Today is Monday and the village children are happy. In the evening and under the old mahogany tree they all gather. Some are standing and others are sitting on the dusty ground. They are listening to Opanyin Ntow telling tales of long ago. They love him for he speaks from the heart. Lying in a lazy chair and with his thick white moustache raising anytime he spoke, Opanyin Ntow began: Children of Awuyekrom! Today I’ll tell you some maxims of truth. Be therefore silent and receive with reverence these instructions. First, know now that all things proceed from God. He it is, O children, who has created you; your present station on earth was fixed by His laws; the powers of your mind are the gifts of His Goodness, the wonders of your frame are the work of His hand; your Soul is His Soul; your consciousness His consciousness. Hear then His voice, for it is gracious; and he that obeys shall establish his mind in Peace Profound; and bring everlasting growth to the Soul that resides within his body, state after state, on this earth. He paused for a while, caressed his moustache and continued: You must proceed not to speak or to act before you have weighed your words, and examine the tendency of every step you shall take; so shall disgrace fly far from you, and in your house shall shame be a stranger; repentance shall not visit you, nor sorrow dwell upon your cheek in this or many lives to come. The first step towards being wise is to know that you are born mortally ignorant; and if you would not be esteemed foolish in the judgment of others, cast off the folly of being wise in your own mortality. As a plain garment best adorn a beautiful woman, so a decent behaviour is the greatest ornament of inner wisdom. Know that each future state is that you have created in the present. Whatsoever you resolve to do, do it quickly. Defer not till evening what the morning may accomplish. Idleness is the parent of want and of pain; but the labour of Goodness brings forth pleasure. A talkative man is a nuisance to society, the ear is sick of his babbling; the torrent of his words overwhelms conversation. Whosoever speaks of another’s failings with pleasure, shall hear of his own with bitterness of heart. Boast not of thyself, for it shall bring contempt upon you; neither deride another, for it is dangerous. Forget not, O children! That your present station on earth is appointed by the wisdom of the Eternal; who knows your heart, who sees the vanity of all your wishes, and who often, in mercy, denies your requests. Murmur not therefore at the dispensation of God, but correct your own heart: neither say within thyself, if I had wealth, or power, or leisure, I should be happy; for know, they all of them bring to their several possessors their peculiar inconveniences. The terrors even of death are no terrors to the good; he that commits no evil has nothing to fear. Consider and forget not your own weakness; so shall you pardon the failings of others. Cast not an evil eye on the goods of your neighbour; let whatever is his property be sacred to your touch. Say not, that it were best not to have been born; or, if born, that it had been best to die early; neither dare to ask of your Creator, Where had been the evil had I not existed? Good is in thy power; the want of good is evil; and, if your question be just, lo! It condemns you; Would the fish swallow the bait if he knew the hook was hidden therein? Would the lion enter the toils if he saw they were prepared for him? So neither were the Soul to perish with this clay, would man wish to live; neither would a merciful God have created him; know hence you shall live again and again. Children of this great land! There are many truths to tell you. But meditate on these and fulfill them. I’ll end with this maxim of truth- Suspect not evil in anyone, until you see it; when you see it, forget not to forgive. Today is truly special and although Opanyin Ntow is dead, his teachings are alive. The people of Awuyekrom are kind, peaceful and hardworking. They are living these maxims of truth.
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