| 1 | A man or woman who care not for knowledge, |
| 2 | May live for only so long as a wild animal, |
| 3 | Before a more dangerous predator kill them, |
| 4 | Or they starve or die of thirst or illness from ignorance. |
| 5 | A family or tribe who care not for knowledge and law, |
| 6 | May only exist for so long, |
| 7 | Before the women are injured or driven from camp, |
| 8 | And the men kill each other, |
| 9 | Leaving only old women and orphans. |
| 10 | Such families and tribes who destroyed themselves, |
| 11 | Are the spirits in the wind. |
| 12 | No people may be at harmony and wisdom without knowledge, |
| 13 | Without truth and without respect of rule of law. |
| 14 | The eight paths of knowledge be the sacred bedrock of all peoples. |
| 15 | The eight paths of knowledge be the foundation of civilized people: |
| 16 | The Count and Name of Generations; |
| 17 | The Count and Name of Species; |
| 18 | The Count and Name of Foods; |
| 19 | The Count and Name of Country; |
| 20 | The Count and Name of Days and Seasons; |
| 21 | The Count and Name of Moons and Years; |
| 22 | The Count and Name of Constellations; |
| 23 | The Count and Name of Law. |
| 24 | A boy and girl must learn to become a man or woman, |
| 25 | And respect their heritage, the knowledge and civilization of the people. |
| 26 | A man and woman must learn self discipline, |
| 27 | And honor custom and right ceremony. |
| 28 | A young law man must learn humility, |
| 29 | And honor the eight paths of knowledge. |
| 30 | A senior elder must protect the dreaming, |
| 31 | And advanced knowledge of the civilization, |
| 32 | And to die to all things of this world, |
| 33 | That they may return as strong spirit to assist the tribe. |
| 34 | This is why the most wise of ancient elders sung: |
| 35 | "To Live; One Dies" |
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The First Age of Spirit