Table of Contents
Navajo Traditional Teachings offers a warning about lying. The speaker does not want to label the warning a prophecy but recalls many cautions passed among the people. In this teaching, lies are tied to gossip and cheating, bring no benefit, and lead nowhere. Some people, the teacher says, invent falsehoods on purpose and act from harmful intent. Others may believe they are helping when they are doing harm, so the teacher does not treat every person as simply evil. Listeners are told not to accept a claim just because they hear it. A lie can be recognized, and the people were taught to discern what is not true and never to stay ignorant about lying. The teacher also connects lying with what the talk calls the black arts. Near the end, the claim is that the public is not being given the truth and that even books are rewritten to carry falsehoods. The teacher urges people to look closely at what is presented. A brief signup line closes the recording and is separate from the teaching.
Key points
- The teacher avoids calling the warning a prophecy and instead recalls cautions passed among the people.
- Lying is linked with gossip and cheating and is said to bring no benefit.
- Some people spread lies on purpose, while others do harm while believing they are right.
- The teaching says a lie can be recognized and should never be ignored.
- The teacher claims books and public accounts are being changed and that people are not receiving the truth.
Short quotes
associate it with gossip with cheating.
Navajo Traditional Teachings, Navajo Teaching on Lies
The teacher says the old warning put a lie next to gossip and next to cheating. Watch at 1:40
You can tell when a lie is being told.
Navajo Traditional Teachings, Navajo Teaching on Lies
He says a lie can be recognized while it is being spoken. Watch at 4:06
be very cautious about what you hear, what you see, what you smell, what you touch
Navajo Traditional Teachings, Navajo Teaching on Lies
The caution he repeats covers everything a person hears, sees, smells, and touches. Watch at 6:56
Video by Navajo Traditional Teachings. Watch on YouTube.