Dualism

Karl Karlson

American Indian Literature

Ceremony

Dualism

The book Ceremony is a story of destruction and creation, of materialism and the generosity of Earth and of the fragility of the world. And throughout all of this a power that flows through living and non-living things. Ceremony deals with fighting hatred and intolerance; fighting them before they get the better of the people. In her book, Ceremony, Leslie Silko uses one major character to convey messages to Tayo and her audience. Josiah is this character that seems infinitely full of wisdom. Everything Josiah says is a belief of the Laguna. As with many religious tenets, these beliefs about the world transcend the geography and the people of the United States and connect with the philosophies of other cultures. Specifically the Eastern religions. Even more specifically that of Taoism.

Taoism, like the power the Laguna people believe in, cannot be defined. As the medicine men and Tayo point out in Ceremony the power must be felt. The best definition of Taoism is, "a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the UniverseÐ'... It embodies the harmony of opposites." (Creed of the Western Reform Taoist Congregation).

The entire story of Ceremony is about reconnecting with that great power that flows through everything, and once again becoming one with the Earth. The philosophy of Taoism is almost exactly like that put forward in ceremony. Both religions deal with finding harmony with the universe. "We place our trust and our lives in the Tao, that we may live in peace and balance with the Universe." (Creed of the Western Reform Taoist Congregation) Lao Tse, the father of Taoism, says to "be still like a mountain and flow like a great river." As Tayo begins to fulfill his destiny of changing things for the better, he feels that, "the mountain could not be lost to them, because it was in their bones."(219) This is just one of the many examples of the connectedness the Laguna people feel with "Mother Earth". Josiah means this as well when he says:

"'There are some things worth more