Values

    In general people establish criteria for behavior and then divide them into good and evil values. That is to say, when "good?and "evil?are divided the must important thing at work is nothing other than these criteria. This is because, when the criteria for values are improperly established the distinction between "good?and "evil?is incorrectly conceptualized. It follows, therefore, that the first order of business is to establish the proper criteria for all values.
    Where are the criteria for establishing values in Cheon-dogyo? In a word, they are in a person? ?ind?sim, 心) and "energy?gi, 氣). The Great Master quite early and frequently spoke of this "mind?and ?nergy? and we can see this in his criteria for an "upright life and a non-upright life? "good and evil? and the ?erson of virtue and the petty person?
    In this way we have the singing in the "Songs of Yongdam?of the line "the heart distinguishing between good and evil depends on one's "gi? or energy. In Donghak Scripture in "Lamenting Impatience in the Student of the Way?(Tandoyusimgeup, 歎道儒心急) is the following sentence: Wipe away the blemished energy and raise the child well with clear energy? This informs us that one can immediately recover one? innate nature. The criteria behind the Great Master? human values are to live the upright life, the kind-hearted life, yea, even the person of virtue?(gunja, 君子) life by keeping one's energy clean and true so as to restore to oneself his or her original nature. In other words, Chondogyo values are based on the criteria of "mind?and "energy?
    The following passage from "A Discussion on Learning?in Donghak Scripture allows us to understand quite precisely what Chondogyo values are:
    The moral excellence of the man of virtue(gunja, 君子) lies in the uprightness of his energy and the steadfastness of his heart and mind, thereby becoming one with the universe in virtue and truth. Because the character of a petty man is not upright, and because his heart and mind wanders, he runs counter to the will of the universe.
    This means that the most desirable and ideal criteria for one's character is that of goodness and kindness, as expressed by the man of virtue, whose energy is one of uprightness and whose heart is steadfast, having never changed from its original state. It also points out that the character of the so-called petty person has an energy that is not upright. The heart of the petty man is fickle and inconstant, and so cannot possess the qualities with which it was born.
    Seen through this teaching of the Great Master, Cheon-dogyo values are to "keep one's? energy pure and upright? and through this upright energy "restore the innate nature of the mind?and "Live remaining steadfast and true to this original mind.?So that one might maintain such energy and mind, the Great Master introduced a new disciplinary religious practice which he called "keeping the good mind and having the right spiritual force?susimjeonggi, 守心正氣). This discipline teaches us to "maintain our innate good mind?susim, 守心) and to "have the right spiritual force?cheonggi, 正氣), and to steadfastly practice this in our lives.
    However, Chondogyo values do not stop with "having the right spiritual force?and ?aintaining a steadfast heart and mind? Living in this way one eventually comes to a point when the conduct of ones life makes it possible to be one with the "virtue and truth of heaven and earth? that is, the "universe? Only then will the very highest value be realized. In other words, only by reaching the state of living in absolute perfect unison with the one vast living organism of the Cosmos will the highest value be attained.
    The criteria supporting Chondogyo values are "energy?and "mind?which are upright and steadfast, and these become the highest of values in a life that achieves perfect oneness with the Cosmos. Viewed from this perspective Chondogyo is a religion and belief system that seeks, in this way, the life and values of the Cosmos. It is also a religion that believes and teaches that such conduct is the highest virtue.