Wisdom from the Elders
“To succeed in the new economy, we must operate by the design principles of the rainforest” – Mr Tachi Kiuchi – Managing Director of Mitsubishi Electric USA & Chair of Future 500 USA
Every gardener knows you don’t cause a plant to grow … Sooner or later we’ll all wake up and realize that the industrial system is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nature” …… Peter Senge senior lecturer at MIT, chairperson of SoL
“I am working for the creation, I refuse to take part in it’s destruction” – American Indian Elder
“These are our times and our responsibilities. Every human being has a sacred duty to protect the welfare of our mother earth, from whom all life comes. In order to do this we must recognize the energy there is within us. We must begin with ourselves.” – Tadadaho Chief Lean Shenandoah
Keeping the water pure is one of the first laws of life – American Indian Elder
“When I’m on a high mountain, looking out over the country, my unggur (life force) flows out from inside my body, and I fall open with happiness.” – David Mowaljarlai – Ngarinyin Aboriginal Elder
We must widen the circle of our love till it embraces the whole village: the village in it’s turn must take into it’s fold the district, the district the province, and so on till the scope of our love becomes coterminous with the world. – Mahatma Ghandi 1929
Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end up by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning. – Mahatma Ghandi 1937
Our people believe that on the day we start communicating with dolphins and whales, great doors of knowledge and wisdom will be opened to us because these marine animals, the umkhoma (the conqueror) and the ihlengethwa (the redeemer) are custodians of knowledge that we wretched beings have not dreamt about – Credo Mutwa – African Zulu Elder
“Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” – Albert Einstein
Perception depends on your energy and ability to receive – build your abilities purposefully
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it is the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead
The great strength of prominent cultures is unity
Yoda – “My ally is the force and a powerful force it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the force around you, here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes even between the land and the ship.”
Luke Skywalker – “You want the impossible, I don’t believe it.”
Yoda – “That is why you fail.” From “The Empire Strikes Back”
“The only significant things in life are how much you have loved, and how much you have let go”
– Buddha 500 BC
Nelson Mandela – About Personal Power
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous ?
Actually, who are you NOT to be ?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
You were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us: it’s in EVERYONE ! And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others !
Integrating Love & Power
Power properly understood is the ability to achieve purpose … Power is not only desirable but necessary in order to implement the demands of love and justice. One of the greatest problems of history is that the concepts of love and power are usually contrasted as polar opposites. Love is identified with a resignation of power, and power with a denial of love ….
What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and that love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.
Nelson Mandela 1994 Inaugural speech
Inspiration
“Never give a sword to a man who cannot dance” – Old Celtic motto
“Integrity is the essence of everything” – R. Buckminster Fuller
Everything is Energy – Deepak Chopra, Albert Einstein et al
Thought (which is energy) creates your reality (physical and non-physical)
– shown by Albert Einstein & Quantum Physics
Approximately 95 % of thoughts are subconscious ie unknown to the conscious mind.
What’s really driving you ? Increasing conscious awareness increases abilities & power.
We experience what we believe. If we don’t believe that we experience what we believe, then we don’t, which still means the first statement is true. – Harry Palmer
“For things to change first I must change”
“My health and wealth are created by my daily habits”
An unhappy man is never lucky – Arabian proverb
Clarity in the Present Moment – Leads to Power
“Our chief want in life is somebody who will make us do what we can”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Choice, not chance determines destiny
Find the truth and the truth will set you free
“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow”
– Ronald E. Osborn
“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to
excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor”
– Vincent T. Lombardi
“It’s a funny thing about life: If you refuse to accept anything but the very best, you will very often get it”
– W. Somerset Maugham
Desire is our greatest motivator
There is always room at the top
True Power is not rigidity. True Power is a mind/body state (integrated) in which energy flows unrestricted towards a purpose.
Denial prolongs struggle
“The only significant things in life are how much you have loved, and how much you have let go”
– Buddha 500 BC
Wisdom From The Elders
“If we keep everything in balance, we are in harmony with ourselves and are at peace.”
Fools Crow, LAKOTA
As within, as without, our present thought determines our future. If we want peace outside ourselves, we must first have peace inside ourselves. It’s not what is going on but how we are looking at what is going on. We need to keep ourselves in balance. We must be careful to not get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. We must know the times – time to work, time to rest, time to play, time to sleep, time to pray, time to lighten up, time to laugh, time to eat, time to exercise. There is a saying “The honor of one is the honor of all.” This means when we work with all, we need to also work on one. We need to take care of ourselves. You cannot give away what you don’t have.
Great Spirit, let me walk in balance today. Remove from me resentment, self pity and self seeking motives. Let me love myself so I can love my neighbors.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day August 19
“One is not born a Tewa but rather one is made a Tewa… once made, one has to work hard continuously throughout one’s life to remain a Tewa.”
Alfonso Ortiz, SAN JUAN PUEBLO
Being Indian is being spiritual. It is not the color of our skin. Being Indian is how we think. We need to learn our culture, our language, our dances, our traditions and customs. It is one thing to know these things, but another to live them. We need to spend time with the Elders and get their guidance. We need to go to the mountains, woods and desert to pray. Being spiritual is the way for us to think right. Walking the Red Road and thinking right is the greatest gift we can give to our children.
Grandfather, help me to Walk the Talk.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day October 31
“It’s time. If you are to walk the path of heart, then it is time…”
Nippawanock, ARAPAHOE
If not now, when? If not me, who? To walk the path of the heart is a great honor. Every human has the choice to walk this path, but very few will decide to make it. Why? Well, because you can’t act and behave like everyone else behaves. You must be the person who will learn to look within. You must be the person who will be fully accountable for yourself. You must be the person who prays and meditates. You must be the person who will sacrifice. You must decide to be a Peaceful Warrior. What will you decide today?
Oh, Great Mystery, lead me on the path of the heart.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day May 16
“The sacred fire used to heat the rocks represents the eternal fire that burns at the center of the universe.”
Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA
Our Sweat Lodge represents the womb of Mother Earth. This is the place of forgiveness. The altar is the place where the Grandfathers are heated. The Sweat Lodge and the altar represent the whole story of the universe. The Sweat Lodge and the ceremonies are sacred. The Great Spirit gave these things to us to help us. He taught us to do the ceremonies in harmony with Mother Earth. We need to know and understand these things.
Great Spirit, let me understand harmony.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day March 18
“My friends, how desperately do we need to be loved and to love.”
Chief Dan George, SKOKOMISH
Oh my great Creator: Help me this day to love myself. I can’t give away anything that I don’t have myself. If I am to love others, then I must love myself. If I am to forgive others, then I am to forgive myself. If I am to accept others as they are then I need to accept myself as I am. If I am to not judge others, then I need to lighten up on myself. Let me experience this power of love…
My Creator, today I will love myself so I can love my neighbor. I will look at each person today and see Your light within them. If I do this, I will hold my brothers and sisters without guilt.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day July 17
“It is a paradox in the contemporary world that in our desire for peace we must willingly give ourselves to struggle.”
Linda Hogan, Chickasaw
The Grandfathers have taught us about sacrifice. We have been taught to pray for the people in a pitiful way. Struggle and conflict is neither good nor bad, it just is. Everything that grows experiences conflict. When the deer is born it is through conflict. When the seed first grows, it is through conflict. Conflict precedes clarity. Everything has the seasons of growth. Recognize – acknowledge – forgive and change. All of these things are done through conflict.
Great Spirit, give me the courage today to see that struggle and conflict are here to teach me lessons that are a gift from you.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day August 5
“Always remember you are Indian – do things to make your people proud.”
Joe Coyhis, Stockbridge-Munsee
All our choices and decisions will reflect on our people. We need to assume the accountability of honoring people. We must remember to conduct ourselves in a sacred way. Sometimes this is hard. But we must remember we have the assistance of the Spirit World, and we have the principles and values by which we should live written in our hearts. The Creator will help us develop into a strong people if we just learn to depend upon Him.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day August 3
“There is no such thing as ‘part-Cherokee.’ Either you’re Cherokee or you’re not. It isn’t the quantity of Cherokee blood in your veins that is important, but the quality of it . . . your pride in it. I have seen full-bloods who have virtually no idea of the great legacy entrusted to their care. Yet, I have seen people with as little as 1/500th blood quantum who inspire the spirits of their ancestors because they make being Cherokee a proud part of a their everyday life.”
Jim Pell, Principal Chief of the North Alabama Cherokee Tribe
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
“When the earth is dying there shall arise a new tribe of all colours and all creeds. This tribe shall be called The Warriors of the Rainbow and it will put its faith in actions not words.”
Prophecy of the Native American Hopi People For more information contact: Chief RedArrow