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Anthony Quintiliani, Ph.D, LADC

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November 8, 2016 By Admin

Mindful Solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux Earth Protectors

Mindful Solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux Earth Protectors

The Standing Rock Sioux earth protectors are fighting earth destruction, environmental degradation, oil profiteering, and corporate greed.  Yes, I suppose finding huge reserves of crude helps many people become employed in the Dakotas. This is important. But other earth-wise activity (more solar for example) would be far more productive. As the First Nations People stand up for their water and spiritual rights, the powers of the state are encroaching on them with more and more force.  Reportedly, military equipment, riot police, and attack dogs are being used against mainly unarmed indigenous people praying and demonstrating to protect their rights to clean water and the spiritual sacredness of area burial grounds. Just like much earlier in our glorious history, Americans profiteers (with their official police and sometimes the army) may end up killing American Indians over land and dakota_access_pipelinewaterprotectorsits underground riches. Nothing new here! It is only a matter of time before shots are fired and people die!  Some say that the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline may have already violated earlier treaty obligations with The Sioux.  That has NEVER prevented the dominant white culture from acting for its own financial interests in the past – nothing new here. It may be environmental racism that The Army Corp of Engineers moved the pipeline route away from Bismarck (fear of possible water contamination for mainly white folks) so it now crosses land and water of First Nations People.  The marginalization and disrespect continue. Perhaps this is urban slum politics in the great rural areas of the Dakotas. Such fears regarding Bismarck simply emphasize that the technology being used is NOT completely safe and dependable.  This is the FALSE PROMISE OF TECHNOLOGY. Like so many of our technological advances (the internet for example), the primacy of safety and security have been over-shadowed by the desire for free flow of commerce and thus greater standingrocksioux_dakotaaccespipeline-mindfulhappinessprofits. The core issue is that such oil extraction and use continues to threaten mother earth’s health AND OUR FUTURE AS HUMANS. Oil profiteers, using private and public security forces with armored military vehicles and attach dogs, are determined to force the Sioux off the land – perhaps off their own land. Praise to Amy Goodman for reportedly filming brutal dog attacks and releasing the video into the internet network.  It is reported that many national unions (except the national AFL-CIO) have already stated their support for the Standing Rock Sioux in their fight against corporate greed (America’s #1 problem)  and cultural repression (also a #1 problem – “black lives matter”). Perhaps we will witness annihilation once again (and again and again).  Is this “the great American dream?” No!

If ever there was a time for OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT to correct a long-standing dakotaaccesspipelinewrong, this may be that time. President Obama, as the Commander and Chief (notice the word, “chief”), this is a good time to act on the behalf of oppressed people, even if it includes acting against corporate profiteering interests.

CHANGE THE ROUTE OF THE PIPELINE NOW, AND FIND WAYS TO REIMBURSE THE DAPL CORPORATE ENTITIES THAT STAND TO FACE GREAT FINANCIAL LOSSES IF THAT IS DONE.  CHANGE THE PIPELINE’S ROUTE BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED – THAT IS KILLED OVER OIL! That sounds familiar.

By Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, VermontChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

Mindful Happiness cover designs.indd

New Edition of Mindful Happiness in Production…Coming soon!

 

Filed Under: ANTHONY QUINTILIANI, Commentary, Featured, First Nation, Spiritual Energy, Standing Rock Sioux, Thoughts & Opinions

September 22, 2016 By Admin

Honoring First Nation-Native American Spirited-Wisdom

Honoring First Nation – Native American Spirited-Wisdom

American First Nation or Native American People (according to how they wish to be named) have  a strong spiritual traditions honoring life, the earth and the heavens.  Naming these wise peoples is a problem; out of respect one would call them First Nations, Native American, or a specific tribal name.  Since this is a post, and since my efforts to obtain preferences have ended in  the three “namings” above, I shall use First Nations. I do this out of deep respect.  If my choice mindfulhappiness_first-nationoffends, please accept my deeply felt apology.

In this post I hope to note just a few areas of rich spiritual traditions, especially around the circles of the camp fires. In philosophical terms, First Nation Peoples followed (and follow) certain sacred practices: conservation, preservation, taking/using only what is necessary, giving back/restoring, and forever giving thanks – deep gratitude for what the earth and the heavens have provided. In today’s so-called modern, technological world of greed, “me first,” and sometimes hatred – we all could learn MUCH from these wise-minded and collective practices.

These wise people also practiced special spiritual activities to deepen their understanding of “the way things are.” Such beliefs and practices of energy balancing, sacred healing locations, long-silence, four directions/winds, vision questing, passing the pipe, talking sticks, medicine bags, sweat lodging were all part of their very rich traditions.  WE, so-called dominant white people from Europe almost annihilated them; however, now we seek and deeply value many of their spiritual traditions.  As an old First Nation close friend once told me: “You white people tried to completely destroy us, but now you are quite interested in how our spiritual experiences conserved our spiritual powers and identity – and you WANT to take those traditions also!”  Thank you my friend Dana Pictou for reminding me! Speaking for myself, I want to take nothing BUT I do want to experience what they offer spiritually.  There is no question about WHO owns these traditions. They belong to First Nation peoples.four_directions

In the central areas of British Columbia there are “medicine ways gatherings.” There, certain Tibetan Buddhist and First Nation ceremonies have been integrated to pursue earth healing and world peace. Under the facilitation of Spirit Dance Center for Spiritual Ecology, people gather to participate in ceremony and ritual around open camp fires.  In fire circles they meditate, chant, drum, pass the pipe, have dyadic discussions, and personal consultations – ALL in deep respect for authentic spiritual power, and to better understand “the way things are.”   Others in different parts of  North America participate in body awareness concentration, cleansing breath rituals,  and feather meditations.   Additionally, the sacred fours are active: four directions, four winds, four seasons, and four states of the self. vision-questThis last focus includes our mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional experiences of the self. I find it so, so interesting that First Nation peoples – like the Buddhists of 2,500 years ago – developed a “psychology of self” as part of their forward progressions. In Buddhist beliefs there is no concrete, independently arising, enduring SELF.  It is real in a sense of mind-time, but subject to impermanence, interdependent arising, and essential emptiness. All part of illusion and delusion as we strive to experience sensory pleasure and avoid pain and suffering. These understanding – both First Nation and Buddhist – are quire complex. Mastery of them may reduce personal suffering and increase personal happiness.

So sit quietly with others at  camp fire circle and practice some of these powerful ceremonies. For authenticity, consider finding a First Nation person to lead you through some of these wonderfully powerful rituals. As Joseph Campbell  said “Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid…”

For more information see Cohen, K. – “Bear Hawk” (2003, 2006). Honoring the Medicine: The Essential Guide to Native American Healing. New York: Ballantine Books.

By Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, Vermont

ChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

Mindful Happiness cover designs.indd

New Edition of Mindful Happiness in Production…Coming soon!

Filed Under: Featured, First Nation, Rituals, Spiritual Energy, Spiritual Experience, Spiriuality Tagged With: FIRST NATION, NATIVE AMERCANS, RITUALS

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