I'd like to meet:
from _Rolling Thunder_ by Doug Boyd
Mad Bear said: "The purpose of good medicine is to make it simple.
There's no need to create any opposing destructive force; that
only makes more negative energy and more results and more
problems.
"If you have a sense of opposition--that is, if you feel contempt for
others--you're in a perfect position to receive their contempt.
The idea is to not be a receiver. You people have such anger
and fear and contempt for your so-called criminals that your
crime rate goes up and up. Your society has a high crime rate
because it is in a perfect position to receive crime. You
should be working WITH these people, not in opposition to
them. The idea is to have contempt for crime, not for people.
It's a mistake to think of any group or person as an opponent,
because when you do, that's what the group or person will
become to you. It's more useful to think of every other person
as another YOU--to think of every individual as a representative
of the universe.
"Every person is plugged into the whole works. Nobody is
outside it or affects it any less than anybody else. Every person
is a model of life, so the true nature of a person is the nature
of life. I don't care how low you fall or how high you climb,
economically or academically or anything else, you still
represent the whole thing. Even the worst criminal in life
imprisonment sitting in his cell--the center of him is the
same seed, the seed of the whole creation."
"We say there is a right time and place for everything. It's easy to say, but hard to understand. You have to live it to understand it."--Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
"When you have pollution in one place, it spreads all over. It spreads just as arthritis or cancer spreads in the body. The earth is sick now because the earth is being mistreated, and some of the problems that may occur, some of the natural disasters that might happen in the near future are only the natural readjustments that have to take place to throw off sickness. A lot of things are on this land that don't belong here. They're foreign objects like viruses or germs. Now, we may not recognize the fact when it happens, but a lot of the things that are going to happen in the future will really be the earth's attempt to throw off some of these sicknesses. This is really going to be like fever or like vomiting, what you might call a physiological adjustment.
"It's very important for people to realize this. The earth is a living organism, the body of a higher individual who has a will and wants to be well, who is at times less healthy or more healthy, physically and mentally. People should treat their own bodies with respect. It's the same thing with the earth. Too many people don't know that when they harm the earth they harm themselves, nor do the realize that when they harm themselves they harm the earth...
"It's not very easy for you people to understand these things because understanding is not knowing the kind of facts that your books and teachers talk about. I can tell you that understanding begins with love and respect. It begins with respect for the Great Spirit, and the Great Spirit is the life that is in all things -- all the creatures and the plants and even the rocks and the minerals. All things -- and I mean all things -- have their own will and their own way, their own purpose; this is what is to be respected.
"Such respect is not a feeling or an attitude only. It's a way of life. Such respect means that we never stop realizing and never neglect to carry out our obligation to ourselves and our environment."
Rolling Thunder offers a philospohical or religious basis for contemporary ecological thought. His view is fundamental to understanding Native American belief systems. Certainly, there are sound scientific reasons supporting the various ecology movements, and for scientific minds that may be enough. However, integrating both views may ultimately prove more reliable and productive than choosing one or the other.
SACRED INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE CREATOR TO
NATIVE PEOPLE AT THE TIME OF CREATION
A. Take care of Mother Earth and the other colors of man.
B. Respect this Mother Earth and creation.
C. Honor all life, and support that honor.
D. Be grateful from the heart for all life. It is through life that there is survival. Thank the Creator at all times for all life.
E. Love, and express that love.
F. Be humble. Humility is the gift of wisdom and understanding.
G. Be kind with one's self and with others.
H. Share feelings and personal concerns and commitments.
I. Be honest with one's self and with others. Be responsible for these sacred instructions and share them with other nations.
The Wisdom of the Hopi Elders on the Window
2001-A Hopi elder speaks:
"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh
Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that
this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the
leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said,
" This could be a good time! "
WISDOM OF THE ELDERS
There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and
swift, that there are those who will be afraid. They will
try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being
torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its
destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore,
push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open,
and our heads above the water. And I say, see who is in
there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves. For the moment that we do, our
spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your
vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred
manner and in celebration.
WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
Oraibi, Arizona
Hopi Nation
Near Oraibi, Arizona, there is a petroglyph known as Prophecy Rock which symbolizes many Hopi prophecies. Its interpretation is:
The large human figure on the left is the Great Spirit. The bow in his left hand represents his instructions to the Hopi to lay down their weapons. The vertical line to the right of the Great Spirit is a time scale in thousands of years. The point at which the great Spirit touches the line is the time of his return.
The "life path" established by the Great Spirit divides into the lower, narrow path of continuous Life in harmony with nature and the wide upper road of white man's scientific achievements. The bar between the paths, above the cross, is the coming of white men; the Cross is that of Christianity. The circle below the cross represents the continuous Path of Life.
The four small human figures on the upper road represent, on one level, the past three worlds and the present; on another level, the figures indicate that some of the Hopi will travel the white man's path, having been seduced by its glamour.
The two circles on the lower Path of Life are the "great shaking of the earth" (World Wars One and Two). The swastika in the sun and the Celtic cross represent the two helpers of Pahana, the True White Brother.
The short line that returns to the straight Path of Life is the last chance for people to turn back to nature before the upper road disintegrates and dissipates. The small circle above the Path of Life, after the last chance, is the Great Purification, after which corn will grow in abundance again when the Great Spirit returns. And the Path of Life continues forever...
The Hopi shield in the lower right corner symbolizes the Earth and the Four-Corners area where the Hopi have been reserved. The arms of the cross also represent the four directions in which they migrated according to the instructions of the Great Spirit.
The dots represent the four colors of Hopi corn, and the four racial colors of humanity.
Its up to all of us, as children of Mother Earth, to clean up this mess before it's too late.
The Elders request that during this International Year for the Worlds Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations keep that door open for spiritual leaders from the four corners of the world to come to speak to you for more than a few minutes as soon as possible. The Elders also request that eight investigative teams visit the native areas of the world to observe and tell the truth about what is being done and stop these nations from moving in this self- destructive direction.
If any of you leaders want to learn more about the spiritual vision and power of the Elders, I invite you to come out to Hopiland and sit down with our real spiritual leaders in their sacred Kivas where they will reveal the ancient secrets of survival and balance.
I hope that all members of this assembly that know the spiritual way will not just talk about it, but in order to have real peace and harmony, will follow what it says across the United Nations wall: "They will beat their swords into plowshares and study war no more." Lets, together, do that now!
Seek the creator in all the things you do. Cherish your time with on
another. Develop your personal self discipline, which is the key to
all success. Develop a sense of happiness within you that none can take
away. Develop who you are and remain true to your higher self and your
integrity will be an inspiration to others. Show your strengths when necessary, even if it is in being gentle or humble. Speak of others in private the same way you would in their presence. Do your best to find the good in all people and stand and speak up against wrong doing. Respect the earth where you stand.
Many parts of Mother Earth are also held captive behind
concrete and steel. Do your best to recognize inspiration from the Creator and avoid listening to your own, especially when you are tempted in contradiction of your higher values. Never be too proud to say you were wrong or too fearful to stand up for what you know is right. Don't expect to not get hurt by life, just because you've done your best to do what's right. Especially - don't lose your sense of humor, even when the laughter is at your own expense.
Life is a learning place. Existence is forever. Challenges are only
challenges because life has given you an opportunity to grow in an area
of your fear or weakness. Perhaps I've talked too much, eh? I want to
thank all of you for remembering me. Most of all I want to thank all of you have chosen to make a difference for the betterment of this world.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Mitakuye oyasin!
Leonard Peltier
Heroes:
If one fights evil with evil, evil always wins.
-Jesus Christ-
I don't preach revolution.
I am utterly against revolution.
I say unto you that my word for the future,
and for those who are intelligent enough in the present, is rebellion.
What is the difference?
Rebellion is individual action; it has nothing
to do with the crowd. Rebellion has nothing to do with politics, power, violence. Rebellion has something to do with changing your consciousness, your silence, your being.
It is a spritual metamorphosis.
Osho
"Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ." --Ghandi
I N S T R U C T I O N S F O R L I F E
from the Dalai Lama
1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s:
* Respect for self,
* Respect for others and
* Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
“The first thing you must know about me is that I always stand what I stand for. Good? The second thing you must know about yourself listening to me is that words are tricky. So when you know what me a stand for, when me explain a thing to you, you must never try to look 'pon it in a different way from what me a stand for.”
People want to listen to a message, word from Jah. This could be passed through me or anybody. I am not a leader. Messenger. The words of the songs, not the person, is what attracts people.”
“Me only have one ambition, y'know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together - black, white, Chinese, everyone - that's all.” --B ob Marley
..
HO'OKAHI NO LA'AU LAPA'UA, O KA MIHI.
(The first remedy is forgiveness.)
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
“To understand everything is to forgive everything”
“A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.”
“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”
“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.”
“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
“To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others”
“To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
“There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it.”
“Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law.”
“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”
Buddha
Even as the fingers of the two hands are equal, so are human beings equal to one another. No one has any right, nor any preference to claim over another. You are brothers.
Final Sermon of Muhammad
Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should not harm his neighbor. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet.
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 47.
Avoid cruelty and injustice for, on the Day of Judgment, the same will turn into several darkness’s; and guard yourselves against miserliness; for this has ruined nations who lived before you.
Riyadh-us-Salaheen, Hadith 203.
The Prophet Muhammad
Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India , embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger.
The Bhagavad-gita deals with five basic truths and their interrelation:
the nature of the finite souls
the position of the infinite soul, God
time, or the duration of existence
material creation and its laws
activities, or karma
“Always think of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisance’s to Me, and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.”
Krishna
