A Return to the Old Ways?
by Alternative Voice Staff
I recently had a conversation with someone about the state of the planet. She expressed her frustration and anger towards the world leaders, the monopolizing corporations, the public school system, the wars and international conflicts, and problems of racism, to name a few. Ever been a part of one of these conversations? People are becoming increasingly disillusioned about the way things are going around us. More are voicing their opinions. “What to do about it?” I questioned aloud to her.
Have you noticed that there is a growing interest worldwide in the lives of indigenous peoples? Here in the USA there is much interest being generated towards the traditions, beliefs, history, stories, and music—all that makes up the old culture of Native Americans. Last year I attended an event put on by AIM (American Indian Movement), bringing attention to the 30th anniversary of the infamous 1973 occupation at Wounded Knee. The master of ceremonies, Vernon Foster, spoke about the issue of non-natives emulating Native American ways, along with some circumstances of abuse and general misunderstandings. He said the native peoples of North America are just beginning to find out who they are, after losing their identity for so long. Many peoples of the planet have lost their identities, not just the oppressed indigenous ones, and they all are looking for themselves.
For the multitudes searching for who they are (including myself), it's an integral part of life: discovering who you are and why you're here. While we walk through the supermarkets of artificial ingredients for identity-making, we may find ourselves looking back into history, and also ahead to the future of becoming. We can envision why we're here and who we are to become. Looking back at our ancestors' heritage is often helpful and interesting, but the fact is that no matter how ideal a certain time period of a people's culture seems to have been, we can't go back. Of course we wouldn't want to return to the years of plagues, starvation, wars, constricting beliefs, etc. in a people's past, but there is an idealized picture painted about some eras that tends to overlook some basic realities, like all the children lost at birth or young age due to lack of modern medicines, technology, sanitation, etc.
The woman who I was speaking with yearned for a return to the “old ways.” I've been there in my mind too—a pure and simple life living close to the Earth where everyone knows their place and functions, where life is rich with tradition and culture, and where one feels secure and grounded in that identity. It's human nature to want these. We need to experience and understand these beautiful aspects found in the traditional ways of indigenous peoples. Modern humans have divorced themselves from their natural connection to the diverse eco-system of this planet and to healthy ways of relating to others. To better love our world's citizens we would do good to know what is of value, of truth, beauty, and goodness in the ways of these peoples, and learn from the wisdom of their elders. Sun Bear (the well known Medicine Chief of the Bear Tribe Medicine Society of Ojibwa descent) said, “I don't want to hear of any philosophy unless it grows corn” (and I might add: spinach, garlic, parsnips,...).
We must also discard ancient understandings that are outdated and no longer serve our progression. For example, that our Creator is a jealous, wrathful, warring God, and that it pleases Him that someone would kill others thought to be “bad people.” The old “eye for an eye.” Jesus said: “That which is old and also true must abide. Likewise, that which is new but false must be rejected. But that which is new and also true, have the faith and courage to accept.” (The URANTIA Book, p.1656)
Many are yearning for solutions to the woes of the world. In the scriptures and teachings of all religions there are fundamental truths, which, if lived by one and all, would have prevented such decay as you can witness in the world. Problem is: we haven't, so they didn't. Books and their teachings are like Zamzam, the sacred well beside the Ka'ba in Mecca. You can drink from it to receive its healing properties and vitality, but then what? The refreshed pilgrims must go onward and do what Allah asks of them, rather than putting up a tent there to become gorged by drinking day and night for the rest of life. The ones who submit to the higher way ordained for them will find the healing, bottomless well-source of Paradise in water elsewhere also. The high mountaintops send refreshing new waters down to every generation.
The Master gave a teaching, which He said in part: “You must cease to seek for the word of God only on the pages of the olden records of theologic authority. Those who are born of the spirit of God shall henceforth discern the word of God regardless of whence it appears to take origin. Divine truth must not be discounted because the channel of its bestowal is apparently human. Many of your brethren have minds which accept the theory of God while they spiritually fail to realize the presence of God.” (ibid., p. 1732) If we become encrusted in the old ways we may miss God winking at us through our fellow brethren and even become self-righteous in the religious trappings of stagnant traditions, rituals, dogmas, and so forth. There are some who hold Doctorates in Theology but are much farther away from knowing God personally than the average farmer in rural Guatemala. If we get too far ahead of the grounded moment, venturing away from our bodies to envision and dream too much, we could drift out in space and back our truck into another vehicle.
Each one of us, as a planetary citizen, must choose to move forward in our evolution. This means gathering the precious fruit of the Earth People's heritage and integrating it into our modern lives. It means moving forward in understanding our own being through our past, while looking forward to the future. One reason why some yearn to go “back” is due to lack of an optimistic vision of the future—a life without purpose devoted to grand and open possibilities for our planet's future. More specifically: your personal destiny here. With the battle we're facing, disappearing from the action to hide in the past diminishes one's use to the whole planet. You may find your own relative peace and quiet, but if it is for selfish purposes it will be very temporary in the scheme of the whole unfoldment. You may just wake up on the hammock or the cushion one afternoon and hear the calling. Yes, it is true that sometimes we need to get away from the noise and madness to hear more clearly, but the world desperately needs action.
The “Bird Tribes” are returning—we're not going back to them. They're actually here: people are beginning to wake up to the fact that they aren't in agreement with the way things are, that they're in conflict with the status quo and have never fit in without compromising their souls in some manner. These people are realizing their planetary citizenship by reconnecting the past (both the mistakes made and the good) to carry on with the future latent potential awaiting us all. Moving forward is the only way, and in doing so, we will also reclaim what is true, good, and beautiful of the past. Hanta Yo! (Lakota for “Clear the Way!”)