A
human being is a part of a whole, called by us _universe_, a part
limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and
feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical
delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us,
restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few
persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this
prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living
creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
"If you talk to the animals they will talk to you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them, you will not know them. And what you do not know you will fear. What one fears one destroys." --Chief Dan George
Chief Geswanouth Slahoot (Dan George) was born in North Vancouver. He was chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation from 1951 to 1963. He was a poet and actor appearing in many films and t.v. series including Cariboo Country. In 1971 he was made an officer in the Order of Canada which is the highest award given by the government on behalf of the Queen of Canada.
