The Sacredness of All Things
My Notes of a 1996 Lecture by Little Crow (1933-2004)
by Mark Russell Bell
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Philosophical Research Society Building
For many years the Philosophical Research Society here in Los Angeles presented a Sunday lecture series on a variety of spiritual and metaphysical subjects. Most attendees usually referred to the organization simply as 'the PRS.' As seen above, the building complex was modest in size and had been founded in 1934 by Manley Palmer Hall (1901-1990). I regularly attended PRS lectures for several years during the latter half of the 1990s. The Society's motto was "Honoring The Wisdom Of All Traditions." I've decided to share some of the enlightening perspectives that were presented at the PRS in a new series of blog posts that I think readers will find of interest.
"The Sacredness of All Things" was the title of the March 3, 1996 lecture by Little Crow (Carl Bryant) of Dakota/Lakota descent. He was a lecturer in American Indian Studies at California State University Long Beach. Little Crow began by telling us about his life and about how he'd gone to school, joined the Marines and done all kinds of things to be accepted by other people. He was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Eventually when he hit the bottom he realized it was okay to be who he was. He made a "change of perspective" and gave up self-destructive behavior (drugs and alcohol) and stated matter-of-factly that he'd done so for twenty-three years as of the previous Wednesday. The tutelage of elders helped him.
"We are from a Creative Source," he said and noted that the word 'Skan' was an Indian word for 'God' before that word was brought by Europeans. 'Skan' is involved in all things of creation. Everything contains the spirit of its Creator.
Little Crow talked about his Unity Church (also known as The Gathering) but said that you don't need to go to church. You know you are sacred and must be accountable for it. He made it clear that reflection and meditation are essential. Here are some of the ideas he expressed.
Everything is interrelated.
We each have masculine and feminine sides.
When you try to do for others, the universe answers your requests even if unspoken.
Spirit dwells within your heart.
You make the dream.
There is no closure - everything is continuing in an open status.
I am here to serve.
Consumerism and self-interest were subjects of great concern. He appraised that many indigenous people have forgotten "what we're about" and become a microcosm of the mainstream.
After the lecture I read his book of quotations From The Gathering: The Wisdom of Little Crow (1993).
Reproduced on Perception9 Paranormal, with the kind permission of Mark Russell Bell
