We exist within each other, as unappealing or appealing as it may be; we are each other. Despite feeling separate and individual and cringing at the thought of being a frienemy or just another human, like it or not, we are interdependent. What we do for ourselves, we do for others because there is no real separation, only in our minds.
It might not seem so, considering we judge all day long and dismiss any notion that we might be ‘that,’ to maintain our sense of separateness, uniqueness, and individuality.
I recall seeing Wayne Dyer speak at a weekend conference I attended many years ago. He shared the story of the ‘Babemaba tribe, and I was deeply moved by how this tribe handled someone who might have done something unkind, perhaps even committed a crime, and how transgressions are viewed as a part of the person’s life. It is not deemed good or bad, right or wrong; it is just something that needs to be realigned.
How beautiful is that?
The Story of the Babemba Tribe
“In the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, they are placed in the center of the village, alone and unfettered. All work ceases, and every man, woman, and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused individual.”
During this tribal ceremony, each person in the tribe speaks to the accused one at a time, recalling all the good things the person in the center of the circle has done in their lifetime. Every incident, experience, positive attribute, good deed, strength, and act of kindness is recounted with great detail and accuracy. This ritual often lasts for several days.
In the end, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration occurs, and the person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe. How profound! Imagine if we uplifted even the worst of the worst so that they begin to see themselves as part of the community instead of imposing their will and causing harm to others. We might have a different society that understands that individuality, status, or religious beliefs should not create division. Instead, we could work to make the best out of our existence, whether long or short, here on earth. The bottom line is that everybody transitions, and we leave this physical body to return to love. There is a lot to learn from these hidden tribes; we are far too distracted by our egos, possessions, and separation to consider how our actions impact the whole.
The Babemba and the Ubuntu philosophy teaches us the importance of two concepts:
- CARING is the awareness that what affects one may affect many, and it is the recognition that we are all bound together and that there is oneness to humanity.
- Having empathy for the members of our communities and the ability to understand others’ feelings or situations from their perspective are important.
- So ubuntu means love, truth, peace, and goodness, and has long guided African society.
“Africans have a thing called ‘Ubuntu.’ We believe that a person is a person through other persons. That my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours. When I dehumanize you, I dehumanize myself. The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. Therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in community, in belonging.”
"Just Another BlaH BlaH BlaH BloG." 