Eye on Faith

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Western Shoshone: The most bombed nation on earth

(Yucca Mountain)

Newe Segobia (meaning “People of Mother Earth”) is also known as the Western Shoshone nation. The land boundaries of this nation have been clearly defined by Article 5 of the 1863 Ruby Valley Treaty between the Western Bands of the Shoshonee Nation of Indians and the United States of America. According to h-o-m-e.org, this territory “includes tens of millions of acres, most of Nevada, and portions of Idaho, Utah and Southern California.”

Newstandardnews.net reports that not only is this territory “prime real estate for the mining industry,” but it is also being coveted by energy corporations for its geothermal potentialities. Yucca Mountain, controversial site of the U. S. Department of Energy’s designated nuclear-waste repository, is located within this region, just adjacent to the Nevada National Security Site (formerly the Nevada Test Site).

Because over a thousand “tests” (bombs) have been exploded at the Nevada Test Site, Newe Segobia has been notoriously called the most bombed nation on earth. Western Shoshones have been forced to live with the health hazards of this radioactivity for decades. This is horrible enough; however, their spirituality has been even more severely challenged.

Western Shoshone spirituality is integrally tied to Mother Earth. Earthfirstjournal.org quotes Carrie Dann, “a traditional tribal member” as stating this about the need to protect Yucca Mountain and other Newe Segobia lands: The Earth is our mother and land provides us with life, like the water and the air. To take this land from us will be to lead us into a spiritual death.

Corbin Harney (1920-2007) was a shaman (“spiritual leader”) of the Western Shoshones who devoted his life to protecting the Newe’s land. Since herbology is another integral part of Western Shoshone religion, he was deeply concerned about the loss of healing plants such as pine nuts and choke cherries. Because animals are part of the Creator’s family, he also mourned the disappearance of antelopes, deer, groundhogs, and sagehens. Wikipedia describes a vision that he had concerning water. Harney is quoted as stating: I was praying to the water and the spirit of the water told me, ‘Pretty soon, I’m going to look like clean water, but no one is going to use me’ (which occurs when water is contaminated by radioactivity).

Harney’s words still serve as an urgent reminder: Let’s not destroy the Mother Earth. Let’s take care of her, and she will take care of us.

Resources

http://www.h-o-m-e.org/Shoshone/

http://www.earthfirstjournal.org/article.php?id=211

http://www.nativeweb.org/pages/legal/shoshone/ruby_valley.html

http://tecopaca.com/poohabah/Newe.Sogobia.htm

http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2954

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbin_Harney

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_Mountain_nuclear_waste_repository

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnRGXGkPjBo

Friday, May 20, 2011

Chaz Bono: Is there a karmic prequel?

(Madame Blavatsky)

Chaz Bono, formerly Chastity Bono, has authored a thought-provoking book titled Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man. It is not so much a coming-of-age story as it is a coming-into-identity story.

Although the book draws upon childhood memories, those who are karmically inclined might be wondering whether the roots of this transition began way before then. According to certain types of karmic theory, even though past-life memories can be difficult to consciously access, they nevertheless can significantly influence our

present-life tendencies.

So what might be the karmic influences for someone who feels trapped within a physical body that seems at odds with who they really are? According to some past-life therapists, this might mean that the person had incarnated within an opposite-gender body enough times to now greatly miss that past identity.

At the University of Virginia, there is a Division of Perceptual Studies that investigates the paranormal. For a long time, the head of this division was psychiatrist Ian Stevenson. For more than 40 years, Dr. Stevenson researched thousands of childhood cases of alleged past-life memories. He considered that reincarnation

might be just as instrumental as biology and environment in affecting personality. Although some have criticized his research methods, others have heralded his work as being conducted with scientific rigor. According to iisis.net, in 95% of Dr. Stevenson’s cases, “the child returns assuming the same sex as in the prior lifetime.” For the other 5%, life could become quite confusing.

Dr. Jim Tucker has continued this work after Dr. Stevenson’s retirement and death. He, too, is at the University of Virginia, and heads the Child and Family Psychiatry Clinic there. Whereas Dr.

Stevenson researched many Asian cases, Dr. Tucker concentrates more upon American ones. He has suggested that quantum physics may provide some explanations for the existence of consciousness as a non-physical entity. If this be true, then it may also be possible for consciousness to retain its identity from one incarnation to the next.

Madame Blavatsky, a founder of Theosophy, said this: The soul is sexless. It may reincarnate in either sex and it may change from one to the other gender in different lives.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaz_Bono

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation_research

http://www.amazon.com/Transition-Story-How-Became-Man/dp/0525952144

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Stevenson

http://www.blavatsky.net/topics/reincarnation/reincarnation.htm

http://www.iisis.net/index.php?page=semkiw-ian-stevenson-reincarnation-past-lives-research&hl=en_US

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Malcolm X: Colorblind in Mecca

(Mecca)

Terrifying incidents from the childhood of Malcolm X make it understandable that he grew up seeing the world in black and white terms.

Wikipedia reports that three of his father’s brothers “died

violently at the hands of white men” (one was lynched). When Malcolm’s mother was pregnant with him, she was threatened by the Ku Klux Klan. The year after Malcolm’s 1925 birth, the family wound up moving from their home in Omaha, Nebraska to Lansing, Michigan because of these Klan threats.

The situation in Lansing was also terrifying – this time, tragically so. When their home was deliberately burned down in 1929, Malcolm’s family managed to escape. However – in 1931, Malcolm’s father (Earl Little) was run over by a streetcar. There is some discrepancy as to how this occurred. The “official” report states that it was an accident.

Yet, there was talk at the funeral about Little being struck from behind and shoved beneath the streetcar’s wheels by

members of a white supremacist group.

All this went a long way towards turning Malcolm away from the white race. During his most intense anti-White phase, he would regularly teach that white people were “a race of devils” and that “the demise of the white race was imminent.” His solution back then was to advocate for “the complete separation of African Americans from white people.”

When Malcolm made his pilgrimage to Mecca in April 1964, he had already begun softening his stance. He had broken away from the more radical Nation of Islam and had joined the more mainstream Sunni Islam. While in Saudi Arabia, he was befriended by some high-ranking diplomats. This was in sharp contrast to his oftentimes pariah status back home.

However, what impressed Malcolm the most were the loving relationships that he witnessed there amongst

Muslims of all races. In his now-famous Letter from Mecca, Malcolm X wrote: I could see from this that

perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man…

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/471/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca

http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Nation-of-Islam/index.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Islam

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Pope John Paul II: From Blessings to Blessed

Pope John XXIII (Photo by Pivari)

In so many ways, John Paul II was an extraordinary pope. Not only did he speak 13 languages (including Esperanto), but he also canonized 483 saints and beatified 1340 people.

In the Roman Catholic Church, beatification (from the Latin Beatus or Beata meaning “Blessed”) is one step shy of the full

recognition of sainthood (canonization). Beatification asserts that the Blessed person has been saved and is now in heaven. That person has either been a proven martyr for the faith, or has successfully prayed for a miracle to occur (intercession). Amongst those whom John Paul II beatified were two other

popes: Pius IX and John XXIII (both on September 3, 2000).

Pope Pius IX reigned for almost 32 years – from June 1846 until his death in February 1878. In August 2000, Time.com listed some of these highlights from Pius IX’s tenure: He promulgated two of Catholicism’s triumphal doctrines— the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and papal infallibility. He pioneered the papal personality movement that John Paul II embodies so brilliantly. Many historians

believe he created the modern papacy. However, there are many who regret some of his legacy. Although Pius IX began with quite a liberal papacy, he became increasingly conservative. His Syllabus of Errors denounced separation of church and state, and helped to foster a longstanding belief that “the church was opposed to democracy in every way.”

John XXIII was almost 77 years old when he became pope in October 1961. Within a reign of less than five years, he called the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) and issued the Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) encyclical – both of which have been instrumental in furthering church unity, interfaith harmony, and human rights. Although Pope John XXIII died fairly soon after Vatican II began, it was he who set its groundbreaking tone. He did live to complete Pacem in Terris, which urges cooperation between nations and individuals, between Catholics and non-Catholics, and amongst nations.

Pope John Paul II, who had beatified so many, was himself recently beatified by Pope Benedict XVI. He, too, is now one of the Blessed.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_beatified_by_Pope_John_Paul_II

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101302.htm

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,53415-3,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_IX

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacem_in_Terris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Vatican_Council

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Visakha Puja: Buddha's full circle

Accesstoinsight.org reports that May’s full moon marks the time of Buddha’s birth, self-awakening (at age 35), and death (at age 80).

According to Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, this time can be best honored by following the Dhamma – the way of life that the Buddha espoused. Ajaan Lee says that even though our father (Buddha) had to leave this world on Visakha Puja, our mother (Dhamma) is still right here to help protect us. Therefore, the very best way to commemorate Visakha Puja is to align with the Dhamma.

That involves discipline rather than abandon. It’s relatively easy to pay material homage so that our karma yields us worldly advantages. Some give generously this time around with the hopes of earning upper-class status next time around. They are not fully realizing that an “A” class prisoner is still a prisoner. Better to try and break free of the karmic cycles that bind us.

Ajaan Lee therefore suggests that Visakha Puja be spent in the following ways: chanting passages that reflect the virtues of the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha); dressing as simply as possible; cutting back to only one or two meals; and sleeping on less comfortable beds. He claims that all of this will foster genuine mourning for the Buddha’s passing. In addition, he stresses the importance of associating with wise people.

Wikipedia adds that Visakha Puja (aka Vesakha, Vaisakha, Vesak, Wesak, Buddha Purnima, Fodan,

Hanamatsuri, Buddha Jayanti, Phat Dan, Waisak, Saga Dawa, Vixakha Bouxa, Hari Wesak, Seokka

Tanshin-il, Fatdaahn, Visak Bochea, Kasone la-pyae Boda nei) is a time for refraining from all killing, for eating vegetarian food, for assisting those less fortunate, and for practicing loving-kindness.

Resources

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/visakha.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ves%C4%81kha

Monday, May 16, 2011

'White Nun' memories: From Las Casas to Liberace

(Bartolome de las Casas)

At a time when atrocities were routinely being committed towards indigenous people in the name of conversion, there lived a Dominican friar named Bartolome de las Casas who was eventually determined to do things differently.

Las Casas, who ended up chronicling the crimes of Christopher

Columbus and others towards the natives of the West Indies, was once one of these same perpetrators. In fact, family wealth that had assisted him in becoming a priest had been gained from these very activities. He therefore knew, more than any outsider ever could, the horror of these ways. In 1515 he gave up his own slaves – and then spent the next 50 years vigorously advocating for the rights of indigenous people.

These advocacy efforts took him to Guatemala. In 1537, he tested his two new methods of fair conversion: (1) the gospel would be preached to all as equals; and (2) conversion would be voluntary and knowledge-based. He deliberately chose to do this in a region of Guatemala that was known for its fierce natives. The Spaniards had not been able to conquer them by force. Las Casas was therefore able to convince the governor of Guatemala not to establish any new slaveholdings in that area if these new conversion methods were successful.

The success of these methods was nothing short of miraculous. Several of the native chiefs converted, and this area was named Verapaz “true peace” (although some have since judged it to be “manipulated peace”). In 1934, the Monja Blanca (White Nun Orchid) from the Verapaz region was chosen as a national symbol

of Guatemala.

In 1963, the famous pianist Walter (Wladziu) Valentino Liberace allegedly encountered his own ‘White Nun.’ The day after John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Liberace was scheduled to do a show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thinking it would be cancelled, he decided to spend some time cleaning his costumes. The chemical that he used turned out to be quite toxic. Liberace ended up in the hospital fighting for his life. At one point, doctors were telling him to get his worldly affairs in order. When very near death, he was visited by a nun in a white habit who said she would pray to St. Anthony for him. The very next day, Liberace began to get better. He went on to live another 23 scintillating years.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolom%C3%A9_de_las_Casas

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/coloniallatinamerica/p/lascasas1.htm

http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html

http://www.liberace.org/Liberace-Trivia.htm

http://hauntsandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/liberaces-midnight-visitor.html

Sunday, May 15, 2011

L. Frank Baum: Santa Claus meets the Wizard of Oz

(The Wizard Himself)

When L. Frank Baum’s Methodist family of origin celebrated Christmas, Frank (which he preferred to be called) would often be playing Santa Claus. He would hide behind the drapes and talk to the family from there. Frank’s Santa became the unseen “ruler” of the Baums’ family Christmas just as Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs (otherwise known as the Wizard) became the unseen ruler of Oz (short for Oscar Zoroaster).

Like the Wizard, Baum was inventive to the point of appearing magical. His endeavors included printing his own home journals, breeding specialty poultry, marketing fireworks, acting, teaching, translating, playwriting, journalism, singing, editing and sales. Also like the Wizard, Baum sometimes projected himself in a terrifying fashion. According to Wikipedia, Baum “urged the wholesale extermination of all America’s native peoples” in a column he wrote for a Dakota newspaper just days before the massacre at Wounded Knee.

When in Aberdeen, Baum joined the Episcopal Church. However, Wikipedia reports that this was more for practical than religious reasons. His more serious spiritual connection seemed to be with Theosophy, which he and his wife became associated with in 1897. Because the Baums believed that

“religious decisions should be made by mature minds,” they favored an ethical upbringing for their children rather than a religious one.

According to teosofiskakompaniet.net, Baum did not accept all of Theosophy’s teachings. Although he believed in reincarnation, he did not believe in the transmigration of souls (from animal to human, and vice versa). He did believe in karmic theory, and in the notion that “man on Earth was only one step on a great ladder that passed through many states of consciousness.”

His final words seems to be in keeping with these beliefs. Baum succumbed to a stroke shortly before his 63^rd birthday. Before dying, he clearly said: Now we can cross the Shifting Sands.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum#cite_note-33

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard_of_Oz_(character)

http://www.teosofiskakompaniet.net/LFrankBaumTheosophist.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy