Responsibility Is Not A Dirty Word!

Responsibility Is Not A Dirty Word!

Responsibility as defined by the dictionary is: the social force that binds you to your obligations and the courses of action demanded by that force. It is also defined as the proper sphere or extent of your activities; a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something; and being responsible for one’s conduct.

In the modern system, the concepts of responsibility have been minimized and resemble just the skeletal remains of the views that traditional society held. Nowadays, some people view responsibility as a personal obligation, i.e. a single person in the United States might think "I am responsible only to myself, and I have no other responsibilities other than my own well-being and happiness". Another person who has children and a family might think, "I am responsible for the welfare and well-being of my children".

As we can see, the definitions of responsibility have changed in our modern system because of us. The social forces of today tell us to think only of ourselves, our personal needs and comfort, and to indulge in luxury wherever we can, even if it is at the expense of those close to us and of those who we are supposed to be responsible for and to. The result of this is an even more broken social system. When each person thinks only of themselves and their personal comfort, we perpetuate this problem. The only way to remedy it will be to understand the interdependency of the human relationship, and how intertwined this concept is with that of responsibility. When we examine individual responsibility we must begin to see that really the only individual that exists is the one who will leave this life alone, but while we are on Earth, there is no "individual". Every action we take, word we speak, and choice we make affects at least one, but usually more than one, human being or other entity. We are simply not alone in making choices that we think no one else will notice. Our behavior affects not only all of those around us on Earth but also the state of our own existence once we leave.

Family, and on a greater level, community, are the main social forces that bind us to our obligations; on an even greater level, it is our culture that teaches us of our obligations and sets consequences for not fulfilling them.

In modern countries, we are at a great disadvantage when trying to negotiate responsibility because all of these social structures (family, culture, etc.) have been destroyed so that we will be vulnerable and dependent. When the sense of family is intact, we can rely on each other to help keep our obligations. This family comes with many benefits, but also many challenges: trusting others' perspectives of ourselves, humbling ourselves to see that what others see is true and for our own good, keeping our emotions out of the way when assessing another's behavior, and being brave enough to tell a family member when they are not being responsible in their actions. To truly be a family, we must see that a family is the closest association people can have; we are one in how people see us, we are one in the sense that when we hurt each other, we are also hurting ourselves, and we are one in the sense that whenever we tolerate each other's irresponsible behavior, we are showing that we really don't care for each other at all, nor do we see ourselves as one but rather as individuals whose choices do not affect the whole. These are the challenges we face, and deprogramming ourselves is a task that we must do for the sake of our own destinies and for the destinies of our children.

- Khefira HaSati

Since the first day that I started the initiation process at The Earth Center I committed myself to a great responsibility. The responsibility that I have taken on is directed towards myself, my family and friends, the ancestors, and the seventy-seven commandments. As a student under Master Naba, we are taught the value of responsibility in the context of family. This is a value that comes directly from traditional African culture.

Even though none of the students at The Earth Center are related by blood, we all consider each other as family. We are all responsible for one another and because of this responsibility, it helps to secure our spiritual growth and survival. I can remember in one of our classes when Master Naba gave us an example of responsibility in the context of the family when he said, "If you touch one, you touch all, and if you touch all, you touch one." I really enjoy this phrase, it is such a beautiful concept, and the placement of the words are perfect. To further explain, it means that if one person fails that means we all fail because we are all responsible for each other's continuous growth. But on the other hand, if one person succeeds that means that we can all celebrate in their success and gain inspiration from it.

I have been at The Earth Center for a little over a year now, and there have been many accounts where taking responsibility for each other has really paid off. It is such an important issue at The Earth Center, to the point that students can be disciplined by their elders if they allow any of their brothers or sisters to struggle without help. The discipline comes to remind us of the importance of the issue of taking care of each other. This way of living life by watching each other's back is what has allowed traditional Africa to survive to this day. No human being can achieve everything on his own, and one would be foolish to think that he can. We all need to help one another and it is a good feeling to know that there is always someone there to help you when you are in need.

My responsibilities are great. I must take responsibility for myself, meaning to stay on top of my business at all times. I must constantly motivate myself to work harder while I am young and while I have the energy to do so. I have a responsibility to my family and friends. I must always be there for them when they need help or support. I must be a strong role model for those who are in need of one. I really must take responsibility for speaking up and telling others when I know something is wrong. This is difficult, but in the long run, that person will end up respecting the fact that you spoke up to help them. I have learned this by watching Master Naba - there have been many occasions where I have been very angry with him for what he has said to me. As soon as my emotions died down, I always ended up respecting him more because he is doing it out of his love and care, and he wants us to be better people.

I have an important responsibility that is dedicated to my ancestors who came before me and who are still with me to this day. I have an obligation to them, as they have helped guide me on my journey, so I must continue to help them on theirs. I wish to honor them by living a good life, by working hard, and by making them proud. Also, I must continue to give them offerings to help them on their quest in the afterlife. The dialogue between myself and my ancestors is such an important part of my spiritual journey, they are in the realm of truth, and • they are in the place that we are all heading towards. They have the power to affect my life and destiny in the physical realm.

Last, I have a responsibility to the Seventy-Seven Commandments. I must live my life by these Commandments to the best of my ability. These Commandments were given to humanity to ensure quality and survival among all who follow them. By following them, they will allow you to access higher levels of spirituality, which is the true goal for every human being whether they know it or not. I must continue on my uphill journey along with all my brothers and sisters to make a difference on this planet and help bring back peace and harmony to our existence.

- Marrwho HaSati

Responsibility is an extremely important virtue in human existence. Responsibility is this notion of the individual pulling their own weight to repay others or their society for the effect had on their life. As humans who have little control over our own existence, we arrive at pre-existent situations with our own sets of rules and structures. Inside the human experience, each individual is challenged with many responsibilities to his surroundings on a practical and spiritual level, as well as to himself. We must realize that if we have no say in the circumstances and details of our birth, then perhaps our first responsibility is to those who do. Children, though unconsciously have a responsibility to their mother and father. As each child grows they have a responsibility to themselves to learn what other beings and forces contribute to their existence.

Much of the human experience is based on the communal aspect of life. We are born into a family, a family that is a part of larger communities. It is these communities that will receive the human at birth and raise him, instilling the values and knowledge of that community into the child. The child grows up with a responsibility to his parents and his community to become a useful member of his/her household. In any group, a family, a society, etc. the notion of sacrifice becomes very important. It becomes necessary for the individual to repay the society that has provided his subsistence since his birth. One must sacrifice to fit the most beneficial position for the group. A society is only successful when every member plays a certain role and contributes a particular service to the whole. Each member is a piece of a puzzle that needs every other piece properly positioned to be a whole. For example, the father has a responsibility to his family to provide financially for them as well as make sure every member of the family is safe and healthy. If he fails, he puts a heavy burden on the rest of the family to make it work. They must help pull his weight as well as their own. The garbage man must carry out his responsibility to his community to pick up the trash each week. If he does not the society will suffer through weeks of having to step over and through accumulating garbage.

The individual also has the responsibility to the society to make a positive contribution to it and to uphold the behavior and protocol set by the community in order to ensure its harmony. Each member of the society must be responsible for protecting the well-being of the whole. Each member is responsible for not corrupting the structure and dynamics set by the group. Within traditional spiritual communities, the individual has a responsibility to the larger community to uphold the seventy-seven commandments. The seventy-seven commandments were given to humanity to assist us in eliminating our corruption in ourselves and as a result in our communities. Each member of humanity is responsible to humanity to honestly attempt to accomplish the goal of the ancestors of humanity: to conquer their corruption and approach the world of the Gods. Because we all arrived into a pre-existent situation we are all responsible for living by the seventy-seven commandments whether we perceive it to be our "individual choice" or not. In our spiritual life, we are all accountable to discover the pre-existing order of the existence in which we have arrived. We are accountable for asking the questions and doing the research that is necessary to provide us with an awareness of our position and the circumstances that put us there. The individual who acquires an awareness of the human being's proper position within an existence containing the ancestral and divine worlds, etc., and lives responsibly according to that positioning is known as a kem. The Kem is the individual who lives in accordance with the seventy-seven commandments and his/her proper place within his/her surrounding existence.

The Kem is also responsible to himself. He is aware that the life he lives does not belong to him. He recognizes that this life has been passed down through his ancestral line and he is the current holder and protector of it. It will be under his dominion only until it is his turn to pass to his descendants and join the ranks of the ancestral pool. This situation leaves the kem with extraordinary responsibilities as well as the understanding that the self extends much further than his flesh. The self that the kem becomes responsible for is his whole ancestral line. He understands that he is just the front man for this greater community and his decisions, behaviors, actions, etc. reflect the image of his "full self".

The human being’s responsibilities are many. Every human whether they accept it or not has little control over their situation as a single entity. No human can exist alone. The further along the seeker progresses down his path of understanding the more he becomes aware of the forces that he owes his existence to and therefore the greater his responsibilities become. This progression down the path of understanding is our primary responsibility therefore we are left with no escape from the accumulation of further responsibilities. It would benefit us to notice that along this path many will be brought forth to push us along our way. We also become responsible for repaying them. Considering all of this the kem becomes aware that through the challenge of more responsibilities, he accepts, the stronger and wiser he becomes, and the further down the path towards the divine world he progresses. He notices that the Neteroo are presented to the consciousness of the human world according to what they are responsible for. In our pursuit of their nature, we must incorporate responsibility into our own.

- Nehez Meniooh

Despite what we think of ourselves, very few of us are ready for true responsibility. Yes, we can hold down a steady job and provide for our families. Yes, we can make sure the kids are up, cleaned, dressed, and off to school. Yes, we are able to pay our bills on time and uphold the law. We can do many things that we think are responsible, but does this automatically make us responsible beings? Not necessarily! Just as there is a difference between "being good" and "doing good", there is a difference between "doing responsible things" and "being responsible".

It may be difficult to understand the difference between doing responsible things and being a responsible being, but this understanding is vital if one wants to become a full man or woman who is on the path toward the divine. Unfortunately, this difference is not something that we are taught in the modern society. This system has no interest in teaching us about true responsibility because if we all become responsible beings, the powers that be will have no subjects to manipulate and control.

Simply behaving in a responsible manner is not enough to make one a responsible being. No, true responsibility is much greater than performing those acts that are determined to be responsible by our given society, culture, religion, or group. These things are all examples of dictated behavior, and the one dictating this behavior is the one who controls our lives.

Let me give an example that will help make the difference between doing responsible things and being responsible. A man who is no longer with the mother of his child but pays child support is doing a responsible action, as paying child support is dictated by this society as something that responsible people do. Many men take responsibility and provide financially for their child, regardless of other issues with custody or visitation arrangements, the mother, or other factors that often cause problems between two people who are attempting to co-parent without being together. The man feels like he has taken his responsibility and is being a responsible person. And maybe he is...but whether he is truly being responsible cannot be judged on the surface act of paying child support. Is the man being responsible if he sends a monthly check but has little to do with the child and does not live up to his emotional and physical obligations as a parent? Is the man being a responsible father if he continues to provide a monthly check to the mother of a child who does not spend that money on food, clothing, and other things for the child but rather on her new boyfriend, new clothes for herself, or drugs? Is the man being a responsible person if he continues to fulfill his pre-described role as defined by the culture or society without assessing the consequences of these actions in the long term? Simply fulfilling society's requirements is not enough if one wants to be a truly responsible person rather than an ignorant who blindly accepts the protocols of their surroundings.

True responsibility requires one to become very aware of not only one’s attitudes and behaviors, but also of the long-term consequences of their attitudes and behaviors on oneself, others, and the entire existence, and this is something that is frightening to the modern human being. To analyze and criticize our own selves without giving in to our personal emotions, biases, and perceptions is not an easy task! This endeavor requires one to become blatantly honest with oneself, and this is possibly one of the most challenging tests for anyone looking to improve their self and life. "But why would I lie to myself?" one asks, "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard! Lying to myself... about what?" This response is exactly why most people are never able to pull themselves out of the trap of self-dishonesty - we don't even realize on a conscious level that we are being dishonest with ourselves! If we cannot recognize when we are lying to or fooling ourselves, how, then, will we be able to become a truly responsible person? This is the challenge for anyone on a spiritual path. If we are able to be honest with ourselves, we are then stuck with the weight of the consequences of every decision we make, word we utter, or attitude we have.

Responsibility lies more in the realm of being accountable to and for the self rather than to and for anyone else. This concept is difficult for us to grasp because our entire lives are built around being accountable to and for other people: our parents, family, teacher, friends, spouse or partner, boss, police officers, government, etc. While it is true that we have social and moral responsibilities towards these people and systems, fulfilling these obligations is not guaranteed to ensure that we are a responsible people. Of course, if we fulfill the responsibilities that are prescribed by those mentioned above, we are more likely to become truly responsible beings, but having these attitudes and behaviors of responsibility as dictated by outside social forces, we are only halfway there. 

It takes some people an entire lifetime to realize what being responsible is. These people are the lucky ones, because many (most?) people in modern countries live their entire lives without questioning this issue, much less trying to do anything about it! Those people who realize that they must be responsible for themselves (and know-how and are able to accomplish this feat) are the truly blessed ones. 

At The Earth Center, initiates learn that personal responsibility is the only thing that will ensure our human qualities, and ensuring these qualities and attitudes is the only thing that will enable us to become responsible beings. We are lucky enough to have the seventy-seven commandments to aid us in our task of becoming good and responsible human beings, and as initiates, we vow to uphold these laws in every circumstance. Those who are new to the initiation are often overwhelmed by the number of commandments, as there are seventy-seven laws we must follow, and this always gives the elders a good chuckle, because the number of commandments is nothing compared to the depth of what they say! The fact that there are seventy-seven of the commandments is just a papercut compared the the depth of the wound that is left on our consciousness when we realize that not following the commandments (and some are very, very hard to follow) will endanger our own life in the future (possibly up to many reincarnations)! 

So, while we seem to have a responsibility to and for others, this is just an illusion. Our only responsibility is to our own self, as we will die alone just as we arrived alone. We will be accountable for our own actions, behaviors, and attitudes, not those of others, and we will be judged based on our performance on Earth. Because the seventy-seven commandments are the divine laws that have been given to us by the Gods to help us live pure and responsible lives, these commandments are the only real authority to and for which we are responsible.

Let's look at the man who is paying child support once again. In the case of the man providing financial support but not emotional support, he may be breaking many commandments, including: Thou shall not cause suffering to humans (a child suffers when his father is not active in his life), thou shall not cause misunderstandings (assuming that the man himself is the reason why he is absent rather than the mother's attitudes, etc.), and thou shall not be the cause of hot tempers (children whose parent abandons them emotionally become angry). A man who is providing funds to the mother of his child and knows that she spends it on herself, her friends, or drugs may be following the societal laws, but he is not being responsible, because his child is still suffering. Although he is not the one who is taking necessities from the child, he is a part of the situation by providing the funds for the mother to do this, and because he is not taking steps to make sure the support goes to the child rather than the mother, he is being irresponsible.

Anyone who is blindly fulfilling the "responsibilities" of a group, family, society, culture, or religion without assessing them and making sure that the commandments are not being broken is simply not being a responsible person. One who makes everyone but themselves responsible for their behavior, decisions, and consequences of them is being very irresponsible, for nobody can make you do wrong but yourself. We must take a good look at ourselves, our behaviors, and our attitudes if we want to be a responsible person. We must follow the commandments and we must realize that the wrongs that we do are the fault of nobody but ourselves. We must face the consequences of doing the wrong thing like a real human being rather than like a coward who points fingers at everyone but themselves. We must remember that we each write our own history, and the history that we write today will affect our lives for many reincarnations.