1. The Three Types of the Way

1) The Three Types of the Way Centering on Good and Evil

Human beings are going roughly three ways. One of them is the opposite direction of the way of goodness, opposing goodness; another is a kind of neutral way, neither this way nor that; and the other is the way of heading towards goodness and being responsible for it. In other words, there are people who are going the opposite direction of goodness, people who are going the way of no gain and no loss, and people who would even die for the purpose of goodness.

Then what kind of way are we walking? How was it in the past, how is it in the present, and from now on what kind of way must we go? We must go the way where you would die for the purpose of goodness. Then when a certain time arrives, you will sing a funeral hymn and expel the evil elements of the world of humankind. You have entered a very difficult way. You will know yourself when you realize the things that you should, that this is the inevitable way you cannot help but go. This is not the midway course nor the way which is opposite of goodness. You must realize that this is the way where you have to establish a relationship with the Absolute Being. From a religious point of view, there are three ways: the way of betrayal aiming towards evil, the way claiming only to follow the conscience, and the way aiming for the greatest goodness. However, it's different to live just by conscience and also to live consciously for God.

Through past history we can see that there was the way of evil and the way of human morality shown by the conscience. This kind of historical background keeps us bound by convention and makes it hard for us to go the absolute way. It makes it hard for us to get out from the habits of the past. You must cut off these habits and go on. Humankind must go somewhere anyway, but where and how should it go? It goes without saying that humankind must go the way of living for God, for the Absolute Being. This fact is impossible to change even though heaven and the earth change.

But you have not even emerged from your own problems yet. The body is close to evil and the mind is close to the conscience. There are still lots of people who are at the point of doubting whether there is a God. But God is not some fantasized Being, He is a Being who really exists and who does things. There are three separate ways; then, where must one's first step go? Of course it has to go the way of living for God, for the Absolute Being. Then how do you go while you go the way for God?

Just as there are several ways of working for the nation, there are several different paths along the heavenly way. There is the way of a servant, the way of an adopted son, the way of children, and also the way of parents. Then what kind of way must we go? Which position should we be in to go more elegantly and to have more value? We could just be in the position of a servant. But you wouldn't want to go in the position of a servant to go all the way with the determination to sacrifice all. God also wouldn't recommend that you go that way. How about in the position of a brother? Not that either. How about the position of an adopted son? Neither God nor your yourself will want this. (11-237)