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Seven Grandfather Teachings – Conclusion
11-28-2016
Many First Nations groups throughout North America share the Seven Grandfather Teachings as blueprints for living a good life. The seven virtues of humility, courage, honesty, wisdom, respect, truth, and love are meant to be verbs not nouns. They are not ideals to be admired theoretically, they are actions to be lived daily. They connect us to the past, to each other, and to the natural world. Each trait has an animal associated with it to serve as an ongoing reminder of remaining in balance with nature and being at peace with our personal strengths and weaknesses. We are not to pick and choose among them as the Seven Teachings work in harmony with each other. If we neglect or discount any of them, then we dishonor all of them and, therefore, weaken ourselves and our society.
We have already explored: humility as shown by the wolf; courage demonstrated by the mother bear; wisdom from the beaver; honesty of the sabe or raven; and respect represented by the buffalo. Today we will learn the final two pieces to make the circle complete: truth and love.
Truth – The Turtle. Truth is tied to the turtle as it is said that she witnessed creation and carries the Earth’s history on her back. The turtle lives a slow and meticulous life. She recognizes the importance of both the journey and the destination. A turtle will shield herself from the antics of others and seek solace within. The turtle is grounded, cautious, self-reliant, strong, stable, steadfast, and attentive to detail.
To know truth is to accept and appreciate all the laws as given by the Creator and to remain faithful to them. Truth is to be sincere in speech, action, and personhood. Truth starts with oneself and radiates outward. Recognize that although truth is absolute, each of us is only aware of a small portion of the entirety of truth. Seek to enlarge your personal truth and do not be afraid to discard falsehoods once new awareness comes to you. Do not deceive and mislead yourself or others. Give thanks and carry on, grateful for the lesson life has taught you. Be steadfast and resolute in living a true life.
Love – The Eagle. The eagle represents ultimate love as he has the strength and majesty to uphold all the other teachings. Eagles fly among the highest of birds and see the Earth as it really is - taking in the big picture while attuning to the important details. Eagles glides upon the updrafts, calmly and in perfect balance with nature. Eagles are loving parents who guide and protect their offspring. They hunt with precision never taking more than they need. They are alert, noble, graceful, and all-encompassing.
Love is at the heart of all the other Six Teachings. Love is shown through humility, courage, honesty, wisdom, truth, and respect. Love is the key to life. Love is to be at peace with yourself, with the balance of life, with all things and circumstances, and with the Creator. There are no short cuts to achieving this serenity that accompanies unconditional love. You build love by acting courageously to protect what you value. You share love by humbly serving others. You strengthen love by embracing honesty. You spread love when you exercise wisdom and show respect to all. You honour love when you defend the truth.
Love was the last gift bestowed by the Seven Grandfathers as it can be the most elusive of all the Teachings. The type of love being described depends on a world that accepts the importance of spirituality and recognizes the omnipotence of a Creator. As Michael Meuers, community activist, explains, “Love is something we must have because our spirit feeds on it; without it we become weak, our self-esteem becomes weak. Without Love our courage fails, and without Love we will not be able to look at the world with confidence. But with Love, we are creative, and live with endless energy, and with it…and it alone…we are more able to sacrifice for others.” Love completes the Teachings and makes us whole.
The Seven Grandfather Teachings are not new, nor are they unique to only First Nations peoples. The virtues of humility, courage, wisdom, honesty, respect, truth, and love are universal. The First Nations recognized and memorialized their importance through the story of the Seven Grandfathers and attached an animal to each virtue to make them easy to remember. The Teachings are ancient but timeless and point the way to creating a balanced modern world for those who are open to understanding.
Zainab Dhanani can be reached at z_dhanani@yahoo.ca
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