It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and of many changing shadows. Among those men get lost.
Interpretation
Finding and pursuing a meaningful vision can be challenging amidst life's distractions.
This quote by Black Elk speaks to the difficulty of maintaining focus on a singular, important vision in a world filled with confusion and constantly shifting circumstances. It highlights how people can easily become disoriented and lose their way when confronted with the myriad of influences and uncertainties that surround them.
In practice
In a motivational speech about perseverance and focus.
I cured with the power that came through me. Of course, it was not I who cured,it was the power from the Outer World; the visions and ceremonies only made me like a whole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish.
The song and the drumming were like this: Behold, a sacred voice is calling you; All over the sky a sacred voice is calling.
The Universe is circles within circles, and everything is one circle, and all the circles are connected to each other. Each family is a circle, and those family circles connect together and make a community, and the community makes its circle where it lives on the Earth. It (the community) cares for that part (of the Earth) but cares for it as a circle - which is to say in a cooperative and egalitarian way, where everybody is cared for, and everybody is respected.
And as he spoke of understanding, I looked up and saw the rainbow leap with flames of many colors over me.
They told me I had been sick twelve days, lying like dead all the while, and that Whirlwind Chaser, who was Standing Bear's uncle and a medicine man, had brought me back to life.
Out of the Indian approach to life there came a great freedom, an intense and absorbing respect for life, enriching faith in a Supreme Power, and principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equity, and brotherhood as a guide to mundane relations.
We all wish to reach a ripe old age, but none of us are prepared to admit that we are already there.
As much as I want to help people, I had to accept the fact long ago that being stupid with money isn't illegal.
Wherever the invitation of men or your own occasions lead you, speak the very truth, as your life and conscience teach it, and cheer the waiting, fainting hearts of men with new hope and new revelation.
I am a human being, not a human doing. Don't equate your self-worth with how well you do things in life. You aren't what you do. If you are what you do, then when you don't . . , you aren't.
Only the suppressed word is dangerous.
One must shy away from questionable undertakings, even when they bear a high-sounding name.
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