Lessons Learned

I first met Master Naba in April 2002. At the time I can honestly say I was neither a "seeker" nor a "pilgrim". I was the new girlfriend to a man I wanted badly to impress who happened to be studying at The Earth Center. He spoke often of the "authentic Dogon Priest" with whom he worked and studied; and so upon his suggestion, I enrolled in the Medu class. I recall going to The Earth Center for the first time - then housed on the first floor of a 2-flat on Chicago's west side - and hav- ing no idea what to expect. The door was opened by a pleasant woman who invited me to come inside and make myself comfortable while she retrieved an enrolment form. I stepped into the living room/office/ classroom where two men were sitting. One was sitting at a desk in the cor- ner hunched over a book, reading and taking notes; and when I stepped into the room he put his book down, smiled warmly and reached out to shake my hand and ask how I was doing before going back to his work. The other man was perched on the edge of a chair, leaning slightly forward on a large ornate staff. He peered at me for a moment over the top of his glasses and said, "So, you want to learn the Medu Neter. Why?" 

I remember vividly the self-assured look on his face (as if he knew that my answers would not be satisfactory) as well as the smirk he displayed as I stumbled through a response that clearly met his expectations. I recall becoming suddenly nervous, uneasy and anxious to fill out the paperwork and hightail it out of there. Later that evening when I was relaying the experience to my boyfriend I mentioned the intense scrutiny I had felt coming from Master Naba sitting on that chair looking down at me. At first my friend seemed confused, but as I described the scene in detail he began to laugh and told me that the man I had been talking to wasn't Master Naba at all, but one of the other students; Master Naba was the kind man writing in the corner. That moment was my first lesson from Master Naba, and like many of the other lessons I would learn from him, at first glance it appears simple but when I think back now, I can see in that moment a lot of the same lessons in humility, judgement, hospitality and decency that Maakheru would often address with his students during class lectures. 

I began my studies at The Earth Center M'TAM school shortly thereafter. I approached my weekly class casually, as just another intellectually stimulating supplement to my life outside of my job, my family, my social life, hobbies etc. Each class was interesting and while the lessons I learnt in the classroom about the history of my culture and the Medu language were fascinating, it was the time spent outside the classroom with Master Naba that had the greatest impact on my life. Coming from a traditional society based on refined human quality and the realities of existence, Master Naba could easily see the aspects of my life and personality that were keeping me from honestly defining and reaching my goals. Through compassion, humour and many times harsh criticism, the Maakheru slowly guided me to look within myself to see what I really want to accomplish with this lifetime and to understand the hard work and discipline involved in spiritual growth. I awoke one day to realise that The Earth Center has gone from being "just another intellectually stimulating supplement" to being at the centre of my life around which everything else revolves. 

Over the course of the next 6 years, while everything in my life has changed and evolved - jobs, experiences, relationships, parenthood, etc. - The Earth Center and the teachings of Master Naba have remained constant As his pupil, I will forever be indebted to the Maakheru for giving to me the knowledge and understanding of my relationship with my ancestors, for bringing to his students the goal of humanity and the tools with which to achieve it, and for opening my eyes to the reality of life and what it truly means to survive. And as someone who had an opportunity to observe and interact with Master Naba in his daily life, I will always be grateful to have learnt from his character that every achievement and every defeat, each lesson taught and each lesson learnt, and everything that will cross my path on this life's journey can always be met with humility and kindness.