Ny Antoka

The pledge

This pledge is our oral family tradition. It is a distiled formulation of the essence of the Malagasy way of the ancestors.

In typical Malagasy wisdom, it builds on the old to absorb the new. As such it is a fascinating path thru time and space, a portal into the garden of the origin and transformation of the Malagasy. In this garden primordial trees coexist with strong old trees and new flowers. Each season brings its flavor and scent to the forefront, but for those in the background the seeds of renewal already awaits.
In an endless cycle of the same but different each generation brings its inspiring wisdom of their days, and leave cautionary tales of their lives.
The pledge is not a doctrine, and is immune to dogma. It allows for contradictions, and promotes an adapt before you adopt mindset.

The pledge then is a guide, a reminder of what is left of a Malagasy when the food, the smells, the sounds, the songs, the regional customs and celebrations are melted away. What remains of a Malagasy when academic distinction, religious branding and financial division are striped away.

Ny Antoka

The pledge

1.1 Ny zavatra tena ilaina vitsy fa ireo tsiriritina sesilany
Needs are few, yet wants are many.

1.2 Mirongatra ny faniriana nefa mandalo fotsiny izy ireo
Cravings are raging but they too shall pass

(Na Fanirina tsy laitra aza lefy hiany refa ela ny ela)

1.3 Mandray andraikitra fa tsy madray baiko
To act and not to be acted upon

1.4 Toy izany ny fomban’ny mpanara-dia (mpihofana )
Thus is the way of practitioner.

2.1 Ekeo na avelao ny vokatri-ny fianana
Accept, deflect the fruits of life

(Araho, ahodino ho anao ny vokatri-ny fianana)

2.2 Tano izay marina ateraki’ny fanabeazana ( filofosana)
Seize the real through self-refinement

2.3 Fantaro ary alaviro ireo sarisarin’javatra nefa tsy tena izy
Tame the unreal through non-attachement

zzz=aza miraharaha ny tsy tena izy aminy fahaizana manavaka tsy miraika

2.4 toa izany ny fomban’ny mpanaradia
Thus is the way of practitioner

3.1 Rohay, itsaho ny fapanatenana poakaty
Repel, dispel rogue expectations.

(Mialà, esory ny fanatenana tsy ampoizina)

3.2 Taizao an’tsaina ny fifantohana, ny fifehezatena ary ny fahendrena
Nurture focus, discipline and wisdom.

(Taizao an’tsaina ny fifantohana aminy zavatra atao ,ny fifehezatena ary ny fahendrena)

3.3 Raha misy mahasosotra aza fahano izany
Where frustration arises feed it not

3.4 toa izany ny fombann’ny mpanaradia
thus is the way if practitioner

4.1 Manomboka izao dia hamafiso fa amin’ny lafiny rehatra
Henceforth assert that in all matters:

4.2 Tsy izay hita ny maso akory noho hanova ny fazahon’javatra
The lens of perception do not alter understanding

(lens= lentille Ny maso fahitana dia tsy manova ny fahatakarana)

4.3 ny fanivanana ny fihentsehampo dia tsy mapahantra ny eritreritra
The filter of emotions do not impoverish thought

4.4 Toy izany no sandoka(fanefy ) ny sabatra ny fahendrena
Thus is forged the sword of wisdom.

5.1 Ny teny tsy mivadika ho teny feno fakalahana
Words do not turn into hateful speech

(Ny teny aloka ny vava tsy tokony hivadika ho kabary fakahalana )

5.2 ny hatao rehetra tsy tokony hiteraka fitrangan’doza
Action do not lead to harmful deeds.

(Ny hetsika dia tsy mitarika amin’ny famaranana manimba)

5.3 Ny fivelomana dia tsy miteraka fijalioana (fijaliana)sy faharavana
Livelihood does not cause pain and destruction

5.4 Toa izany ny hamafisina ny fomba fifehezana
Thus is scharpened the art of discipline

6.1 Ny ezaka dia tsy takatry ny faniriana na ny hetahetam-po
Effort is oblivious to desire and ambition

6.2 mailo ny fatsiarovantena tsy ho tafinohina ary tsy ho etona
Mindful, awarness does not stumble and falter

mailo (alert)

6.3 Miorina, ny zava misy mifantoka amin’ny ankehitriny Centered, the now concentrates in the present

Miorina ( grounded ) ny izao dia mifantoka amin’ny ankehitriny
Tombany aloha ny androany, diniho ny zava misy

6.4 Thus is polished the power of focus
Toy izany ny fomba fandralavorarina ny fandalian’javatra

Toy izany ny mampamirapiratra ny herin’ ny fifantohana

7.1 mirindra aminy fiarahan-korina ankapobeny
In harmony, within the flow

(mirindra ao anaty mikoriana)

7.2 Toa ny lakana anivon’ny tafio-drivotra
Like a raft in the eye of the storm,

(Toy ny lakana eo amin’ny mason,Ny tafio-drivotra )

7.3 Mitombina isika nefa tsy miraikitra an’toerana
We are stable yet not static

7.4 Toy izany ny fomban,ny mpanara-dia
Thus is the way of practitioner

8.1 Tsy voafehin’ny fandrosoana na ny fihemorana
Unfettered by change or setbacks

(voahodin’ny)

8.2 Tsy kivyn’ny tahotra sy ny henatra
Undettered by fear or ridicule

8.3 Mandroso matanjaka sy tapa-kevitra isika
We blend-forth resilient resolute

8.4 Toy izany ny fomban,ny mpanara-dia
Thus is the way of practitioner

9.1 na fotoanan’ny fahombiazana na ny fisitahana
Be it a time of might or flight

(na fotoanan’ny hery na fandosirana izao)

9.2 Mamafaza ny voan’ity lova ity
Sow the seeds of this legacy

9.3 Ampiharo amin’ny zavatra rehetra na lehibe na kely
Apply it in all things great or trite

9.4 Toy izany ny fomban’ny mpanaradia
Thus is the way of the practitioner

10.1 Jeren’ny razana isika
Witnessed by our ancestors

10.2 Ary tsarain’ny ankizy
Judged by our children

10.3 Ka manome toky fa hanaja ity lova ity
We plegded to honour this heritage

(Mampanaten izahay fa hanaja ity lova ity )

10.4 Dia toy izany ny fomban’drazana
Thus is the way of the Ancestors

The Pledge is not just our way of remembering The Way of the ancestors. It can also be applied through practical means.

NOTE: The translation is a work in progress :-)

Commentary

Effort is oblivious to desire or ambition.
Mindful awareness does not stumble and falter.
Centered the Now concentrates in the Present.
Thus is polished the power of Focus.

Effort is oblivious to desire or ambition.
There are many reasons for doing thing. But the most “mora mora” (painless, effortless) way is when your effort does not depend on a reason. You are not doing it because you fear punishement or failure You are not doing it because you seek reward or success. You are doing it be cause YOU decided to do it. Because it is what you choose to do at that very moment.

Mindful awareness does not stumble and falter. The tool to apply effortless effort to what you have decided to do is to be mindful. Mindfulness is the result of not paying attention to unnecessary things. When you temporarly let go of distraction and don’t give any importance to the things that are not the subject of your effort, you become very aware of all the things that helps you do what you chose to do at that very moment.

Centered the Now concentrates in the Present Mindfulness is hard to maintain. Awareness may not stumble and falter but Mindfulness often do. Distractions of all sorts will keep coming at you. Feelings born from desire and ambition will always come knocking at your door. The trick is to exercise your freedom to choose where you place your attention. Placing your attention back to what you are doing at the moment is a super power.

This ability is something you can train, and becomes easy over time. You simple ask yourself “Is my attention occupied with what I have decided to do?”. In Malagasy we use the word Grounded rather than centered. Like a tree firmly rooted on its ground, it will bend but it will not move away from its foundation. Likewise we can suddenly get lost in distractive moods and activities but the moment we are aware of that, we come back to the subject of a current focus we bring back mindfulness to what we chose to do.

Thus is polished the power of Focus. The sword of wisdom, the art of disciple, and the power of focus are the three tools we got from our Austronesian and Indonesian ancestors. At the time of their arrival to Nosy Malagasy, they where still Buddhist, just starting to become Hindu. When their culture mixed with the Vazimba, and later with the arab, Swahili people, a true Malagasy culture emerged.

Leverage the POWER

P. Purpose & Principles
O. Organization & Observation
W. Wisdom & Wit
E. Efficient Effort & Effective Action
R. Resolve & Resources

with power, come to life
Ihohy ny hery ka ito ny haina ( Misy Hery ka velona)

with Purpose, give it meaning
Misy Tanjona, omeo dikany

(with a prey, acquire a target)
(miaraka amina remby, mahazoa tanjona)

with principles, draw the line
miaraka amin’ny fitsipika , mamaritra fetra (set limits)

with practice, strengthen the ‘Fanà’
miaraka amin’ny fampiharana (fanazaran), ampaherezo ny ‘Fanà’

with Organization, gain structure
miaraka amin’ny voalamina (sy fikambanana), mahazo firafitra

with observation, seize the initiative
amin’ny fandinihana, sambory ny fandraisana andraikitra

with Wisdom, express Choice
miaraka amin’ny Fahendrena, maneho safidy

with wit, adapt to change
amin’ny fahendrena, ampifanaraho amin’ny fanovana

with Efficient Effort, Ease the Way
miaraka amin’ny ezaka mahomby, mora ny làlana

with Effective Action, mark the way (leave an impression)
miaraka amin’ny Hetsika mahomby, mariho ny lalana ary (mamela fahatsapana)

with Resolve, Arc around Obstacles
miaraka amin’ny tapa-kevitra, mihemorana manodidina ireo Vato misakana

with resources, fuel the POWER
miaraka amin’ny harena, fahano ny herinaratra

Hence Establish PEACE through

`P` osture                   | fandaharana toeran'batana  
`E` mo-sameness (equanimity) | Tsimanovafihetseham-po  
`A` ttention                 | fanentanana  
`C` omposure                 | fahatoniana  
`E` quilibrium               | fifandanjana

and Maintain PEACE with

`P` assion tamed        | firehetam-po voafolaka
`E` motions tutored     | fihetseham-po  voaofana
`A` nger deflated       | hatezerana mitsonika 
`C` ravings moderated   | faniriany voafehy
`E` nergy regulated     | hery milamina

Happiness is found in PEACE.

“The happiness of pursuit far outweight the pursuit of happiness.”

_ lerina