“I am my beloved, and my beloved is me, when you regard me, you see Him, and when you perceive Him, you view me.”
These verses where the reason for Al Hallaj’s execution in 922 A.C.[1] as he was referring to the unity of being.[2]
The concept of “Unity of Being”, or the “secret” that is confined in every creature, whether living or non-living, is a running current among all Sufi interpretations for all religions, but it seems to be an entrenched belief in the ancient Native American religions.
In the previous article,[3] we mentioned “Great Spirit”; a common concept for defining the “Creator” among variant Native American religions.
Wakan Tanka:
It is another name for the “Great Spirit” in “Lakota” religion. According to “Lakota” religion, “Wakan Tanka” is the secret divinity that dwells every single creature including rocks and mountains. This belief turns every object into a “holy” one.
Lakota People:
A native American group, also known as “Teton Sioux”[4], who belongs to a greater group of “Sioux” people[5] and dwells North and South Dakota.[6]
They speak their own language which is alive till this moment, though it did not succeed in keeping its purity, as it is influenced by English and Spanish now. The “Lakota” tribe is split into seven spouted sub-tribes: Sičháŋǧu (Brulé, Burned Thighs), Oglála („They Scatter Their Own“), Itázipčho (Sans Arc, Without Bows), Húŋkpapȟa (Hunkpapa, „End Village“, Camps at the End of the Camp Circle), Mnikȟówožu (Miniconjou, „Plant Near Water“, Planters by the Water), Sihásapa („Blackfeet” or “Blackfoot“), Oóhenuŋpa (Two Kettles).[7]
History:
When Europeans invaded the land, they found the Lakota people living in the lower Mississippi river region. Nevertheless, before the European invasion, it is hard to find plausible scientific documented sources, therefore, we are obliged to follow the oral legend: It was a famine 900 before Christ (naturally the date is not accurate), the tribe chief sent two scouts to fetch for food. While wandering in the land, men perceived a white cloud, as they approached, they found a woman, she was the “White Buffalo Calf Woman”[8], a sacred figure that is outlandishly depicted in an image that resembles “Virgin Mary”, though it is closer to the eastern depiction, she was described as the most beautiful, stunning, Indian girl; “dark hair, skin and eyes”. For being “dark” in the Native American culture is considered being beautiful and sacred, which explains the belief among the indigenous at the time of the European invasion that “white man is the devil”.
One of the two scouts was infatuated by the woman’s beauty, he wanted her as his wife, however, the other man cautioned him that she seems too sacred for him. The lovesick man ignored the advice and approached towards the woman trying to kiss her. He was cursed on the spot, a light from the sky struck him turning him into a dead skeleton. While trying to escape the curse, the sacred woman called for the second man appeasing his fears, giving him a blessing for respecting her. She made him her prophet to his tribe, ordering him to return back home and to herald his people that the sacred woman is coming to teach them ceremonies in order to revive their glory.
The “White Buffalo Calf Woman” taught the Lakota tribe the “Chanunpa”; seven ceremonies to be applied strictly to protect nature and mother earth:
Inípi (purification lodge)[9], Haŋbléčheyapi (crying for vision)[10], Wiwáŋyaŋg Wačhípi (Sun Dance)[11], Huŋkalowaŋpi (making of relatives), Išnáthi Awíčhalowaŋpi (female puberty ceremony)[12], Tȟápa Waŋkáyeyapi (throwing of the ball), Wanáǧi Yuhápi (soul keeping).[13]
At the beginning of the European invasion, around 1660, the Lakota people were estimated of 28,000, after two centuries, they were estimated of 8,000, now they grew to reach 170,000, according to last estimation in 2010.
Mythology:
According to the Lakota mythology, the origin of the world is the “rock”, or “Inyan”; that is to say, the first incarnation of “the Great Spirit” was in the Rock, mystery and “Han” or darkness. Inyan wanted to display his power, thus, he created mother earth “Maka”. Inyan, for the love of Maka, exerted his blood which turned into water, but he was drained so he created Skan, the motion of the universe, to give life to the world. Maka complained to Inyan that she feels cold and frightened, so he created dawn and sun for her. However, Maka deserted Inyan for Skan, as Skan is more powerful now. She felt too hot because of the sun, Skan managed to rotate the universe for her to enjoy day and night.
The Lakota believes in the afterlife, they think that every human is going to join the space “sky road” but only if s/he has the right tattoo; i.e., the tattoo that represents his/her real incarnation in the afterlife.
Grasping the Lakota heritage and beliefs in one article is a mission impossible. Thus, we gave some hints to those who are interested. The spiritual vacancy caused by the globalization and scientific progress attracts many to the ancient beliefs, among them the Lakota beliefs which receive new commers from the civilized world, trying to understand and even embrace it.
Lakota, Ancient Civilization, Native Americans, US, Heritage, Mythology,
[1] https://www.britannica.com/biography/al-Hallaj
[2] https://slife.org/wahdat-al-wujud-unity-of-being/
[3] https://iic-berlin.de/the-great-spirit-the-native-american-secret/?fbclid=IwAR1hk8rq5yuMaiOI2rZGWcUMxzcCa8a9mQEO6acct3aCeR8ozJLKi6qtr-M
[4] https://salmon.net.dn.ua/Litera/history-&-culture/NBonvillain-TheTetonSioux.pdf#:~:text=The%20Teton%20tribeis%20one%20of%20seven%20divisions%2C%20or,which%20means%20%E2%80%9CLesser%20Snakes%2C%E2%80%9D%20to%20label%20their%20neighbors.
[5] https://blog.nativehope.org/sioux-native-americans-their-history-culture-and-traditions
[6] https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Pages/default.aspx
[7] https://www.lakotatimes.com/articles/lakota-tribes-and-lands-by-the-numbers/
[8] http://www.thepeoplespaths.net/lit/bufwoman.htm
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7TJfSELl8
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtbNpYiZHoA
[11] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK4fCv5ekzI
