a real simple prayer in lakota.....

 

wakantanka

tunkasila

pilamayaye wichoni he

unsimala ye

mitakuye oyain

thanks ndnhorseman1,   i saw that in an earlier post of yours and have learned it, it is a very good prayer.   tell me more about what (to all my relation) mitakuye oyain (isn't it oyasin?) meens to the lakota people, if you would please.

 

thanks dave

hey dave....

sorry about my spelling at times.... i suffer from typonese....lol.... it is oyasin

 

mitakuye oyasin does mean "to all my relation".... it means that when we pray and end our prayer with that phrase, we are including ALL of everything in the universe in our prayers.... yet it goes deeper then that.

 

to grasp its entire meaning , you must understand Lakota thought.... Lakota do not see a difference in anything that has a living spirit.... or soul.... if I may use that word. If I use the term... mitakuye oyasin.... every word that I speak affects everything that surrounds me..... right down to the atom that we can not see with our eyes. I can help something reproduce by my words.... or I can destroy with what I say and think. How many wars have been started by just a word.... how many lives have been altered by words spoken in anger or even words of encouragement?

 

This is just scratching the surface of this phrase. If you can grasp this.....maybe we can go deeper.

 

toksa ake

ndnhorseman,    for such a small phrase, it is very powerful and rich, what is the origin of this phrase? how did it come to the lakota people?

 

pilamayaye ake           dave (i hope my syntax was correct)

wow Dave.... what a question....

I can not answer that question truthfully. It has been a phrase that has been used by the Lakota forever and a day.

 

If I was to assume where it came from.... I would have to say it came from Whope when she brought the chanunpa to the people. For it was Whope that gave the instructions on how to live.

 

I will have to ask a elder that I know about that phrase and see what he says.... so please give me some time and I will find out the answer.

 

As for saying thank you in Lakota.... the "ake" is not neccessary at the end..... "wopila" could also be used instead of pilamayaye.

thanks ndnhorseman,

 

if you could, i would like to know more about Whope.  i must tell you, i am on a spiritual journey, somehow this spiritual journey has brought me to this site, and to learn the lakota langauge. i have been brought up with a religion that is very good, but has been interpreted in very dangerous and horrible ways by some of its followers. i am not lakota but i believe we all worship the same god.

 

wopila, dave

Dave....

before I continue on with the questions you ask.... may I ask a few questions for you? Many times the words that I type are mistaken for "attitude" or disrespect.... and this is natural since we can not see or hear each other face to face. Believe me when I say that what I am going to ask is in no way meant to be disrespectful or with a hateful heart.... instead , I am trying to understand where you are coming from and how you ended up with such a interest in Lakota ways and language.

 

You state that you were brought up in a religion that is good.... may I ask what religion that is.... and if it is .... how should I state this.... interperated correctly, why would you choose to seek out another way? My natural curiousity requires me to ask these things, so I hope you understand.

 

Thanks for your time in answering these questions

 

toksa ake

ndnhorseman,   i am glad to answer your questions and i do not feel any disrespect. i was raised christian in a good family that taught me to think for myself. my interest started from simple interest in american history to great interest in lakota culture, you ask why, i am trying to figure out why we molest and disrespect our earth. nowhere have i found such a rich and spiritual relationship with the earth than the lakota people, i'm sure there are others that are as great i just don't know as much about them.  this is necessary for the preservation of the earth and people. i am looking for answers to many questions and maybe i'll never get all my answers but the short time i have spent on this site i have read some great stuff.  i could go on and on but i would rather ask, listen and learn.

 

thanks dave