Some Native American Wisdom
Nature Girl
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
Some Native American Wisdom
I found this in my "treasures" and thought I'd share it here. I have always found great peace in the philosophy and teachings of the Native American people, and I found this reading to fit well with our Recovery thoughts.
1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.
6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.
7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.
10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.
12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.
18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.
20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
Native American Code of Ethics
1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.
6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.
7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.
10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.
12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.
15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.
18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.
20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.
Belgian Sheepdog Adictee
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: In Today
Posts: 6,101
This is pretty much what I live by today. My time sitting at the knees of both the Navajo (there are plenty here) and the Lakota (my native heritage) when I can has taught me so much, so so much, in helping me to live my life today.
Thank you so much for posting this.
Love and hugs,
Thank you so much for posting this.
Love and hugs,
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In a good place
Posts: 4,482
I get daily Native meditations in my email from the Wellbriety Movement. I found them over a year ago when I was looking for recovery programs geared towards us Natives. They have a book called The Red Road to Wellbriety endorsed by Hazelden.
I was raised in an urban setting but 100% immersed in my culture. It's crazy how my life went upside down when I strayed from basic cultural concepts.
I was raised in an urban setting but 100% immersed in my culture. It's crazy how my life went upside down when I strayed from basic cultural concepts.
Nature Girl
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
It's nice to get input here from people who are Native American or raised with the influence of that culture. I was not, but had a very good friend who was and who shared a lot of his wisdom with me and the more aware I became, the more I was interested. He died quite a few years ago, but I will never forget the peace he always seemed to have within, and how much sense so much of what he shared made.
It reminds me of how recovery works, where the elders pass on the wisdom to the children, and who keep the stories and heritage alive.
I`m glad you enjoyed this.
Hugs
It reminds me of how recovery works, where the elders pass on the wisdom to the children, and who keep the stories and heritage alive.
I`m glad you enjoyed this.
Hugs
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: lancaster, PA
Posts: 852
Originally Posted by Ann 
I will never forget the peace he always seemed to have within, and how much sense so much of what he shared made.
My ex was the most peaceful, loving individual I ever met. He contributed it to what he was taught from the blackfoot tribe, and the time he spent there... it was life changing for him.............
<sidenote>
(shoulda held onto that guy).
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