I’m doing a series of videos on how nonduality and Native spirituality intersect. We’ve talked about history, we’ve talked about language, and how it fits in our head. We’ve talked aboutthe rules of nonduality and how they work in with that.
At this point in the discussion, people might start thinking, ‘Well, why don’t we just switch to Native spirituality? It sounds so much easier and so much more fun.’
The only thing I have to say to that is, ‘You dirty rotten scoundrel’!
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First of all, it shouldn’t be easy. It should be difficult. It should require some effort to get us from where we’re at to where we want to be, both individually and as a society. So come on! Look at the timeline of everything that’s happened: cultures coming in and conquering other cultures. Europeans coming over to the Americas, taking over and stealing everybody’s land. We should be thinking about giving something back, not taking something else.
So, first of all, we have to just pause (and I’m speaking to non-native people here, I’m hoping that’s obvious). We need to just pause and give native people a chance to catch up: as in give our brothers time to relearn first their languages, their traditions, etc., etc. Provide some space to find new ways to bring their wisdom to us. Because I think one thing we can be absolutely certain of is that the native wisdom bringers want to help… but we have to give them the space to do so.
As far as our own narcissism is concerned, every single one of us should realize that this is not an individual thing; this is a community thing. We have a lot of work to do. The most effective thing to realize is that this cannot happen in our generation. In other words, you and me.
Native spirituality is not something for me to make me feel better, or to give me ceremonies to see nature better.. or anything at all having to do with the little separate me. Native spirituality is not for me, not for you; this is something that needs to grow back into the reality of all human beings.
This is why I’m talking about Nonduality intersecting with Native wisdom. Precisely because Nonduality is really, really hard. It is the tool we can use to erase centuries of misconceptions from our deep, deep consciousness.
As members of the conquering cultures we need to first give to native cultures, and to everyone, and to each other, and to the plants, and the trees, and the animals. So, do not think that native spirituality is easier and you should go do that. Do not think that you can go drifting into native ceremonies and find your salvation there.
No, work on yourself first. This is what nonduality is supposed to mean. Nonduality isn’t supposed to be this narcissistic nihilism—’nothing exists, everything’s fantasy’—No That is not what nonduality is about. Nonduality is about finding who you are, integrated completely with all of unity.
You get there first, then start looking to the native wisdoms. Oh okay, dip into the beauty of what they’re offering us now and then, but do not go searching and harassing them.