African Traditional Religion : Student and Teacher

"How do you know if an elder is worthy of giving guidance?

You know this because the way they carry themself in the world inspires you to be a better person.

They inspire you to seek their guidance because the way they carry themself in the world shows evidence of having effectively dealt with problems in a way that makes you want to ask them how did you do that.

By problems I mean more like responsilbities for example how do you become a good parent a good partner a good role model a good provider and someone who is able to inspire community to act in a functional supportive way."


falokun

LETS TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TABOOS RELATED TO BEING AN ELDER

Eewo from Ika Ofun

1. They advised them not to call a yam a yam that is they must not say what they do not know.

IN THE ORIGINAL YORUBA THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WORDS FOR YAM SO THE TABOO IS MORE LIKE DONT CALL A WHITE YAM A YELLOW YAM IT IS AN ADMONITION AGAINST PRETENDING TO BE ALL KNOWING

2. They must not call special beads, special beads, that is they must not perform anything for which they do not have the basic knowledge.

ON DO THOSE RITUALS THAT YOU HAVE SANCTION FROM YOUR ELDERS TO PERFORM BASED ON DEMONSTRATING YOUR ABILITY TO BE EFFECTIVE

3. They must not call a parrot a bat, that is, they must not mislead people.

NO DECEPTION IE DECEPTION AS A CON TO GET MONEY OR SELLING FOLKS STUFF THEY DONT NEED

4. They must not say iroko leaves are oriro leaves, that is, they must not deceive people.

THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN AN ELDER IS TRYING TO CONVINCE A CLIENT THEY HAVE THE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM WHEN IN FACT THEY HAVE NO CLUE

5. They must not try to swim if they are ignorant of swimming, that is, they must not claim wisdom they lack.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO OFFER GUIDANCE TO SOMEONE ELSE ABOUT A PROBLEM YOU HAVE NEVER DEALT WITH IN YOUR LIFE THE OPPOSITE IS WHY RECOVERED ALCHOLICS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE ALLOWED TO RUN AA MEETINGS THEY HAVE THE VOICE OF AUTHORITY

6. They must be humble and never egocentric.

THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF IWA PELE

7. They must not enter Akala´s house deceitfully, that is, they must not be treacherous.

NO HIDDEN AGENDAS

8. They must not use sacred feathers for cleaning after using the toilet, that is, they must not violate personal taboo.

NO HYPOCRACY

9. They must not defecate on sacred Ifá food, that is, they must not break taboo.

PERFORM RITUAL WITH GOOD INTENTIONS

10. They must not urinate inside the traditional factory for making palm oil, that it, not to break taboo.

IN TRADITIONAL YORUBA CULTURE THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT ELDERS ARE CLEAN AND TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT

11. They must not take a walking stick form the blind, that is, to respect the weak, to respect the feeble and be nice to them.

DONT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANYONE

12. They must not take a walking cane from an old person, that is, to respect and be nice to the elderly.

IN TRADITIONAL YORUBA CULTURE YOUR ELDER IS ANYONE OLDER THAN YOU IT HAS NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF INTIATION

13. They must not take Ogboni’s wife, that is, to respect moral laws

NO SEXUALLY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

14. They must not take a friend’s wife, that is, not to betray a friend.

THIS IS A MANIFESTATION OF BASIC RESPECT FOR OTHERS

15. They advised them not to go behind and discuss secrets, that is, not to betray trusts

NO GOSSIP AT ALL EVER NONE

16. They must not disrespect the husband or wife of another person.

I SEE THIS FREQUENTLY VIOLATED IN IFA COMMUNITIES IN THE WEST AND IT IS AT THE HEART COMMUNAL DYSFUNCTION

IF YOU SEE AN ELDER EXHIBITING ANY OF THESE BEHAVIORS IT IS ALL RIGHT TO IGNORE THEIR ADVICE
THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS ODU

ON THE OTHER HAND BEING PUSHED BY AN ELDER IS WHAT CREATES GROWTH SO THERE IS A FINE LINE HERE THAT REQUIRES MATURITY AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION

IRE
BABA
www.awostudycenter.com
 

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