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BOOK REVIEW: “The Hopi Survival Kit”

A Cultural/Religious Microcosm of the Macrocosm

By Leonard Burg

A Centre for the World Religions

“The Hopi Survival Kit”,

By Thomas E. Mails,

© 1997, Published by Welcome Rain,

Distributed by Stewart, Tabori & Chan,

A division of U.S. Media Holdings, Inc.,

575 Broadway,

New York, NY 10012.

Our survival as a planet depends on acknowledging the universal common roots that

humankind shares, in spite of differences in culture and religion. The Hopi Indians knew this,

and initiated a dialogue and collaboration which we can build on today, in the form of the book.

“The Hopi Survival Kit”. Its universal message graphically depicts the sacrifices made by the

Hopi to deliver a message to the world, at the risk of their very survival as a people. We can all

profit from their Live-and-let-live philosophy and the gift they have shared with us. We can use

it to both reconcile and honor the sovereignty of diverse religions/cultures, while in the process

discovering the universal roots that bind us together as humanity.

PART I

The Hopi are an Indian nation located in the Northeast corner of Arizona who ―are

broadly known today as the peaceful people‖. And, ―outsiders living in a world beset with

turmoil have often wondered how they achieved it. [Page 1]‖

The Hopi are renowned for having prophesized many of the catastrophic events taking

place in the world in the past 100 years. They see prophecy as part of a divine mission of a

humble people ―who live by the Plan laid out by the spirit, Maasaw [a Hopi Redeemer], and

today hold the land in trust for him.‖ [154].

The author sees this as a reason the Hopi have survived years of domination and control

stemming from having been ―discovered‖ by the invaders and conquistadors who settled in what

is now called the United States. He says that because of their humility and ―their abhorrence of

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materialistic living, we can begin to envision them as servants to whom the Creator will entrust

His sacred mission.‖ [48]

Thomas E. Mails is one of the rare outsiders to have been entrusted with some of

the sacred knowledge of the Hopi to share it with the world. Much of what he wrote came from

his relationship with Dan Evehema, one of the great Hopi Elders who for half a century resisted

the efforts of the American government to assimilate the Hopi.

Evehema shared with Mails details of a secret newsletter published by the Elders. ―Over

an eleven year period, five of the elder Traditionalists wrote a newsletter to warn other Hopis

about the consequences of abandoning the secret.‖ [7] It was called, ―Techqua Ikachi! [Which]

Is the creed of the Hopi Traditionalists. In its English translation what it means is ‗blending with

the land and celebrating life.‘‖

Says Mails, ―Never get the idea that what I wrote is precisely what they said or what they

thought of it. It is approximately what they said and thought , supplemented with my own

thoughts and explanations and when I read it back to them , I modified it until they approved of

it.‖ [341]

Mails is referring to Elders known as ―Traditionalists‖ --- the ones who fought to

preserve the culture and resisted efforts by the ―Progressives‖ or ―Two-Hearted‖ to succumb to

assimilation into to American culture. The author thus dedicated the book, ―to all of the

Traditionalists who for nearly a thousand years preserved the message from the Creator that will

enable the planet and us to survive.‖

Because of the wide influence and power of some of the most popular religions of the

world – i.e., Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism - the role of Traditional

indigenous cultures and religions in interfaith dialogue is often overlooked. Often they are seen

as backward, primitive, outdated, etc. However, a closer look at their way of life and religion

may reveal a closer relationship to universal spiritual principles than believed by our more

modern conventional religions.

A search for this common ground is at the core of a movement today of globally minded

Interfaith-conscious people; they desire to reconcile their differences with other religions and

cultures without sacrificing their own integrity. Why? In order to address the threat to world

peace posed by religious and ethnic wars and conflicts around the globe.

The Hopi Survival Kit book reveals the Hopi as model “Live-and-Let-Live”

collaborators with a unique gift to share in this interfaith dialogue. Said the Traditional

Hopi Elders, ―there is only one Great Spirit, our maker, and ….we, as His children, should be

one happy family. But instead of equality, we practice caste systems and class struggles, glaring

at each other in greed. Most religious groups boost their particular method of attaining

perfection, while down grading and undermining others in order to govern territories and people

who wish to live in peace through their own inherent beliefs.‖ [321]

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In spite of this philosophy, it is difficult for many to believe what they perceive as a

dying, decimated culture having anything useful to offer to those who are struggling to survive

the 21st Century. Did the army of hunters, traders, trappers, soldiers, government officials, White

anthropologists, etc. who ―invaded‖ HopiLand believe, ―that no people who lived as simply and

poorly as the Hopi could possibly offer anything worthwhile to the burgeoning outside world, let

alone a message of greatest magnitude?‖ [5]

Because many of the Hopi themselves surrendered to the forces of colonialization and

assimilation, the author raises the rhetorical question: ―Who wanted to pursue a religion that was

not strong enough to overcome White people…could it be that the Hopi religion was a false one

that was a product of archaic superstition and legends?.‖

In spite of the eventual control exerted by the United States government over the Hopi,

largely through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and it‘s handpicked ―Council‖, and the attempted

emasculation of their religion and culture, The Hopi Traditionalists have prevailed, though much

less in number. They have sacrificed themselves in order to share a universal message that we

all can rally around and delve more into as focal point of interfaith dialogue. At every turn they

saw themselves thwarted by the White invaders and their hand picked Hopi allies. The author

conveys the feeling that ―the basic motive of the Two-Hearteds and the forces of evil has been to

keep you and me from obtaining and implementing the great message needed to save ourselves

and the planet.‖ [129]

The question is, what was their message and what universal principles inherent in it are

useful to interfaith dialogue and collaboration? The book outlines:

An original covenant given to the Hopi by their Redeemer, Maasaw;

His laying out of a ―Pattern of Life‖ to follow to live in peace and harmony with

the divine;

Prophecy of events that would threaten that way of life; and

Instructions and warnings on how to avoid the impending catastrophe.

The Hopi Survival Kit shares the details of this roadmap and how, along the way, the

Hopi Traditionalists had to battle and overcome evil forces in order to bring this universal

message to the world.

Maasaw – Hopi Redeemer

―Maasaw is the Savior of the Hopi, just as Jesus Christ is the Savior of the Christian

World.‖ [138] (His name is alternately spelled MAASAW, MASAW, MASSAU, MAASAU‘U).

Maasaw told the Hopi that, ―He would take over the control of the world at the end of the

Fourth cycle.‖ (The Hopi identified four main cycles of existence, ―They normally illustrate this

as a circle that is divided like a pie chart into four equal parts.‖) [25]

―As a Helper Spirit serving the Creator, his assigned task is to be the Guardian of the

earth.― He will take ―full control as the fifth Cycle of the world begins.‖ [After the climax of

prophesized calamities befalling the planet] [137]

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Hopi Elders do not confuse him [Mausaw] with the Creator. Instead they know he serves

the Creator.‖ [56]

―Or is it that Maasaw is really Jesus Christ who has come to the earth in a different guise?

The Hopi do not say so, but some Native Americans teach that Jesus once walked the Americas

and ministered to the natives….[says the author] As a Christian, I cannot accept that there is any

other Savior than Jesus Christ. Yet at the same time, Maasaw fills this role for the Hopi

Traditionalists who are not Christians…If and when it is necessary, the true Creator will do

whatever He must to reconcile Christianity and Maasaw.‖.‖ [139]

PART II

Maasaw’s Covenants – Pattern of Life

Maasaw provided the Hopi their Covenants or Pattern of Life and ―Traditionalists are the

ones who follow and keep these covenants.‖ [57]

The Pattern of Life was an organized, rational succession of repetitious experience. ―In

this method, inner peace and understanding come as specified duties are performed.‖ [33]

―Except for the Hopi themselves, the Pattern of Life is not a religion. The Traditionalists

do not pass this information on to seek conversions. They do not want you to wish you could

even become a Hopi.‖ [270] However, ―There are jewels in his Pattern of Life that are

universal.‖ [135]

At the crux of the Hopi Pattern of Life are Divine Laws and Ceremonies to be observed.

These same Divine Laws constitute the essence of the Instructions and warnings given to the

Hopi (to share with the world) in order to escape the wrath indicated by the Hopi prophecies.

They can be summed up as follows: [238]

1. making your own covenant with Maasaw

2. Living simpler, as Maasaw Himself lives

3. Practicing self-denial

4. practicing Self-sufficiency

5. Changing your priorities

6. Recognizing that it is the Creator‘s wish to rescue us and that together with the Hopi

we can rescue the world

In addition to the latter general principles for living, the Hopi ―Elders tell us Hopi believe

all life on our earth lives and goes by life cycles. Therefore all must rest and renew for the

coming cycle….and repeat annually in the Hopi language all of the information pertaining to the

Life Pattern.‖ [167]

The two main seasonal (cyclic) ceremonies the Hopi observe are: [243]

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1. The ―Soyal‖: Preparation, Purification, Consecration, Thanksgiving; Kachinas come

to dance

2. Planting, Cultivation, Harvest and Thanksgiving

In order to preserve and meet threats to this way of life, Maasaw provided the Hopi

prophecies because, ―People are lost and looking for direction. The Creator has known that this

time would come, and uses the prophecies to get our attention. Then He calms our fears as He

presents us with the way to handle whatever comes.‖ [212]

Hopi Prophecy

The Survival Kit presents about 100 prophecies, many of which have or are coming to

pass, and some which are on the horizon. Prophecies tell why, give instructions and warnings,

signs and hope. The author stresses that ―Hopi prophecies substantiate themselves in that every

one of them that should have been fulfilled by now has been.‖ [172] Some of the more notable

prophecies are:

The Bahanna or White race, ―will come in large numbers. They will be cunning

and sly with forked tongue and sweet Tongue. By deceit and fraud they will take

over the land of the Native People.‖ [181]

―People with the Cross will appear in our land‖, and the Hopi nation will become

split as they Lose their culture and assimilate

The ―Gourd of Ashes‖(Atomic Bombs dropped during WWII)

Advent of the ―House of Mica‖ – the United Nations

Four Attempts will be made [and were] by Hopis to take their case to the UN

Advent of Airplanes, trains, cars, utility lines, radios

Hurricanes, acid rain, volcano eruptions, Florida Swamp creatures mutating,

Hantavirus (infected mice in Navaho/Hopiland)

Population explosion, Deforestation, Revolutions, Global warming, Flooding,

Melting polar ice caps, Water shortages, Greenhouse effect; and yet to come:

THE GREAT DAY OF PURIFICATION

Returning Ice Age, War of retaliation against terrorism, Food shortages, Money

becomes worthless,

―Tropical land could become a land of ice. But this need not happen if we the

people get our leaders to do something about the harmful things being done to the

environment.‖ [212]

Warnings And Instructions: The Spiritual Ark

―The Creator told the Hopis what could happen, but at the same time told them how they

could survive these things. The WARNINGS are stern and uncompromising, yet they are also

meant to rescue us in times of peril. But the INSTRUCTIONS which teach Hopis to do certain

things on both ceremonial and daily life hold a whole new way of deliverance from catastrophes

and evil forces.‖ [57]

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Though these instructions may seem related to a specific cultural context, the Hopi

always stress the underlying universal principles: ―How wonderful…that, for the Hopi and us,

the Creator and Mausaw have provided a Spiritual ARK that consists of carefully chosen

thoughts, words deeds and promises. Together these make up the manner of life that will be led

on the Ark.‖ [226]

―Traditionalists tell us today, that the only thing that will save us is to achieve new

attitudes by immersing ourselves in the Spiritual Ark which is the workroom of the Creator.‖

[344]

By this they are not saying you have to convert to the Hopi Religion: ―As you board the

Ark, make your own covenant with the Creator and Maasaw. That does not mean you will

exchange what you are going to do on the Ark for your own religious faith. While the Ark does

function in relationship with the Creator, it is not a place of religion, nor does it recognize any

religion as superior to others.‖ [269]

―As we follow the INSTRUCTIONS we will feel the connection. The spirits of Dan

[Evehema] and others will come to be with us and urge us on.‖ [375] The universal space they

are talking about can connect you with all the great spirits that have come to the planet to redeem

humanity. These ―beings‖ function by the same universal divine laws.

Here are some final thoughts from the Hopi Elder Elders on this point: ―We must neither

lose sight of our prayers or the Divine Laws of our Creator, Laws which never change or break

down, that often bring miracles when one meets obstacles which seem impossible to pass.‖ [368]

Implicit is that these laws are the same for all religions and all cultures, although they

may speak of them is culturally different ways. So the Hopi say, ―Review with yourself and

these same close ones [loved ones] the Divine Laws. These laws will vary with different

cultures and religions.‖ Do your own version of the 2 cycle ceremonies. [275]

So we can see by this that the Hopi do not claim to hold the exclusive key to survival of

the planet. ―For all people on earth are responsible for hold the key to survival.‖ [199]

In spite of the fact that it has been the destiny of the Hopi to suffer many trials and

tribulations that have nearly made their culture extinct, the essence of it lives on, in the form of

the Elder Elders and Traditionalists, many of whom, ―commonly live into their 90‘s and ―in the

case of the most deeply committed and spiritual, past 100.‖ [239]

Furthermore, ―It is worth noting that this priceless information was placed in the keeping

of the very Naïve American people who would outlast all of the other tribes in North America in

preserving their traditional ways and vows.‖ [179]

The physical place where this last vestige of Hopi wisdom resides is called HOTEVILLA

village – ―a stronghold for the Traditionalists ….. known as ‗The Shrine of the Covenant‘.‖ [74]

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According to the author, the Village of Hotevilla ―had begun as the place where the

Covenant was preserved, and, among other things, the cycle of yearly activities kept the world in

balance with enough harmony to survive. It became a Mother Village, a shrine, a microcosm of

the world, and the home of the last keepers of this Covenant of greatest magnitude.‖ [17]

As a result, this village and its inhabitants, largely Elders and Traditionalists, has been the

target of attempts throughout the years to modernize the Hopi, thus exacerbating a rift between

the ―Progressives‖ and the ‗Traditionalists‖. The elders have warned that, ―As soon as

something begins to happen at Hotevilla, the microcosm clock begins to tick‖. [61]

The Hopi Traditionalists see events at Hotevilla as a possible harbinger of things to come

on a broader level in the world. The author raises the question, ―Are there things in the works

that would propel us into Armageddon? ―Factionalism is the mode at Hotevilla Village today.

[1997] The prophecies predicted another split like that of 1906 and the split has occurred." [301]

It behooves Interfaith-conscious people of good will to consciously reach out to and

include indigenous cultures like the Hopi in dialogue about how to heal the divisions among

religions and cultures that exacerbate the calamities occurring in the world today. In doing so,

there are several key questions we can pose and deliberate on that might bear fruit to nourish our

efforts to bring peace to the world:

Where does the material end and the universal spiritual begin in the Hopi

culture—i.e., what are the specific spiritual values and practices that transcend

Hopi religion/culture and are applicable to all humankind?

What are the universal spiritual truths and realities underlying the rituals and

ceremonies of the Hopi; how do they compare to those of other religions; and are

there ways to access that reality through practices that can be common to all

religions and cultures?

What is the fundamental cause for the suffering experienced by the Hopi and

other indigenous religion/cultures around the globe?

Has the Hopi religion/culture helped avoid an even harsher fate?

What role did the Hopi‘s steadfast identification with their Traditional culture

play in being vulnerable to oppression at the hands of the invading ―civilization‖?

Are there ways in which the Hopi could have been more open to the more positive

aspects of the dominant culture, without compromising their own integrity,

security or development?

How do the teachings of the Hopi Redeemer Maasaw compare to the saviors in

other religions? And what is the possibility that such a living savior exists today?

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Although I raise these questions in reference to the Hopi as depicted in the book The

Hopi Survival Kit, they raise concerns that apply to all religions and all cultures. Given the

proof that the Hopi have been chosen to alert mankind to some of the pitfalls and calamities we

face as a planet, they might be a good place to focus a serious interfaith dialogue.

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Hotevilla, Hopi Shrine of the Covenant, Microcosm of the World

book by same author, Marlow & Co., 632 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, 10012,

800-788-3123

Pathways Foundation, 30491 Longhorn Drive, Canyon Lake CA 92587, 909 244-

2737

Hotevilla, Don‘t Waste Arizona, Inc., 6205 so. 12th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85040,

602-268-6110