Kuei-Shan

This reading presented such an unwavering acceptance and peace. It intrigued me.

Perception and response make such an impact in life. The Zen Master doesn't give power over to things to allow things to control a response. The Zen Master has chosen to look at things clearly and remove the power from things that don't deserve such power, and instead reserved the power to control perception of and response to things...allowing an objective perspective. Being objective can really help in making good decisions and controlling responses.

The Zen Master's mind is perfectly straightforward, no front or back, no deceit or delusion, everything observed is common and beautifully formed. Being unattached to things, the Zen Master can accept things as they come and not have to interefere with or block perception of things. Having clear, good thinking habits, the Zen Master is untroubled, calm, peaceful.

I'm hoping to try to incorporate more of this into my life. My daughter just came home with her first speeding ticket last night...guess I have the perfect opportunity to try this out! :)

Simone Weil

"In what concerns divine things, belief is not appropriate. Only certainty will do. Anything less than certainty is unworthy of God."

I liked the way this statement presented a contrast between the strength of two choices people make. I wanted to learn a bit more and really fine-tune my understanding of the point being made, so I looked the words up in a dictionary. Portions of the definitions are below.

BELIEVE: trust, confidence, conviction of truth

CERTAIN: fixed, settled, dependable, reliable, indisputable, inevitable, destined

Belief is a choice of acceptance and trust of the reality of something. Certainty takes a firmer stand. To rephrase the above quote...to be worthy of God it is not enough to trust there are divine things. Rather, only being settled and destined for divine things in God is worthy of God.

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"God continually showers the fullness of his grace on every being in the universe, but we consent to receive it to a greater or lesser extent. In purely spiritual matters, God grants all desires. Those who have less have asked for less."

I've wondered why "good" things happen and "bad" things happen...sometimes it seems indiscriminantly to people who seem "good" or "bad." I remember a verse in the Bible that says God makes it rain on the just and the unjust alike. This passage says God is pouring a full measure of His grace on every one. How much people receive depends on their alignment with what He is trying to do, and how much they have sought Him for His provision. I find it interesting that this means God wants to bless and wants us to receive what He is giving us. It also means He gives us some responisbility and choice as to how much we will allow Him to give us. Someone with an open hand can receive a lot more than someone clinging to something else and not ready to receive His blessings.

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"Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer."

I don't think I've ever read such a brief yet clear statement about prayer. That makes it seem so simple. If only it were that easy to always keep attention focused and unmixed!

Rilke

What an interesting approach. The visual imagery was rich.

Much of the Rilke reading was about the inner life. I think this is one of my favorite readings all semester. Patience to wait until the right season, acceptance of life and natural outcomes, embracing unknowns as opportunities to learn and live more fully with answers in the future, taking personal responsibility for what we sow and reap, recognizing what is really important, looking beneath the surface, loving each other. Such interesting ways to look at things. I think I'm going to reread this one again and again.

Al-Muhasibi

"The path of love and the path of insight lead into the same garden."

I thought that was really beautiful and so enlightening. Love and truth and understanding all together.

The reading says, "When love is established in the heart of a servant of God, there is no place for remembrance of men or demons or Paradise or Hell, or for anything except the remembrance of the Beloved and his grace." That sounds really eloquent, but it doesn't quite make sense to me. It seems incomplete. Creation reveals parts of God to us, so why wouldn't it be in our hearts if we love God? It's part of the fulness of God. I would think it would be there, with an even clearer view than we had before God's love was established in our hearts.

The last paragraph talks about lovers of God, righteousness, wisdom, purity, God's care, serving, and bliss in living the good life. Those are common to many of the religions we've learned about. It is interesting that we basically desire the same things, regardless of our faith. Guess it makes sense though if God made us and put them there.

Abi-L Khayr

The gist of this reading is that God frees us. It is a process of grace, repentance, humbling, conviction, joy, certainty, love, unity, and peace and joy in both worlds. The pathway to each step must be prepared by God, and as we get through one stage, we are then prepared for the next, until we are one with God.

That is very interesting. Those are similar to the Christian walk, and as a psychology student I see applications there, too. Truth is truth, whether it is labeled by faith or science, it is still truth. For example, whether we say the "law of sowing and reaping" or "karma" or "natural law," it is true regardless of the label. A very similar path of peace and unity via a certain faith walk may also be spelled out in modern psychology. Whether a religion can accept psychological terms or not, does not negate them. A blend of both makes sense to me, as psychology may not acknowledge God who prepares each step of healing and guides us along our way in grace, repentance, humbling, conviction, joy, certainty, love, unity, and peace and joy in both worlds.

Thomas Traherne

This was my favorite reading this week. Maybe it's recent stress, or that I need a break, but I found myself burned out and just needing to read something that speaks my native "Western" tongue. I needed something easier to read and understand that made sense to me, and this reading did.

This reading really points out the importance of your personal perspective. We are to see things as God does, the beauty and connectedness of creation.

"You never enjoy the world aright till you see all things in it so perfectly yours that you cannot desire them any other way; and till you are convinced that all things serve you best in their proper places. For can you desire to enjoy anything a better way than in God's image?" That made me say hmmm, and really think. All things do serve us best in their proper places. I appreciate such simple insights. If we have a clear perspective, and things are in their proper place, we will see that as the best way and how God designed them to be seen and used.

"Your enjoyment is never right till you esteem every soul so great a treasure as our Savior does..." How much sweeter fellowship is when we can speak what we believe is true, give each other the freedom to either agree or disagree, and we all continue to love each other. Each person is a gift to be treasured. It's our privilege to love each other, and if we don't love each other who is going to? As far as I know, we are the only humans on the earth sharing this life, so we may as well love and get along.

Einstein

This writing had such simple yet profound truth.

"A human being is part of the whole that we call the universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest --- a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. This illusion is a prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for only the few people nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature."

Wow, what an insightful and polite way of saying, "Hey man, it's not all about you (or what you believe)." I love how Einstein expressed the concept of people needing to get outside themselves, and it's even for their own good. It seems contradictory, since it makes sense to be thinking about oneself, our thoughts, feelings and personal desires. But those can be consuming and cut us off from people and life going on around us. Sometimes this can happen subtly, and under the guise of seemingly good things. In my personal experience, I was involved in a very conservative church, until I went through a divorce. I felt divorce was bad, so I tried to avoid it; but in the end it was the best outcome of the available options. Before the divorce, I was so wrapped up in the ultra conservative church and lifestyle, that although I meant well and was trying to do the right thing; I am sure I missed many opportunities to love other people who didn't fit our church 'profile.' Then, when I went through the divorce, the people from outside my church 'profile' were some of the most loving people I met! How much of life did I miss out on before that, because I couldn't see passed my 'prison?!' I am so glad to be free! Do I still love God? Yes. Do I still go to church? Yes, but not a really conservative one. :) Ultimately, I thank God for freeing me and allowing me to see how great all kinds of people are. He allowed me the privilege of widening my "circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature." I never want to live in a short-sighted box again! Personally, I think there is too much great living to do outside the box.

Thoreau

I really like how straightforward Thoreau's writings are.

"When we are unhurried and wise, we perceive that only great and worthy things have any permanent and absolute existence, that petty fears and petty pleasures are but the shadow of the reality." Sometimes it can be so easy to get distracted away form what's most important, and lose focus. It's important to keep only the truly 'big things' as 'big things,' and not let other things get out of perspective. It can be very destructive to major in the minors of life.

"Children, who play life, discern its true law and relations more clearly than men, who fail to live it worthily, but who think they are wiser by experience, that is, by failure." Kids see things so much more clearly and simply than adults do sometimes. Details are allowed to complicated things. I wanted my kids to develop critical thinking skills, so when they were growing up I would seize opportunities to let them come up with solutions to things, instead of arbitrarily implementing my adult solution. I was amazed at their ideas. They came up with things I hadn't even thought of! The simplicity and purity of thought children have is inspiring! Now if only they could do my homework! :)

"The universe constantly and obediently answers to our conceptions; whether we travel fast or slow, the track is laid for us." We really have more input and power in our lives than we might think. It pays to use wisdom in your thought life and outward life, for what we sow we reap.

Al-Misri

The introduction is powerful and inspiring. "Why is it that we become more humble as we become more like God?...we are nothing, but the light is all." Maybe though, we become more like God because we become more humble? As we get our pride out of the way, we make room for improvement by enlightenment and growth. The last sentence, "Compassion is another name for clarity," just caught me and I said, "Wow." That is so amazing. Truly as we see things clearly, we are more compassionate.

Then on to the main reading. Again, I am amazed at the similarity of this reading to the Bible. He says so many of the same things to the saints that God says to His saints in the Bible. (saints, treasures of the invisible, abstinent, God-fearing, healing, directing others to him, loving others, not sinning, predestination, elect, apointed servants, saints are his and he is theirs) It is so weird. I know they are not the same book, and I do not mean to offend anyone of either faith. It is just so similar that it almost seems that parts of it could be another translation of the Bible. It definitely seems Muhammad was inspired by the Jewish Bible. Since I knew very little, to nothing, about Muhammad, I was really surprised by the similarities.

Muhammad

I was surprised that when I read this reading, it sounded very much like I was reading from a Bible. Muhammad talks about God as "the first and last", "He makes the night give way to the day and the day to the night, and He knows the innermost heart." Muhammad even says God "created the heavens and the earth in six days and then assumed His throne." Those sound like quotes right out of the Bible. That really amazed me.

I have seen and heard so much of the differences of faiths, that to hear such similarities, really surprised me. That doesn't erase the differences, but it does help me gain some common ground and understanding.

Dame Julian of Norwich

I wanted to write on this reading because it looks like she might be the only female writer in our book, and I liked some of what she had to say.

There were a few sayings that caught my attention in this reading. First, "God made it, loves it, keeps it...truly the Maker, the Lover, and the Keeper." That is a pretty complete set of actions that caught my eye. Also, she talks about never having full rest or bliss til she is so connected to God that "there is no created thing between my God and me." What a peaceful feeling she is describing, to feel at one with the Maker, Lover, Keeper. I think that's a powerful idea.

"...for all that is beneath Him is not sufficient for us." That is such an interesting way to say that things of creation will not be enough for us...people, things, money...nothing but God will be good enough for us, and when we turn toward Him and away from stuff, we are able to receive spiritual rest.

"...enclosed in the goodness of God." I don't think I've ever heard that term before. It seems beautiful to me.

"...for our natural will is to have God, and the good will of God is to have us, and we can never cease willing or loving till we have him in fullness of joy." I really appreciated the focus on love and goodness here. That really cuts to the chase.

"Know it well, love was His meaning." I think sometimes man-made religious systems can (inadvertently?) get people distracted from the core of God's intention of love. I'm not saying all organized religion is bad, I'm just saying I don't think it should take away from the whole reason for being of faith in the first place.

John the Evangelist

"To all who receive him, he gives the power to become children of God."

"The Spirit you have received from Him..."

Yesterday in class we were talking about how some people say a step to salvation is saying a prayer to ask Jesus into your heart and receive Him as your savior. I wonder if the two readings above are where that kind of thinking came from.

The Gospel of Thomas

"When we change the way we see the world, we change the world." That is one of the most powerful things I have read in The Enlightened Mind. It is so true that our perspective really does affect us, our actions, our experiences, and consequently the world. When people look at the world through defensive angry eyes, it negatively colors their interactions with other people and how they receive what comes into their lives. That negativity can become a downward spiral that draws others down it too, and the negative cycle just continues on until someone stops it. Likewise, the opposite perspective can reap many blessings. A perspective of love and generosity can feed a positive outlook as positive interactions and experiences strengthen it. It is enjoyable to be around loving people. Spread the love around...it's a whole lot more fun than the alternative.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have chosen their solitude, for they will find the kingdom of heaven." As much as I enjoy spending time with friends and family, I have found times of solitude refreshing. Taking time to read inspiring books and pray gives me strength and peace.

The disciples said to him, "Tell us who you are, so that we can trust you." Jesus said, "You search for me through heaven and earth, but you don't know the one who is right before your eyes, because you don't know how to search into this very moment." Psalm 139:7-12 in the Bible talks about God being everywhere. Even when the disciples had Jesus face-to-face they still wanted to confirm Jesus' presence. I wonder how often people are searching for answers in life, and if they only knew how to "search into this very moment" they would see that God is active all around them and may have even placed the answer right in their midst.

Hui-Hai

The confusion (& semi-frustration) I had with last week’s readings has been replaced with the opposite regarding this week’s Chinese Religions readings. I enjoyed them all! This is more what I expected from the Buddhism readings…messages of simplicity and peace.

This was an interesting message. I would have imagined a spiritual man would encourage monks in their practices, and while Hui-Hai says its okay for them to be monks, he challenges them. He says it is a waste of energy “trying to empty your minds, straining to attain enlightenment, blabbering about your understanding…” That surprised me. I guess I have pre-conceived ideas about things thanks to my primary source of exposure to monks and other religions…Hollywood movies. That’s not a very reliable source of information to base one’s understanding on is it? I’m glad to be taking this class and learning the truth about things!

Something in this reading that stuck out to me, was when he said, “Your own treasure house already contains everything you need. Why don’t you use it freely, instead of chasing after something outside yourself?” It can be so easy, especially in Modern America, to spend a lot of time and energy chasing things that are outside ourselves. Sometimes they might even seem like good things to chase. But maybe we look outside too much? Maybe we are distracted with chasing outside, instead of slowing down and seeing we already had the answer we needed. Are we running to the store to buy chocolate chips when we already have 2 bags at home? Simple analogy, I know, but hey, I’m a chocoholic so that’s what came to mind. :)

The end of this reading talked about the mind dwelling on nothing, and “this full awareness in yourself of a mind that dwells upon nothing is known as having a clear perception of your own mind or of your own true nature.” A mind can “be free from both delusion and reality.” It makes sense that if we get rid of things that obscure our view or distract us, we will then see ourselves and other things clearly.

The thought of “dwelling upon nothing” made me think of men. This is not a sexist comment, just an observation. Ask a man what he’s thinking about and there’s a good chance he’ll answer with “nothing” and is at peace with that. Ask a woman the same question and she’ll probably have a multi-faceted task list. Her mind has a lot going on. (I am speaking from experience here.) I never understood how a man could be thinking about “nothing.” It never made sense to me before. While I think it is a great strength to be organized and productive, I’m thinking that something I once considered to possibly be a simplistic weakness…thinking about “nothing”…maybe there’s something to it...maybe it's actually a strength. It sounds very peaceful to be able to take a break and think about nothing for a while. I hope the gears in my brain get used to slowing down a little here and there, and think about nothing. :)

The common thing I took away from this reading was how much (unnecessary?) striving goes on in life, and maybe it doesn’t have to be that way. If we slow down, maybe we’ll find that we already know what we need to know, have what we need to have, and that we don’t have to be thinking about everything all the time. I’m a busy single mom, woman with hobbies, and a full-time college student. The simple peacefulness of slowing down sounds great to me. I am going to chill out for a while! Since I don’t like beer, I think I’ll get a chocolate cookie and go sit in my hot tub for a while, and think about nothing. :)

Pai-Chang

This reading is saying that what we need is inside us already. I think I remember reading in the Bible that He has placed truth in our hearts. That’s interesting to me. If it’s there, then something sometimes gets in the way of us seeing/knowing it. In its simplest form I think this reading is saying we already know what we need to know, we just need to stop looking through the dirty window of false understandings that obscure our view, so we can “be free from unreality and delusion.” Surely there are things that get in the way of us doing/saying/thinking what we know is right.

I disagree with the reading saying there is no truth. I believe there is truth…what is right…and that is what is in us. Things such as the sincerity, humanity, and understanding mentioned in the Tzu-Ssu reading.

Chuang-Tzu

As funny as it sounds, this reading, even with all the “this’s” and “thats” made more sense to me than last week’s Buddhism readings.

We are taught to make sense of things, think, reason, organize, etc. And it all takes a lot of brain power. The Chuang-Tzu reading seems to make some simple suggestions.

• “So he has no use for categories, but relegates all to the constant. The constant is the useful, the useful is the passable; the passable is the successful; and with success, all is accomplished. He relies upon this alone, relies upon it and does not know he is doing so. This is called the Way.”
  
  To sum that up, I think he is saying not to label things certain ways, just accept them as they are, and keep doing what’s working.

• “But to wear out your brain trying to make things into one without realizing that they are all the same – this is called ‘three in the morning.’ ”
  
  Here I think he is saying reality is reality, regardless of the words used. It will all wash in the end, and it is what it is.

• “No one has lived longer than a dead child, and P’eng-tsu died young. Heaven and earth were born at the same time I was, and the ten thousand things are one with me.”
  
  I think he is again talking about realities versus perceived realities. Basically, life is life, and duration does not change the reality of it…the essence of life is universal.

• “The True Man of ancient times knew nothing of loving life, knew nothing of hating death. He emerged without delight; he went back in without a fuss. He came briskly, he went briskly, and that was all. He didn’t forget where he began; he didn’t try to find out where he would end. He received something and took pleasure in it; he forgot about it and handed it back again.”
  
  That is quite simple language, but to me it presents such a beautifully simple yet profound way. As a Christian in America, I have been conditioned to value my life, accept death but not savor it the same way I do life; to look toward the future (degree, career, retirement, etc.) and plan for it and work for it; to sentimentally hang on to that which brings me pleasure. Those all seem like positive, reasonable things. Yet the paragraph above was beautiful and peaceful to me. There is a simple peace in simply living and not getting caught up in the distraction of knowing or doing it all…simply accepting things as they are and living in the moment. (Obviously I know to continue my education, meet with the school counselor to help plan my future, etc. But I think it would be wise to take some down time and have peaceful moments…to just sit and enjoy the moment.)

I really enjoyed the Chuang-Tzu reading. I saw some amazing insights into peaceful living that challenged me personally. As an idealist, I often see how I would like things to be. That can be good, as it can affect positive change. However, it is also important to take a reality check, see things as they are, keep doing what’s working, and live in the moment.

Dogen

Once again, confused. I understand it is delusion to start from the self and try to understand all things. If self is confused….as I currently am after reading this week’s Buddhism readings…I will get no where.

Also, it talks about “studying self…forgetting self…being enlightened by all things…drop off our own body and mind and others’ bodies and minds too…no trace of enlightenment remains…and this no-trace continues endlessly.” I don’t get this. I see how it makes sense to get our eyes off ourselves and others, but if there is no trace of enlightenment, how do you know it’s there? If enlightenment is a good thing, why should there be no trace of it?

“Life doesn’t become death, so life is called the Unborn. Death is called the Undying.” That didn’t make sense. Why not just call then the Born and the Dead? This is a much different look at things than I’ve ever heard. I’ve always considered death to be a part of life, but this reading says life and death are each complete in themselves. Recognize things at the stage they are at.

The birds and fish use a little water or sky when they need a little, or a lot when they need a lot. “Thus they use all of it at every moment?” What? It seems when they use a little they are only using a little…not all of it at every moment.

The end of the reading talked about a monk asking a zen master why he used a fan since the wind is permanent and reaches everywhere. The monk didn’t clarify. I wish he would have. I still don’t get it. With all due respect to any Buddhists out there, I don’t think I’m meant to be a Buddhist. Unless I wanted to be a confused Buddhist…then I’d be right on target.

Wu-Men

I am now sufficiently confused. I was looking forward to learning about Buddhism, but I'm having a hard time following these readings. Then, just as I think I'm getting part of it, the author changes direction completely and I'm lost again.

"Mu" is a barrier set up by ancestral teachers? A gateless barrier of the zen tradition? Is this a word with special significance, and if so, why? Or is it just a simple word for focus? And when one passes through it they will interview Chai-chou intimately, walk hand in hand with all the ancestral teachers in the successive generations of that lineage? So much of the Buddhist readings seem to be about getting rid of self and emptying the mind in order to be ready for something new. But if there is no self and the mind is empty, how does one interview Chai-chou? Wouldn't self and a paying attention to your thoughts be the source of questions for an interview?

I did find a section of the text interesting..."the hair of eyebrows entangling with the ancestral teachers, seeing with the same eyes, hearing with the same ears." I am interested in history and learning, so that caught my attention. There are people whose eyes and ears I'd like to share for a while.

I saw wisdom in the author's words, "Gradually you purify yourself, eliminating mistaken knowledge and attitudes you have held from the past." I think it is a good idea to get rid of wrong understandings, false assumptions, and things that hold us back from the wholeness we can experience.

Then the confusion sets in again. "When you meet the Buddha, you kill the Buddha. When you meet Bodhidharma, you kill Bodhidharma. At the very cliff edge of birth-and-death you find the great freedom...frolic and play." What the heck is he talking about? Killing the Buddha or anyone else doesn't sound peaceful and I sure wouldn't play and frolic after killing anyone, so is it figurative suggesting that one would realize there is no single 'awakened one' but rather there are many, so get rid of the misconception there is only one main 'buddha'?

I was really hoping to gain some interesting and cool insights from the Buddhism readings...so far it isn't what I was hoping for. I'll look over it again tomorrow and give it some more thought though...maybe I'll get it then.

Yehiel Mikhal of Zlotchov

This was an insightful explanation of creation and existence. From creation delighting God, to souls taking a material shape, from which they are purified in order to approach God and hold fast to Him in their thoughts and love. Considering themselves nothing without God’s power….as without a source, yet infinite if connected to God, as a branch connected to a root.

“The root is the Infinite, therefore the branch is also infinite. It has lost its own existence, like a drop that has fallen into the great sea and is one with the waters of the sea and cannot be recognized as a separate thing.” Truly living connected to the Source, life emanates the Source and is one with it, indistinguishable from it. That’s really intriguing.

Bible

Each of the readings from the Bible had something interesting in them, but I chose the two below to write about.

I wonder what creation looked like in the beginning. "And God looked at everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good." When at the ocean or some other beautiful place, I am in awe. How much more incredible must it have been before the things that limit our experience such as pollution and extinction. A more whole, beautiful world. Just as in the physical, the human experience can also be more whole and beautiful if we nurture each other and pursue peace.

The reading about Jacob was interesting and a few things stood out to me. 1) Jacob was left alone, 2) Jacob wrestled in darkness, and 3) Jacob's persistence was blessed. How often do we struggle with things alone? I've heard it's darkest before the dawn, and sometimes that really seems true. But when we hang in there and push toward what's good and right, we are blessed.

Ramana Maharshi

“If the mind is happy, not only the body but the whole world will be happy. So one must find out how to become happy oneself. Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.”

This reading has so much in it. Some I agree with, some prompts questions, some seems plainly humorous.

The mind’s happiness does affect the body. Science is catching up with the mind-body connection. Psychoneuroimmunology studies the connection between emotional and psychological health with that of the immune system and the body. What we think truly does affect how we feel and live.

“The whole world will be happy” makes me wonder a bit. Is it that our perspective will then cause us, with our happiness, to perceive the world in a way that does not jeopardize that happiness. Or is it that our being happy will have a ripple affect on those around us?

Finding out “how to become happy oneself” makes so much sense. Instead of depending on other people or things to make oneself happy, finding it independent of outside sources allows stability in one’s happiness even when those outside sources are inconsistent.

“It is much simpler to wear shoes.” That seems simple and funny to me. It reminds me of something a grandparent or wise person would say in a heart-to-heart talk with a younger person. It’s also about taking responsibility for yourself. Take care of your needs (wear shoes), as it is impractical to completely eliminate everything that could hurt you (cover world with leather to avoid walking on stones and thorns).

Overall, the messages of pursuing happiness, knowing oneself, and taking care of yourself are so important. I know wisdom stands the test of time, though somehow it strikes me that something written so long ago is still so relevant.

Tu-Shun

This was such a beautiful reading. What struck me was the beautiful imagery, as well as the concept of connectedness.

“Imagine a vast net; at each crossing point there is a jewel; each jewel is perfectly clear and reflects all the other jewels in the net…” What a beautiful mental image.

Then the application of it…
“Every jewel is intimately connected with all other jewels in the universe, and a change in one jewel means a change, however slight, in every other jewel. Thus, by liberating yourself, you liberate all beings in the universe.”

When I read that, what came to mind was the power in connectedness. “Liberating” brought to mind a scene from a movie called The Hiding Place. In the scene, jewish women were in a concentration camp, all crammed into a room, many women per bunk bed. They were very much connected. When one had good news or something positive to say, they all huddled around to hear it. What they shared affected them all. They were in it together, and shared life together in a very intimate and deep way that many people since have not shared. They were connected.

How are we connected as people living in 2009? Do we realize we are connected to each other? Are we connected to people who lived in the past? What about future generations? Past technology? Future technology? Everything truly is connected. Time is a continuum, not something that is here now and gone tomorrow. Sure, a moment is now, but ultimately time, nature, people, experiences, everything is connected. What do we choose to do with that connection? One mark on a jewel affects all other jewels in the net. So one healing action can also affect all other jewels in the net. What a powerful opportunity.

Chief Seattle

I agree Chief Seattle’s speech to Governor Stevens was very sad. Chief Seattle was very passionate about his people, the land, and the injustice his people were being subjected to. There is such hopelessness as he says, “It matters little where we spend the rest of our days. They are not many.”

Although this was a very serious topic for him to speak on, somehow I appreciated his facetiousness. I don’t mean to minimize the awfulness of the experiences he was referring to. It took boldness to speak so plainly, yet his personality and emotion came through in his speech. He expressed his passion for his people, using examples of men, women, and children being affected. He talked about the land in a way that expressed his people’s reverence for it.

Chief Seattle’s faithfulness to his people was very clear. He wanted both the living and the dead to be treated with respect. He talked about God loving the white man but abandoning His red children. The way I see it, the white man overlooked an incredible opportunity to show the very love they were professing.

Chief Seattle said, “So let him be just and deal kindly with my people.” I wonder how things would have been different if that would have done in the beginning of their interactions.

Sa-go-ye-wat-ha

I thought the way Sa-go-ye-wat-ha responded was interesting. He employed some great means of communication in his speech. He started by acknowledging their meeting was Sovereignly directed. This showed an openness on his part to their meeting. Next he states they listened attentively and will give their honest reaction. He also indicates they are one in their response. This is important as it solidifies their standing before the missionary.

I appreciate Sa-go-ye-wat-ha’s recounting of his people’s history and acknowledging what has been lovingly provided for his people by their creator. Also acknowledged is his people’s compassionate welcoming of the white man who had fled wicked men in pursuit of religious freedom.

A great question Sa-go-ye-wat-ha asks is why the white man differs so much about their religion, if there is only one religion and one book. I guess the answer to that is that somewhere in there, man’s hand must be getting in the way of the one divine truth the white man was saying he represented.

I thought it was interesting that Sa-go-ye-wat-ha said they did not want to destroy the white man’s religion or to take it from them, but that they only wanted to enjoy their own religion. That was a peaceful response, especially considering such loss his people suffered at the hand of some white men.

Sa-go-ye-wat-ha showed wisdom in saying his people were acquainted with their white neighbors the missionary had preached to, and they were going to give it some time to see what results would come of his preaching. If the results were positive, they would then reconsider what the white man said. (Not only is it common sense, but he was also applying a Scriptural principle of testing prophecies and people who say they are prophets of God. I wonder what the missionary thought of that. Sadly, his refusal to shake hands after the speech and blessing for safe travel home, suggests he wasn’t open to allowing that time for observation, and he probably closed the door to future communications.)

I found some of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha’s language and message to be beautiful. “We go to sleep content, and we wake up with gratitude to the Great Spirit. With renewed strength in our limbs, and bounding joy in our hearts, we feel blessed.” I think that is such a basic yet powerful reminder to really be thankful for the simple things in life.

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