The study in Suseonjae never unfolds only in the direction of the fruit of good.
Because the fruit of good and that of evil unfold hand in hand, you are likely to think "Oh, isn't this a wrong way?", "Oh, isn't this a bit weird?", "Isn't this less rational in light of the human line of thinking?".
You may judge that way, but Suseonjae is a school where you study. From a teacher's standpoint, students cannot learn properly if only right and good things are presented to them as teaching materials. Students should be able to see both sides of right and wrong.

Therefore a teacher sometimes treats harshly... It's also spoken in "Longing for Seongye". A teacher sometimes gives rise to emotions, and even sufferings as well. The teacher does it on purpose, for it's not helpful for the study of students to let them be as they are.  A teacher is the one who volunteers to do the job. He or she doesn't always do good things only.
For instance, let's say I-Shik Susa has a scrape. It's not likely to be cured or fester when he goes without any treatment; there comes a point where I should make a decision whether or not to let it fester, cut it and press out the pus, or put on bacteria to make it fester more. This doesn't happen more often than not, though.  

I volunteer to do the job. I may cut the hurt by knife or put bacteria on it. Why on earth does a spiritual teacher do so? It's because when a certain method isn't right for the study of a student, then the teacher tries many other methods. And it's also because each student is different.

Some people study well when they are complimented. Others study well when reproached. Others study well when left alone without their teacher's attention. Everyone is so different.
Some people study better when they get constantly praised, while others do well when left alone. Everyone is that different, so is one's level. Although you are altogether here in Suseonjae, since each one's level varies, I use this method for this person and that method for that person, which ends up using all kinds of methods. Therefore never judge by the human line of thinking, saying "Oh, this is right, that is wrong.".   

Observing not so many people around me everyday, I've come to feel that "Oh, how different people are from one another!" But a few minutes later I've come to give it a second thought and conclude that people are all the same.

What's different is, this person is honest and that person has a knack, and so on. On the other hand the fundamental sentiment human beings have is all the same, which I come to feel more often than not.
Ultimately people are the same although they look very, very different from one another. It's just that this character is manifested in this person, and that character in that person. Everyone has the same thing indeed. And I constantly feel it.

People also tend to define themselves as this kind of person or that kind of person depending on what aspect is obviously manifested. But the truth is, the obvious aspect is what appears on the surface with the rest hidden. You can not regard others as just different people from you, for the attributes human beings have are all the same. It's just that some aspects appear to be obvious whereas the rest are hidden. In other words, people have the same aspects with each manifested individually in a different degree of importance. Therefore you are not so different people from one another. 

 What we seek after is a complete and soft person, who is not weird from anyone's point of view and not so distinctive in every aspect. The person has met all the necessary conditions for a complete human being in such a way that each condition doesn't conflict with one another and create discord. Every internal and external aspect of the person is in harmony. And this is why a constant effort to cut off any sharp and sticking aspects from you is necessary.

Governing your emotions is the key, for your brain is dominated by your emotions. The key to control your thinking process lies in your Jungdan (middle Danjeon). Your Jungdan regulates your thoughts.
For instance, let's say you are in a bad mood. It's not that your mood is controlled by your thought, but that your thought is controlled by your mood. Your mood is the first priority. Therefore if you try to be in a good mood all the time, your thoughts will stay positive.

Assume you get up in the morning and feel bad. You don't even know why. You are in an unidentified bad mood. Then your thoughts become very negative due to the bad mood.
On the contrary, you are in a good mood now. You're wondering why, but this makes the flow of your thoughts very constructive. It may lead you to decide to donate money for South Asia fund or do a lot of good work for others.

However if you are in a bad mood, your thoughts naturally run in a negative direction. You may think "Oh, I dislike that guy so much! What can I do about it?"
Why do you have to control your mind? The reason you should strengthen your Jungdan so hard is because this regulates your mood. Only if your Jungdan is developed, you will be able to control your mood.

When your Jungdan is developed, then you should be able to control your thoughts. When a thought arises and it goes beyond your control, this kind of stray thought should be regulated by your Sangdan. Therefore only when your Jungdan is developed, your Sangdan can be developed.

If you can control your emotions freely, it can be said you are a Seonin. You only have to maintain your emotions in a pleasant state all the time. You don't have to be too pleased. Your mood is always mildly pleasant in such a way that it's neither hot nor cold, neither happy nor unhappy. Just neutral. If you are too happy, you get excited.

Those who are in love are usually out of mind, being too excited. Therefore a romance is short-lived, for it is too tiring and difficult to be in love all one's life.  
It is extremely energy-consuming to remain excited. So being too happy or pleased is not desirable, and just a slightly pleasant state is enough.

Na Eunhee: I don't know if it's because I practice, but these days anger doesn't arise. Even if it arises, I soon get to repress it.

Don't force yourself to repress your emotions. Rather express them outward. I heard that there is a book or meeting for those in their 50's. One of the claims of the book is to dislike openly the one you dislike.

The book insists that your life starts at the age of 50, and your children are your enemy. It also urges you to get yourself back from 50. My generation, those in their 50's, are a deprived one. My generation could never criticize others openly. But now those in their 50's are entitled to blame others openly, for they have suffered enough so far. 

By the way what is repressed is formidable. Therefore you should always watch your emotions carefully. If anger arises, express it. It's right that you shouldn't let anger arise, but you are not there yet. When you are angry but you don't express it at all, it becomes a disease.

The best way is to stop thinking. The best solution for any problem is to stop thinking. Does anger arise? Stop thinking. Does a woman bother your mind? Just stop thinking of her. Don't be immersed in the thought. Step out of it immediately and don't think any longer.

Are you in a bad mood because of someone? Then forget the person. Stop thinking about the person. Remember the best way is to stop thinking. The more you think, the worse your mood gets. It's not that you stop thinking for the person, but that for yourself. It's for your own sake.
Ms. Ko Dushim recently had an interview, and she is about my age. She said she thinks about only good things, for thinking about only good things keeps her busy enough. She added she's wonders why others waste time on thinking about bad things when life is so precious. It's because she has such a firm belief that she could win the Grand Prix (Best Acting Award) at both broadcasting stations. Always keep it in mind; never think about bad things.

Choi Eunja: I have a question. When I first joined Suseonjae, I was told a lot to develop my Jungdan. But I still have no sense about what it would be like to have a developed Jungdan.

Having a developed Jungdan means you are in control of your emotions. Though your emotions used to be uncontrollable and you were just dragged by them, now you can control them. You can either calm them down or give rise to them.

Having a developed Jungdan indicates not only calming down your emotions but giving rise to them as well when you don't have them. According to Seonin Hwang Jini, Jungdan is the key to give rise to and calm down emotions.  

However it's not always good to calm down your emotions. In fact having no emotions is a more serious problem. It's like becoming frigid. It's a such a state where you have no feeling about things. You neither like nor dislike anything. Everything looks just so so.

By the way it's normal for a person like me to reach such a state through practicing further. But if you are already there before practicing, it's just having no feeling. You are like autism patients. You don't feel anything, and that's a bigger problem.

In that case you should give rise to emotions first. You should arouse anger if necessary. You don't even get angry, do you? The children whose human rights were infringed upon too much don't get angry no matter how badly they are treated. That's not good. You should know when to get angry.

When watching TV, you should be able to express yourself fully. Laugh when you are happy, cry when sad. When both others and you don't even know if you are happy or unhappy, if you like it or not, that's autism. (She laughs)

There are some women who are beaten up by their husbands and don't even know it's wrong, right? They don't even know it's not proper. But being beaten up is definitely wrong. That should not happen. That's something beyond human reason, but if they don't even get angry at such an unrighteous treatment, that's a more serious problem.
It's more difficult to deal with, too.
In the book for those in their 50's, there is this story. One day a woman in her 50's is boiling a beef bone soup. Then all her children notice this. Oh, it's the very day today. The day their mother leaves home. After cooking a huge amount of soup for her husband and children, she's going to leave home. Oh, the day has come again.

On the other hand, her husband is planning on revenge himself on his first love for her betrayal, without knowing his wife will soon leave home. Whereas his wife in her 50's decides to get herself back from now, the husband in his 50's just tries to take out such an old story from 30 years old ago, and plans to revenge the betrayal of his first love who married another man.

The man in his 50's became this miserable. He's so powerless that he can say nothing to his wife, but keeps thinking of his first love, a girl who hurt him 30 years ago. He is represented as a portrait of a man in his 50's.

By the way, if you get angry, don't express your anger by going to the person who made you angry and slap him or her in the face. Express it in a different manner. Let it out playing sports, hitting a ball, or hitting a racket. That's the new generation's manner. Always try to find another object for the outlet of your anger. Never fight with the person, yelling and grabbing him or her by the throat. 

I guess I like you gathering here so much. This is a bit going forward. This hasn't been told to other trainees yet. Isn't it somewhat unprecedented?

We talk a lot about being sophisticated, don't we? Being sophisticated isn't about the way you get dressed or do your hair. It's about the way you express your emotions, restrain your emotions.

Like this what's important is the manner you express your emotions. That's the meaning of being sophisticated. Don't express your anger in such a way that you go to the person shaking your body in anger to say that you are angry. Don't stay sulky for a couple of days grumbling in resentment. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get angry at all. I'm telling you to express your anger in a nice manner.

Words spoken at the completion of the 5th Meditation Trainer's Course on Jan. 15, 2005