In life, you get what you focus on. If you focus on differences, you will see the conflict between cultures. If you focus on commonalities, you will see similarities and how we are all connected.
Recently, I had a chance to read the Native American Code of Ethics. This code has survived for thousands of years. This is probably one of the oldest cultural codes that still exist today. There is evidence that the indigenous American people migrated from Siberia over 11,000 years ago. Yes, 11,000 years ago! Can you imagine how long that is?!
To put it in perspective, Judaism is about 5,000 years old, Buddhism is about 2,500 years old, Christianity is about 2,000 years old, and Islam is about 1,500 years old. Meanwhile, the Native American Code of Ethics goes back 11,000 years. Fortunately, if you go deep into each of these belief systems, you will find them very similar.
My work in personal development is in the service of all codes of ethics. I believe that regardless of which one we follow, if each and every one of us strives to live by them, to the best of our ability, we will create a better world. Striving is the most important part. Eventually, if you keep going in the right direction, you will get there.
We are all living together in the same land, sharing the same space. This makes us the custodians of this land, not the owners, not the destroyers and not the conquerors
Ronit Baras
Native American Code of Ethics
Can you see the similarities between the North American Code of Ethics and your own faith and beliefs?
- Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Respect all things that are placed upon this earth – whether it be people or plant.
- 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.
- 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.
- All persons make mistakes and all mistakes can be forgiven.
- Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.
- 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.
- Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.
- Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.
- 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.
- Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.
- Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others – especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.
- Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.
- Respect others’ religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.
- Share your good fortune with others.
Remember the similarities between the faiths, religions, and cultures. We are all living together in the same land, sharing the same space. This makes us the custodians of this land, not the owners, not the destroyers and not the conquerors. Nature is not for us, it is part of us and so are others.
Strive to live by these rules and it will bring you peace with yourself, with others and with the land. The world will be a better place.
May the force be with you!
Ronit
Hi, Ronit!
I’m doing a research project on a Black Elk Speaks’ social ethical analysisl and I found the “Native American Code of Ethics” very useful and interesting. Could you please reveal the sources you used to complete the Codes.
Thank you very much,
Kind Regards,
I found it in a place that said it was originally appeared o the “Inter-Tribal Times,” October, 1994
Why on earth do you think this “code of ethics” goes back over 10,000 years? Tribes who have had their traditions destroyed are trying to bring them back, and you are saying forget that! What evidence do you have that this “code of ethics” goes further back in time that the 1970s?
This is not the point of the post, my friend. The point is that adopting the suggested list of positive values and habits will make the world a better place, and that’s just as valid if the list was written in the 1970s.
Actually, in what you wrote you imply that because this is the most ancient wisdom, that it should be trusted. If the credibility of what you’re sharing is based on false claims, then I begin to doubt anything you have to share. A quick search reveals this code of ethics was first published in 1982 in the Sacred Tree Book by the Four Worlds National Institute.
This organization has a fascinating story in and of itself (read below), one that would have enriched and informed your post. But you diminish their contribution by not honoring the true history. And all so you can make a profit. Seriously reconsider your standards for posting content.
“Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development was born out of the intense deliberations and prayers of a gathering of native elders and community leaders that was held on the Blood Indian Reservation on the high plains of Alberta in the last week of December 1982. Forty distinguished representatives of North American tribes met in search of a solution to the social devastation brought on by, alcohol, poverty, and an increasing sense of powerlessness that was sweeping across tribal communities.”
Well, Matt, unless you’ve read that book, please don’t claim anything about it.
I didn’t write this post, but I can assure you that Ronit certainly honors the true history and culture of the Native Americans and her post was intended for the benefit of the readers.
In fact, your comment doesn’t even relate to the content of the post. Have you read it? What do you think of the tips? Do you know some people who might benefit from them? Did you follow any of them when writing your comment?
Dear Matt,
I don’t think it is credible because it was here for many years. I think it is a good ethic to follow because it allowed Native Americans to live for many years. ( 15,000 years in fact).
I believe that all tribes/civilizations had a codes of ethics they lived by. Those who survived longest, probably have something to teach us. You know, the survival of the fittest?, I believe the American Indians were very fit.
They might have wrote it in 1982 but you don’t really think they never developed it back then., do you? They developed it over thousands of years of relationships, spirituality, life and death.
The writing it down was not the beginning of it and I see the diversion of the conversation from the ethic to who wrote it and when as a dilution of the ethic itself.
I would expect you to support the ethic ( if you do believe it needs to be supported) or enhance the importance of the ethics by sharing the story of the gathering rather than divert the conversation from the important part of the post.
But, Hay, that just me!
Thank you for sharing the story of the gathering.
I hope their wisdom will keep rippling
Ronit
Dear Vance,
Ethics lived on earth long before people could write.
Ethics are the rules that society lived by.
Anthropologist learning old civilizations found rules of living in every society they lived it.
In Australia, there is proof that the Indigenous people lived here 60,000 years ago. They had ethics, they had rules they lived by so not sure why you think that we invented the wheel.
Most religions follow the same ethics and they are here for many years.
I think you didn’t read the article.
I’m not saying forget that! I’m saying lets’ learn from them. Those rules and code of ethics helped them live her for so many years ( before they were destroyed) Let’s adopt it.
So, let’s adopt them.
I believe that your comment didn’t follow some of the ethical ideas of the beautiful code of ethics described above. (Oh, and I didn’t write it)
Happy day
Ronit