佛山超馬：引入亞洲頂級標准 享受過程大於成績
2016年02月03日
佛山國際超級馬拉松賽計劃於今年5月在佛山南海西樵山國藝影視城內起跑。主辦方中包括佛山電視台、國藝娛樂有限公司，以及香港忠藝娛樂文化有限公司。賽事目標力爭打造全球首檔超級馬拉松+21公裡及歡樂跑的“雙馬”模式，吸引海內外跑馬愛好者參加。
https://www.facebook.com/runshoes1/
據組委會透露，“雙馬”中的超級馬拉松部分計劃全部在佛山南海西樵山國藝影視城內進行；21公裡及歡樂跑將在影城門口出發，圍繞西樵山景點完成約20公裡路程，最後回到影城內進行最後1公裡的路線。
據了解，本屆賽事主辦方之一的國藝娛樂有限公司是香港上市公司，主要涉及領域為電影、影城、酒店業等，主席為冼國林先生。香港忠藝娛樂文化有限公司， 主要經營範圍為娛樂文化業務、影視制作、籌辦大型活動等，其董事冼偉智先生為前亞洲電視助理副總裁，公司管理層擁有近20年電視制作及大型項目策劃制作的經驗。
賽事方面，本次佛山超級馬拉松賽有望成為中國首場國際超級馬拉松協會（IAU）認證的24小時比賽。賽事本身與國內現有的超級馬拉松有明顯區別。對此記者通過書面形式進行采訪了賽事主要籌備方——香港超級馬拉松協會。後者曾榮獲2015年亞洲年度最佳運動機構銅獎，並在去年9月得到香港民政署邀請，策劃統籌了香港首場100公裡場地超級馬拉松賽。
——定位
“過程大於成績”+國際裁判執行
據了解，首屆佛山國際超級馬拉松與香港台灣同出一脈，賽例也是國際超級馬拉松總會（IAU）標准。此外主辦方還表示“不排除日後作為大中華超級馬拉松聯賽的其中一站。裁判方面，也是超級馬拉松國際裁判執行。”
對於近年國內馬拉松賽事集中膨脹，各類馬拉松比賽出現不同程度同質化的現像，香港超馬方面表示：“正因為考慮到這一點，佛山超馬才會以超級馬拉松的形式，針對國內國際高手（影響力）及21公里/歡樂跑具有的優勢賽道設計，把比賽定位於‘過程大於成績’，通過賽事人群的凝聚力進行市場突圍。”
——安全
每隔1公里1台AED + 戰地醫院應急方案
2015年國內馬拉松行業喜憂參半，賽事飛速發展專業化提升的同時，針對賽事安全方面的引導仍嫌不足，猝死事件時有發生，讓不少人對於馬拉松運動仍然存有疑慮。
“本次佛山超級馬拉松的醫療保障水准，是比較新加坡渣打馬拉松的世界最前列水平。除了40名醫師跑者跟隊陪跑之外，還有60名醫療輔助隊員為9個醫療救護站服務，此外還有200位擁有初級急救證人員每隔100米分布在賽道，每隔1公里有一台AED機及一台單車候命。除了醫療站外，還設有ICU及戰地醫院的危機處理方案，4輛救護車隨時為傷者保駕護航。”
——建議
“超馬初跑者”+切記盲目參賽
對於內地“超馬初跑者”越來越多且水准參差不齊的情況，擁有國際超級馬拉松協會書面授權的中國組委會代表朱鼎良先生提醒，超馬初跑者切記盲目參加比賽。
“國內確有很多水平不夠的（超馬賽事），只是靠模仿別人，超馬初跑者應該要特別注意，選擇正規的，高質量的，賽事服務有保障的，具人氣口碑的比賽較好，不要盲目參加比賽。”
朱鼎良提醒，“對於跑者，要有足夠且科學心理及體能訓練，比如香港精神隊在短短1年多，已經達到亞洲第二的水平，現在還要挑戰團隊世界記錄，這也是跟他們的科學訓練分不開的。”“東方人進行長時間長距離比賽，較黑人及高大的老外還更有優勢，相信在不久的將來，中國的超馬跑手可稱霸國際超馬界。”
（香港精神隊，先後出戰過超馬亞錦賽（100公里）、世錦賽（24小時）、濟州島200公裡、澳洲黃金海岸100公里、東京24小時賽等。透過不斷的講座及跑步課程，至今累積了3000個粉絲會員。榮譽會長為陳智思——現任香港行政會議成員、香港立法會議員。）
西樵山國際超級馬拉松啟動 將上演時空穿越跑
2016-03-30
廣東西樵山將舉行中國內地首場IAU認證的24小時超級馬拉松賽、中國首例“雙馬”（24小時超馬+半馬）賽事！
3月29日，由西樵山風景名勝區管理委員會、佛山市南海區文化體育局、國藝娛樂有限公司、忠藝娛樂文化有限公司主辦，西樵鎮人民政府、北京超馬體育賽事策劃有限公司承辦，國際超級馬拉松協會（IAU)、國際馬拉松及公路跑協會（AIMS）認證的2016 西樵山國際超級馬拉松在西樵山國藝影視城正式宣告啟動。
廣東省佛山市體育局局長魏啟文、佛山市南海區區委常委李曉佳、南海區文化體育局局長梁惠顏、南海區西樵鎮黨委委員、副鎮長冼留勝、南海區西樵鎮黨委委員鄺倩、國藝娛樂文化集團主席冼國林、忠藝娛樂文化有限公司董事及賽事大會總監冼偉智、香港超級馬拉松協會秘書長及賽事策劃指揮朱鼎良、IAU國際超級馬拉松協會亞洲代表PARK Bok Jin、超馬24小時中國紀錄保持者趙紫玉等領導嘉賓出席了啟動儀式。
發布會上，組委會宣布2016 西樵山國際超級馬拉松將於6月正式開賽。報名系統將於4月1日8：00開通，4月30日24:00截止。屆時跑友們可通過西樵山國際超級馬拉松官網或關注“西樵山旅游”、“南海旅游”、“西樵山國藝影視城”官方微信進行報名。
廣東西樵山將舉行中國內地首場IAU認證的24小時超級馬拉松賽、中國首例“雙馬”（24小時超馬+半馬）賽事！
經數月的調研和考察，西樵山得天獨厚的自然歷史人文環境吸引“2016國際超級馬拉松”落戶。啟動禮上，IAU國際超級馬拉松協會代表PARK Bok Jin向南海區文化體育局局長梁惠顏頒發中國內地首場24小時超級馬拉松賽的IAU准認證。此外，記者從發布會上獲悉，2016 西樵山國際超級馬拉松賽事丟項目除了在西樵山國藝影視城內舉行的6月18日9:00至6月19日9:00的24小時超級馬拉松、6月18日20:00 至6月 19日8:00的12小時超級馬拉松、6月18日10:00 至 16:00的6小時超級馬拉松外，還有6月26日8:00至11:00環西樵山的21公裡半馬拉松和6月26日14:00至16:00在西樵山國藝影視城舉辦的2公裡歡樂跑。
其中，24/12/6小時超級馬拉松參照國際超級馬拉松協會（IAU）競賽規則，在24小時、12小時、6小時的時間內，最終完賽時挑戰公裡數最大的跑手獲勝。賽道設在西樵山國藝影視城內。國藝娛樂文化集團有限公司主席冼國林介紹：“西樵山山國藝影視城目前建成了西樵黃大仙祠、九龍寨城、明清皇宮、廣州街、上海街、香港街、百樂門、古大宅、五星級標准的國藝度假酒店等一系列項目，完成了第一期建設，二期計劃建專業的演藝培訓學校，目標打造成南中國最精致、最高品質、集影視、旅游、文化、教育於一體的影視王國。”屆時跑手將穿梭於江南大宅、恭王府、衙門、明清皇宮、廣州街、香港街、上海街等各具年代特色的景點，宛如演繹一場時空不斷轉換的穿越劇。據組委會透露，24/12/6小時超級馬拉松賽事已吸引2015年24小時女子世界冠軍Katalin Nagy、南非超馬冠軍、意大利超馬冠軍、超馬24小時中國紀錄保持者趙紫玉等11個國家專業跑手的關注。此次超馬賽將創造中國新的超馬紀錄。
而21公裡半馬拉松和2公裡歡樂跑參照中國田協競賽規則，最終完賽時計時最短的跑手獲勝。21公裡半馬拉松賽道環繞著國家“AAAAA”級風景名勝區西樵山，跑手可游走於白雲洞景區、聽音湖片區、環山花海、古鎮官山墟、黃飛鴻獅藝武術館等各大景點，不管是專業馬拉松選手還是業余跑步愛好者，在奔跑的過程中都可以飽覽西樵美景，感受濃厚的嶺南文化。2公裡歡樂跑賽道經環山大道、鼓樓城樓、國藝影視城等景點。市民游客、家庭團體、社會團體等均可參與挑戰。據組委會介紹，21公裡半馬拉松賽道起伏不大，上下落差不超過20米，對參賽者體能要求不高。
香港超級馬拉松協會秘書長及賽事策劃指揮朱鼎良介紹：“本次24小時超級馬拉松賽是中國內地首場獲IAU認證的超馬，而21公裡半馬拉松是南海首場半程馬拉松賽，2016西樵山國際超級馬拉松也是中國首例“雙馬”（24小時超馬+半馬）賽事！”
“珠江文明的燈塔”西樵山設最美賽道，專業醫療團隊來護航，讓跑手暢享嶺南風情和刷新世界紀錄。
“南粵名山”西樵山是國家5A級旅游景區、國家級重點風景名勝區，海拔338.3米。歷史人文與自然風光享譽海內外，是中華南方文明發源地，被譽為“珠江文明的燈塔”，曾孕育出康有為、黃飛鴻、陳啟沅等一批時賢俊傑。
佛山市南海區區委常委李曉佳表示，近年來，南海區委、區政府以西樵山為中心，著力建設“文翰樵山”嶺南文化高地，加大投入對山上山下的設施環境進行升級改造，西樵山的綜合品質得到很大提升，影響力不斷增強。南海區西樵鎮是中國歷史文化名鎮、中國面料名鎮、中國龍獅運動名鎮、2015年全國百強鎮之一、嶺南魅力名鎮之一，文化底蘊深厚，經濟實力強勁，社會發展穩定。隨著新西樵大橋、龍灣大橋等重要路網的拉通，世界獅王爭霸賽、國際洪拳邀請賽等系列國際性賽事的成功舉辦，無論是經濟實力、文化底蘊、地理交通還是舉辦國際賽事能力，得天獨厚的西樵都足夠力量打造2016西樵山國際超級馬拉松的運動盛宴。
本次賽事獨具西樵文化旅游特色，無論是涵蓋最具嶺南風情風景名跡的賽道選址設計，還是服務補給站的傳統文化展示，都將更好地展現西樵的人文景觀、風土人情與自然風光，促進文化、旅游與體育的完美融合。
香港超級馬拉松協會秘書長及賽事策劃指揮朱鼎良介紹；“馬拉松賽道上的補給：前10公裡，每2.5公裡一個水站，後10公裡每2公裡一個水站，每人的補給食品有水、運動飲料、水果、西樵大餅等。而醫療方面：共設1個流動急診室，4輛救護車，11個醫療站點，20部AED機配合20台流動醫療自行車。醫療人員結合廣州及南海的菁英，安排了40名醫師跑者陪跑，60名嶺南醫療輔助隊員，加上數十名本地醫護人員，200名廣州南方醫科大學珠江醫院救護人員。每100米1人站崗，作為賽道險情監測，總醫療人數約350人。”
本次馬拉松不僅弘揚挑戰自我、超越極限、堅忍不拔、永不放棄的體育精神，讓跑手在最美跑道刷新世界紀錄，同時也讓跑者用腳步丈量珠江文明的進程。此次21公裡半馬拉松以西樵山為中心，賽道環繞整個西樵山，是一次尋訪西樵美景傳承民俗文化之旅。西樵山是廣東四大名山之一，是華南地區石器時代規模最大的制造工場。21公裡半馬拉松以國家“AAAAA”級風景名勝區為賽道，穿過官山古街，觀瞻歷史古跡——白雲洞，邂逅山光水色的聽音湖，欣賞漁耕粵韻的農耕風光，飽嗅環山花海的芬芳，解讀傳統歷史文化與現代歐式風情建築完美融合的南海博物館，最終落腳於穿越感十足的明清皇宮，這一路的跑程，每一眼都是風景，每一步都浸潤著西樵的旅游文化。
賽事冠軍獎金過萬，4月1日開始報名，名額有限。
2016西樵山國際超級馬拉松由香港超級馬拉松協會負責策劃和統籌，忠藝娛樂文化有限公司為制作單位。協辦單位有廣東省社工與志願者合作促進會、香港急症中心、醫師跑者協會和嶺南醫療輔助隊。支持單位包括中華台北超級馬拉松跑者協會、澳大利亞超級馬拉松協會、韓國超級馬拉松協會、蒙古超級馬拉松協會、英國超級馬拉松協會、暐傑志願服務工作中心、廣東行益旅行服務有限公司、南方醫科大學珠江醫院團委、中山大學團委、廣東外語外貿大學團委。
據介紹，2016 西樵山國際超級馬拉松將於6月開跑。24小時超馬男子組及女子組冠軍獎金達人民幣15000元，21公裡半馬男子組及女子組冠軍獎金達人民幣10000元。賽事名額有限：超級馬拉松24小時限100人，超級馬拉松12小時限200人，超級馬拉松6小時限200人。半程馬拉松限4000人。歡樂跑限5000人。
4月1日，賽事報名通道將正式開啟。報名信息將於西樵山國際超級馬拉松官網，官方微信“西樵山旅游”、“南海旅游”、“西樵山國藝影視城”以及合作報名機構：益跑網，42旅，愛燃燒，去跑步同步發布。凡參加比賽者賽前均發計時晶片、紀念衫、號碼布和參賽能量包，當日可免費游玩國藝影視城，更可在西樵山名勝古跡間競速，暢享嶺南風情、特色美食和奔跑樂趣。21公裡半程馬拉松項目報名費150元/人（人民幣，下同），2公裡歡樂跑項目報名費：比賽當日未到16歲小孩30元/人，其他均為80元/人，詳情請留意官網官微資訊。據組委會透露，2公裡歡樂跑設最具創意造型、最具誠意服裝、最具運動精神等8個獎項，名額為5000人，並已申報挑戰最多人裝扮功夫英雄跑馬拉松的世界紀錄。有興趣的市民跑友可帶上奇裝異服、親朋好友報名2公裡歡樂跑來一場解放天性、釋放激情的歡樂酷跑吧！
記者郭魯剛親歷橫越台灣超馬 38小時跑一場相當於6個馬拉松的比賽
2016-04-05 杭州網
到底是什麼樣的感受？
246公裡，從杭州出發的話，基本可以到江蘇南通了。如果說到跑步，這個距離估計大多數人都會笑著擺擺手：“不可能，不可能。”但是就在上周末，快報記者郭魯剛就用自己的雙腳，把這個距離給丈量了。在246公裡的橫越台灣國際超級馬拉松賽上，他用了37小時54分05秒的成績順利完賽，在參加的83位選手中位列第12名。因為太艱苦，本次比賽246公裡全程組的完賽率不到四分之一。
近38小時的路程，他只睡了短短幾分鐘，完賽後他在朋友圈發的第一句話就是：“跑了這麼多全馬，第一次感受到原來一公裡這麼長。”超馬是個什麼感覺？郭魯剛親口告訴你。
本報員工郭魯剛拿下超虐的橫越台灣國際超級馬拉松賽，成績為37小時54分05秒。
本報員工郭魯剛拿下超虐的橫越台灣國際超級馬拉松賽，成績為37小時54分05秒。
起點：台中港 終點：太魯閣 橫越台灣超級馬拉松全程246公裡，海拔累計上升1萬多米。
起點：台中港 終點：太魯閣 橫越台灣超級馬拉松全程246公裡，海拔累計上升1萬多米。
水 泡
“襪子一穿上就濕了，然後腳底就磨起了一個大水泡。”
246公裡這樣的超馬，你想毫發無損地跑下來，幾乎是不可能的。本來就沒有太多賽前准備的郭魯剛，在100公裡開始就碰上了大麻煩，跑步的天敵找上了他，那就是——水泡。
郭魯剛說：“這邊白天天氣很熱，太陽非常大，照在柏油馬路上把馬路烤得熱熱的。加上這裡的天氣是又熱又潮濕，整個人非常容易出汗，我帶的所有襪子一穿上就濕了，然後腳底就磨起了一個大水泡。”郭魯剛後來還在微信朋友圈上調侃說：“真是我有史以來的最大水泡，襪子也都是被不明液體弄濕的……”
從100公裡水泡來襲開始，郭魯剛盡量忍著痛往前趕路，在到了200公裡的補給站時，當時的志願者告訴他，第二名選手就在他前面十幾公裡的地方。郭魯剛說：“我當時心裡還是打了一下算盤的，想要不要追追看，後來看看腳實在太痛，我還是算了吧。”
海 拔
“腳上和身上套了塑料袋休息，5分鐘不到直接凍醒。”
這次的橫越台灣國際超馬，也算是超馬裡“變態難”的一場了。雖然距離和著名的斯巴達超馬一樣，都是246公裡，但是海拔高出很多、總爬升超萬米的橫越台灣超馬卻難上很多。在賽前說明會上，就有一位當地跑友告訴郭魯剛，台灣這場超馬起碼比斯巴達那場難50%，還沒開始比賽，郭魯剛就笑稱：“已經嚇尿了！”
真正到了比賽現場，郭魯剛也是徹底感受到了海拔變化帶來的恐怖。“海拔高的地方，這個氣溫就很難搞。中午的時候特別熱，熱得我一度都感覺中暑了，人非常不舒服，後來用路線邊上的山泉澆了頭，慢慢才感覺回過神來，繼續趕路。”郭魯剛說。
你可千萬別以為海拔只有高溫，還有低溫呢。“到了晚上，這裡真是立馬變臉，雖然組委會強制所有選手帶羽絨衣，但是真到了深夜也真是‘然並卵’啊，”郭魯剛說，“我跑到200多公裡的地方實在困得不行，就想找個地方睡一會，旁邊幾個志願者給我腳上和身上套了塑料袋，本來想就這麼休息一下，結果5分鐘不到直接凍醒，最後沒辦法只好繼續上路，人還冷了下來，真是不值得。”
記者郭魯剛親歷橫越台灣超馬 38小時跑一場相當於6個馬拉松的比賽
2016-04-05 07:05:10 杭州網
頭 盔
“我在最後一段路就是戴著一個騎行頭盔跑完的。”
橫越台灣國際超馬這次其實是第二屆，但是真正完成這項賽事的卻只有這屆的選手，因為2014年的首屆比賽就因為當地天氣問題，中途讓所有選手都撤了下來。這項比賽不只有高海拔，有變態爬升，路線的不確定安全性也是一大難點（山上會有碎石落下）。其實就在比賽開始前的一天，比賽中還有部分線路處於封鎖狀態，還好比賽當天天公作美，大家才有機會順利完賽。
郭魯剛說：“就因為這個比賽線路的特殊性，所以組委會要求所有選手必須准備頭盔。我在最後一段路就是戴著一個騎行頭盔跑完的。所以在比賽衝線接受花環後，所有照片裡都有個頭盔搶鏡，感覺怪怪的。”
■知道一下
什麼是超馬？
超級馬拉松，簡稱超馬，距離超過標准馬拉松42.195公裡的賽事，都稱為“超馬”。超級馬拉松通常分成兩種，一種比固定時間內跑動距離，另一種則固定長度，超馬常見的距離有50公裡和100公裡，其中100公裡有國際田徑聯合會承認的世界紀錄。而橫越台灣國際超級馬拉松賽246公裡組，差不多相當於6個馬拉松的距離。
與人們熟知的傳統馬拉松相比，“超級馬拉松”的超級之處，在於距離更長，所經路途更為艱辛，是一項超長距離的極限運動。
■賽事組織
當地人很熱情，路標很崩潰
作為由本報主辦的杭州西部越野賽的賽事總監，郭魯剛除了跑馬看風景，也會對這個賽事組織多留個心眼。關於這次的橫越台灣超馬賽，郭魯剛這樣評價：熱情很高，路標很崩潰。
要說這次給他留下最深印像的，絕對是當地人的熱情。郭魯剛說：“比賽本身的組織其實並不復雜，他們沒有豪華的補給，沒有高大的拱門，在起點大家也就是聚一下就直接出發。但是沿途的熱情卻超過我的想像。”無論是開車還是騎著機車經過他們旁邊的人，都會慢下來問上一句：“你們這是在參加比賽嗎？”當獲得肯定答案，並且知道大家是參加246公裡這樣的超馬選手時，會毫不吝嗇自己的贊美之詞。“聽著感覺很暖，好開心。”郭魯剛說。
當然有優點也有缺點，比賽全程只有兩個手都數得出來的路標，這對於從外地趕過來參賽的郭魯剛來說，陷入近乎崩潰的狀態了。“對於當地人來說可能還好，我們外地過來的真的是崩潰了。主辦方給出的官方答案是，你們既然來參賽，路你們肯定自己會探好。”郭魯剛說。
記者郭魯剛親歷橫越台灣超馬 38小時跑一場相當於6個馬拉松的比賽
2016-04-05 07:05:10 杭州網
■誰在跑
好羨慕那位穿人字拖的跑者
這麼“變態難”的超馬賽事，你一定認為只有專業或近專業人士，配備一身超專業裝備，年齡在20-30歲左右的男性來參賽。
郭魯剛看到的卻並非如此。比賽前的說明會上，他發現有五分之一的女性跑者；參賽者的年齡也在40-60歲之間，246公裡組別的有位62歲的跑者。
比賽中大家的裝備也和杭州越野比賽裡看到的大相徑庭：水瓶是不鏽鋼保溫瓶那種，放在一晃一晃的背包上，或者直接手上就拿瓶礦泉水。比賽裡還有看到穿人字拖的，也是佩服他們真會玩！正午時分，太陽直曬的水泥地面氣溫相當高，腳感覺都快要被烤熟，郭魯剛特別羨慕穿拖鞋的跑友，因為“隨時可以放進山泉水裡冰一下”。
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TORQ gels
Choc blocs
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Coconut Palm Sugar
Sucanat Sugar cane molasses
Sugar Alcohols
Agave: Nectar
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Yacon Syrup
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Homemade Energy Gel Packets
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5-Hour ENERGY DRINK for Pennies! How to make your own.
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Vedic Traditions in the Native American Customs
3/24/2016
A photo of Phalguni Radhika dasi during her wedding ceremony to Deva Madhava das.
By Sri Nandanandana dasa
Based on an
Interview with Felicity O’rourke
(Excerpt from “Mysteries of the Ancient Vedic Empire”)
If we do a comparative study, we can recognize numerous aspects of the Vedic culture, Krishna consciousness, in many of the Native American traditions. In order to show this, I conducted an interview with Felicity O’rourke who is a member of the Anishnaabi Native American tribe. She is now a practicing Vaishnava and disciple of Jayapataka Swami with the initiated name of Phalguni Radhika dasi. This describes many of the similarities she recognizes between Vedic culture and her native American traditions.
She explains: My family did not have a very strong Native American upbringing because my mother’s grandmother was the one who had a lot of the old ancient teachings and the knowledge, which she then taught to my grandfather or my Mom’s father. But she taught it to him in a way that was more of a lifestyle, not like a spiritual practice. And she wouldn’t let him or anyone else in the family know specifics of her native culture because she was ashamed. This was when so many Native Americans were going into boarding schools, or being taken away from their family members. So they, my particular family, hid from that. So there’s actually no physical documentation of my family at all in regards to them being native.
She would say, “You’re native and that’s all you need to know, and I won’t tell you anything else.” And that was it. That’s how my grandfather grew up and how my Mom grew up. So even when they had questions and wanted to ask about the culture, there was nothing, she would not share it. So it was just lost through the family line.
It was decades of my Mom’s searching for who she was, what was her tribe, what were the teachings, all of it she had to research on her own. She found it was most likely we are Anishnaabi. This is an umbrella term for a lot of native people or smaller tribes of natives, and we have not exactly pinpointed from which tribe we came. But it is primarily people who are woodland and lake natives, particularly along the great lakes of Michigan.
What my Mom learned, just from what her father taught her, is just to act as a human being with these traditional native practices. But she had no idea that it was a part of a Native American culture. She just thought is was what her Dad valued as a person, not necessarily in a cultural context.
SACRED FOOD
A lot of her spiritual practices have to do with food, which really struck me when I started to associate with Krishna devotees in Ann Arbor, when I was learning about the process of honoring prasadam, because I had already done most of these things growing up within the native practices. And it started first with every living entity as a spirit soul. This includes plants, which most spiritual practices do not overtly express. At least in most religious organizations, living souls being in plant bodies is not often stated. But this is something we very much value, so much so that we would take a plant and offer a prayer to the plant saying what is my intention, why I am using you, and “I am going to offer you to God first. Then I am going to take you for substance so I can live and continue praying and enlivening my experiences with others. So please accept that I have to take you so we can continue this.”
Then they would take a small shovel, or if they were going to clip the plant, they would tap the plant three times, or tap the shovel to the ground three times, to let the plant know this is it, so be ready. And then they would scoop it or cut it and take the plant or grain and prepare it, and then offer it on a spirit plate.
The spirit plate is the understanding of Wakantanka, a Lokota word. Wakan means all that is great, the highest being, and Tankashala is the spiritual entities. This also translates as Grandfather, or that which is never born and never dies. Wakan is the highest of the spiritual entities–the Great Spirit or God. It is also known as the Great Mystery because many natives no longer see God as an individual person. Although if you read any of the ancient stories, He often is recognized as a man. Some people say it is because of the influence of the black robes (Catholics), and others say it was before them, although it is hard to say due to our history.
Anyway, you take this plate of what you have offered as your food, and you first give it to Wakantanka, and you pray over it. Then you take this sweet grass, which smells very fragrant, and you burn some incense over it, so it is part of an offering. So you are specifically making an environment of spiritual potencies to say, “Please accept this.” Then you take that. And that happens for every meal. Sweet grass is also an invitation or offering to bring the elders. (Also there is the Vedic concept of making an offering to the elders.)
So when I had that experience [in the Native American tradition], I said, “Oh, this is like honoring prasadam. First you offer it to Krishna and then you take it.” I had already done that. So it was really easy for me to step into that place of being appreciative of offering to Krishna and accept Wakantanka as Krishna. This is really great. The whole understanding is that even a blade of grass is a living entity, and every living entity should be honored and respected.
REINCARNATION
Also understood is this cycle of repeated birth and death in my Native American tradition. Reincarnation is definitely there in Native American spirituality. This is why some may have a particular affiliation with certain animal spirit guides because they accept an ancestor became an animal, so now that animal is with you, or following you, or having some sort of relationship with that animal. So then they are helping you through your [life] process. You also, in this way, help other living entities through their process of getting out of this plane [of existence].
A key part of native spirituality is understanding that there are multiple realms. You are in one realm and you are on earth, so that means something, but this is not your permanent location. This is not it. This is why Native American burial grounds and things like that were so important because they understood they wanted to do their proper rituals and ceremonies so the soul could travel peacefully, instead of getting caught or stuck in the material world.
DEATH
Another element, especially for death rites, is that once a person has left their body, then you are not supposed to speak their name for a year. The reason is so they do not feel a desire to come back or stay as a ghost or a subtle living being still attached to their relationships to the people here, or to their own body. So you don’t speak their name for a year so they can make that process all the way through [to the next realm].
That is another understanding of reincarnation, leaving the body, and there are definitely opportunities for a living entity to stay and linger around in a subtle form, which you do not want them to do. You want them to move on to the next or higher position.
THE AGES
In Native American spirituality there is also this understanding of the ages being cyclical. There are similarities with Dvapara-yuga, Kali Yuga, and time keeps going back through a cycle. And there is a color that is designated for those ages. Colors, the symbolic understanding of them, was another big thing that was interesting to me. The ages reflect these moods: White–north, elder; Black–west, middle age; Red–south, youth; Yellow–east, child.
MEDICINE WHEEL
There is also the medicine circle whereas everything happens in a wheel or circle. So there are different ages that are represented by the different colors. So with Krishna appearing in a blackish form or in a reddish form, and these sorts of things are also very similar to Native American spirituality. A cyclical understanding is pretty basic through all the Native American tribes, not just the Anishnaabi or Lokota tribes, though there are some exceptions. But most understand reincarnation, and offering your food, having death rites, etc.
CREMATION
Cremation is also an important factor for most Native American people, to make sure the body is burnt so they [the deceased] can move on, and let the body go back to the land. Though there is a lot of Native American burial grounds, that happened not by the desire of the native people. So that is why there is a lot of curses that happened associated with burial grounds. Most often it was during when there was a lot of slaughter of the people and they were just laid where they dropped. So there were ceremonies performed over those areas. But that can differ depending on the tribe.
CREATION STORIES
Another interesting topic is the creation stories, which are many. But the one I’m most familiar with is where they speak of the different incarnations [of God]. For example, one of the main creation stories is about a turtle, which is like Kurma. I have spoken with my step-Dad, he is a Cherokee native, so he was really surprised by Kurma being an incarnation of Krishna, because that is part of our Native American creation story. There is a cyclical understanding of the earth going in the water and coming back out, and things will happen to the earth and start over again.
So with Kurma and the churning of the milk ocean, that corresponds to when the earth fell and was surrounded by water. So there is a whole story related to that with the significance being on this turtle who brought life back.
DEMIGOD WORSHIP
Almost all Native American practices are based on some sort of demigod worship, like worshiping the moon, and having an understanding that you are worshiping entities on the moon, and the moon is said to be a heavenly planet [Vedically speaking], so there is a similarity to that in Native American spirituality.
Also, different planets have different healing properties. So if you were praying to the sun, there are specific reasons why you pray to the sun in regards to healing. That is more like the Lakota tradition and why they do the Sun Dance ceremony. This is when they dance for four days around an outdoor arena, while taking no food or water. And they pray to the sun, and a tree which is in the center of the arena. Then there is a massive ceremony. But it is essentially prayers and sacrifice for healing of themselves and those they are representing. There is a lot to this.
There is also the women’s moon ceremony. Women are more inclined to worship the moon. So every month they will make prayer ties, or these little bundles, and they will tie it with yellow string and offer it with their hands to the moon, and they will pray to be rejuvenated or revitalized. And they’ll have these little pots of water to see the reflection of the moon.
MYSTIC PRACTICES
There is also a lot of mystic yoga sort of things that happen in Native American spirituality. A lot of it is this understanding of traveling to other planets. Around four or five in the morning, like first dawn, when you can see the north star, they will pray to it, around the same time as mangala arati [in the Vedic culture], and you chant these prayers in this song. By doing that you can travel to other realms or other planets. So they do that pretty regularly, depending on the spiritual practice. I know my Mom has done that on multiple occasions.
Sweat lodge ceremonies are also designed to do that sort of thing. The sweat lodge is considered to work like a space ship wherein you can travel to other realms using your subtle body. Then you can have different kinds of spiritual or physical experiences and bring them back to the people, like visions, etc.
So these are all similar to or part of the Vedic traditions in that they serve similar purposes. There is so much that is nearly identical to the Vedic teachings.
There are also different kinds of plants that are used for specific ceremonies, and there is a living entity who presides over that plant that you are dedicating time and attention to, or prayers for healing or for guidance. This is similar to the Vedic respect for, and our relationship with the tulasi plant. So there is this sort of understanding about plants in Native American spirituality, especially with tobacco, which most Native Americans do not use like an intoxicant, but as a way of offering prayers. In some cases they do smoke tobacco by holding it in their mouth and then releasing it. So they are not utilizing it to get high. There’s this understanding that tobacco is a sacred entity. So instead of using or manipulating it for their own benefit, through prayers they are asking tobacco to help them.
They do the same thing with red willow. Cedar is another plant that they use as very special, like in the fire, or in ceremonies, or for putting around holy places because cedar is a holy plant.
When something serious is happening to the tribe, like a famine or something, someone will go out and give a symbol of sacrifice, like an important possession and offer it into the sacrificial fire, which is huge in Native American spirituality. In a big ceremony, like a Vedic yajna, it is necessary to have a fire and offer things into the fire. Often they will offer valuable possessions into the fire, or maybe their only possessions, knowing it is for the benefit of everyone, or like a reciprocation that they will receive teachings in return. This is why there is a fire in every ceremony. If there is not a fire, then the ceremony cannot happen, or it is incomplete [such as if rainy weather puts out the fire].
So when my family came to my Vedic wedding ceremony, they loved the fire yajna because it is so familiar to them. That is what they do, they offer things into the fire, they have prayer, they have songs, and it is crucial to the ceremony. They loved it because it is not outside Native American culture.
I cannot think of a single thing that does not have some Vedic influence.
Once I was going to go on a vision quest out in the woods to fast for four days. And to do that you also make a string of ties, which are little bits of tobacco you pray into and wrap it in a little cloth and tie it with string, and then make 104 of them for every direction. Then you connect all of them with a string. You make it in a mood of meditation. It is the closest thing in Native American spirituality to a japa mala [meditation beads], but it is a string of prayers tied together. Then you surround yourself with them, or put them around you in a sacred space, or around your neck. Then when you are done, at the end of four days, you take all of them and offer them into the fire.
For the fire they dig out a little pit, and they have a mound on the other side of it. Then they cover the surrounding area [around the fire] with cedar [wood pieces]. Then they offer prayers and song, prayers to the wood and prayers of gratitude, songs of calling the elders or ancient ones from all four directions. It is calling the spirit guides, calling Wakantanka to come. So it is all through this fire, like a mouth of spiritual life. Then there is all kinds of rituals and ceremonies related to the fire itself. Then there are prayers to the rocks you put into the fire, prayers to the earth, prayers to every element in nature because it is understood they have a direct relationship to you and also to the fire. The fire is the start and end of the ceremony. And the fire has to continue throughout the whole ceremony. If the fire goes out, the ceremony must be finished, even if it is not fully completed because it is only through the fire that the ceremony is offered. So even if it is thunder storming they will do everything they can to keep the fire going since it is the life of the ceremony.
So most Native American practices we simply do not do anymore because we are so covered by the government, like we are just not allowed. Like the Ghost Dance, it is illegal to do that dance. So most Native Americans are very cautious in regards to what they share in their mystic yoga practice. A lot of this is written in step-by-step instructions, but a lot is just verbal, passed down to those who show sincerity.
Another mystic aspect of Native American spirituality is the Ghost Dance. When they do this ceremony they paint their faces white, they sing the song and kick up dirt, and it is terrifying. It is a very scary practice, but also very beautiful. What they are doing is a very yogic practice of honoring the dead, but also honoring life. So there is this connection in doing these songs and chants for perfection, and there is this tone of acquiring blessings.
They would also do this practice when they were being forced to move by the white people. The white people came in and they were moving [the Native American] people so much that many people died, and they would do the last rites of the people they had lost. This was something that was happening up until recent days. The American government was so petrified by this practice that they eventually forced the Native Americans to stop it entirely.
For example, when I was out doing Sun Dance, which is like another super scary practice if you do not know what it is. It is for healing but it is very intense. We had helicopters from the government circling us, making sure that we were kosher, because they are terrified of what Native Americans can do. These are like ancient, mystic yogic practices, if the Native Americans can remember them to actually do them properly. It has very tangible and physical results. It is definitely mystic yoga stuff, and the government hates it. So we are constantly being watched. They make it known that they are watching and they will stop you if you do anything they do not like, or that they are afraid of or do not understand.
ORIGINS
Most Native Americans say they are not from Earth, but are from other planets and that they came to Earth. There are almost none who say that we are from Earth, except the Hopis who say they came out of the Earth. Hopis say they were underground for thousands of years and then they came out of the ground. But most other Native Americans say they came from the Pleiades. They will say, “We are from these particular stars in the Pleiades, this is our planet and we had to come to Earth. But we are not from here, we are from the Pleiades.”
Some Native Americans say some people came from the Pleiades and taught others how to be spiritual, and how to pray, and how to worship and how to live their lives so every action is with spiritual consciousness and not a material one. How to always walk in spiritual consciousness to keep ourselves from being bound to this place. Most Native Americans do not feel they are from here, or that we are going to stay here. They feel like we are here for a little while, but we have to get out. This is not where we belong. And a lot of them feel that they belong in the spiritual plane or that they came from the heavenly planets, such as the Pleiades, definitely. And that is in a lot of Native American practices.
LANGUAGE
The spirituality in the Anishnaabi tradition is embedded in the language. So their language tells you how to be spiritual. Just by knowing the language, then you know how to be spiritual. So if you lose the language, you have lost all spirituality. So the language is the book. How that works is that the meaning of the words is telling you how to act in the word itself. So like the word “to teach” does not mean merely teaching, it means to look out at everything around you and learn from it because your surroundings are what is showing you how to live, and that is what it means “to teach.” So by observing your surroundings, which is the Earth and the teachings of the Earth, then you know how to get out and move beyond it. And that is what it means to teach.
Another one, to speak the truth literally means your words, like your breath, are coming from your mouth and down to your heart, and then coming back out. So if you are speaking from your heart, then it must be the truth. So it tells you how to do things in the words.
In this way, [similar to the use of Sanskrit] the word is a phrase that you connect to other phrases to build off of to form your spiritual consciousness. So you are looking at the world through spiritual eyes by having the proper consciousness by the words that you use. And if all of the words that you use are teaching you how to be spiritual, then you can only have spiritual vision. This is the understanding of the Anishnaabi, that language is the book in how to be spiritual because most things are taught verbally.
So the conclusion is that when I first came in touch with Vedic culture, Krishna consciousness, I was just seeing how it was so similar to Native American spirituality. I was only adding to what I already knew.
