Here are my notes from Hyo-Jin-nim's speech Sunday 27 January 2008. My ability to convey what was actually said is limited. These, at most, convey some sense of what Hyo-Jin-nim said and are not a verbatim record. To see projects that Hyo-Jin-nim is working on log on to: definingmoment.tv
Joe Kinney

Rev. Andrew Compton is the MC. All welcome Hyo-Jin-nim and Yeon Ah-nim and offer a standing bow.

Hyo-Jin-nim bows to the audience as he approaches the stage.

How are you?

Good morning. (Good morning)

Happy New Year! (Happy New Year) (This is Hyo-Jin-nim's first Belvedere speech this year)

One more year is gone; what does that mean? (Laughing)

How many years do we have? OK.

It depends on how you think about the way things are and what you are in control of in reality.

How are you going to change the world?

Do you know how to change yourself?

Do you know that your ways are the right way?

Are you absolutely sure that what ever that you think that you have talent in, do you know what perfection is in it?

Are you a master of that; can you control it?

How are you going to change the world? You ask yourself.

We're trying, but how are we going to do it in actuality?

You have your ways, right? You have to start from there.

You have to change the ways of other people.

If you're going to change the world, you have to know what the ways of the world are, (the ways) of the people that you're focusing on, and from there try to make a difference.

What is your way? How do you live? What do you live for? What is your goal?

I know that you want to be somebody. Everybody wants to be somebody.

So what is your way? There are many, many ways.

That's the problem. We have to know all those ways to change the world.

Yes it comes into cliques so to speak. It clumps into some kind of tribal reality. But that's what you need to know to change the world.

You have to know human ways; otherwise you will not change the world. Right?

And that's what we need to focus on; otherwise it's meaningless.

I'm trying to understand my little kids okay? I'm sure that they have a hard time understanding me. (Laughter) A crazy guy like me.

But that's the way it works you have to know humans are the ways we are. The more we know (the more) we can get closer to that ultimate goal that we all talk about in religion. (Hyo-Jin-nim laughs.)

And where do you start? If you ask yourself "I start now" what can you do? That's what you do. You think from there, one step at a time until it gets holy and mighty.

All the time start from that; that's where you start and you build it from there.

See if it works. Try it out on people that you know.

I don't know you. You don't know me. But you have people that you know around you. Start there.

Try it out.

Change the world.

Okay? (long pause and sigh)

OK, take care.

(taps podium once)