objective value as seen from God’s or parents’ perspective .
- He uses the parable of the prodigal son to illustrate that while the elder son saw his brother as worthless (subjective), the father saw him as precious (objective) .
- He states that those who lack “growing pains” often view others as rivals, failing to see their inherent worth .
- He emphasizes that even if one feels worthless, parents and God see them as infinitely valuable, encouraging perseverance .
- He condemns disrespecting or overly criticizing others, as it harms their parents .
- He explains that prison chaplains view even murderers with a divine, objective perspective, seeing their inherent value beyond their crimes .
- He asserts that all humans are inherently precious in the eyes of God, not needing “salvation” as some religions claim .
- He criticizes religions that make people feel sinful or abandoned by God, stating that God always forgives and protects his children .
- He argues that human flaws like drinking or committing crimes only diminish a tiny fraction of one’s overall value, which remains 99.9% great .
#4 (00:23:50) The Concept of “Eternal Memorial Status”(불천위) and the Meaning of “Supreme Dignity of the Self”(천상천하 유아독존)
- Huh Kyung young introduces the concept of “Eternal Memorial Status”(불천위), a special honor bestowed by the king during the Joseon Dynasty .
- He explains that “Eternal Memorial Status”(불천위) means the nation continuously performs ancestral rites for a family, signifying immense honor .
- He then discusses the Buddhist phrase “Supreme Dignity of the Self”(천상천하 유아독존), often misinterpreted as meaning only Buddha is supreme .
- He clarifies that the true meaning is that no one can live alone, and every single person is uniquely precious and worthy of respect .
- He connects this to the Buddhist concept of “Buddha is everywhere”(처처불상), meaning “Seeing the divine in every place and every person,” implying that every person we meet is like a Buddha .
- He reiterates that experiencing “growing pains” helps one appreciate the value of others, while those from privileged backgrounds often lack this understanding .
- He attributes Korea’s rapid development to its history of “growing pains” through numerous wars .
#5 (00:29:00) The Sin of the Tree of Knowledge and the Four Techniques of Love
- Huh Kyung young refers to the “Upside-down Delusions”(전도몽상) from the Prajnaparamita Sutra, meaning humans live in inverted dreams and illusions .
- He connects this to the biblical “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,” stating that judging others as good or evil is a sin that only God can commit .
- He emphasizes that only God, who sent us to Earth, truly knows our value, and humans should not judge each other .
- He explains that God often favors the “prodigal son” or “Abel” (the younger, less perfect one) over the “elder son” or “Cain” (the seemingly perfect one), because those who judge others (eat the fruit of good and evil) often do the opposite of what God desires .
- He criticizes churches and temples for not properly teaching the meaning of the Tree of Knowledge .
- He asserts that humans should not act as judges or prosecutors, as divine justice will ultimately prevail .
- He warns that judging others (eating the fruit of good and evil) prevents love from growing .
- He introduces the “four techniques of love” (네 가지 기법) that bring the Holy Spirit (성령) :
- 1. Face (얼굴): Always wear a bright, joyful expression to bring happiness to others .
- 2. Speech (말씨): Speak kindly and pleasantly, even in difficult situations .
- 3. Material (물질): Use small amounts of money or gifts to bring joy to others, like a son buying sweet potatoes for his mother .
- 4. Hands and Feet (손, 발): Offer physical service and help to others, like assisting someone in a wheelchair or volunteering .
- He explains that practicing these techniques invites the Holy Spirit, which includes joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control .
- He concludes that those who “eat the fruit of good and evil” constantly find fault with everything, leading to stress and poor health, while those who have experienced “growing pains” are better leaders because they understand the public’s sentiment .
- He reiterates that judging others is God’s role, not humanity’s, and parents should not constantly criticize their children .