Native American Jedi? -- FINAL -- Part 10 - Light up your Corner of the World
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18 Oct 2017 13:22 #304221
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In Buddhism, it’s understood that the best way you can help others is by working on yourself.
This is what’s sometimes called “lighting up your corner of the world”, and it refers to the way you can inspire those you meet by the example you set and how this is more powerful than anything else you can do to help others. And it’s here that Black Elk is affirming that understanding through Native American wisdom.
But this doesn’t mean, “earn a bunch of money, gain a lot of power, and achieve greatness”, this refers to awakening to your true nature and finding true peace within, something that Black Elk understands clearly.
And again we’re brought back to realizing the ‘oneness’ of all things. He even draws a direct parallel to the Eastern wisdom of, “the center which is everywhere and in everything” (the way in which each of us feels like we’re the center of the universe, the universal perspective) in saying:
[From a blog post by Matt Valentine at Buddhaimonia.com]
Commentary: When we look at the "outside world" today, we can readily find things that are disagreeable to us, and what we think the world "should" be like. Inequality, injustice, racism, violence, aggression, deceit, whatever it may be, however it may manifest itself, and wherever we may find it.
The natural instinct is a desire to change these things. Change how others act. Change laws, rules, regulations, or social institutions as a whole. Change how the rest of the world treats itself, to comport more with how we feel things ought to be. This is a rough path, and we are likely to frustrate ourselves further and further before we effectuate any substantial change on the thousands or millions of others.
The true trick behind any of our own thoughts on these issues is to effectuate change within ourselves first. Change how you see things, how you act, what you do, and where your path is heading. The ONE area we have immediate powers to perform any actual change is within ourselves, and ourselves only. Still, in doing so, we cannot simply decide upon taking action, signing petitions, writing letters, spreading the word, discussing the issues, bringing awareness, lobbying our elected officials. Here we are still not changing ourselves, but simply changing how we plan to change others.
In order to truly change anything in this world, through first changing ourselves, we have to recognize that one great spark at the center of everything. That inner inspiration you find to view an issue a certain way has a mirror at the center of the opposing viewpoint as well...an identical twin...a connected "oneness". As Jedi, we call this truth of universal interconnectedness of all things, The Force. Acknowledge and accept this first. Then CHANGE yourself. For as the mirror reflects, so to will the change in yourself eventually create change in the greater universe as well.
NOTE: This is the final installment of the "Native American Jedi" threads.
Light up your corner of the world (by realizing the first peace)
The first peace, which is the most important,
Is that which comes within the souls of people
When they realize their relationship,
Their oneness, with the universe and all its powers,
And when they realize that at the center
Of the universe dwells Wakan-Taka (the Great Spirit),
And that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this.
The second peace is that which is made between two individuals,
And the third is that which is made between two nations.
But above all you should understand that there can never
Be peace between nations until there is known that true peace,
Which, as I have often said, is within the souls of men.
Is that which comes within the souls of people
When they realize their relationship,
Their oneness, with the universe and all its powers,
And when they realize that at the center
Of the universe dwells Wakan-Taka (the Great Spirit),
And that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this.
The second peace is that which is made between two individuals,
And the third is that which is made between two nations.
But above all you should understand that there can never
Be peace between nations until there is known that true peace,
Which, as I have often said, is within the souls of men.
- Black Elk, Oglala Sioux & Spiritual Leader (1863 - 1950)
In Buddhism, it’s understood that the best way you can help others is by working on yourself.
This is what’s sometimes called “lighting up your corner of the world”, and it refers to the way you can inspire those you meet by the example you set and how this is more powerful than anything else you can do to help others. And it’s here that Black Elk is affirming that understanding through Native American wisdom.
But this doesn’t mean, “earn a bunch of money, gain a lot of power, and achieve greatness”, this refers to awakening to your true nature and finding true peace within, something that Black Elk understands clearly.
And again we’re brought back to realizing the ‘oneness’ of all things. He even draws a direct parallel to the Eastern wisdom of, “the center which is everywhere and in everything” (the way in which each of us feels like we’re the center of the universe, the universal perspective) in saying:
And when they realize that at the center Of the universe dwells Wakan-Taka (the Great Spirit),
And that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
And that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.
[From a blog post by Matt Valentine at Buddhaimonia.com]
*************
Commentary: When we look at the "outside world" today, we can readily find things that are disagreeable to us, and what we think the world "should" be like. Inequality, injustice, racism, violence, aggression, deceit, whatever it may be, however it may manifest itself, and wherever we may find it.
The natural instinct is a desire to change these things. Change how others act. Change laws, rules, regulations, or social institutions as a whole. Change how the rest of the world treats itself, to comport more with how we feel things ought to be. This is a rough path, and we are likely to frustrate ourselves further and further before we effectuate any substantial change on the thousands or millions of others.
The true trick behind any of our own thoughts on these issues is to effectuate change within ourselves first. Change how you see things, how you act, what you do, and where your path is heading. The ONE area we have immediate powers to perform any actual change is within ourselves, and ourselves only. Still, in doing so, we cannot simply decide upon taking action, signing petitions, writing letters, spreading the word, discussing the issues, bringing awareness, lobbying our elected officials. Here we are still not changing ourselves, but simply changing how we plan to change others.
In order to truly change anything in this world, through first changing ourselves, we have to recognize that one great spark at the center of everything. That inner inspiration you find to view an issue a certain way has a mirror at the center of the opposing viewpoint as well...an identical twin...a connected "oneness". As Jedi, we call this truth of universal interconnectedness of all things, The Force. Acknowledge and accept this first. Then CHANGE yourself. For as the mirror reflects, so to will the change in yourself eventually create change in the greater universe as well.
NOTE: This is the final installment of the "Native American Jedi" threads.
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