Today we begin the third and final installment in our Home Study of The Wisdom of the Native Americans by Kent Nerburn. If you have not already caught up on parts one and two of our series, I encourage you to visit them in our archives to help provide a foundation for today’s discussion!
Today’s text: The Wisdom of the Native Americans by Kent Nerburn
Published by: New World Library, 1999
Study page: p. 87
So often when we think of who “discovered” America, we think of European explorers and immigrants. But in today’s excerpt we hear the beautiful way one American Indian refers to himself and his culture: “We first Americans.”
Even more interesting is the speaker’s comparison of the European style of communication and worship versus that of the “uncivilized” American Indian. The following words are from the great sage Ohiyesa (page 87):
“We first Americans mingle with our pride an exceptional humility. Spiritual arrogance is foreign to our nature and teaching. We never claimed that the power of articulate speech is proof of superiority over “dumb/silent creation;” on the other hand, it is to us a perilous gift.”
In the eloquence of a few powerful sentences, Ohiyesa reminds us of perhaps one of the great forgotten Truths: that noise does not equal intelligence and silence does not imply emptiness. Indeed, the silence of a conscious heart can be more fully saturated with Understanding than a mind overflowing in vapid discourse.
When we look to the splendor of Nature, we see the fingerprint of the Divine Creator. What can we as humans possibly say that could ever equal the eloquence of a spectacular sunrise or a flowing stream? Such Truths were encoded into American Indian cultures and led to thousands upon thousands of years of silent coexistence with Nature based on respect and Understanding.
As we move into a new era of spiritual awareness in human consciousness, we find we have a lot to learn from ancient traditions like those of the Native Americans. Perhaps we, too, can return to balance and deeper spiritual Communion by taking a lesson from Nature and Her silent, mystical ways!
Taking a pen and a piece of paper or journal, contemplate the following this week:
1. Do I hold any kind of spiritual arrogance in me? Do I believe that my “way” is the only way–and why?
2. Is there room for me to learn from others’ beliefs or the path shown by Nature?
3. Would I be more likely to learn from the silence of a tree, a mountain, a stream, a bird? When can I take time to learn in this way?
4. When is it important to remind myself that talking is not the only way to communicate or learn wisdom (at work, with spouse)?
Over the past month we have investigated some powerful but simple words of wisdom from Native American spiritual traditions. If you find these to be personally inspiring, consider visiting your local bookstore and investigating more books by Kent Nerburn or other authors of American Indian anthologies.
For more book discussions, please peruse the other selections from our Home Study category. We also invite you to experience more uplifting insights from the Higher Realms at www.hopeofthenewage.com
Grace and Clarity 