¹In August 1905 (DG 35), Sangjenim had the disciples sit before Him in rows and announced to them that He would read them a poem He had written in childhood.²“Compose yourselves with a right mind,” He commanded. Sangjenim then recited:

³運來重石何山遠이오 粧得尺椎古木秋라
운래중석하산원 장득척추고목추

When a mighty stone must be brought hither,
how can the mountain be considered too distant?

A well-crafted club is used to shape the world,
so now must be the autumn of an old tree!

⁴“Is this not the civilization of teachers?” Sangjenim said. “Pray in your hearts and receive these verses,” Sangjenim commanded, and all the disciples prayed in their hearts and received the verses.

⁵Sangjenim continued:

霜心玄圃淸寒菊이여 石骨靑山瘦落秋라
상심현포청한국 석골청산수락추

In an ethereal garden covered with frost
blooms an immaculate chrysanthemum.

A verdant mountain becomes bony rock,
so now must be the autumn of fallen foliage!

⁶“Is this not the civilization of ancestors?” Sangjenim said. “Pray in your hearts and receive these verses,” Sangjenim commanded, and all the disciples prayed in their hearts and received the verses.

⁷Sangjenim continued:

千里湖程孤棹遠이요 萬邦春氣一筐圓이라
천리호정고도원 만방춘기일광원

Crossing a lake of one thousand ri,
a solitary rowing seems endless.

The qi of spring in all lands
brims in a single bamboo basket!

⁸“Is this not the civilization of sovereigns?” Sangjenim said. “Pray in your hearts and receive these verses,” Sangjenim commanded, and all the disciples prayed in their hearts and received the verses.

⁹Sangjenim continued:

時節花明三月雨요 風流酒洗百年塵이라
시절화명삼월우 풍류주세백년진
Seasonal flowers bloom radiantly in the March rain.
Pungnyu wine washes away a hundred years’ dust.

¹⁰“Is this not the civilization in which the virtues of teachers, ancestors, and sovereigns are united into one?” Sangjenim said. “Pray in your hearts and receive these verses,” Sangjenim commanded, and all the disciples prayed in their hearts and received the verses.

¹¹Sangjenim continued:

風霜閱歷誰知己오 湖海浮遊我得顔이라
풍상열력수지기 호해부유아득안
驅情萬里山河友요 供德千門日月妻라
구정만리산하우 공덕천문일월처
Who could comprehend My odyssey of hardships?

I float and revel on the cosmic sea of creation-transformation,
and My face is revealed.

I spread love ten thousand ri,
and all mountains and rivers become My friends.

I bestow virtue throughout heaven and earth,
and the sun and moon become My companions.

¹²“Is this not for us the autumn, in which humans fulfill the will of heaven and earth?” Sangjenim said. “Pray in your hearts and receive these verses,” Sangjenim commanded, and all the disciples prayed in their hearts and received the verses.