"the Notebook of Elbert Hubbard"

I got back from our vacation in the desert recently...I found a book at the general store there titled, "the Notebook of Elbert Hubbard."  It's a used book, from 1927, 3 hole punched and bound in canvas...it's really cool.  I had never heard of Elbert Hubbard before I found his notebook...have you heard of him?  He's a really interesting figure from our past, so I'll be periodically posting quotes from this book.  He has an interesting way of putting things, and strange kind of wisdom, so please enjoy:

"It is easy to get everything you want, provided you first learn to do without the things you can not get."
-Elbert Hubbard

See you at the dojo!

Brian Colwell
We Love Kempo
"For the Love of the Martial Arts"
13240 Evening Creek Drive #314
San Diego, CA 92128
www.welovekempo.com

Wisdom from Native Americans: A Life of Service

The Wisdom of the Native Americans: the Ways of the People

"A Life of Service"

The public position of the Indian has always been entirely dependent upon our private virtue.  We are never permitted to forget that we do not live to ourselves alone, but to our tribe and clan.  Every child, from the first days of learning, is a public servant in training.

In our traditional ways, the child is kept ever before the public eye, from birth onward.  The birth would be announced by the tribal herald, accompanied by a distribution of presents to the old and needy.  The same thing would occur when the child took its first step, spoke its first word, had its ears pierced, shot his first game.

Not a step in the child's development was overlooked as an excuse to bring it before the public by giving a feast in its honor.  Thus the child's progress was known to the whole clan as to a larger family, and the child grew to adulthood with a sense of reputation to sustain.

At such feasts the parents often gave so generously to the needy that they almost impoverished themselves, thereby setting an example to the child of self-denial for the public good.  In this way, children were shown that big-heartedness, generosity, courage, and self-denial are the qualifications of a public servant, and from the cradle we sought to follow this ideal.

The young boy was encouraged to enlist early in the public service, and to develop a wholesome ambition for the honors of a leader and feastmaker, which could never be his unless he proved truthful and generous, as well as brave, and ever mindful of his personal chastity and honor.

As to the young girls, it was the loving parents' pride to have their daughters visit the unfortunate and the helpless, carry them food, comb their hair, and mend their garments.  The name "Wenonah," bestowed upon the eldest daughter, means "Bread Giver," or "Charitable One," and a girl who failed in her charitable duties was held to be unworthy of the name.

Boy Scouts: remember the lessons of the Order of the Arrow: "Cheerful Service"

See you at the top!

Brian Colwell
3rd Generation Eagle Scout &
Martial Arts Superhero!!!

Wisdom from Native Americans: Ohiyesa

"Is there not something worthy of perpetuation in our Indian spirit of democracy, where Earth, our mother, was free to all, and no one sought to impoverish or enslave his neighbor?"
--Ohiyesa

We do not chart and measure the vast field of nature or express her wonders in the terms of science; on the contrary, we see miracles on every hand--the miracle of life in seed and egg, the miracle of death in a lightning flash and in the swelling deep!

Wisdom from Native Americans: Chief Luther Standing Bear

"From Wakan Tanka, the Great Spirit, there came a great unifying life force that flowed in and through all things--the flowers of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, trees, birds, animals--and was the same force that had been breathed into the first man.  Thus all things were kindred, and were brought together by the same Great Mystery.

Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky, and water was a real and active principle.  In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept the Lakota safe among them.  And so close did some of the Lakotas come to their feathered and furred friends that in true brotherhood they spoke a common tongue.

The animals had rights--the right of man's protection, the right to live, the right to multiply, the right to freedom, and the right to man's indebtedness-- and in recognition of these rights the Lakota never enslaved an animal, and spared all life that was not needed for food and clothing.

This concept of life and its relations was humanizing, and gave to the Lakota an abiding love.  It filled his being with the joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.

The Lakota could despise no creature, for all were of one blood, made by the same hand, and filled with the essence of the Great Mystery.  In spirit, the Lakota were humble and meek.  'Blessed are the meek, for the shall inherit the earth'--this was true for the Lakota, and from the earth they inherited secrets long since forgotten.  Their religion was sane, natural, and human."

--Chief Luther Standing Bear
Teton Sioux

The Legend of the Order of the Arrow

Remember Scouts: CHEERFUL SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wisdom from Native Americans: Black Hawk

"We have men among us, like the whites, who pretend to know the right path, but will not consent to show it without pay!  I have no faith in their paths, but believe that every man must make his own path!"

--Black Hawk
Sauk

Wisdom from Native Americans: Thayendanegea

"No person among us desires any other reward for performing a brave and worthy action, but the consciousness of having served his nation."

-Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea)

Mohawk