🔎 Introduction
✨ In this thought-provoking writing, Master Woo Myung explores the difference between what is real and what is fake — especially in matters of religion, philosophy, and spiritual life.
In the material world, it is often easy to recognize counterfeit goods. 🏷️ But in the spiritual realm, where Truth and falsehood are not visible to the eye, discernment becomes much more difficult.
According to this teaching, Truth alone is real. Anything that does not lead a person to discard the false self and become complete is ultimately false — no matter how convincing it may appear.
ORIGINAL WRITING BY MASTER WOO MYUNG
Cults and That Which Are Real and Fake
A few years ago, I visited Mexico. Mexico is a high altitude country with a high crime rate. Mexico City is located in one of the valleys of the mountain ranges, sitting atop a lake so despite its high altitude, it is one of the cities with the worst air pollution in the world. When you first arrive, it can be dizzying and the amount of pollution can make your face sting.
The majority of the Korean people who live in South America own and run small stores; clothing stores, gift stores, household product stores and so on. In the past, most fruit stalls and laundry stores in the U.S. were run by Jewish people but were eventually taken over by Koreans who thought that there was good money to be made. Similarly, Koreans have taken over most of the clothing stores that were originally operated by Jewish people.
Many Koreans who were living in Argentina came to Mexico. They sold knock-off clothing with the real label stuck on, but later suffered for it when they were reported to the authorities by Jewish people. Apart from clothes, there are many fake things in the world posing as the real thing.
Particularly in religion, philosophy and ideology — areas that are related to spiritual matters — no one knows how to tell the difference between what is real and fake.
Commonly, anything that is not one’s own is condemned as being a cult and a false religion. But in any case, anything that is not real must be a fake.
In that case, what is real?
Truth is what is real, and anything that is not Truth is fake, even if one tries to become Truth and listens to words of Truth.
It is possible for anyone to know that they have not become complete. Therefore, when one discards his false self, his true self will remain. However, people find it difficult to become real because they try to do so while retaining their false selves.
A false religion is something that is similar to the real thing. However, if you cannot become real through it, it is false. All people say that their religion is the true one, but it is not if they themselves have not become real, even if they speak words of Truth and try to behave like Truth.
One must have become complete Truth in order to say that he is real. Most people do not realize that they are being fooled in some way.
That which is real can tell both what is real and false, but that which is false does not know either. One must become real to realize that he himself is false and that he himself is wrong. If he himself has not become real, then everything is false and a false religion.
In that case, all places apart from the place where one can discard his false self and become real may be false. Man does not have wisdom so he has a tendency to claim that what is his is right even though he has not become real and complete. When someone claims that something or somebody else is a cult or a false religion, it is because he himself is so.
A person who claims such things has false religions and cults inside his mind. If they did not exist in his mind, he would not do so.
If one discards himself and achieves human completion, he becomes real and the place that guided him is also real. The places where one cannot become real are all false; they are the cults and false religions.
– Woo Myung
🌿 Reflect at Santa Clara Meditation
At Santa Clara Meditation, practitioners are guided not to judge outwardly, but to examine inwardly. 🌱
The real question is not whether something is labeled a “cult” or “true religion,” but whether it enables one to discard the false self and become complete.
Truth is not determined by appearance, tradition, or claim — it is determined by transformation.
When one becomes real, discernment becomes clear.
