Uplifting One and All
The Mamemba Tribe in South AfricaAllowing versus disallowing, a yes vs no, impacts us on a personal as well as a larger community. Here’s an excerpt from a journal by The Peace Pilgrim (read by Wayne Dyer):
When a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he or she is placed in the center of the village ...
All the work ceases. The entire village gathers around the accused individual. Then each person of every age begins to talk out loud to the accused. One at a time, each person tells all of the good things the one in the center ever did in his or her lifetime. Every incident, every experience that can be recalled with any detail and accuracy is recounted. All positive attributes, good deeds, strengths and acts of kindness are recited carefully and at length.
No one is permitted to fabricate, exaggerate, or to be facetious about the accomplishments or the positive aspects of the accused person. The tribal ceremony often lasts several days, not ceasing until everyone is drained of every positive comment that can be mustered.
At the end, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration takes place, and the person is symbolically welcomed back into the tribe.
Necessity for such ceremonies is rare.
What a powerful "yes" this gives not only to the person in the center, in this case the person who misbehaved, but to the whole group! Imagine the difference this could make for so many people if they just got a "yes" in their life, from themselves, and from their community.
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