Spiritual Resource Management

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White Wolf or Phil Shapley has the following background:

 

1. He was given his name by a Comanche Medicine Man.
2. He has the following education:

- B. Sc., Cornell University College of Agriculture in fishery biology and conservation

- M. Sc., Univ. of British Columbia Zoology Dept. in fishery biology and zoology

- M. A., Univ. of Michigan Economics Dept. in economics

- Ph. D. Candidate's Degree, Univ. of Mich. School of Natural Resources in resource planning & conservation

- Extensions courses in farming from Univ. of Guelph

3. Work experiences including: fish production in farm ponds, the effects of logging on salmon production in Alaska, as an environmental, biological and agricultural specialist for Ontario's Ministry of Treasury and Economics, as Ontario's Lake Huron Fishery Planner, as a fishery biologist for 3 Canadian First Nations, raising red veal calves, working with people with psychological challenges.

4. While working for First Nations, White Wolf became interested in Native spiritual teachings, and studied and traveled with Native spiritual leaders. Thirty years ago, he explored Christianity and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church). Since then, he has extensively studied Christian and Native teachings. Native and Christian teachings are mostly compatible though the emphasis can be different.

How White Wolf came to his understandings

by White Wolf (Phil Shapley)

It has been obvious that there was much that I did not know. The religious, scientific and philosophical systems that I studied, were not all inclusive and had problems. Fortunately, I have been open to new ideas and new knowledge. Along came Latter Day Saint and Native (American Indian) teachings that are more universal. I studied and practiced them, finding that they matched the reality they claimed. These teachings have been very satisfying, bringing happiness and peace of mind, and I have sufficient faith to see many miracles, such as gaining knowledge, observing healings, etc.. What happens in life is consistent with the teachings. I am impressed that they reflect the greater reality.

I am convinced that there is a wonderful, all wise and loving Creator. I am taught that our spirits, our awareness, existed before the Creator put them into physical bodies on Earth. I avoid questions such as how our spirits came into being or were we formed from nothing? Was there not a starting point for it all? These are unanswerable questions. We do exist! We must accept this and start at this point. We can learn how the Creation came about and whether there is a purpose in life; there is, to learn how to obtain happiness.

To summarize, I have been successful in gaining true knowledge:

1) by keeping an open mind and not using just one approach for judging the validity of claims, such as the scientific method;

2) by actively seeking knowledge;

3) by testing to determine consistency of teachings with reality and for universality;

4) by ignoring unanswerable questions;

I have sought the greater reality with no preconceptions.

I have learned some wonderful truths:

1) There is a loving Creator who seeks our happiness by exposing us to the good and bad so that we can learn the difference in a deep way that affects our inner nature.

2) We learn through experience that ways other than the Creator's, don't bring deep happiness, and that Man's ways are inferior and often disastrous.

3) The Creation is a loving, caring organization of spirits, even down to atoms.

4) There are basic truths that exist independent of the Creator, such as, spirits or awarenesses  existed before they were sent to Earth. These spirits can be organized to work together to generate positive energy versus when they work at cross purposes.

5) The Creator is the Master Spirit with all wisdom and knowledge of basic truths.* He used this to organize everything in the Creation

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* A basic truth is something that exists regardless of what we do or create or think. We can't create or destroy it but can work with this knowledge to create things and situations. One truth is that as the spirits or awarenesses act or don't act, there are consequences, some positive, some negative. This is consistent with the theory of opposites and Yin and Yang. For instance, spirits or people can be organized to do negative or positive things, or not be organized at all, all which produce consequences. Latter Day Saint Scripture in Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:29, states: Intelligence or light of truth was not created or made, neither indeed can be. Also, in the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2: 10-16.

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The spirituality White Wolf practices

 

I have worked for First Nations and as a consequence, was exposed to Native understandings.  I intensively searched them and traveled with Native spiritual teachers.  Indian understanding in regard to everything being spiritual, resonated with me.

 

Before working for Natives, I had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Aboriginal teachings helped me see and accept deeper doctrine in my church.  The understandings of both are mostly compatible and complimentary.  This knowledge has helped me gain insights into the nature of and personality of Jesus Christ, His great importance as our Creator and redeemer, plus some comprehension of how the Creation functions.

 

I am a committed Latter Day Saint.  The teachings of this Church have deeply touched me and reflect the great reality-- everything is spiritual.  I am at peace, happy, learning much and look forward with optimism.  I am grateful for my association with Native people and what they have taught me.