Green Spirituality - a rant

It's got more like Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

 

If I agree, would it be wrong?

 

You'll have to decide that one.

 

I don't make decisions, I am one.

 

Then let your god decide.

 

Chief Dan Evehema died on January 15th 1999 at the age of 108. He was a spiritual leader, Snake Priest, Society Father and Eldest Elder of the Traditional Hopi Nation, Hotevilla, Arizona. He was the co-author of Hotevilla Shrine of the Covenant and Hopi Survival Kit and co author of Techqua Ikachi, the Traditional Hopi Newsletters. A leading Hopi traditionalist, and keeper of a faith and culture that is estimated to be more than 22,000 years old, Chief Dan was deeply involved in a visit to the United Nations by Hopi Elders. The statement below was his last formal teaching which he was anxious to communicate to as many people as possible. The text is slightly abridged.



I am very glad to have this chance to send a message to you. We are celebrating a time in our history which is filled both with joy and with sadness and we want to share these feelings with you because we know many of you are having the same troubles.

We Hopi believe that the human race has passed through three different worlds and life stages since the beginning. At the end of each previous world, human life has been purified or punished by the Great Spirit ‘Massauu’, mainly because of corruption, greed and turning away from the Great Spirit’s teachings. The last great retribution was the flood which destroyed all but a few faithful ones who asked and received permission from the Great Spirit to live with Him in this new land. The Great Spirit said, ‘It is up to you, if you are willing to live my poor, humble and simple life way. It is hard; but if you agree to live according to my teachings and instructions, if you never lose faith in the life I shall give you, you may come and live with me’. The Hopi and all who were saved from the great flood made a sacred covenant with the Great Spirit at that time. We Hopi made an oath that we will never turn away from Him. For us, the Creator’s laws never change or break down.

To the Hopi, the Great Spirit is all powerful. He taught us how to live, to worship, where to go and what food to carry, gave us seeds to plant and harvest. He gave us a set of sacred stone tablets into which he breathed all teachings in order to safeguard his land and life. In these stone tablets were inscribed instructions, prophecies and warnings.

He and Spiderwoman put before the leaders of the different groups many colours and sizes of corn for them to choose their food in this world. The Hopi were the last to pick their food. The Hopi then chose the smallest ear of corn. Massauu said: ‘You have shown me you are wise and humble. Because of this you will be called Hopi (people of peace) and I will place in your authority all land and life to guard, protect and hold in trust for Me, until I return to you in later days; for I am the First and the Last.’

This is why when a Hopi is ordained into the higher religious orders the earth and all living things are placed upon his hands. We are instructed to hold this world in balance with the land and the many universes with special prayers and rituals which continue to this day.

 

Now we are at the very end of our trail. Many people no longer recognize the true path of the Great Spirit. They have, in fact, no respect for the Great Spirit, or for our precious mother earth, who gives us all life.

We were instructed in our ancient prophecy that this would occur. We were told that someone would try to go up to the moon; that they would bring something back from the moon; and after that, nature would show signs of loosing its balance. Now we see that coming about. All over the world there are now signs that nature is no longer in balance. Floods, droughts, earthquakes and great storms are occurring and causing much suffering……



There are many of you in this world who are honest people. We know you spiritually for we are the ‘Men’s Society Grandfathers’ who have been charged to pray for you and all life on earth, never forgetting anything or anyone in our ceremonials. Our prayer is to have a good happy life, with plenty of soft, gentle rain for abundant crops. We pray for balance on earth to live in peace and leave a beautiful world to the children yet to come. We know you have good hearts but good hearts are not enough to help us out with these great problems.



So many people have come to us to Hopiland to meet with us. Some of you we have met on your lands. Many times people have asked how they can help us. Now I hope and pray that your help will come. If you have a way to spread the truth, through newspapers, radio, books, through meeting with powerful people – tell them the truth! Tell them what you know to be true. Tell them what you have seen here; what you have heard us say; what you have seen with your own eyes. In this way, if we do fall, let it be said that we tried, right up to the end, to hold fast to the path of peace as we were originally instructed by the Great Spirit. Should you really succeed, we will realize our mistakes of the past and return to the true path – living in harmony as brothers and sisters, sharing our mother, the earth, with all other living creatures.

In this way we could bring about a new world. A world which would be led by the Great Spirit, and in which our Mother will provide plenty and happiness for all.

 

by the river it is green and the corn grows well . why would ever i live in the dust and think it is good ...