When you are in doubt, be still, and wait; When doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage. So long as mists envelop you, be still; Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists, as it surely will. Then act with courage. -- Chief White Eagle (Ponca nation)
Welcome to members of the Daily Kos Sangha* and all interested visitors who happen by.
Each of us has our own path; we come here by way of many different traditions, and of no particular tradition. While the language we use may differ depending on the traditions, teachers, practices, and teachings that have shaped our journeys, we find in common, generally, a search for who we truly are, our true nature, and to bring the peace and compassion born of that search into the greater world of which we area part. If you wish to share, or if you seek support, or if you simply want to say hello, please do, as this space is for you.
Years ago, while working at a large state mental hospital, we were tasked, by court order, to determine if defendants were mentally competent to stand trial, and if so, if they were criminally responsible for their actions at the time of the alleged crime.
After spending several days evaluating the defendant, there was a staff meeting every Friday. Staffing was for the psychiatric and psychology staff to interview the defendant before the group, go over the observation records, and vote on whether staff thought he or she was competent and responsible. Or conversely, incompetent and/or “insane” (a legal term, not a psychiatric one).
On one such staffing, a young Native American man was brought in. He was from one of the northern plains tribes, Sioux if memory serves. He was charged with trespassing and theft. His “crime,” if you want to call it that, was to break into a church and steal from the poor box.
During the interview, he said he was alone in the city, did not know anyone, had nowhere to turn, and figured there might be some change in the church poor box that he could use to buy something to eat at a nearby fast food restaurant.
The interview was uneventful until the Chief Psychiatrist asked him if he felt he could communicate with animals and inanimate objects. The young man perked up, replying that he could speak to animals and understand them when they spoke to him. He also communicated with rocks, sand and the hills themselves.
As might have been expected, meaningful glances were exchanged among the doctors present, all of whom were from fundamentalist Christian backgrounds.
Seeing an opportunity for a teaching moment, I broke in and asked him if he had trained with a Shaman. He grinned and said his grandmother was a powerful medicine woman. Went on to tell the group he loved and revered her wisdom. She had taught him many things about living in the world, walking a right path.
After the defendant left the room with a guard, the assembled doctors shook their heads, saying the man was ‘obviously’ schizophrenic, since he had visual and auditory hallucinations about conversing with rocks and animals.
Exasperated, I tried to explain a bit about native culture, but my explanations were dismissed out of hand.
To me, there were two moral crimes here, both by white men. First of all, why on earth did the parish priest see fit to press charges against a hungry man who wanted some cash to buy food? Isn’t that what the poor box is for, as needed?
Second, there was the smug self-righteousness of a group of middle aged Southern Baptists who felt their religion and beliefs are the only ones. The religious practices of a young “primitive Indian” were indicators of a major mental illness.
That lesson has stayed with me all my life. I try to never forget it.
Today’s lesson is by Good Buffalo Eagle, one of the founders of the Anasazi Foundation. He comes from the Totonac Tribe. He teaches from The Seven Paths.
To aid your meditations this day, the flute of R. Carlos Nakai:
Nemaste
Peace this day, and every day.
Take this time to sit, and quietly take in your surroundings in a comfortable place.
Do not dwell on thoughts that enter your mind for long, as the need to empty the mind while sitting is what is to be realized, all the while concentrating on your breath: Breath in, and exhale out, and truly realize the moment of this time that is just for you, it is your place, your time, you are at home.
This is an open thread. Please add your thoughts, meditations, and reflections as you wish.
*Attribution: Creator of Dkos Sangha Weekly Thread, Brother “davehouck”.
