Quote: Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim

"An era of end of war and world peace, which is something the mankind desired for many years, has finally arrived. Beginning with the Declaration of World Peace made by Chairman Lee in front of the Peace Gate in South Korea, the wave of world peace has reached all over the earth to bear the fruit of peace finally today. Chairman Lee has visited various placed over the globe only for peace and I was able to witness the miracle of peace most clearly. This moment is also being shown on live to the whole world and everyone's eyes and ears are focused on this place. What is the peace that you dream of? Could we say world peace is a peace only for your religion or nation? True world of peace is filled with life, where tears, pains, and death do not exist. This is the peace that the Creator wants to give."

The question of the Chairwoman asks us our world of peace. The question brings us back to reality. We all dream of a peaceful world. However, this is only a dream that is created by our subjective nature. It rotates around us. For example, a person, who is not wealthy may think of this peaceful world as a place, where everything is free. A peace is kept between the buyer and seller. We all may have our own version of a peaceful world or an utopia as a place that fills in what we lack. But let us think from the perspective of a Creator, who built this world. The Creator created this world according to his opinion. What if the world becomes unbalanced with his first version of the world? Due to the wars and conflict around the world, the original world becomes corrupted with its nature suffering from these corruption. What would the Creator want? Above all, he would want balance in nature and the return to the original world. This is what Chairman Man Hee Lee is doing. He understood the will of the Creator, who created the world in his vision. But the world was walking towards destruction.

When I was young, I used play with legos and using multiple pieces, I created my own world. When a piece is not in right place or when something becomes broken, naturally I would want to fix it and restore it back to its original place. This applies to the Creator, who created the world. However, we have to become the ones, who fulfill his will, because we are not the same as the lego piece. We are different, because there is life inside us.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

Chairman Man Hee Lee's Speech in the Opening Ceremony

"The WARP Summit since the creation is an unprecedented event, where all the spirits of heaven and the people of earth gathered. For this Summit, we invited the heaven and the earth as witness and in front of the Creator, we begin the WARP Summit for the end of war and world peace. By the will of the heaven, we are the ones with mission, who meet the new era after the end of the corrupted old era. On this world, on this earth, the youths and the students were not given any chance to blossom and were sacrificed on the forefront of war. The politics and the law were not able to compensate them for their sacrifice. So, UN and the presidents and supreme justices of each nation must establish an international law."

Many nations in the world, entrust the leadership of their nation to political leaders and politicians. At the same time, we abide the law of the nation, because we believe it is just and moral. However, in terms of peace, the law and the politicians were not able to fulfill their duty completely, because we see more conflicts in the world that occur because of various reasons. The purpose of the WARP Summit was to support both political leaders and religious leaders to be able provide their people with peace. It was to provide the leaders a place, where they can discuss for building a better world.

Interview: Chairman Man Hee Lee

This interview with Chairman Man Hee Lee, the peace advocate who has been actively travelling around the world to promote world peace and end of war, summarizes the vision and the thoughts of the Chairman. Even though the translation is in German, I hope to share a quote of Chairman Lee that stood out to me.

"The divine being promised in the scriptures on how He will bring peace to the world for thousands years."

-This is the main vision of HWPL WARP Offices. HWPL believes that there must be a comparative studies on religious scriptures based the prophecy regarding peace. This is the purpose of WARP Office. It is to find the true will of the divine being, who created the world, so that we may be able to find an understanding in between religions.

We are ONE people

"Researchers have proven scientifically that humans are all one people...The color of our ancestors’ skin and ultimately my skin and your skin is a consequence of ultraviolet light, of latitude and climate. Despite our recent sad conflicts here in the U.S., there really is no such thing as race. We are one species—each of us much, much more alike than different. We all come from Africa. We all are of the same stardust. We are all going to live and die on the same planet, a Pale Blue Dot in the vastness of space. We have to work together."
—Bill Nye, Rutgers University Commencement, 2015

In terms of race, we are not different. We all came from one ancestor and one Creator. Just like Bill Nye says, we are more alike than different. Instead of noticing our similarities, we only notice our differences and conflict over it. We need to start noticing our similar we are. For example, even though it may be in different form and structure, we all look for a divine being. Our minds do not stop only in the physical world, but also in the metaphysical world. This is one similarity that we share.

Reflection on JFK's Quote on Peace

John F. Kennedy is considered to be one of the greatest presidents in the American history. In regards to peace, he said that peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process. It is something that cannot be resolved in one day. Like everything in the world, there is a process to peace. Since the world never experienced peace before and only wars existed, it would be hard to change to a new direction. This is why our spirit and demand for peace needs to be strong. We need to have the will to walk towards a new destination, a world of peace. The activities of Chairman Man Hee Lee resembles the quote of JFK. He is actively pursuing peace through many different steps. He is visiting countless numbers of people in the world that peace is possible if we can overcome our barriers. Berlin Wall did not fell through a military intervention. It fell because of the hope of the citizens of the Berlin City. They wanted to become united again. This brought them together after overcoming the Berlin Wall that separated them. We need to have the same spirit as the German citizens quarter century ago. We need to have the wish to meet someone, who is different, on the other side of the wall.

Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on.

-John F. Kennedy in his Address to the United Nations General Assembly (20 September 1963)

Reflection on Isocrates' Quote on Peace

Isocrates is an Ancient Greek orator, who made great contributions to the study of rhetoric. He also was a teacher, who was responsible to lead his students into a correct way. In his quote, he writes that peace must be made with not only different nations, but with all mankind. What could this mean? He is not only identifying other nations, but with every mankind. Regardless of who they are, we are responsible to make peace with them.

I maintain, then, that we should make peace, not only with the Chians, the Rhodians, the Byzantines and the Coans, but with all mankind...

-Isocrates, "On the Peace", c. 355 B.C.

Even at a time when war was something natural, the idea of world peace and unity existed through great minds like Isocrates. Since Isocrates and possibly before him, many thinkers of peace existed. However, they were only thinkers. They were not able to fulfill their thought into reality. Unlike these bright thinkers, Chairman Man Hee Lee is able to make peace between all mankind. Through WARP Summit, he not only made with peace with people from different background, but he made peace exist between these people.

Peace Quotes

Peace Quotes: Albert Einstein and John Lennon

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”
-Albert Einstein

Similar to the quote of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., peace is something that needs to achieved by understanding of one another. It is not by force, in which creates war. In the past, countries tried to keep peace and protect on their behalf, so that their countries will be safe. However, it is not by force that peace is kept, but it is by removal of war. The WARP Summit in September, 2014 brought all religions together towards understanding that we origin from one creator. Peace cannot be kept by war, but by understanding and tolerance of those who are different than us. The works of HWPL will guide the religions towards unity and understanding, rather than war. HWPL is not a powerful military force, but it consists of people, who works toward understanding.

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace.”
-John Lennon

As Albert Einstein suggests the ultimate solution to peace, John Lennon suggests the spirit of an individual, in regards to achieving peace. It is our desire and passion for peace that will allow peace to come true in our life. The culture that we live in naturally builds a desire for materialistic goods. If materialism is replaced with a cause that is aim towards greater good, then peace would come true. Even if Chairman Man Hee Lee has the practical solution for peace, if no one desires it, then peace would not be possible. Each individual must have the desire to replace the materialistic desire for peace, in order for the practical solution for peace suggested by Chairman Lee to work.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -Martin Luther King Jr.

In the past, mankind attempted to resolve conflict through war. Consequently, war resulted to another war. Both conflict and war are considered as darkness that sweeps the world. However, in the nature, darkness cannot overcome darkness. It would only make it darker. Likewise, we are not able to solve war with war. Martin Luther King Jr. interprets this darkness as hate and light as love. Hate is something is that is followed by a certain action. This action is war. Both Mr. Lee and Dr. King agree that only solution towards darkness is light. This is why Mr. Man Hee Lee says that when light meets light, there is victory. When we are gathered together for cause in the name of love, we are able to overcome darkness and achieve victory. A spark of light in the middle of darkness will light in some amount. However, as more lights gather together to form a greater light, it will ultimately overcome the darkness. This is truly peace that ends all wars.

Quote: Man Hee Lee

"We have promised that religions will become one. Our hearts, thoughts, and even each word we speak will have to be used for making peace. We must deliver the message of peace to all the people around the world."

The promise and the agreement, which we made at the WARP Summit, must be displayed through our action and word. Our promise must be reflected through our action. There is no purpose of gathering together for a cause, if there is no follow-up action. It must be a cause that needs to be carried on through our actions after the Summit.

Our Desire for Peace

Aren't we all humans? Then why can't we all live in peace?

Everyone desires peace, but war brings death, sadness and hatred.

Everyone desires peace, then why does war happen, despite this unquestionable fact? Wars happen, because of a conflict in opinion and conflict in interest. It is true that we wish to gain more than others. However, we must understand the consequences that war bring. These are death, sadness, and hatred. What is more important to us? Is it the special privilege that we have over others or is it peace? What are we willing to give up, if we are given the choice between these two? If we want privilege, then we must become higher in authority and position than others. This will naturally cause conflict. And this conflict will lead to war. Do we want this, because it turns out in our history, our choices were not optimal. So, are we willing to tolerate those with some difference? I think this is the true meaning of peace. It is the act of overcoming my thoughts and prejudices against other and transcending to unity with them. Peace is not only an absence of war, it is understanding others despite the difference. As the first quote says, we are all humans. We have one big similarity with each other. We are all humans.

Quote: Man Hee Lee

One who lives by wearing grace cannot kill and destroy lives and expect to repay the grace. Truly, religion has to become one. I hope we can be the world’s joy and a beautiful legacy for the future generations.
-Man Hee Lee

What is the purpose of religion? Is it to kill and destroy? However, throughout the history we see that religion has been the origin and the center of war. If we understood and recognized this as a problem, we must seek to resolve. The guidelines outlined by HWPL and Mr. Man Hee Lee is spreading throughout the world after the WARP Summit. And with more inter-religious dialogues happening in the world and WARP office being established, it could be possible that peace can solved in our generation. With religious leaders and religion taking the front in this movement, it would fulfill the true role of religion and it will bring more people, who were once discouraged by religion, to religion.

I love peace

To say "I love peace" is another way of saying "I love my neighbor". It is a phrase that encompasses all purpose of faith, belief, and ideology.

"If you consider yourself precious, know that others are precious as well and love the other like you love yourself."

-Chairman Man Hee Lee

We all consider ourselves precious and we consider our individual lives precious. Then, we must respect others considering their lives precious. This is the foundation towards building peace in ourselves and with others. 

"As the rain, light and air in the heavens is unchangeable, we must love ourselves. Just as the light, rain and air from the heavens gives us life. we must love one another and learn to give abundantly."

-Chairman Man Hee Lee

One of the ways that we can come together to express our love for one another and for peace is the HWPL peace walk. As the second anniversary of the peace walk is approaching, we must start to act and join each other in our walks toward peace. This peace walk does not only show the world our hope for peace, but also it is a walk that the peace advocates are taking towards peace.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

A deep man believes in miracles, waits for them, believes in magic, believes that the orator will decompose his adversary; believes that the evil eye can wither, that the heart's blessing can heal; that love can exalt talent; can overcome all odds.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just because you are comfortable, does it mean you do not need a peace?  Our petty selfishness seems to make someone's misfortune to call for a war.  Wouldn't a small and little more attention and care enrich our lives.
-Chairman Man Hee Lee

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

"One who lives by wearing grace cannot kill and destroy lives and expect to repay the grace. Truly, religion has to become one. I hope we can be the world’s joy and a beautiful legacy for the future generations."

"All broadcast stations should become messengers of peace and broadcast the peace message often."

"The heart of a mother can make the impossible possible and can create something from nothing."

WARP Summit was an international gathering of all different people from the world. Previously, each represented different belief and value. Then, through the Summit, these variety of belief and value came together to become one under achieving and fulfilling world peace. Instead of compared 99 different things, we discovered that we shared one hope. And this is peace. WARP Summit redirected what different groups, such as religion, political leaders, women's group, youth group and media should do, in order to achieve peace as peace advocate.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

"One who lives by wearing grace cannot kill and destroy lives and expect to repay the grace. Truly, religion has to become one. I hope we can be the world’s joy and a beautiful legacy for the future generations."

"One shouldn't just proclaim peace and sit around, rather run with their feet for the peace movement. The world of peace will soon come."

There are various sayings in the world that we are judged and remembered based on our actions. No matter how much we think and speak of good thoughts, if we do not act, these thoughts are useless. We have seen peace movements in our history, but there has never been a movement that extended to international and various religions as HWPL. The actions of Chairman Man Hee Lee shows that he is an advocate of peace and truly wants peace to be fulfilled on this earth.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

"Could there be a person, who hates peace? Everyone says that they love peace. But, just because one shouts, "Peace, peace" repeatedly thousand times, it does not mean peace will be fulfilled."

What kind of voices were there in the history of mankind that wished for peace? Many people from variety of religions and ethnicity preached over peace and worked to achieve peace. And the society agrees that peace is necessary for the well-being of their family and community. But, out of those who agree peace, who actually works for peace? Do we see people working for peace in their given time? Although it is important, it is also ignored equally as well. In some way it is similar to diamond-water paradox in Economics. Although water is essential to life, its value is lower than diamond, which is not an necessity to our life. In a similar way, peace is essential to the survival of mankind, but it is taken for granted just as water in its paradox.

The Road to Peace

Recently, I came across a book called "Road to Peace" and "Peacework" by Henri Nouwen, a priest considered to be one of the greatest figure on spirituality inside the Catholic Church. Although peace work does restrict itself to only religions, the thoughts that Nouwen suggested in his book was ideal and similar to what the Chairman was doing. In "Peacworkd", Nouwen wrote, "For Jesus, there are no countries to be conquered, no ideologies to be imposed, no people to be dominated. There are only children, women and men to be loved." Jesus Christ also taught of peace and to love your neighbors as yourself, in a time where conflicts persist, just as today. In other words, I would like to say, in terms of peace, there are no countries to be conquered, no ideologies to be imposed, no people to be dominated. When everyone is under the banner of peace, nothing matters, in terms of political ideology or religion. There are only children, women and men, who are our neighbors, waiting to be loved. 

Peace does not restrict itself to one type of group. It approaches all people in same way and thought. But, no matter how much the thought of peace visits our minds, if we do not act upon it, will we reach our destination? We have to start walking. We have to start meeting different people, who have different ideals and views about the world. This reflect the actions of the Chairman, who have been travelling around the world, in order to make peace a reality. Peace, in other words, is love and grace. The Chairman addresses, "Dear global family, I know that we have many things to learn from the heaven. The heaven provides human with light through the sun, moon, and stars. This life given to us is grace. And we, who live on earth with this grace of heaven, must also love one another and become the messenger of peace, by showing grace to others, in order to walk the path of prosperity".

In addition to Nouwen's love of our neighbors, the Chairman extends the idea of love and peace, insofar as the origin. He exaggerates the grace that we have received from heaven and how it provided mankind with sunlight, rain, and wind for sustaining life. Likewise, we must also show our love, since we received love from heaven. Nouwen also wrote, "Peacemaking can be a lasting work only when we live and work together [and that] community is indispensable for a faithful and enduring resistance." As we see a common ground in two figures, who are both Christians from different denominations, we can see that the road to peace comes to us in same path. Although our starting points maybe different, because of our different backgrounds, our ending point, which is peace, is same. It does not mean that we will all end in our each destination of peace. It all leads to the same ending, when peace is achieved.

The sense of community is portrayed through the vision of HWPL by gathering different people from different background. I hope that people can accept the difference, but recognize the love for peace, in order to work together with HWPL and the Chairman.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

"If one person delivers the message of peace, then the two becomes one in thought and vision. As we all deliver the message of peace, then everyone will become one and pace will be achieved."

Do you want peace? Everyone wants peace. This is the common ground that all people, who are terrified by the war have. If we unite under this vision and disregard every other difference, then peace can be achieved. Does it mean that difference is wrong? Difference means variety. There are different type of people in this world. It does not mean it is wrong, but we must learn to accept the difference and respect the difference. And also use it as an opportunity to learn something new. Because the difference in nation, ethnicity, and religion became the origin of all conflict, if this mindset becomes resolved than anything is possible. The reason I follow the thoughts of Chairman Lee and HWPL is because of this vision. It does not limit to one group, but openly invites everyone to join. And their vision does not only stay in their thoughts, but it is being applied in front of our eyes, as the Chairman reaches to different places on earth. The Summit is one of these example. I hope that the Chairman's message can reach more people on earth.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

"It is the will of heaven and the hope of mankind that the work of peace is happening at this era. It must be the world of peace, where all youths become one and all women become one to erase all wars on this earth."

Peace is when everyone becomes one. It is when there are no two sides, but only one. The resources that HWPL has is IWPG (International Women's Peace Group) and IPYG (International Peace Youth Group). By gathering the youth and women together, we will be able to prevent one catalyst that begins war. The reason is because the wars are not fought by old generation, but by the youth. However, if the youth gather under one banner in IPYG, then wars cannot be fought. Likewise, IWPG unites all women together, as they are mothers to the youths, who are sacrificed in the wars. When everyone focuses on becoming one, then we would be able to become ultimately one.

In Pope Francis' visit to to South Korea, he commented "Peace is the result of justice." How can we bring justice into our society? Justice, according to one philosopher, whose thoughts became the fundamental foundation of political ideology, is briefly when everyone is doing their job. What is the right job for everyone? What are youths supposed to do? Are they destined to die in wars with each other? The chairman was felt sorrowful for the youth, who died before they could blossom and before they could achieve their dreams. This gave him the inspiration to start this peace movement, in order to allow the new generation to dream such a dream.

Quote: Chairman Man Hee Lee

"Over the history, there have been many people, who wished for and preached peace, but the world still remains the same. This was, because they did not have the right resources. However, because we (HWPL) have the right resources, we work for the peace movement around the world."

HWPL is truly the most appropriate organization for this era. It consists of people, who work for the same goal: to achieve peace. As Chairman Lee mentioned, HWPL seems to attract many youth and woman organizations around the world with the ingredients that they presented as a solution to achieve peace. And with the right tools and resources, HWPL is truly achieving peace around the world step by step. This is proven by the recent Summit that was hosted in South Korea last September. One of the main events of the Opening Ceremony of the Summit, Card Section, captured the attention of many participants with the message that they showed through synchronized movements. The cooperation that the performers displayed seems to represent a sense of peace that they themselves achieved. Also it amazed me that all staffs were volunteers, who sacrificed their times to prepare for the events. This truly shows that HWPL has the right resource to spread peace.