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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
literally 〃mysterious feeling；〃 which has been variously translated
〃fasting〃 and 〃dreaming。〃 It may better be interpreted as 〃consciousness of
the divine。〃
The first bambeday； or religious retreat； marked an epoch in the life of
the youth； which may be compared to that of confirmation or conversion
in Christian experience。 Having first prepared himself by means of the
purifying vapor…bath； and cast off as far as possible all human or fleshly
influences； the young man sought out the noblest height； the most
commanding summit in all the surrounding region。 Knowing that God
sets no value upon material things； he took with him no offerings or
sacrifices other than symbolic objects； such as paints and tobacco。
Wishing to appear before Him in all humility； he wore no clothing save his
moccasins and breech…clout。 At the solemn hour of sunrise or sunset he
took up his position； overlooking the glories of earth and facing the 〃Great
Mystery；〃 and there he remained； naked； erect； silent； and motionless；
exposed to the elements and forces of His arming； for a night and a day to
two days and nights； but rarely longer。 Sometimes he would chant a
hymn without words； or offer the ceremonial 〃filled pipe。〃 In this holy
trance or ecstasy the Indian mystic found his highest happiness and the
motive power of his existence。
When he returned to the camp； he must remain at a distance until he
had again entered the vapor…bath and prepared himself for intercourse with
his fellows。 Of the vision or sign vouchsafed to him he did not speak；
unless it had included some commission which must be publicly fulfilled。
Sometimes an old man； standing upon the brink of eternity； might reveal to
a chosen few the oracle of his long…past youth。
The native American has been generally despised by his white
conquerors for his poverty and simplicity。 They forget； perhaps； that his
religion forbade the accumulation of wealth and the enjoyment of luxury。
To him； as to other single…minded men in every age and race； from
Diogenes to the brothers of Saint Francis； from the Montanists to the
Shakers； the love of possessions has appeared a snare； and the burdens of a
complex society a source of needless peril and temptation。 Furthermore；
it was the rule of his life to share the fruits of his skill and success with his
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less fortunate brothers。 Thus he kept his spirit free from the clog of pride；
cupidity； or envy； and carried out； as he believed； the divine decreea
matter profoundly important to him。
It was not； then； wholly from ignorance or improvidence that he failed
to establish permanent towns and to develop a material civilization。 To
the untutored sage； the concentration of population was the prolific mother
of all evils； moral no less than physical。 He argued that food is good；
while surfeit kills； that love is good； but lust destroys； and not less dreaded
than the pestilence following upon crowded and unsanitary dwellings was
the loss of spiritual power inseparable from too close contact with one's
fellow…men。 All who have lived much out of doors know that there is a
magnetic and nervous force that accumulates in solitude and that is
quickly dissipated by life in a crowd； and even his enemies have
recognized the fact that for a certain innate power and self…poise； wholly
independent of circumstances； the American Indian is unsurpassed among
men。
The red man divided mind into two parts；the spiritual mind and the
physical mind。 The first is pure spirit； concerned only with the essence
of things； and it was this he sought to strengthen by spiritual prayer； during
which the body is subdued by fasting and hardship。 In this type of prayer
there was no beseeching of favor or help。 All matters of personal or
selfish concern； as success in hunting or warfare； relief from sickness； or
the sparing of a beloved life； were definitely relegated to the plane of the
lower or material mind； and all ceremonies； charms； or incantations
designed to secure a benefit or to avert a danger； were recognized as
emanating from the physical self。
The rites of this physical worship； again； were wholly symbolic； and
the Indian no more worshiped the Sun than the Christian adores the Cross。
The Sun and the Earth； by an obvious parable； holding scarcely more of
poetic metaphor than of scientific truth； were in his view the parents of all
organic life。 From the Sun； as the universal father； proceeds the
quickening principle in nature； and in the patient and fruitful womb of our
mother； the Earth； are hidden embryos of plants and men。 Therefore our
reverence and love for them was really an imaginative extension of our
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love for our immediate parents； and with this sentiment of filial piety was
joined a willingness to appeal to them； as to a father； for such good gifts as
we may desire。 This is the material or physical prayer。
The elements and majestic forces in nature； Lightning； Wind； Water；
Fire； and Frost； were regarded with awe as spiritual powers； but always
secondary and intermediate in character。 We believed that the spirit
pervades all creation and that every creature possesses a soul in some
degree； though not necessarily a soul conscious of itself。 The tree； the
waterfall； the grizzly bear； each is an embodied Force； and as such an
object of reverence。
The Indian loved to come into sympathy and spiritual communion
with his brothers of the animal kingdom； whose inarticulate souls had for
him something of the sinless purity that we attribute to the innocent and
irresponsible child。 He had faith in their instincts； as in a mysterious
wisdom given from above； and while he humbly accepted the supposedly
voluntary sacrifice of their bodies to preserve his own； he paid homage to
their spirits in prescribed prayers and offerings。
In every religion there is an element of the supernatural； varying with
the influence of pure reason over its devotees。 The Indian was a logical
and clear thinker upon matters within the scope of his understanding； but
he had not yet charted the vast field of nature or expressed her wonders in
terms of science。 With his limited knowledge of cause and effect； he saw
miracles on every hand；the miracle of life in seed and egg； the miracle of
death in lightning flash and in the swelling deep！ Nothing of the
marvelous could astonish him； as that a beast should speak； or the sun
stand still。 The virgin birth would appear scarcely more miraculous
than is the birth of every child that comes into the world； or the miracle of
the loaves and fishes excite more wonder than the harvest that springs
from a single ear of corn。
Who may condemn his superstition？ Surely not the devout Catholic；
or even Protestant missionary； who teaches Bible miracles as literal fact！
The logical man must either deny all miracles or none； and our American
Indian myths and hero stories are perhaps； in themselves； quite as credible
as those of the Hebrews of old。 If we are of the modern type of mind；
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that sees in natural law a majesty and grandeur far more impressive than
any solitary infraction of it could possibly be； let us not forget that； after
all； science has not explained everything。 We have still to face the
ultimate miracle；the origin and principle of life！ Here is the supreme
mystery that is the es