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Spiritual Knowledge for a Secular Society: Traditional Navajo Spirituality Offers Lessons for the Nation
Traditional Navajo wisdom recognizes spirituality as the foundation of all knowledge necessary for achieving harmony, or hózh..., the Beauty Way of Life. This foundation is as relevant today as it ever was, and could serve as the basis of an approach to teaching which avoids the separation of secular and spiritual knowledge that characterizes Western society. The connection between that separation and the problems of contemporary life is apparent, and calls for a close reexamination of this traditional wisdom.
The Navajo organized their knowledge, as well as their life activities, around the parts of the day and the four cardinal directions. This system of organization was placed by the Holy People in the primordial era. At that time the gods laid the foundation of this world with grandfathers and grandmothers fire, water, air and soil. Around that foundation they placed the four different lights and four forms of sacred knowledge which would regulate man and all life's activities. With the dawn they placed "that which gives direction to life" (bik'ehgo da'iináanii) and with the blue twilight they placed "sustenance" (nihigáál)."The gathering of family" (aha'áná'oo'níí...) was placed with the yellow evening twilight and "rest, contentment and respect for creation háá'áy......h, sihasin dóó holdíazin "was placed with the darkness. All of these things placed will direct all lives from here on," it was said.
I. BIK'EHGO DA'IIN...ANII
The first area of knowledge, "that which gives direction to life," emphasizes character development, particularly excellence of heart and mind. This encompasses all knowledge which enables the individual to make intelligent decisions whenever a choice involving values is to be made. Just as dawn brings light, this area of knowledge brings clarity and perspective to the mind, permeating all aspects of one's life. This area of learning includes beliefs, self-discipline, and values that provide standards of behavior and give meaning to life.
The Navajo believe that the gods pass over the country at dawn. If an individual is up and about he will be blessed by them with health and prosperity. Corn pollen is usually offered to these gods and a petition extended to them at this time. It was believed that the things which they...