Jesus’ great commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” teaches the vertical axis of true love, and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” teaches the horizontal axis of true love.
Sun Myung Moon

True Love
Topic: Love, Compassion, & Kindness
True love has two axes: the vertical and the horizontal. True love on the vertical axis means that God is the Creator; He is the source of true love, and He loves His creation. Human beings, as the supreme creation of God, are the recipients of God’s true love and return love and beauty to Him.
True love on the horizontal axis means that our actions are motivated by love for the sake of others, and we give our love to others in a way that will be genuinely beneficial to them. Within a family, the husband may energetically pursue the Will of God, even running far ahead of his wife. But if his motivation is for the sake of his family, all the members of that family will feel united in love. We can see, therefore, that the true concept of unification emerges when we act from the motivation of sacrificially loving others.
All creation is an effort of giving. It is a universal law that the giver prospers and grows. When a person only takes from others in order to satisfy his desires, that selfish action is not love, and it ultimately creates enemies. He will become more isolated and decline. But a person who gives of himself to benefit others creates friends who will in turn help him. He will inevitably receive more than he gave, and he will prosper. Therefore, the person of true love lives for the highest purpose, and then gives of himself. These two axes of true love are the principle behind Jesus’ great commandment. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” teaches the vertical axis of true love, and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” teaches the horizontal axis of true love.
Sun Myung Moon, born on January 6, 1920, was a renowned spiritual leader hailing from North Korea. He founded the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, better known as the Unification Church, in 1954. Drawing upon elements of Christianity, Confucianism, and anti-communist political philosophy, Moon's teachings centered on love, unity, and peace. He aimed to spark a global spiritual movement that transcended religious and cultural divisions, and his vision resonated with followers all over the world. Through the Unification Church, Moon also promoted interfaith understanding and collaboration, striving for harmony among diverse religious traditions.
Moon's teachings went beyond the realm of the spiritual to touch on the universal human themes of love and family. He emphasized the importance of nurturing strong, loving families as the cornerstone for a harmonious and peaceful world. To this end, he conducted mass wedding ceremonies known as the 'Blessing', symbolizing the unity of all people under God, regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds. Moon also stressed the value of community service and encouraged his followers to actively contribute to their local communities.
Moon's partner in both life and work was his wife, Hak Ja Han Moon. As co-leader of the Unification Church, she was a pivotal figure in spreading their shared vision of a world unified by love and peace. Affectionately known as the 'True Mother', she embodied the ideal of nurturing and unconditional love in their teachings. After Moon's passing in 2012, Hak Ja Han Moon assumed sole leadership of the Unification Church. In this role, she has tirelessly carried forward their mission, upholding the church's emphasis on peace, interfaith dialogue, and strong, loving families. Under her guidance, the church has continued to flourish, spreading its message of unity and love to people around the globe.
Wilson, Andrew, editor. World Scripture II. Universal Peace Federation, 2011, p. 703 [World Scripture and the Teachings of Sun Myung Moon, Chapter 13 Love, The Great Commandment, (November 25, 1988)].

Sun Myung Moon
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