About the 2020 John Main Seminar

INDIGENOUS WISDOM AND THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY

The purpose and objective of the Seminar JMS2020, is to explore and learn from the Wisdom and Spirituality of the indigenous cultures to build a common ground for the future.

In the folowing video, Gabriel Parrodi, head of the John Main 2020 Seminar Organizing Team and Enrique Lavin, WCCM National Coordinator for Mexico introduce us to the theme of the seminar, Indigenous wisdom and the future of humanity and how each of the speakers taking part will cover this theme from the perspective of their indigenous wisdom.

The John Main Seminar 2020 will focus on the theme ‘One Heart, One Hope – Indigenous wisdom, and the future of humanity’ It is organized by the Community in Mexico and will be held fully online, from 19 to 22 October 2020.

For registration please CLICK HERE

Photos by Enrique Carrasco SJ
Music from Internet Archive, Ra Nkhwaipada Nthe Ra Ndahi (Obsidian Gathers the Wind).

A great example of the indigenous wisdom of the ancestors is contained in the response sent by the great chief Noah Seathl, head of the Suwamisu Tribe, better known as Chief Seattle, in 1854 to the president in turn of the United States, Franklin Pearce when he made to the Seattle chief an expansionist type offer to buy the lands of his tribe:

This we know: The earth does not belong to man; Man belongs to the earth.
All things are connected like the blood that unites us all.
Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand of it.
Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

One thing we know: Our God is your God.
The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its Creator.
Your destiny is a mystery to us.
What will happen when the buffalo are all slaughtered?
When the wild horses are tamed?

What will happen when the secret corners of the forest are heavy with
the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blotted by talking wires?
Where will the thicket be? Gone!
Where will the eagle be? Gone!
And what is it to say goodbye to the swift pony and the hunt?
The end of living and the beginning of survival.

Reflect on how this ancient way of thinking relates to our contemporary disrespectful to nature, expansive ways and how it teaches us a better way to lead a harmonious existence.

Join us, in the on-line seminar we will learn from experienced speakers, how they have received the knowledge and wisdom kept by small groups that still are present and embody vibrantly and with courage their customs, tradition and spirituality.