Maori
Where does life come from?In the beginning the belief was that the god Tane offered mankind three baskets of knowledge - "Nga Kete-o-te-Wananga". Within these baskets were the stories of creation, instructions concerning magic.The Maori believe all living things are descended from the Gods, embodied within certain mountains, rivers and lakes. All things have a type of soul - the wairua. This is why the Maori have strong spiritual ties to the land.
Moriori creation stories tell of how in the beginning Rangi (the heavens) and Papa (the earth) dwelt in darkness. As Rangi clung to Papa, the spirit Rangitokona arose and asked them to separate. They refused, so Rangitokona pushed them apart and propped Rangi up with 10 pillars, one above the other., this is how the Maori people believe life was created. |
What does life mean?
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Is there life after death?On death, the Maori believe that the spirit travels to the Pohutukawa tree, which sits on the very tip of Cape Reinga, at the top of the North Island - as far as man may go in New Zealand. The spirit then slides down a root of the Pohutukawa, to the sea below. The spirit emerges onto Ohaua, which is the highest tip of the Three Kings Islands, for a final farewell before rejoining the ancestors.
After death, bodies are usually laid out, cleaned, dressed and put in a coffin. In the past this was usually done by a female relative, but it is now almost always done by a funeral director. In the 2000s bodies are usually embalmed – preserved with chemicals. Family and friends will often go to a funeral parlour to view the body |
What is the power which lies behind the unfolding nature and the events of our own lives?The power which lies behind the unfolding nature is the Maori Gods, for they are driving force for life. Mana is another power which lies behind the unfolding nature for life. Mana refers to an extraordinary power, essence or presence. This applies to the energies and presences of the natural world. There are degrees of Mana and our experiences of it, and life seems to reach its fullness when Mana comes into the world.
The Maori have a strong belief that power which lies behind all aspects of life comes from their ancestors. Their ancestors handed down traditions, beliefs and stories from generation to generation in order to keep the Maori culture strong. |
What purpose do I have in life?The Maori Believe their purpose in life is very important. They were brought to this earth by their two Gods, Mother earth and father sky. They believe that their purpose is to live in the eyes of their Gods, serving them and doing as they would want them to do.
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Why does good and evil exist?Maori people had a strong belief in that good and evil did exist. The peculiar conditions of life in the underworld were so strange that some change in the conception, as time rolled on, would presumably have been inevitable. The spirits of both good and evil persons went to the underworld, where, if not protected by the Dawn Maid, Whiro would assuredly destroy them.
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