The Ancient One (a teaching story by Joseph Bearwalker Wilson)

Ancient One sat in the shade of his tree in front of his cave.

Red People came to him and he said to Red People, "Tell me your vision." 

And Red People answered, "The elders have told us to pray in this manner, and
that manner, and it is important that we only pray as we have been taught, for this has been handed 
down to us by the elders."

"Hmmm," said Ancient One. 

Then Black People came to him and he said to Black People, "Tell me your vision." 

And Black People answered, "Our mothers have said to go this building and
that building and pray in this manner and that manner. And our fathers have said to bow in this 
manner and that manner when we pray. And it is important that we do only this when we pray." 

 "Hmmm," said Ancient One. 

 Then Yellow People came to him and he said to Yellow People, "Tell me your vision." 

And Yellow People answered, "Our teachers have told us to sit in this manner and that manner and to 
say this thing and that thing when we pray. And it is important that we do only this when we pray." 

"Hmmm," said Ancient One. 

Then White People came to him and he said to White People, "Tell me your vision." 

And White People answered, "Our Book has told us to pray in this way and that way and to do this 
thing and that thing, and it is very important that we do this when we pray." 

"Hmmm," said Ancient One. 

Then Ancient One spoke to the Earth and said, "Have you given the people a vision?" And the Earth 
said, "Yes, a special gift for each one, but the people were so busy speaking and arguing about which 
way is right they could not see the gift I gave each one of them." And Ancient One asked the same 
question of Water and Fire and Air and got the same answer. Then Ancient One asked Animal, and 
Bird, and Insect, and Tree, and Flower, and Sky, and Moon, and Sun, and Stars, and allof the other 
Spirits, and each told him the same. 

Ancient One thought this was very sad. He called Red People, Black People, Yellow People, and White 
People to him and said to them. "The ways taught to youby your Elders, and your Mothers and Fathers, 
and Teachers, and Books are sacred. It is good that you respect those ways, for they are the ways of 
your ancestors. But the ancestors no longer walk on the Face of the Earth Mother. Youhave forgotten 
your own Vision. Your Vision is right for you but no one else. 

"Now each of you must pray for your own Visions, and be still enough to see it, so you can follow the 
way of the heart. It is a hard way. It is a good way."

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