Centre for Vital Elders

 ”To me, the wisdom the Elders have to manifest is in teaching people how to live in harmony and balance with each other and the Earth.” –Sun Bear, CHIPPEWA Y

You cannot give away what you don’t have. You need to give away what you have in order to keep it. Our Elders have lived their lives with a lot of trial and error. They have experienced how to do things good and they have experienced what didn’t work for them as they grew old. They know things about living that we don’t know.

So, through the years the Elders have gained wisdom. They usually have a whole different point of view because of all their experiences. There are two ways to learn. Someone tells us what they did and we do the same thing or someone tells us what they did and we choose not to do it. Both of these paths will help us to live.

I am grateful to White Bison for these meditations which I pass on with respect.

“Knowledge is a beautiful thing, but the using of knowledge in a good way is what makes for wisdom. Learning how to use knowledge in a sacred manner, that’s wisdom to me. And to me, that’s what a true Elder is.” 
–Sun Bear, CHIPPEWA 

We grow in wisdom by developing ourselves according to the four directions of the Medicine Wheel - emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Let’s say we started drinking and drugging in our teenage years. Our emotional development will stop, but we will grow older physically. We could then develop into an immature adult. As adults we might be acting like we were teenagers. Once we stop drinking or drugging, our emotional development will begin again. We need to grow and nurture ourselves in all four directions. We need to involve the Great Spirit’s guidance in our development. That’s the only way we become wise individuals and live our lives in harmony and in a sacred way. 

I am grateful to White Bison for these meditations which I pass on with respect.

“If a child hasn’t been given spiritual values within the family setting, they have no familiarity with the values that are necessary for the just and peaceful functioning in society.” 
–Eunice Baumann-Nelson, Ph.D, PENOBSCOT 

When we are born, we start with a beautiful empty mind ready to be given our beliefs, attitudes, habits and expectations. Most of our true learning comes from watching the actions of others. As we watch our family or relatives, whatever their actions and values are, so will be the children’s values and acts. If we see our families living a just and peaceful way of life, so then will the children. If we see our family shouting, arguing and hateful, so will it be for the children. The cycle of life - baby, youth, adult and Elder is all connected. If the older ones have good values, it will be connected to the children. 

I am grateful to White Bison for these meditations which I pass on with respect.

 ”The best teachers have shown me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly - we only think it does.” 
–Joseph Bruchac, ABENAKI 

I am grateful to White Bison for these meditations which I pass on with respect.

 ”May there be peace when we meet.” 
–Audrey Shenandoah, ONONDAGA 

The Elders tell us the greatest gift we can seek is peace of mind, to walk in balance, to respect all things. For us to do this, we must have peace within ourselves and peace within ourselves cannot come unless we are walking the path the Creator would have us walk. Sometimes the tests on this path are difficult, but we know that each test makes us stronger. 

I am grateful to White Bison for these meditations which I pass on with respect.