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Native American Code of Ethics

  1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
  2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.
  3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.
  4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.
  5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.
  6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth – whether it be people or plant.
  7. Honor other people’s thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.
  8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.
  9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.
  10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.
  11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.
  12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.
  13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
  14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.
  15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self – all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.
  16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
  17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others – especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.
  18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
  19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.
  20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.

This originally appeared in the “Inter-Tribal Times,” October, 1994

Source: https://www.nativevillage.org/Inspiration-/native_american_code_of_ethics__.htm

What Sort of Good News Is It?

     “Allow me to explain the Good News my religion proclaims,” said the preacher.

     The Master was all attention.

     “God is love. And He loves and rewards us forever if we observe His commandments.”

     “IF?” said the Master.  “Then the news isn’t all that good, is it?”

*******

     When the preacher returned to the Good News theme the Master interrupted him:

     “What sort of Good News is it,” he asked, “that makes it so easy to go to hell and so hard to get to heaven?”

– Anthony de Mello, More One Minute Nonsense

 Source: http://stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/orthodoxy/articles/quotes

Window Washer

     The Master had this story to tell about the way people look at other people.

     Soon after his marriage he lived for a while on the tenth floor of a city apartment.  His young wife one day stepped out of the shower to reach for a towel when she froze.  There outside the window was a window washer looking at her.  A whole minute passed as she stood there rooted to the ground, too stunned to move a muscle.

     The man broke the spell.  “What’s the matter, lady?” he said.  “Haven’t you seen a window washer before?”

– Anthony de Mello, More One Minute Nonsense

 Source: http://stfourthdimension.blogspot.com/2012/05/

The Spiritual World of God and Your Own Soul

     So what will it be?  Will you ask the tough questions?  Will you have the courage to seek the answers, no matter where they lead?  It may mean having to leave your comfort zone and confronting God and yourself in a whole new way.  It may mean giving up the feeling of security you get when you believe that your church or religion has it all figured out. … What happens when you don’t have the authority of a holy book to back your claims?  Can you put faith in God to lead you to the truth?  Can you let go of your ego, your pride, your selfish desires—and see the spiritual world of God and your own soul?

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 108-109)

 

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

We’re All Chosen

     It’s time to ask ourselves the tough questions, let go of empty traditions, discard hateful teachings, and understand that we’re all chosen—that we’re all loved—and we should love all.

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 108)

 

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

Potential Being

     “Most people live, whether physically, intellectually or morally, in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul’s resources in general, much like a man who, out of his whole bodily organism, should get into a habit of using and moving only his little finger.”

– William James

Source: http://www.livinglifefully.com/potential.htm

Embrace a New Understanding

     The religious and spiritual people of the world today need a revolution.  We need to evolve beyond the schizophrenic images of God we’ve held for thousands of years and embrace a new understanding, one that combines the best of what the past and present have to offer, while letting go of any distorted, man-made dogmas that seem only to keep us apart from each other and from God.

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 108)

 

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications