GSM : Why Our Children Should Have Indian Names

[Guest guest]

WHY OUR CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE INDIAN NAMES

 

" When a child is born, a name is chosen by one of the Elderly people within the

community. The name is in the language of his/her people. The Great Spirit will

identify the child by this name. In ceremonies, prayers, public duties and in

healing rituals all the powers of the Spirit world will be at the service of the

holder of this name.

 

The name is believed to contain the thinking part of the soul.

Around this name there will grow a kind of personality. As this

child grows, it becomes more and more important for him/her to use

his own name.

 

When he does well as an upright and useful person of fine character, other

generations to come will seek after that name to hold it proudly. Thus a name

will live forever.

 

Before us, we have a special gift from the Great Spirit. To all you

people, acknowledge this name and use it whenever you refer to this

child. Teach this child the language of our people: encourage him to

be strong in our ways.

 

We must encourage our children to carry our own names, for it will

help to keep our culture alive. Our culture is the way of life that

the Great Spirit will hear us only by our Native names, for these

names come from the Natural World.

THIS IS OUR WAY! " (Origin of this article is unknown.)

 

 

[Language is to be used with truth in the heart, says author White Deer of

Autumn.]

 

" Today, the Native American child must also learn the power of the language that

his ancestors understood. Whether it be a foreign tongue such as English,

Spanish or French, or a Native one, such as Cree, Seminole, or Arapaho, the

children must use language with truth in their hearts. They must use it to

express their thoughts and gratitude to the concept of the Great Mystery. The

Great Mystery is their ancestors' abstract idea of the source and origin of the

Universe. In the Mystery all things share equal importance, and all things are

part of the Great Mystery. The children must gather around the drums when they

can, dance their feelings of life when they can, and listen to the melodies of

the flute. " [1]

 

 

[The names of Lord Krishna reflects aspects of the Native American Traditions:]

 

Shri Govidampatih...The Supreme Lord of those who know pure speech

Shri Vainavini Vamsanadaya....The One who is the holder of the flute and the

Sweet Sound of the flute-melody

Shri Americeshwari...The Lord of America

(Sahaja Yoga Mantra Book)

 

" [Lord Krishna] was a master musician. He gave lessons to Narada in the art of

playing the vina. The music of his flute thrilled the hearts of the Gopis and of

all. "

http://www.adishakti.org/_/lord_krishna_the_supreme_lord.htm

 

 

 

[shri Mataji tells us that we are [now] the flutes who are going to play the

Melody of God, [thus] manifesting God's joy on this Earth:]

 

Tell all the nations and tell all the people, all over, the great message - that

the time of Resurrection is Here. Now, at this time, and that you all are

capable of doing it. You are the ones who are capable of manifesting God's joy

on this earth. You are the flutes which are going to play the Melody of God. I

am doing all this to perfect you to be the 'most' beautiful instruments of God.

Like the ship is built, is brought to the sea, tried, and found out to be

sea-worthy to sail out, when you know everything about the ship, everything

about the sea, with complete freedom and wisdom, you have to sail now. Not

afraid of any storms or any gales or any typhoons because now all you 'know'.

Your job is to cross through. "

(Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, Australian Sahaja Newsletter, September 28,1996)

 

 

 

[Here is an additional Native story which speaks from the heart:]

 

OUR PARENTS'STORY

" WHY INDIANS MUST SPEAK THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE "

 

" This man and woman wanted very much to be blessed with a child. They were very

poor, but they knew that a child would bring them much happiness. Finally, after

eight long years, the woman happily announced to her husband, that she was going

to have a child. This brought them much joy. When the great day arrived, a baby

girl was born.

 

Because they had only one child they began to spoil her. They loved their

daughter so much that everything else was put aside, and all the attention and

love went to her. The father brought and gave his daughter many toys and gifts

that they really could not afford.

 

The mother and father both agreed that their child would not be raised the way

they were. They remembered that their Indian ways were slowly dying out, and

only the old people still attended the ceremonies. However they still knew the

sacred songs and dances. They knew that people were beginning to change and were

slowly losing respect for the language that was given to them.

 

They promised themselves that they would still carry on their Indian ways, but

their little girl would learn the ways of the white man, for it seemed to them

that this is the only way that Indian people would survive.

 

When the little girl was old enough to attend school, she was sent to a boarding

school in the ciy. They bought her clothes that they really could not afford.

They also continued to buy gifts and toys that they could not afford.

 

They thought they were doing the right thing, but when their little girl was

eight years old, she became very sick. She stayed in bed for a long time. Her

health did not improve any and one day the Creator took her life back. Her

parents were deeply saddened by the death of their only child. They wept and

asked the Creator why He took their only possession.

 

Ten days after they had buried their daughter, she reappeared and delivered a

message from the Creator. She told her parents that she met a man on her long

journey who asked her what her " Indian " name was. " What is your Indian name? " he

asked. He asked her if she knew how to speak her Indian language, and if she

knew her sacred laws. She told him that her parents never taught her any of her

Indian Culture.

 

The little girl brought the following message which tells us not to stray from

the original teachings. She said, 'I will leave you now, for the Creator has

taken me home. He has accepted me because it is not the fault of the young ones

if the parents do not teach them the Creator's Laws. Tell our people, if we are

to live as a people, then it is our Creator's Sacred Laws that we must carry in

order for our Nation to survive.'

 

She told her parents that this is why the Creator sent her back to remind them

and all other people of the Indian race - that He made us who we are for a

purpose. He gave us many gifts which we are to enjoy during our life-cycle. He

gave our Indian language which we were to use to communicate with Him. He gave

us ceremonies by which we express our thanks. We were given our own Native

names. This is the name our Creator will recognize. He gave us songs to pay

tribute with to all of the life-cycle. He gave us a way of dance to express our

joy of living. He gave all this to our people. He also gave us sacred laws which

we are to use during our life-cycle. "

 

" This story I have heard many times from my grandparents and other elders. When

this story is told today, the elders cry because many of our young people are

lost and they have no one left to guide them back to their original

teachings. " [2]

Michael Mitchell

Watenenriio

 

 

 

[shri Mataji Nirmala Devi speaks of the necessity to guide children properly in

spiritual ways, not to spoil them.]

 

" I hope you all look after your children, guide them properly and take them to a

level of understanding that they understand what is their position, what

qualities they should have, why will they be respected. " (Shri Mataji Nirmala

Devi,Ganesha Puja, 2003)

 

" Today I just wanted to tell you that children are to be brought up in a proper

way. That means that you shouldn't spoil them, firstly.... "

" So the love of a person should not be such that it should spoil people. " (Lane

Cover River Park Picnic, Sydney, Australia, April 5, 1994)

 

" But it is the duty of bigger Sahaja Yogis to look after them; [children] to

have better moral standards, to have better lives so that they follow your life

and become genuinely good Sahaja Yogis. It's a very big responsibility, perhaps

we don't recognize it, we don't understand, but all these are little creatures

which are after the image of great souls and they should be brought up in that

way, respected in that manner and loved with great care. This is to be

understood. " (Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, Shri Ganesha Puja, 2003)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1]White Deer of Autumn. The Native Book of Life. Hillsboro, Oregon

97124-6074.Beyond Words Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0-941831-43-4(v.2)pp. 42,43

[2]Michael Mitchell Watenenriio