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| Celtic Radio Community > Short Stories > Wisdom Keepers |
| Posted by: myriad 10-Nov-2003, 11:20 AM |
| Just a few quotes to get us started. "Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can make for our children." -Sitting Bull "Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library..." -Chief Luther Standing Bear (Oglala Sioux) "My friends, how desperately do we need to be loved and to love." -Chief Dan George The art below is from Rabbit Studios ... they are favorites of mine... you can view more of their work at www.rabbitstudios.com Together We Are One  |
| Posted by: Angel Whitefang (Rider) 10-Nov-2003, 11:32 PM |
| SWEET! another great start! Myr, I love that pic, were did you find it? Did you make it yourself?? Hmmm, I should get out my book of great Quotes. HEHE. we all could have some deep discussions  |
| Posted by: myriad 11-Nov-2003, 04:32 PM |
| This is the site I got the picture from http://www.rabbitstudios.com They are located in Pryor, OK. Their art used to be sold in a lot of places in Tahlequah, OK (capitol of the Cherokee Nation). One of the places I saw it most was this really great coffee shop called the Iguanna Cafe. They make the best espresso shake. I miss that place. They are open late in the evening and are near the university there. It is perfect for the ujniversity students. It is a great place to eat as well. Anyway, I believe knowing your own culture and heritage whatever it may be and and sharing and learning about others heritage is very therapeutic (this coming from a social worker of course). Enjoy |
| Posted by: Angel Whitefang (Rider) 13-Nov-2003, 12:52 AM |
| Thanks for the tidbit hun. please share more of your favorite art work in the Art forum. be sure to give proper credit to who made it and include a title. I am having difficulty find anything on the net about the Cherokee Nation. can you direct me to a site that might help??? |
| Posted by: myriad 13-Nov-2003, 09:22 AM |
| http://www.cherokee.org/ This is the official site of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, OK. Enjoy |
| Posted by: Angel Whitefang (Rider) 13-Nov-2003, 12:11 PM |
| Hmmm, that simple, I wonder why I couldn't find it!! Thanks sweety, hey when do I get to chat with you again? With Love, |
| Posted by: Castlehigh 14-Nov-2003, 12:36 AM |
Thank you, Myriad for your generous words over in, A Sacred Heart of Éire. "Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can make for our children." -Sitting Bull "Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library..." -Chief Luther Standing Bear (Oglala Sioux) "My friends, how desperately do we need to be loved and to love." -Chief Dan George "I (Myriad of a Cherokee ~ Irish culture & heritage) believe knowing your own culture and heritage whatever it may be and sharing and learning about others heritage is very therapeutic." - Myriad These words of yours, Myriad present a profound insight in the true tradition of the ancient ones be they of the wide rolling plains away to the west of the Great Atlantic or of the little cosy fields away to its east. Cordially, Castlehigh of Éire |
| Posted by: myriad 14-Nov-2003, 08:33 AM |
| Thank you Castlehigh Here is a bit of non-Native American wisdom "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." --Marcel Proust I thought of this quote when I was looking at oldravens' photos. |
| Posted by: RavenWing 14-Nov-2003, 09:24 AM | ||
I love Chief Dan George! |
| Posted by: myriad 14-Nov-2003, 02:29 PM |
| Great RW... among other wonderful things about him... I love his name... lol Thanks for dropping by myriad |
| Posted by: maggiemahone1 14-Nov-2003, 09:00 PM |
| Very beautiful picture, myriad! "I will fight no more, forever." -Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce (1840-1904) maggiemahone1 |
| Posted by: Castlehigh 16-Nov-2003, 11:20 AM | ||
With my compliments, Maggiemahone1. After spending some time reflecting on the quote from Marcel Proust the following came to me: A real voyage of discovery consists in seeking new landscapes IN new eyes. Cordially, Castlhigh of Éire |
| Posted by: myriad 16-Nov-2003, 06:32 PM |
| Maggiemahone... great quote. Castlehigh... what a wonderful response. I am not one for posting my works and really haven't taken classes or anything. However, here is a poem I wrote; I wanted some feedback. here am I I sit, I seek alone am I as I grow weak and as I scream the moon doth gleam into the dark... one silver beam here wait I for tis my fate to seek again words of a friend that I might know and though mightst show into the dark... one silver beam ~Louise |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 16-Nov-2003, 06:38 PM |
| Myriad, I sounds very good to me. You don't need advance schooling to write what you feel. You are just asking the same questions everyone has been asking for Generations. It is Beautiful.  |
| Posted by: Castlehigh 17-Nov-2003, 12:46 AM | ||
With my compliments, Myriad! Your poem is wonderful! The opening lines have some lovely mirror effects: 'here am I ~ I am here' 'alone am I ~ I am alone' These are powerful statements. 'I sit' 'I seek' 'I grow weak' 'I scream' 'I wait' Here is the pattern of a journey: ease moving into difficulty and again waiting for ease to return. The greatest ease on this journey is found in the 'words of a friend'. Your poem, Myriad is 'one (beautiful) silver beam' gleaming in the dark. Reflect and give this precious work a name. May I humbly suggest that you consider changing the word order in the following, 'here I wait' to read 'here wait I'. This would bring the line more fully into harmony with the opening line, 'here am I' and in turn provide another lovely mirror effect. Well done, Myriad! Let there be more ... Cordially, Castlehigh of Éire |
| Posted by: myriad 17-Nov-2003, 07:45 AM |
| Thank you Castlehigh for your praise and suggestions. As you can see I greatly appreciated and agreed with them. I will post another soon. Hopefully a name will present itself in due time. Thank you again. |
| Posted by: myriad 17-Nov-2003, 07:51 AM |
| a childs' wanderings the heavenly realms perched on high winds whispering through the white snow of feathers moonlight gleaming farsical patterns on wintry eves snow crystals and frost smiles into the night sky like thousands of stars bouncing eratically within the forest movement of tiny fairies dancing spastically creating enchantment and mystical plays for a childs imagination ~Louise |
| Posted by: myriad 17-Nov-2003, 07:56 AM |
| ahh but for a bit of wisdom today... "What on a lower level led to the wildest conflicts and to panicky outbursts of emotion now looks like a storm in the valley seen from the mountain top. This does not mean that the storm is robbed of its reality, but instead of being in it, one is above it." -- Carl Jung Thoughts on this? |
| Posted by: Angel Whitefang (Rider) 18-Nov-2003, 04:02 AM |
| Myr, I am always so moved when I drop by... thank you for hsaring your words with us |
| Posted by: myriad 19-Nov-2003, 08:13 PM |
fantastic 2nd page is a fun place to be  |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 21-Nov-2003, 03:50 PM |
| Myriad, The first little snowflake are for us children. Yes I still consider myself as a child many times. It is so cool to out in the night when they start flying and I get excited by seeing them. Good job Myriad, keep them coming. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 27-Nov-2003, 03:02 AM |
| Elder's Meditation "People and nations who understand the Natural Law are self-governing, following the principles of love and respect that insure freedom and peace." --Traditional Circle of Elders, NAVAJO-HOPI Joint Use Area The Natural Laws work hand-in-hand with the circle. Each part of a circle will look to the center and will see something different. For example, if you put an irregular shaped object in the center of a circle and you have people standing in a circle around the object, each one will describe it differently. Everyone in the circle will be right. Only by honoring and respecting everyone's input, can the truth about the object be revealed. We need to learn to honor differences. My Creator, let me honor all differences. |
| Posted by: myriad 01-Dec-2003, 08:12 AM |
| Wow, thank you for your wisdom. This would be great in the euro vs amer thread as well. Thank you. Mary |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 04-Dec-2003, 10:17 AM |
| T?was The Night Before Christmas "T?was the night before Christmas, they lived all alone, in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who in this home did live. I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand, on the wall hung pictures of far distant lands. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sober thought came through my mind. For this house was different, it was dark and dreary; I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly. The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone, curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home. The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, not how I pictured a United States soldier. Was this the hero of whom I?d just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? I realized the families that I saw this night, owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, because of the soldiers, like the one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, "Santa don't cry, this life is my choice; I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more, my life is my god, my country, my corps." The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent and still and we both shivered from the cold night's chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure, whispered, "carry on Santa, its Christmas day, all is secure." One look at my watch, and I knew he was right. "Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night," This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 04-Dec-2003, 03:39 PM |
| This was sent to me by our Turtle Clan Mother Elder's Meditation "The smarter a man is the more he needs Creator to protect him from thinking he knows everything." --George Webb, PIMA A spiritual person needs to be careful. The more confident we are, the more likely our egos will get us into trouble. It's relatively easy to become self-righteous. We start to think we are teachers and others are students. We start to judge others. We start very subtlety at first, to play Creator. After a while we really get good at it. This is very dangerous. We need to remind ourselves, we are here to do Creator's will. We need to pray every morning. Each day we need to check in with Creator to see what He would have us do. At night we need to spend time with Creator and review our day. By doing these things, we will stay on track. My Creator, guide my path and show me how to correct my life. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 06-Dec-2003, 03:47 AM |
| This was sent today by our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "In the end I tell my children, there's no way I can tell you how to be an Acoma, how to be an Indian. You have to experience it." ---Stanley Paytiamo, ACOMA PUEBLO Each person must make their own journey. It is like every human is given a life canoe. The canoe has one seat and one paddle. In order to get anything out of life we must be in the canoe and we must paddle down the river of life. Now, I can share with you how my journey has been, but I cannot paddle your canoe. You must paddle your own. Good luck! Creator, I'm so glad I have You to guide my path. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 13-Dec-2003, 03:17 AM |
| WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING (Written by a former child) A message every adult should read, because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be. When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, "Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking." Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today? |
| Posted by: Stargazer 13-Dec-2003, 08:07 PM |
| Kudos to the spreading of knowledge and wisdom, for learning should never conclude . Here is some chinese wisdom explained by Bruce Lee upon the yin-yang for those of you who may not fully understand the yin-yang, or for those of you who would like to broaden your perspective upon it: Yin - yang On yin-yang. - Yin and yang are two interlocking parts of one whole, each containing within its confines the qualities of its complementaries. Etymologically, the two characters of yin and yang mean darkness and light. The etymology of yang. - The yang (whiteness) principle represents positiveness, firmness, masculinity, substantiality, brightness, day, heat, etc. The etymology of yin. - The yin (blackness) represents negativeness, softness, femininity, insubstantiality, darkness, night, coldness, and so forth. The basic theory underlying yin-yang. - The basic theory in yin-yang is that nothing is so permanent as never to change. In other words, when activity (yang) reaches the extreme point, it becomes inactivity, and inactivity forms yin. Extreme inactivity will, in the same way, return to become activity, which is yang. Activity then is the cause of inactivity, and vice versa. This system of complementary increasing and decreasing of the principles is continuous. From this, one can see that the two forces (yin-yang), although, they appear to conflict, in reality are mutually interdependent; instead of opposition, there is cooperation and alteration. Yin-yang is not dualistic. - The common mistake of the Western World is to identify these two forces, yin and yang, as dualistic; that is, yang being the opposite of yin, and vice versa. At best they see the two forces as cause and effect, but never paired like sound and echo, or light and shadow. Yin-yang - not yin and yang. - You cannot use the word "and" when speaking yin-yang, as yin-yang is never two, but rather poles of one interconnected process. Just as in pedaling a bicycle; you cannot just push or not push; unless both legs are working together, you cannot get anywhere. Neither can be omitted or separate from the other. Why do we have to use this kind of thinking? It's like trying to move an elephant by pulling it - very unnatural. We must follow the natural course, just like the up and down of pedaling a bicycle. If you tried to pedal by just pushing - or by just releasing - you would get nowhere and would never get to enjoy the beauty of the scenery outdoors. On the balance inherent in yin-yang. - In the yin-yang symbol there is a white spot on the black part and a black spot on the white one. This is to illustrate the balance in life, for nothing can survive long going to either extreme, be it pure yin (mere passiveness) or pure yang (mere activeness). Notice the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survive by bending with the wind. Extreme heat kills and so does extreme cold; no violent extremes can endure long, but a sober moderation [can]. Therefore positiveness (yang) should be concealed in negativeness (yin) and vice versa. K'un (yin) is the perfect complement to ch'ien (yang). - K'un (yin, the receptive) is the perfect complement of the ch'ien (yang, the positive) - the complement, not the opposite, for the receptive does not combat the positive (ch'ien) but complements it. The receptive must be activated and led by the positive (ch'ien). Only when it abandons this position and tries to stand as an equal side by side with the positive, does it become evil. Each is the cause and result of one another. The result then is opposition to struggle against the positive, which is evil. It is the positive that begets things, but they're brought to birth by the receptive. The receptive accommodates itself to the qualities of the positive and makes its own. Therefore the receptive has no need of a special purpose of its own, nor of any effort; yet everything turns out as it should. The yin opens when it moves and closes at rest. Be soft yet not yielding; firm, yet not hard. On Zen and yin-yang. - Zen has derived many of its concepts from Chinese belief in balance : yin, which is feminine and gentle, and yang, which is masculine and firm. Having accepted that basic idea, another must be added: there is no such thing as pure yin or yang. Gentleness should cloak firmness; firmness should be modified by gentleness. Yin-yang and the relationship of good and bad. - Good and bad or pleasure and pain exist but for the other. Instead of opposites, they are complementaries and [each] is a function each of the other. First of all, if I have not felt pain how can I distinguish pleasure, or vice versa? Looking at the sky I can distinguish a smaller star because of the big stars, and if there were no black sky at all, there would be no stars. It is not a matter to struggle between the good and bad, but to flow like waves on the water. The way of yin-yang. - When one wishes to expand, one must first contract. When one wishes to be strong, one must first be weak. When one wishes to take, one must first give. Everything in this world has the alternative of existence and nonexistence (positive and negative). Yin-yang and its relationship to Eastern and Western culture. - Nothing is superior in every aspect. The Occidental education is excellent in some ways, the Oriental in others. You will say, "This finger is better for one purpose; this finger is better for another." But the entire hand is better for all purposes. There are good points in Oriental culture; there are good points in Occidental culture. Oriental culture and Occidental culture are not mutually exclusive, but mutually dependent. Neither would be remarkable if it were not for the existence of the other. Yin-yang represents totality. - In reality, things are whole and cannot be separated into two parts. When I say "the heat makes me perspire," the heat and perspiring are just one process as they are coexistent, and the one could not exist but for the other. Just as an object needs a subject, a person in question is not taking an independent position but is acting as an assistant. Things do have their complementaries, and complementaries coexist; instead of [being] mutually exclusive, they are mutually dependent and are a function each of the other. No part has a life of its own, but each exists in complementary interaction WITH the other. Yin and yang mutually help each other - duality in harmonious relationship. Yin-yang and extremes in trends. - Nothing can be secured by extremes. For instance, the haircuts worn by boys at this time are not haircuts at all, but disguises. The fashion cannot last, because it is extreme and will soon tire the wearer and the beholder. Possibly the beholder more quickly, but a vast boredom for all in any case. The so-called jet set is really boring to that extent that they all go to extremes. Yin-yang and chatterboxes. - The more volubly one talks, the quicker will come his exhaustion. - Bruce Lee 1940-1973 |
| Posted by: MacErca 14-Dec-2003, 09:37 AM |
| Very good stargazer, here are some insights from the Wolf as I have a strong affinity for wolves I thought this would be an apropriate time to place this tidbit of wisdom for all to share in. Despite the Wolf's reputation as being a fierce creature to be feared by man; in the spiritual world he is actually valued for his affinities with human kind. The reality of it is that the wolf is actually a very social; intelligent and friendly animal; He is one of the most faithful of all animal guides. The wolf and the raven are very close in the spiritual world as the wolf will often be led to food by the raven; and the raven will also follow the wolf closely. If you were to take the time to study the wolf you may realize the wonderful qualities and energies that this magnificent creature will bring into your life as your guide; you will learn to understand the qualities that this guide urges you to live by. Although a wolf certainly has the strength and knowledge to stand alone; he shows us the importance of family and friends. The pack is a wolf's large facet of meaningful survival. The pack learns to work together and respect one another's position within the pack; there is much to be said here if we heed to the wolf's knowledge. As a leader of his pack the wolf will use his descipline to keep the wolfs in order; on the same flip of the coin the wolf leader also shows great love and affection for all members of his pack...seeing here the importance of descipline and love within a family unit. The wolf qualities within your life may make you feel as if you need to spend time alone; but don't deny the importance of companionship and togetherness. To know and accept the wolf as your guide will help to bring these qualities into your life where they may be lacking; if just being introduced to the wolf he may be encouraging you to bring and allow these qualities into your life. The wolf brings all of the qualities of faithfulness,intuition,the shadow and learning. Inner strength is the key to strength and power; if you feel restless within yourself at times; and when you are alone you feel such a stirring from deep within that you feel a fear and uncomfortableness; this may be your innerstrength and power calling to you. You should face those feelings and stirrings within and learn to know your deepest self and even the darkest of places within known as the shadow. When you accomplish this is when and where you will find courage and TRUE spiritual companionship. The wolf brings learning with him; he tells us that sometimes we must cross barriers in our lives; take risks and to even sometimes go beyond what is considered "normal" behavior in order that we may learn and grow. These barriers may be difficult and painful to cross at times but knowledge is gained through experience; and strength is gained through battles. If you have embraced, accepted, and know Wolf; you become whole and learn to face your own inner strength; fierceness and power. You learn to trust yourself uniting with the hidden side of your being; find the true power!! Your dreams and intuition will help you to come to know your innerself; pay heed to them. You will allow all of the qualities and energies he brings into your life. An introduction to the wolf may indicate that he is urging you to listen to his message and allow his qualities and energies into your life; he may be telling you that the fear you may feel of aloneness may in reality be a fear of your own inner fierceness and strengths; dwelve within the darkness and discover your inner strength and come to know your inner self. |
| Posted by: MacErca 14-Dec-2003, 09:46 AM |
| Wolf Totem Wolf - Teacher. Though the moon rises every night Wolf always finds something new to learn from it. We, too, in exploring the hidden paths of consciousness, may discover new truths to share with the rest of our clan, the human race. Wolf's Wisdom Includes : Facing the end of one's cycle with dignity and courage Spirit teaching Guidance in dreams and meditations Instinct linked with intelligence Social and familial values Outwitting enemies Ability to pass unseen Steadfastness Skill in protection of self and family Taking advantage of change Wolf is the pathfinder, the forerunner of new ideas who returns to the clan to teach and share what he has found. Wolf takes one mate for life and is loyal like the dog. Wolf has a strong family tie as well as an individualistic urge. Like Wolf, we also have a strong sense of family and yet still embody our individualistic urges, dreams and ideas.Wolf has very keen senses and the moon is its power ally. The moon is a symbol of psychic energy and holds the secrets of knowledge and wisdom. Wolf medicine allows the teacher in all of us to come forward and aid the children of earth in understanding the Great Mystery of life.Wolf has come to you to tell you to use your powers of teaching to help others. You may have a hidden answer to a pressing problem or a method for the problem to be solved. Wolf is asking you to share your knowledge with others so that they can benefit from it. Wolf may also be telling you to seek out a place of loneliness, where you can think and delve into yourself for answers that are needed but hidden at this time. |
| Posted by: Stargazer 14-Dec-2003, 01:46 PM |
| Thank you MacErca for your complement , and very good yourself; for the wolf, like many other animals, teaches us wisdom if we pay close attention. That is why many styles of chinese Gung Fu attempts to mimic the perfect form and skill found in all animals. Here's some more upon eastern philosophy explained by Bruce Lee. This post is about Tao, which is a major philosophy of China (note: the symbol of Taoism is the Yin-Yang): Tao The history of Tao. - To the Chinese what is highest, the origin of things, is nothingness, emptiness, the altogether undetermined, the abstract universal, and this is also called Tao. Before Confucius, the term "Tao" usually meant a road, or a way of action - moral, social, and political. The Taoist used the term "Tao" to stand for the totality of all things, equivalent to what some philosophers [i.e., Hegel] have called "The Absolute." The "Tao" was the basic stuff out of which all things were made. It was simple, formless, desireless, without striving, supremely content. Gentleness in the Tao Te Ching. - In Tao Te Ching, the gospel of Taoism, Lao-tzu pointed out to us the value of gentleness. Contrary to common belief, the yin principle, as softness and pliableness, is to be associated with life and survival. Because he can yield, a man can survive. In contrast, the yang principle, which is assumed to be rigorous and hard, makes a man break under pressure. On uniting with Tao, a personal experience. - I lay on the boat and felt that I had united with Tao; I had become one with nature. I just lat there and let the boat drift freely according to its own will. For at that moment I had achieved a state of inner feeling in which opposition had become mutually cooperative instead of mutually exclusive, in which there was no longer any conflict in my mind. The whole world to me was unitary. The Tao and emptiness. - The assimilation of the Tao has its foundation in "meekness," "tenderness," poverty of spirit, and quietness. These are expressed sometimes by one word, "emptiness." An aggressive spirit will be brought low, pride leads to a fall, violence will end in defeat, all [of] which come from misunderstanding the real use of Tao. The philosophy of Taoism. - Taoism is a philosophy of the essential unity of the universe (monism), or reversion, poarization (yin & yang), and eternal cycles, of the leveling of all differences, the relativity of all standards, and the return of all to the primeval one, the divine intelligence, the source of all things. From this naturally arises the absence of desire for strife and contention and fighting for advantage. Thus the teachings of humility and meekness of the Christian Sermon on the Mount find a relational basis, and a peaceable temper is bred in man. It emphasizes nonresitance and importance of gentleness. Tao is truth. - The word "Tao" has no exact equivalent in the English language. To render it into "Way," "Principle," or "Law" is to give it a too narrow interpretation. Although no one word can substitute [for] its meaning, I have used the word "Truth" for it. - Bruce Lee 1940-1973 |
| Posted by: Stargazer 14-Dec-2003, 02:43 PM |
Again, here is some more about eastern philosophy explained by Bruce Lee. This time it's on Zen Buddhism (note: the Eight Fold Path of Buddhism is very helpful if you ever need to use it  :Zen Buddhism Zen has no metaphysics. - Zen wishes to escape the pointless endeavor to trap life in a metaphysical net instead of simply living it. Zen reveals that there is no problem, and no solution. - Zen reveals that there is no where for man to go out of this world; no tavern in which he can overcome anxiety; no jail in which he can expiate guilt. So, instead of telling us what the problem is, Zen insists that that the whole trouble is just our failure to realize that there is no problem. And, of course, this means that there is no solution, either. The parable of a tea serving. - A learned man once went to a Zen master to inquire about Zen. As the Zen master talked, the learned man would frequently interrupt him with remarks like, "Oh yes, we have too," etc. Finally the Zen master stopped talking and began to serve tea to the learned man; however, he kept on pouring until the tea overflowed. "Enough, no more can go into the cup!" the learned man interrupted. "Indeed I see," answered the Zen master. "But if you do not first empty your cup, then how can you taste my cup of tea?" Buddhism is effortless. - In Buddhism there is no place for using effort. Just be ordinary nothing and nothing special. Eat your food, move your bowels, pass water, and when you're tired go and lie down. The ignorant will laugh at me, but the wise will understand. Zen has no idols. - Zen liberates the mind from servitude to imagine spiritual states as "objects," which too easily become hypostatized and turn into idols that obsess and delude the seeker. Transcending karma. - The way to transcend Karma lies in the proper use of the mind and will. The Zen of assertion. - An assertion is Zen only when it is itself an act and does not refer to anything that is asserted in it. On prajna (wisdom). - Prajna is not self-realization, but realization pure and simple, beyond subject and object. On the bodhisattva. - Leaving sagehood behind and entering once more into ordinary humanity. After coming to understand the other side, you come back and live on this side. Buddhism's Eight Fold Path - The eight requirements that will eliminate suffering by correcting false values and giving true knowledge of life's meaning have been summed up as follows: 1. Right views (understanding): You must see clearly what is wrong. 2. Right purpose (aspiration): Decide to be cured. 3. Right speech: Speak so as to aim at being cured. 4. Right conduct: You must act. 5. Right vocation: Your livelihood must not conflict with your therapy. 6. Right effort: The therapy must go forward at the "staying speed," the critical velocity that can be sustained. 7. Right awareness (mind control): You must feel it and think about it incessantly. 8. Right concentration (meditation): Learn how to contemplate with the deep mind. - Bruce Lee 1940-1973 |
| Posted by: MacErca 14-Dec-2003, 07:52 PM |
| Wolf Totem Intuition, Learning, Spirit This totem brings faithfulness, inner strength and intuition when he enters our lives. But he also brings learning to live with one's self. The wolf teaches us to learn about our inner self and to find our inner power and strength. But to achieve this, we must take risks and face our deepest fears. A wolf totem demands sincerity. This totem demands a lot of us but gives us much in return; a spirit helper that is always there to help and gives us extraordinary powers of endurance. He reminds us to listen to our inner thoughts and trust our insights. |
| Posted by: Stargazer 17-Dec-2003, 06:07 PM |
| I finally found time to post on the subject of wu-wei. So again I spread the wisdom and insight of eastern philosophy explained by Bruce Lee to those of you who may not know too well what wu-wei actually is: Wu-wei (natural action) Wu-wei is natural action. - The basic idea of the Tao Te Ching is NATURALISM in the sense of wu-wei (inaction), which really means taking no unnatural action. It means spontaneity; that is, "to support all things in their natural stage" and thus allow them to "transform spontaneously." In this manner Tao "Undertakes no activity and yet there is nothing left undone." Wu-wei's expression in daily life. - In ordinary life wu-wei is expressed in "producing and rearing things without taking possession of them" and "doing work but not taking pride in it" - thus the natural "way" stands in complement to all artifical ways such as regulation, ceremonies, etc. This is the reason why the Taoists don't like formalities and artificialities. On not expending one's powers prematurely. - The work of conservation is shown to be a continuous actualization and differentiation of form. One does not allow oneself to be influenced by outward success or failure, but confident in one's strength, one bides one's time. You do not need special training. - There is no need to exert oneself in special cultivation outside the daily round of living. Do not expend power prematurely. - Wait in the calm strength of patience - he that is strong should guard with tenderness. One need not fear lest strong will should not prevail; the main thing is not to expend one's powers prematurely in an attempt to obtain by force something for which the time is not yet ripe. Natural action is pliable. - Non-action, as it is often translated, does not mean no action, but no such action as begets opposition. "Right" action is neither to oppose nor to give way, but to be pliable, as a reed in the wind. Wu-wei is spontaneous action. - Spontaneous action - of which Nature (Tao) was the grand practitioner. This action of Nature was real action. The second was action taken with design, premediated, and directed to chosen ends. This, however attractive it might seem, was a forcing of Nature and therefore unreal. Action in conformity with the situation. - The person is[[in?]] question is not in an independent position, but is acting as an assistant. It is not his task to try to lead - that would only make him lose the Way - but to let himself be led. If he knows how to meet fate with an attitude of acceptance, he is sure to find the right guidance. The superior one lets himself be guided; he does not go ahead blindly, but learns from the situation what is demanded of him and then follows. Don't seek, but allow. - Do not seek IT, for it will come when least expected. Let go. Don't seek or run away. On the principle of wu-wei. - Wu-wei is spontaneous superiority. Wu-wei is spontaneous action without prearrangement. Wu-wei ensures the spirit of harmony with nature. Wu-wei sees no violence done, with the result of peace and freedom from disturbance. Wu-wei is the nourishment of the spirit, left alone, so it can find stability. Wu-wei is "taking no action;" all efforts made with a purpose are sure to fail. Wu-wei is creative intuition. - The principle of wu-wei is entirely an action of creative intuition, which opens the wellsprings WITHIN man. While the action of assertion, man's common tendency, is preconceptual and rational, it cannot penetrate the hidden recesses of creativity. The action of assertion is viewed from the externals of intellection, while the action of non-assertion is activated by the inner light. The former action is limited and finite, the latter free and limitless. - Bruce Lee 1940-1973 |
| Posted by: myriad 18-Dec-2003, 08:39 PM |
| Wow! I have just caught up and had the pleasure of reading the last two pages to get here. I am deeply impressed by the wisdom being shared. As always, Richard, thank you for the wisdom you impart. You know how much your words mean to me. Thank you for your care. Shadows... wow, My husband has studied about some of these things you have written of as well as the Art of War and the I Ching (I hope I spelled that correctly), but I never realized the extent of the correlations between eastern philosophy and native philosophy. Thank you so much for sharing this wealth of information. *Big Hug* I really appreciate reading these and I will have to re-read them to understand more. MacErca, thank you for your wisdom as well. You know my love for the wolf and my tribal connection. Thank you for imparting your knowledge. It is good to see interest in sharing the diverse cultural wisdom here. Peace and Prosperity to all, Mary |
| Posted by: Raven 19-Dec-2003, 09:42 AM |
| HI Mary Here are a couple of my favorites that have been passed down through my family. Luke, I am your father, join me and we can rule the universe - Darth Vader Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated - The Borg Sometimes it's hard to remember when you are up to your butt in alligators that your intitial objective was to drain the swamp - unknown Cajun Set your sights low and you will never be disappointed - Raymond E Schwab Quitters never win and winners never quit - Vince Lombardi? If God had mean't for man to fly, He would have given him wings - ? These may not seem very culturally oriented but they are things that have shaped my life  Mikel |
| Posted by: myriad 19-Dec-2003, 03:35 PM |
| Those are great Raven! Thank you for imparting such useful wisdom. When I am back to my computer from the holidays with the family I will post some of my dads quotables. He is 70 and has some very interesting things he likes to say. That will be a fun little peice after the holidays. LOL Again, Thank you I really like your addition. Let's here more! Mary |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 26-Dec-2003, 09:12 AM |
| This was sent to me from our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "From Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, there came a great unifying life force that flowed in and through all things-the flowers of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, trees, birds, animals-and was the same force that had been breathed into the first man. Thus all things were kindred, and were brought together by the same Great Mystery." The Great Spirit has six things that make up this life force. They are life, love, intelligence, soul, principle, and truth. These are the reasons the life cycle continues. None of this can be altered by man, but we can have access to these powers any time we wish. Just think about it-anytime I have a need I can access one or more of these powers." Oh Great Mystery, let me know how to use these powers. Today, let me love life, let me know truth, let me live by principle, and let me follow Your intelligence. |
| Posted by: maggiemahone1 26-Dec-2003, 10:14 PM | ||
A beautiful meaning and so true! You never know who is watching the way we live. maggiemahone1 |
| Posted by: Roisin-Teagan 27-Dec-2003, 03:15 AM |
| A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. ---From the Book of Wisdom |
| Posted by: Roisin-Teagan 28-Dec-2003, 03:48 PM |
| The end of a matter is better than its beginning A good name is better than a good perfume, And the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth. That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun. ---From the Book of Wisdom |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 29-Dec-2003, 02:33 PM |
| This was sent to me from our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "Hear me! A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong." You can take one arrow and break it in half. But if you take 12 arrows in a bundle, it's almost impossible to break any of them. There is strength in Unity. When we are together we are very powerful. This is the way the ancestors told us we need to be. Strong. We need to unite ourselves. This is why the Elders say, when we make decisions, we must first consider the good of the people. If every person in the community thinks this way, then we will always make strong decisions. Creator, let my decisions have the strength of the bundle. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 23-Jan-2004, 05:41 AM |
| This was sent to me by our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "If people are going to get back into balance, one of the things they have to do is seek the truth. They have to start really speaking the truth themselves, and that's a difficult thing to do. The way it is now in the world, we don't mind lying." Well everybody's doing it. Do unto others before they do unto you. If it wasn't for back luck I would have no luck at all. These are excuses and rationalizations for giving up accountability. Be true to yourself. Seek the truth, The Great Spirit is the truth. The truth shall set you free. This is the truth. We cannot be free if we are dishonest nor can we live a balanced life if we are dishonest. As we grow, we need to start taking stands. All warriors take stands. The warrior's belief is constantly being aligned to truth. The warrior will always know where he/she stands. Great Spirit, help me today to seek Your truth, not my truth. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 24-Jan-2004, 02:53 AM |
| This was sent to me by our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "Silence is the absolute poise or balance of body, mind and spirit." Be still and know. All new learning?s, all ideas about new things, creativity, daydreaming and mental effectiveness come to those who learn about silence. All warriors know about the power of silence. All Elders know about stillness. Be still and know Creator. Meditation is about the place of silence. This is the place to hear Creator's voice. We can find tremendous amounts of knowledge in the place of silence. This is the sacred place of Creator. Great Spirit, teach me the power of silence. |
| Posted by: Annabelle 25-Jan-2004, 11:36 AM |
| And what is my all knowing, all visionary wonderful brother doing up at 3:53 in the morning. You know better BUBBA! Your gonna pay for it later. A |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 25-Jan-2004, 04:55 PM | ||
Two full days of insomnia, that's why.  |
| Posted by: Annabelle 25-Jan-2004, 05:39 PM |
| You are beginning to show this in a cycle....what am I going to do with you fella. A |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 25-Jan-2004, 05:42 PM |
| This cycle has been going on for a couple of years now. Every month I have one or two days of insomnia. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 26-Jan-2004, 10:09 AM |
| This was sent to me by our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "Always listen to what the Elders say." In school we have been taught to go to the encyclopedia when we need >information about certain subjects. From the time we are little, we have a natural tendency to seek out role models. When we need information about living we tend to seek out books about living. These maybe self-help books. The world is full of information. For the Native people, we have our Elders. All races have Elders. Our lives will run much smoother when we listen to the Elders. They don't always tell us what we want to hear but they always tell us what we need to hear. The Elders have the ability to make the truth sweet. Creator, thank You for the Elders. Help me this day to listen to them. |
| Posted by: barddas 26-Jan-2004, 11:33 AM |
| Well said sir..... |
| Posted by: gaberlunzie 26-Jan-2004, 01:13 PM | ||
So it is. How true! Please, keep on posting, Richard...at least for quite a number of us the various words of wisdom do mean a lot. Thank you! |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 01-Feb-2004, 12:18 AM |
| This was sent to me by our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "We call it the `sacred' red road because it is the road that will lead us to living the good life, an honest and healthy life." The Red Road is the path we walk on when we want a direct relationship with the Great Spirit. This requires sacrifice. This requires us to have our beliefs tested. To walk this path is really an honor. The returns for doing so are exciting, not only for ourselves but for the effect that will be felt for three generations. This means your children will see the benefits as well as your grandchildren. Do I want to walk this sacred road? |
| Posted by: barddas 02-Feb-2004, 03:56 PM |
| I like that Richard. I really enjoy this thread.. Thanks for keeping it interesting!!! |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 04-Feb-2004, 12:47 AM |
| This was sent to me by our Turtle Clan Mother. Elder's Meditation "Bright days and dark days were both expressions of the Great Mystery, and the Indian reveled in being close to the Great Holiness." Chief Luther Standing Bear, SIOUX The Great Spirit created a world of harmony, a world of justice, a world that is interconnected, a balanced world that has positive and negative, this way and that way, up and down, man and woman, boy and girl, honest and dishonest, responsible and irresponsible, day and night. In other words, He created a polarity system. Both sides are to be respected. Both sides or anything are sacred. We need to do good and we need to learn from our mistakes. We need to honor what takes place in the daytime and we need to honor what takes place in the nighttime. WE learn that we need to learn and we see what we are supposed to see by staying close to the Great Spirit. We need to be talking to Him all the time, saying "Grandfather, what is it you want me to learn?" Great Spirit, let me learn today that all things are sacred. Help me stay close to You, my Creator. This is my last Post on this Site. My only hope is that everyone reads it and understands it, especially the ones who needs it. Thank you Celtic Radio for all the Good Times that I have had here and all the New Friends that I have made. Tanakia |
| Posted by: Angel Whitefang (Rider) 05-Feb-2004, 08:41 AM |
| This thread is amazing, Thanks you Papa for sharing your wisdom. now one question for you, how is it you can post all these beautiful words and yet forget to send a message to your daughter wishing her a happy birthday??? ( LOL ) your most Loving Daughter, |
| Posted by: MacErca 05-Feb-2004, 06:48 PM | ||
Richard Could you please explain something of your last post, I am puzzled?
|
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 07-Feb-2004, 07:24 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "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." The Elders tell us there is a right time and a right place. Don't plant seeds in the fall- wrong time. One way we find out about the right time and right place is our experience. If we are lucky, we have a few friends who will share their experience; this will help us too. The best way is to let Creator guide us. Only He knows the right time and the right place. So we need to pray and ask Him for guidance. I guess this was the right time for me to receive this and that this is the right place to use this. I knew I had Friends here but I never realized how many there are. I do consider myself as being very lucky for all of you as my Friends. It was never my intent to hurt anyone here and I ask your forgiveness for any grief that I may have caused.  I am back.  |
| Posted by: MacErca 07-Feb-2004, 07:25 PM |
| Welcome back brother missed ya. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 07-Feb-2004, 07:29 PM | ||
Thank you. *humbly* |
| Posted by: maggiemahone1 07-Feb-2004, 08:08 PM |
Yeah, Richard is back!!!! So good to have you back, dear brother.  Three cheers for Richard! maggiemahone1 |
| Posted by: Elspeth 08-Feb-2004, 07:46 AM |
About time! I was getting tired of sending on messages to you.  Now, time to get things back to normal, or I'll tell mom. Group hug, group hug  |
| Posted by: gaberlunzie 08-Feb-2004, 12:29 PM |
Welcome back; Richard...see how glad all we folk are to have you back!  And thank you for the post...this was no coincidence at all, wasn't it?  |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 14-Feb-2004, 10:21 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "No individual or group can block another individual's path or change it against what fits his nature and his purpose. It might be done for a time, but in the end it won't work out." Every person is born for a purpose. We may know our purpose very early in our lives, or it may take us some time. Very often we need to experience many things before our purpose is clear to us. Sometimes we pick our goals to please others. Sometimes others pick our goals to make themselves happy. Often this makes us unhappy. We need to pray to the Creator and ask Him what our purpose is. When we live outside our purpose, our path is full of obstacles. When we live inside our purpose, our path is smooth. When we are aligned to our purpose, we are happy and content. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 28-Feb-2004, 12:02 AM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation of the Day "Sometimes, life is very simple, but it is we two-leggeds, we who are thought to be smart that make it complicated." Sometimes it may take years for us to find out what we are really after-it is to be happy. The Elders say, lead a simple life. This doesn't necessarily mean poor, it means simple. There are some things that makes life complicated such as needing control, needing power or being resentful or angry. These things make complications happen. We need to walk in balance in every area of our lives. Great Spirit, let me lead a simple life. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 29-Feb-2004, 11:31 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "The Great Spirit is the one that's looking after us." The only place our minds can find peace is when our focus is on the Creator. Daily we need to ask the Creator to direct our thinking. When we look at our brothers and sisters, we need to see the Creator in them. When we look at the trees, plants and the animals, we need to realize the Creator is within us. Our attention needs to be on the Creator. When we work, we do it for the Creator. When we are troubled, we need to pray to the Creator. When we are happy and joyful, we need to realize we are feeling the presence of the Creator. Thinking God thoughts will produce peace. Oh Great Mystery, let me focus on You today. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 06-Mar-2004, 01:12 AM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "In the Indian way, we are connected to that flower if we understand its spirit, the essence of its life." Everything on our Earth is alive. Every rock, every plant, every animal, every tree, every bird, every thought is alive. This is true because everything is made by the Great Spirit and the Great Spirit is alive. We need to slow our lives down each day and realize, consciously, that this is true. First we need to realize it, second, we need to acknowledge it, third, we need to appreciate it and, finally, we need to go on. Great Spirit, let me see life through Your eyes. Today let me be alive. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 29-Mar-2004, 05:01 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "The old people say, `Learn from your mistakes'. So I try to accept everything for what it is and to make the best of each situation one day at a time." The Creator did not design us to beat ourselves up when we make mistakes. Mistakes are our friends. It is from mistakes that we learn. The more mistakes we learn from, the faster we gain wisdom. The faster we gain wisdom, the more we love. The more we love, the fewer our mistakes. Therefore, mistakes help us to learn love. Creator is love. Mistakes are sacred and help us learn about Creator's will for ourselves. Great Spirit, help me, today, to learn from my mistakes. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 05-Apr-2004, 01:03 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "If anyone has children, they better teach their children to follow the traditions that we're leaving behind because it is later than we think with all that's going on." The habits, attitudes and beliefs that carry the human through the trials of life are developed at a very young age. If we are taught respect at a very young age, the odds are we'll be respectful through our whole lives. If we are taught to dance at a young age, we'll dance our whole lives. If we are taught to sing the traditional songs while we are young, we'll sing those songs through out whole lives. And who do we drum and sing songs to? Our children. This is how we keep it going. Great Spirit, today, teach me to teach the children. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 07-Apr-2004, 01:34 AM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "In our modern world today, we may seem like drowning men because of the loss of much of our spiritual tradition." Our spiritual tradition shows us the way to live in harmony, balance and respect. The tradition taught us how to behave and how to conduct ourselves. The spiritual way taught us to pray and to purify ourselves. Handed down from generation to generation were the teachings about a way of life. Our relationship to Mother Earth and to each other was very clear. The Modern World does not relate to spirituality but to materialism. If we do not allow spirituality to guide our lives, we will be lost, unhappy and without direction. We are spiritual beings trying to be human, not human beings trying to be spiritual. It is said, Know thyself. Grandfather, lead me to spirituality. |
| Posted by: tsargent62 07-Apr-2004, 07:39 AM |
| I am so glad I found this thread. I discovered it about an hour ago and read the whole thing. I feel a profound sense of peace. It is a wonderful feeling. This thread is a valuable repository of wisdom. I plan on going back and reading it again in the next few days. May peace be upon you all and the love of our Creator fill your spirit. Todd |
| Posted by: Angel Whitefang (Rider) 07-Apr-2004, 08:37 AM |
| Tell the Turtle Clan Mother Thank You from all of us. *Hugs Papa* |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 11-Apr-2004, 09:47 PM |
Thanks Angel, I will do that. HUGS to you too.  Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "The manner with which we walk through life is each man's most important responsibility, and we should remember this with every new sunrise." Every spiritual person should carry a vision of Creator's will in every area of their life. One day at a time, each morning at sunrise, we should spend time praying to the Creator. We should say something like, my Creator, this morning I ask you to show me, in terms I can understand, what you have or me to do. By doing this daily, over time, we will develop an unquestionable vision. Each person is responsible for taking the time to do this. It will bring great joy and peace of mind to those warriors who do. My Creator, give me the vision, today, of what you want me to do. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 28-Apr-2004, 09:21 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "You must be prepared and know the reason why you dance." Inside every human being is a need to dance. We dance to music. Have you even wondered why people are moved when they hear an Indian Drum? The drum is the heartbeat of the Mother Earth. Every Indian dance is for a purpose and a reason. Every Song is for a reason. The beat of the drum makes our bodies, minds and spirits join together in harmony. It allows us to connect to Mother Earth and to each other. The dance aligns our minds to think spiritual thoughts. Dancing to the drum is healthy. Great Spirit, today, I dance to honor you. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 01-May-2004, 10:56 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "Conciliation is the key to survival. Peace is the goal." When we make decisions or experience conflict we need to look at the greater whole. The end result we want to accomplish is peace of mind. If we keep this goal in mind, we will, overall, live a happy and fulfilling life. Everything in the world is constantly changing so we should not resist this change. A good question to ask ourselves is, "would I rather be right or happy?" If we would rather be happy, then it is easier to let the little things go. If we would rather be right, we tend to look for the WIN/LOSE. Great Spirit, today, give me the tools to seek peace of mind. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 03-May-2004, 09:56 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power...The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing..." Have you ever noticed the relationship between children and the soil? Watch how happily they are touching the dirt. The children play in it and eat it. If you are stressed, go to a spot on the Earth, sit down, put your fingers in the dirt, dig in it. Wash your hands in the soil. When you touch it, notice what it does to your hands. Our bodies love to touch the Earth. Sometimes we get too busy and forget these simple things. Maybe you'll even want to plant a garden or flowers. These things are mentally healthy. Great Spirit, today, let me touch the Earth so the Earth can touch me. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 11-May-2004, 10:14 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "Indians living close to nature and nature's ruler are not living in darkness." There are many Indian people who are living according to nature and according to ceremony and culture. They may not have a lot of material things, but that doesn't mean they are not successful. What is success anyway? Can success be measured by material things? What is it we are really chasing anyway? The Elders say that what everyone really wants is to be happy and have a peaceful mind. Material things by themselves do not bring happiness and peace of mind. Only spiritual things bring happiness. When we live a spiritual life we will not have darkness. Instead, we will be happy. Great Spirit, today, let me walk the Red Road. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 13-May-2004, 10:02 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "If those bad words come, I let them come in one ear and go out the other. I never let them come out of my mouth. If a bad word comes in your ear and then comes out of your mouth, it will go someplace and hurt somebody. If I did that, that hurt would come back twice as hard on me." What do we do with temptations when they come? What do we do when we hear gossip? What do we do when we hear bad things? If we hear these things and pass them on we will not only hurt the other person, but we will do harm to ourselves. We must be careful not to hurt others. Whatever we sow we will simultaneously reap for ourselves. We must be accountable for our own actions. Great Spirit, today, let no words come from my lips that would hurt another. |
| Posted by: urian 14-May-2004, 09:07 PM |
| "You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth." -Kahlil Gibran "Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Visit of Wisdom" "Art is a step from what is obvious and well-known toward what is arcane and concealed." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "The tears that you spill, the sorrowful, are sweeter than the laughter of snobs and the guffaws of scoffers." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "Hallow the body as a temple to comeliness and sanctify the heart as a sacrifice to love; love recompenses the adorers." -Kahlil Gibran, "Beauty" "We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them." -Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam "Death most resembles a prophet who is without honor in his own land or a poet who is a stranger among his people." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "All that spirits desire, spirits attain." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Poet of Baalbek" "Pain and foolishness lead to great bliss and complete knowledge, for Eternal Wisdom created nothing under the sun in vain." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "Nor shall derision prove powerful against those who listen to humanity or those who follow in the footsteps of divinity, for they shall live forever. Forever." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "What is this world that is hastening me toward I know not what, viewing me with contempt?" -Kahlil Gibran, "The Visit of Wisdom" "Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do." -Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam "I wash my hands of those who imagine chattering to be knowledge, silence to be ignorance, and affection to be art." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "Knowledge cultivates your seeds and does not sow in you seeds." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers." -Kahlil Gibran "Coming generations will learn equality from poverty, and love from woes." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "Life without liberty is like a body without spirit." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Vision" "Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Vision" "If my survival caused another to perish, then death would be sweeter and more beloved." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "Where is the justice of political power if it executes the murderer and jails the plunderer, and then itself marches upon neighboring lands, killing thousands and pillaging the very hills?" -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "What do the nationalists say about killers punishing murderers and thieves sentencing looters?" -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "The person you consider ignorant and insignificant is the one who came from God, that he might learn bliss from grief and knowledge from gloom." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Visit of Wisdom" "The eye of a human being is a microscope, which makes the world seem bigger than it really is." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "They consider me to have sharp and penetrating vision because I see them through the mesh of a sieve." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "A poet is a bird of unearthly excellence, who escapes from his celestial realm arrives in this world warbling. If we do not cherish him, he spreads his wings and flies back into his homeland." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Poet of Baalbek" "We were a silent, hidden thought in the folds of oblivion, and we have become a voice that causes the heavens to tremble." -Kahlil Gibran, "Children of Gods, Scions of Apes" "Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love." -Kahlil Gibran, "Children of Gods, Scions of Apes" "Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge. So it is incumbent on me to know my self, to know it completely, to know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its very atoms." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Philosophy of Logic" "If the grandfather of the grandfather of Jesus had known what was hidden within him, he would have stood humble and awe-struck before his soul." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "Cast aside those who liken godliness to whimsy and who try to combine their greed for wealth with their desire for a happy afterlife." -Kahlil Gibran, "Beauty" "I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "Rebellion without truth is like spring in a bleak, arid desert." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Vision" "What difference is there between us, save a restless dream that follows my soul but fears to come near you?" -Kahlil Gibran, "The Captive King" "I existed from all eternity and, behold, I am here; and I shall exist till the end of time, for my being has no end." -Kahlil Gibran, "Anthem of Humanity" "Time has been transformed, and we have changed; it has advanced and set us in motion; it has unveiled its face, inspiring us with bewilderment and exhilaration." -Kahlil Gibran, "Children of Gods, Scions of Apes" "Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being." -Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet" "Would that I were a dry well, and that the people tossed stones into me, for that would be easier than to be a spring of flowing water that the thirsty pass by, and from which they avoid drinking." -Kahlil Gibran, "My Soul Is Heavy Laden with its Fruits" "Poverty is a veil that obscures the face of greatness. An appeal is a mask covering the face of tribulation." -Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore" "Wisdom stands at the turn in the road and calls upon us publicly, but we consider it false and despise its adherents." -Kahlil Gibran, "Between Reality and Fantasy" "Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy." -Kahlil Gibran |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 18-May-2004, 01:13 AM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "But I have learned a lot from trees: sometimes about the weather, sometimes about animals, sometimes about the Great Spirit." Nature is the greatest teacher on the Earth. Nature produces many different plants, animals, trees, rocks, birds, insects and weather patterns. Nature designed all these various things to grow and multiply while at the same time live in harmony with each other. We can learn a lot of we observe and study Nature's system of harmony and balance. Today, go sit on a rock and quietly observe and ask to be shown the lessons. Great Spirit, Nature is my teacher. Today, let me be the student. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 01-Jun-2004, 09:02 PM |
| Put the Glass Down A lecturer was giving a lecture to his student on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?" The students' answers ranged from 20gm to 500gm. "It does not matter on the absolute weight. It depends on how long you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is OK. If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance. It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." "If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier." "What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again." We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on. So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders, let it down for a moment if you can. Pick it up again later when you have rested... Rest and relax. Life is short, enjoy it!! |
| Posted by: urian 02-Jun-2004, 12:05 PM |
| A wise man is not always a learned man and a learned man is not always a wise man.~Lao Tzu |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 02-Jun-2004, 05:12 PM | ||
Very True! |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 03-Jun-2004, 01:53 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "It's time. If you are to walk the path of heart, then it is time..." 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. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 09-Jun-2004, 06:49 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "All the stones that are around here, each one has a language of its own. Even the earth has a song." To believe that every tree, plant and insect can talk takes an open mind. Go by yourself into nature and sit quietly. Then pick up a rock and listen to your thoughts. After a while, put that rock down and pick up another rock. Your thoughts will change. These are the voices and wisdom of the Stone People. Each one has different wisdom and they are willing to share their wisdom with you. Many of the Stone People are very old and very wise. Great Spirit, let every rock and leaf be my teacher. |
| Posted by: BluegrassLady 15-Jun-2004, 11:46 AM |
| An old Cherokee woman is teaching her granddaughter about life. "A fight is going on inside me," she said to the girl. "It's a terrible fight and it's between two wolves. One is evil - she is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good - she is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - inside every other person, too." The granddaughter thought about it for a minute and then asked her grandmother, "Which wolf will win?" The grandmother simply replied, "The one you feed." -Author unknown |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 15-Jun-2004, 11:56 AM | ||
Bluegrass Lady, These are very wise words indeed. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 17-Jun-2004, 12:33 PM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "Without a sacred center, no one knows right from wrong." In the center of the circle is where the powers reside. These powers are called love, principle, justice, spirtual knowledge, life, forgiveness and truth. All these powers reside in the very center of the human being. We access these powers by being still, quieting the mind. If we get confused, emotionally upset, feel resentment, anger, or fear, the best thing we can do is pray to the Great Spirit and ask Him to remove the anger and resentment. By asking Him to remove these obstacles, we are automatically positioned in the sacred center. Only in this way do we know right from wrong. Great Spirit, allow me this day to live in the sacred center. |
| Posted by: BluegrassLady 21-Jun-2004, 04:13 PM |
| The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude of life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we can in charge of our Attitudes. |
| Posted by: urian 21-Jun-2004, 05:19 PM |
| Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and consciencious stupidity. -Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| Posted by: ANNHAM 16-Sep-2004, 09:28 PM | ||
All of these quotes are very good... I especially like this one... I think it is very true. Thanks Bluegrass Lady.  Anne |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 11-Oct-2004, 12:45 AM |
| Our Turtle Clan Mother sent this to me. Elder's Meditation "Spiritual Values are an Attitude." Attitude is a direction which we follow. If you have a positive attitude, it means you will lean towards a positive direction. If you have a negative attitude, it means you will lean away from the Spirit. Therefore, if we lean toward spiritual values, then our actions will become significant and important. If we lean away from spiritual values, our actions will become insignificant or unimportant. For example, if we value love, we will lean towards it; we will prefer to express and embrace it. |
| Posted by: gaberlunzie 11-Oct-2004, 02:06 PM |
| I have missed your posts here. Thank you for sharing again, Richard! |
| Posted by: gaberlunzie 30-Oct-2004, 09:22 AM |
| "When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself." (Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief) |