Six Impossible Things

I wish we could all be as kind and generous and loving when mistakes are made, and even when they aren’t.  But the Babemba tribe aren’t exclusively amazing during times of trouble, they’re consistently amazing.

To wit, this:

When a woman in the Babemba tribe of South Africa knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose. When the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else.

This song is sung at every important event of the child. When he or she is born, the community gathers and sings the child’s song to him or her. Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants the child’s song. When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the people again come together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song.

Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the person’s bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the person to the next life.

bluenemesis:

littleorphanammo:

In the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he is placed in the center of the village, alone and unfettered.  All work ceases, and everyone in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused.  Then each person in the tribe speaks to the accused, one at a time, recalling the good things the person has done in his life.  Every experience that can be recalled with detail and accuracy is recounted.  All his positive attributes, good deeds, strengths, and kindnesses are recited carefully.  This ceremony often lasts for several days.  At the end, a joyous celebration takes place, and the person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe.

—Jack Kornfield, The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace