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Essay on Navajo & Taoist Philosophy Comparison
In Navajo, the concept of peace is culture dependent and also situation dependent. A search for a definition of peace within the Navajo language yields three elements: Ach'i' hozho (all is well toward oneself), K'e (the establishment of familial and clan relationships), Hodeezyeel (serenity or calm). Ach'i' hozho, k'e, and bodeezyeel are what a person is to strive for on a daily basis, where the process involves a balancing of kindness and empathy on one hand and teachings on the other (Friday, 2001). Each of these concepts is explained in the following paragraphs.
Ach'i' Hozho
Ach'i' hozho relates to a person's inner peace, which is influenced by their immediate surroundings. An important component of ach'i' hozho is one's identity, which is inherited at birth. As the youth are being taught about identity, Navajo culture stresses the need to mention the four parts of a person and how the parts are a reflection of who and what a person is. The four parts are one's form, clan, language, and shadow.
A person's "form" includes their gender, age, disposition (e.g. happy, sad), strength, level of enthusiasm, and other characteristics which are obvious to observers. "Clan" affiliation presents a person with their initial history. Many clans have a place of origin, which is described in stories. These stories inform a person of where they came from. More importantly, one's clan affiliation gives a person a sense of belonging by informing them of who is related to them.
The "language" one speaks is testimony of the speaker's background; further, the language one uses when interacting with others is a reflection of his/her demeanor. A person's words go a long way in maintaining or destroying achi' hozho............
