#27(Final)
Chapter 27. Looking Back
For me, I did not come to the United States with an American dream like most people who have immigrated to eat and live well. I am a person with a mission, who came with a purpose as a master to solely deliver Chun-ji-ki-un and Chun-ji-ma-um. The reason is that I firmly believe this Chun-ji-ki-un and Chun-ji-ma-um can bring about a much more elevated quality of life for me, for our families, our society and our humanity.
Ilchi Lee has said that Dahnhak is the law, the truth, and the principle that can recover the self, the family, the society, and humanity. I have realized this and I firmly believe this.
You will know why this Chun-ji-ki-un and Chun-ji-ma-um can recover humanity when you have connected and can communicate with Chun-ji-ki-un and Chun-ji-ma-um. It is because Chun-ji-ki-un and Chun-ji-ma-um create health, happiness, and peace (HSP).
It is because HSP phenomenon occurs.
There is no more to say (Yu-Gu-Mu-Un).
#26
Chapter 26. Sunspot in the Sun’s Fire
Regrets
Among the incidents that occurred while pioneering in South Korea, the United States, Canada, England, Japan, Germany and other centers abroad, there are many areas in which I truly feel I could have done better. This makes me feel regretful.
I feel bad about the fact that I could not continuously maintain the establishment of the Philadelphia center which was the first training center that was established at the office building of the businessman who had invited us to the United States. I feel that perhaps the businessman may have invited us with an idea beforehand to use that place for something for the people. Now that I think about it, I am ashamed about the way I preceded with things without consulting with him with more care. It makes me feel regretful for the fact that I was young and without much deep consideration.
Moreover, I deeply give my gratitude for those people who have diligently helped even more so than if it had been their own work. And also, I truly give thanks to the masters who resigned because they could not endure due to the difficulties in the establishment of centers, pioneering in Sedona, etc. It is inevitable that happier times will come after the difficult times pass by; and I feel bad that they resigned and could not endure until the difficult times had passed.
I truly feel bad that if they had waited and persevered a little bit longer, they could have led a much more joyful and stable master’s life today. The fact that I could not do anything for them makes me think that I am not much capable or competent. In difficult times like we experienced, it is inevitable that many misunderstandings, mistrust, false incriminations, distrust, anxiety, envy, jealousy, intimidation, threats, and enticements will interfere.
As these many various things occur, it makes people’s hearts and souls become even more firmly hardened. It is a period of trial and disciplining that occurs in order to become more wise and strong. It is, therefore, a testing period.
It was a period where the mind/heart needed deeper consideration. It makes me remember an old saying, “Do not stop someone who comes your way; and do not hold onto someone who is leaving.”
How will one know the feeling of hunger if one has not eaten the bread of tears; and how will one know the feeling of agony if one has not walked on the thorn bush? Appropriately, the people that will follow shall keep in their minds and hearts the experiences of the past and they will learn from them (ohn-goh-yi-ji-shin). The people that will follow must have their minds and hearts steadfast and choose a wise path; and they must go forward.
#25
Chapter 25. Sun’s Fire
– Eternal Light Illuminates the World Vision for the Management of the Earth
As the people managing the earth, wherever you go, there will be Dahn centers all around the world. This is because it (eternal light illuminating the world) is heaven’s will, Ilchi Lee’s will, my will, all our masters’ wills, members’ wills, and humanity’s will. There is no reason why it will not be achieved if it is something that all people wish for. If there is a dream, then it will certainly be achieved. No, rather it must certainly be achieved. This is creation. We will not just wait around until it is achieved.
I will, and we will, actively create it. This dream is our sun, this hope is our flame, and this vision is the eternal light that does not become extinct. Our humanity has lived and forgotten Chun-ji-ki-un and Chun-ji-ma-um for over 2,000 years. For 2,000 years people have lived lost, wandering and corrupted. We cannot wander any more. Our humanity’s spiritual growth has stood in one place for 2,000 years. Now everyone yearns to have their eyes opened. New spiritual growth must be achieved now by ending the wandering.
A new world must be created. First, to have 36,000 Dahn centers all around the world is the goal. It is said that the McDonald’s chain has approximately 32,000 restaurants all around the world. According to that amount, the understanding of the food culture has changed. Therefore, we have concluded that with about 36,000 Dahn centers, humanity can evolve to a new spiritual culture. Among the world population of 6.6 billion, we need a minimum of 10% (which is 660 million people) to transform and become the masters. Even though it will not be easy, only when this is achieved, will our entire humanity have spiritual realization and growth, and ultimately spiritual completion.
We will not forget this vision. And, we will become the eternal light and shine on the world.
#24
Chapter 24. The Undying Flame – 120 U.S. Dahn Centers
Now there are 120 centers in the United States. To have established 120 centers in ten years can be considered a lot or not much, but it depends on how one thinks of it. During the establishment of centers, all the incidents that occurred cannot be put into words. And just because U.S. centers were established, it does not mean that they were all maintained.
Although close to 200 U.S. centers have been established, only about 120 centers remain now. About 40% have been diminished. The growth of masters and the issues of center management have the biggest influence. There are cases where a center cannot be opened because there are not enough masters and other cases where even though a center is opened it has to be closed due to poor center management. However, it is certain that the remaining 120 centers are the solid foundation for a new leap.
Based on the 120 present U.S. centers, another new leap needs to be taken. We need to introduce a system that is new in its form of management methods; and then transform, grow, and continuously create new models. I believe that there must be methods that are appropriate for each country around the world.
Only endless transformation and development makes us awaken and be alive, and that is the motivating force. At this time, there are 300 centers in South Korea, 120 centers in the United States, 36 centers in Japan, 10 centers in Canada, 6 centers in England, 1 in Germany, and 1 in Russia.
Now, it is a time for a leap that is needed for globalization. It must spread out to each country. The United States is favorable in that way. It is because competent and capable people from around the world come and gather in the United States to study, or due to some other reason live here and then return back to their home. They are in high class status and are all talented and capable people. I wish for these people to be drawn in, train, and return back to each of their countries and spread the training. When the spreading of Chun-ji-ki-un and Chun-ji-ma-um becomes settled and accepted in the United States, world public recognition will take place. In that aspect, it is inevitable that America is very important as a base for globalization, and the 120 centers that are in America represent much more importance than any other centers. The reason is because as a base for globalization, if it fails here then globalization will be impossible. We, as people who are managing the earth, will not forget the fact that we are confronting the whole world and this earth.
#23
Chapter 23. A Place Where the Sacred Flame is Guarded
~ Sedona Mago Retreat Center ~
In South Korea, 360 centers were created. As centers in the United States increased little by little, there needed to be a place where the American members could gather to train and experience growth of mind and spirit. More masters were needed to be trained, and also much more funds were needed. Since we needed to have many various different events, we needed a large place of our own to use freely.
It was urgent to have a place that acted as the world headquarters office. While Ilchi Lee was worrying about it, he often went to Bell Rock and encountered Lester Levenson’s spirit there. Spiritually he encountered that spirit, and through insight he was introduced to the now existing Sedona Mago Retreat Center. When he came to the site, it was a place where Levenson’s spirit had pioneered and lived before his death. It was truly a spiritual place, and to do the training like ours, it was really a good place that was exactly to our heart’s liking.
When looking at the location of this place, however, it was very isolated so that there weren’t many people who passed by during the year. But more than anything else it was a place that could only be obtained with a large sum of money to be paid all at once. He could not help but to worry terribly about how to obtain the purchasing funds and how to manage the place. That is why for one to two years he worried and was hesitant about it. He showed and asked all his students who visited, and asked whoever he met. Everyone said that it would be better not to purchase it. Above anything else, he held back because he worried over the management of the place.
He agonized when he was deciding whether Sedona would be the world headquarters office. He continued to check, sometimes with realistic assessment, and sometimes through a spiritual sense and messages. There were so many gaps between the reality and insights; and the biggest gap was the issue of funds. He was quite worried as to, from where and how to find the funds; and he hesitated for one to three years.
From spiritual insights he could not give up, but the site was realistically impossible to manage because it was a place where people did not live. And, for all year long, except for one neighbor, it was a place where no one came or went by. With a long period of agonizing over it, finally he trusted the insight and after confirming it, he made the purchase following the insight.
After making the purchase, connections with many people were made, and these days, many members come to train and also many masters are trained. As a spiritual home to so many members, it has become an important place that we cannot be without, to grow the Earth-Human consciousness for Love of Humanity and Love of the Earth.
#22
Chapter 22. Torchlight Olympiad
– Pioneering in Sedona and the Establishment of 360 centers in South Korea
Ilchi Lee and Sedona Mago Retreat Center are the foundation stones for today’s 360 Dahn World centers in South Korea and Dahn centers in the United States.
Sedona Mago Retreat Center did not exist in the beginning. Ilchi Lee came to the United States, wondered where and how to settle, and to find a place to be the foundation for the organization. He worried and thought night and day, and decided to search for a place by holding meditation tours throughout the United States. He went out to search with one guide person and a used car. He ate simple meals from a rice-cooker of rice and dried seaweed; and when there was not enough time to cook the rice, he ate hamburgers.
While he was searching here and there, he began to do meditation tours somewhere near Los Angeles for the first time. Thereafter, while he continued searching, by mere chance he encountered an article in the newspaper about Sedona. So he visited Sedona. He looked around Sedona; and after checking the energy, he decided in his heart that this place should become the headquarters.
After he decided to settle down in Sedona, he rented a house in the beginning, gathered members from South Korea and the United States and began the meditation tours. Trainings were all outdoor training. They were at Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Slide Rock Park, Fay Canyon, Montezuma Well, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.
And, in between the trainings, when there was even a small amount of time left, he gave consultations to the members, guided them to become masters, and raised funds for establishing centers. Whether it was on top of a rock, in a car, whenever and wherever, when there was time and an opportunity, he gave consultations and made connections.
During the Sedona meditation tour in America, he achieved the creation of 360 Dahn World centers in South Korea. Now, this is something miraculous. Through the Sedona meditation tours he achieved it. With regards to the issues of masters and funds, through the simple meditation tours he achieved it. It is truly an odd thing. It was achieved because of the one mind and heart of Ilchi Lee and the masters together.
Since all the trainings took place outdoors, meals were also eaten outdoors in lunch boxes. Meals were prepared and brought to the training site by the masters from the rented house. For sleeping, it was in hotels with two people in one bed. Members truly worked well with the conditions and endured. It is because Ilchi Lee guided us well, so that the members and the masters could unite and gather together in achieving the mission of E-Sang-In-Gahn Han-Se-Gae.
This is not all. Another important fact is that, in pioneering the United States, he brought the members who came for the meditation tour from South Korea, decided the place for a new center to be established in the United States, and he advertised brochures with the members at that place. He then gave open public lectures. Not for a moment did he take any time off; and he fully utilized the time and all the financial means. Canada is also a representative place for pioneering through meditation tours.
He gave open public lectures, and at each place he appointed the members who came for the meditation tour to be masters. For Ilchi Lee, the open public lecture was the meditation tour, and the meditation tour was open the public lecture. The open public lecture was the key part of the meditation tour. Because of his passionate endeavor, centers in the United States exist and continue to develop and expand. Nowadays, everything is well prepared and arranged. There is nothing that is insufficient. There is only the need for the masters to truly diligently work.
#21
21. Filling the Oil in the Torchlight – Program Development and its Implementation
Before the increase of members and the pioneering of the English speakers there had been hidden merits. Namely, it was program development and its implementation.
When I came back to the United States, regular training class and healing (Hwal-gong) sessions were all there was. It was a situation where this was insufficient for operating the center. In addition, there were limitations in the members’ growth with these simple training methods; and I realized that they cannot overcome the many different obstacles that they have with just these two programs. Above everything else, the most important factor was that there was limitation in the members’ growth. I realized that in order for the members to have growth, more programs were urgently needed. Therefore, the first additional program that was implemented was Gae-hyul training.
I had the masters realize that without the awakening of the senses to Chun-ji-ki-un they cannot grow and go any farther. However, a few masters who came earlier thought that it was different here from South Korea, and they showed a member-like response. Of course, I just regarded them to be young, and lacking in experience and assurance in the training. So, I told those centers and masters who did not want to do it that they didn’t have to.
With the centers and masters who wanted to participate, they gathered members and we began. Response was good, and it quickly expanded. Only then, the masters began to have this new realization. They began to reconfirm that all people are the same: when Chun-ji-ki-un is communicated they grow and transform, and become joyful.
Also, when I said let’s implement the Shim-sung training, just like in the Gae-hyul training, they showed even more severe negative responses. So, I gave up in the United States, and first began implementing it in Canada. There was even a greater positive response than the Gae-hyul training. Masters, too, began to realize it again.
Needless to say of the East and the West, everyone’s mind is the same. This is a fact that they are all pursuing the same thing. Mind desires to be joyful and peaceful. Once again, it was decided that Shim-sung training would be done in the United States. And, I repeated, for those who truly do not have faith, you do not have to do it, and those centers and masters who didn’t want to do the Shim-sung training, didn’t have to do it.
And again, those centers and master who did want to do it gathered the members and implemented the Shim-sung training. Response from the members was positive as well. First the training was for the Korean speaking members, and second, it was for the English speaking members.
Since all the programs were being done for the first time, even the masters who knew a little bit of English could not do it because they did not know the program. It couldn’t be done, so, I decided that I would do it myself with someone translating in English. Since it was the first translation work, it was quite difficult for both me and the translating master. To do it with translation, in fact, is ten times more difficult. So, I arranged beforehand that I would do it for three times but the translating master would have to do the ones that followed. First I had them memorize the words used in Shim-sung training thoroughly. I gave them a goal that it had to be done by memorizing it within three months. From then on, training for masters to do the Shim-sung training in English began. In the beginning, it was awkward, but little by little it became familiar, and later on, they grasped the true meaning of it and did well. In the following ones, I had another trainer do it in the same manner, and in this way I developed more trainers. Like this, one by one, each program was developed and gained a firm ground.
Now there are many diverse programs that are in progress in the United States. And, there are many masters who can speak English very well. Even now, I am continuously developing new programs; and I will continuously develop methods that are a little more elevated in level and effectiveness.
#20
20. New Torchlight – Pioneering the English speakers
The limitations of only speaking Korean and only targeting Koreans became self evident. I gathered the masters and had a meeting. I said, “There is limitation in speaking only Korean and targeting only Koreans. Isn’t it so obvious? There is no hope without pioneering the English speakers. Cosmic energy (Chun-ji-ki-un) that we are trying to communicate is not something that is exclusively for the Koreans. What we want is globalization. In order for globalization to take place, we cannot just stand still here. We have to pioneer and take the challenge for the English speakers anyway. Don’t fear too much about not being able to speak English well. If you can’t speak it well, then start memorizing words now. Even if you have to memorize the necessary words, phrases, sentences for that day only, do it, so that whether the other person understands it or not, you will try to convey the contents. And, let’s increase the English speaking members to at least 5%.”
Like this, we set a goal. Then, immediately the next day, brochures for the English speakers were created; we set a date for an open public lecture, and made preparations. With our English being so poor, it was ridiculous for us to create brochures in English and do the open public lecture.
In the process, when it wasn’t going well, we received assistance from a Korean member who knew a little bit of English. Just like when I was beginning in the Tae Kwon Do training hall in Philadelphia, we made the necessary sentences, translated, and memorized them. It was so unskillful and awkward; nothing was properly done. Even when the phone rang, everyone held back and tried to give it to each other to answer it. It was a situation where awkwardness and fear weren’t disappearing with just words.
Masters from the head office drove around four to eighteen hours in a car, carrying brochures to advertise for the open public lecture and to gather members. For meals, it was mostly easy-to-eat meals eaten inside the car. They slept in the car, showers were taken in the temporary shower stalls in the center, and laundry was done in the laundromat by putting in the coins.
Those masters who did not know English well were mainly devoted in doing advertisements; and those who did know some English did phone consultation in the center nearby.
The corresponding center’s masters were trained so they were just barely able to teach the classes in English. Since they could not even drive, they had to be driven back and forth from work, and there were many masters who worked three to five different jobs. Various rent problems, large and small incidents, whatever problem arose, someone had to go and resolve the matter. I thought a lot about how I might as well go there and do it myself.
We worked diligently. After a while, English speaking members increased, and the percentage of Korean members decreased little by little. After about six months, it was about half and half; and after one year, the percentage of Korean members decreased to 30%. Now, managing the center became much easier, and maintaining the members became easier too.
After about after one and a half to two years, the English speaking members became about 80-90%, and the Korean members began to decrease to no more than 10%. For two languages to coexist in the training center was not an easy thing. Even though the training area and the time were separated, there was something that was difficult about it. Many methods were used to find some coexistence, but it failed in this area. However, I cannot deny the pioneering of Dahn centers in America exists now because of the many Korean members in the beginning. I do not forget those members at that time and I give my gratitude always.
Nowadays, except for one or two places of management in America, they are all English speaking members and the Koreans are not even 30%. Someday, when there is the opportunity, training for Korean speaking members in America needs to be revived again. This is because they were the cornerstone in the beginning, and they must not be forgotten.
#19
[Zion Canyon, Utha]
19. Fire that Rekindled – Rebuilding
It must have been around 1995 that Ilchi Lee came to America again. He took over the center that Dong Won Kang was managing and he began over again. In the beginning, he had a few masters come from South Korea. Then he called for me to come to America again. That was in 1996.
All the difficulties that I experienced in the beginning had begun again. The management situation was either barely sustaining or at a deficit. As soon as I arrived, he said for me to pay back the debt now. For a while, with the deterioration of management, it was operating with debts from here and there. Accounting was not properly recorded, and the receipts were not properly saved either. It was operating with the sale of books and uniforms (Do-bok), and since the principal was not paid, expenses for this and that all remained as debts.
The programs were being barely maintained with regular training classes and part healing (hwal-gong) sessions. Income was limited and the members were cared for with healings. And yet, centers began to increase one by one. The second pioneering of America had fully begun. Now, even if I wanted to step back, I could not. It is because Ilchi Lee had no intention of drawing back now. Now it had to be made successful till the end. Visa issues and the supply of masters, and many other difficult administrative problems that occur in the process of settling in the starting of a business in America had to be experienced again. To begin anew without any foundation is anguish.
There were many difficulties that were waiting. When one was resolved, another one arose, and another, seemingly without end. Despite these difficulties, and without stopping, the centers expanded to New Jersey, New York, Long Island, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, and to Canada.
In the beginning, we began gathering members in the apartments, and when more members gathered, funds were saved and then we rented an office and began. Just like the plan that Ilchi Lee had used, when an apartment was rented, an open public lecture was done first, then we would gather the members. To begin, funds were starting from $3000 and the maximum that could be used was $5000. Two months of apartment rent, telephone installation fee, and a one time advertisement fee were all there was. It was a situation, beginning with no business sign display and without anything. Like affiliating in alliance with an existing center, it began when the location and its target area were decided. Then, one master would go there and rent an apartment. Up until this time, centers were operating only for the Koreans in Korean.
As for English speaking members, there were only one to two members per center who came occasionally out of curiosity. They were members who quietly trained even though it was in Korean. It was truly an odd thing. For them to come and train even though it was in Korean was as if an English speaking member was coming and training in South Korea. It was because the masters could not speak English well and they were having difficulties with barely adjusting to America. But the most important thing was fear. They could not do it because of the fear of the new unfamiliar subjects and of the new unknown culture.
#18
[Byuk Woon, Seung Bea Chun in U.K.]
18. Returning of Kindling – Rekindling the Fire from the Ashes
All of our four centers, between three in Philadelphia and one in Los Angeles, had now closed. Nowhere could I see any hope. But, even though the heavens fall, there is hope.
In spite of misfortune there was new hope, in the form of a member named Dong Won Kang, who was training in Philadelphia, and wanted to continue training when the Philadelphia center closed. So he went to the center in Los Angeles, continued training and developed a new dream.
I did not know at the time that this would be the opportunity for the rekindling. When the center in Los Angeles closed, Dong Won Kang went to the New Jersey/New York area and opened a new center.
He contacted me to ask how to manage and teach the class. Once again, a connection was formed for a comeback. Since there wasn’t any master that could be sent right away, I told him that for the time being, he was to teach from what he had learned when he was a member.
Because he had trained with a commitment in his heart for a long time, even though in the beginning he was a bit lost, little by little he found stability and he managed in his own way.
Around that time, many changes occurred in South Korea. In South Korea, Ilchi Lee stepped back from his position and decided to entrust the management to his students. All the things that he had created up until now he turned over and entrusted to his students. It was a great occurrence at that time. For Dahnhak, it was time of the greatest anguish, but it was also the rising of a second historical period.
As a second pioneering, Ilchi Lee was set to go to America. There is no doubt that he had come for globalization and internationalization. This time, his heart and mind were set to do it himself. He resolved visa issues and all other matters, and came alone. Afterwards, he came with his whole family, which seemed as though it meant that he was determined not to return.
This is an example that students of Ilchi Lee should follow. If he was in South Korea, he would be respected while living in comfort without any worries, but he refused all of it and instead chose and walked a new path of adversity. In these days, masters tend to only choose to do things that are comfortable and easy, popular and honorable, and recognizable. Like from the earlier days, humility is truly needed. Like the words from Ilchi Lee, “It is ok to be whatever, wherever, and whenever.” It is something that the students need to rethink about. Ilchi Lee’s determination and mindset to not to return should not be forgotten. Those masters who are in America, Canada, Japan, England, etc., anywhere in the new pioneering area shall take this to heart. There should be a determination and mindset that if it is failed here there isn’t anywhere else that one can go to. If you are simply still in one place, nothing will be accomplished on its own.