
Some time ago, I cut down trees with Lincoln students. After cutting down a big pine tree, I cut the tree into small slices and gave one to each student because the fragrance was so good. They were so happy with the slice of a pine tree in their hands. I have met so many students while travelling around the world giving mind lectures, but I have never met such precious and adorable students as Lincoln students.
I wish for Lincoln students to learn the wisdom of hearts and devote their lives to making the world peaceful with warm-heartedness. Students these days are enjoying the benefits of prosperity the former generations have achieved. However, when they walk out of the ¡®protected territory¡¯, they have to confront new challenges and they have to find wise solutions to many difficulties they may meet.
cores of years ago, there was no automobile manufactory in Korea. At that time, we disassembled the engines from the abandoned trucks of U.S. army and beat metal drums to make the body and made a kind of bus. Sometime later, as Korea's economy grew, some thought of making automobiles in Korea.
But most Koreans were against the plan. To build an automobile manufacturing plant, a huge amount of money was needed. Many people questioned why we had to manufacture automobiles in Korea, pouring so much money into automobile plants. They insisted that they could import automobiles with less money.
However, those who had wisdom had different ideas.
"No, we have to make automobiles with our own skills. These days only few people drive cars. Soon a new era for automobiles will come. We have to make automobiles with our own hands."
They built automobile manufacturing factories but couldn't make engines. At first, they imported engines from Japan and assembled automobiles in Korea. Two or three years later, they asked the Japanese to teach them how to make engines. The Japanese ignored their request and didn't teach them how to make engines.
So, Korea organized an automobile engine development team, and they disassembled the imported engines again and again and designed a new engine and completed it. Now automobile engines made in Korea are so good that even Mercedes-Benz automobiles in Germany, and Japanese companies, buy the engines made in Korea.
In 1944, the year I was born, Korea's GNP was only 50 U.S. dollars. In the year 1950 when the Korean War broke out, Korea's GNP was 67 dollars. Now Korea's GNP is approaching 30,000 dollars, and our society is changing rapidly as well as growing fast. Now the students are learning how to build the foundation for the new world.
To create a beautiful new world, instead of pursuing prestigious universities or good jobs, they should arm themselves with new hearts and create new ideas unimaginable to the old generations.
To create that world, you will learn the basics from school. But you always have to bear the creative parts in your minds. I hope all of you will be happy in Lincoln school with the wisdom from God and with clean and bright hearts. And please don't try to receive just knowledge from your teachers, but try to feel the hearts of your teachers. Put the hearts of your teachers in your hearts and retrace them for yourselves and deliver them to your friends. When you grow up, I hope you will make this country where the hearts of the people are warm and peaceful, where the love of Jesus lives in the hearts of the people instead of a country only with economic wealth and power.
I wish for all of the Lincoln graduates to become the leaders to make this world bright and beautiful. God bless you all!