Oera Linda Book
An analysis written by Douglas Scofield.
A particular ancient manuscript, known as the "Orea Linda Book," is held by C. over de Linda, and it is the subject of debate among Dutch and German literary societies. The presentation here is intended as a gleaning from that manuscript, showing ways in which this ancient way of life described in Orea Linda supplies ideas for a path of life in modern times. The debate of those societies may continue, as it is valuable, but it did not seem as though their debate discussed how we might use the book's content to help avoid mistakes commonly repeated in communities and cultures. Use of the content in that book is the subject, therefore, of this analysis.
Two approaches could be used for presenting these ancient ideas from Orea Linda Book: quotations from the text or digest from the text. Quotes seem to require at least some interpretative notes, which may help make them more useful to modern readers. A digest of the text is presented in this analysis, in the form of a paraphrase or summary, for the sake of brevity and clarity. A curious reader might like to read the entire manuscript, which is readily available on the internet.
Among the quotes, here are a few common words which need a point of reference for modern readers:
Wr-alda = Creator, Almighty, equivalent to the being known today as "God" (as found in the Bible)
prince (or Prince) = head of a household, father, chief in a small village, representative of a group in a community
Frya = similar to Eve, but it is important to identify Frya as the figurative mother of all who faithfully love and follow God (Wr-alda). Also, with the idea of "honor your father and mother", it is valuable to honor the wise words Frya recommended, just the same as if she were your wise great grandmother whom all of your reputable relatives highly respect.
Fasta = the first Matriarch (Volksmoeder) recorded in Orea Linda. Fasta should be considered the first historical figure being described in Orea Linda, while Frya should remain as a metaphorical figure, only. Volksmoeder means "mother of the nation" [Dutch word].
Finda = similar to Frya, as a figurative mother, but having vastly different views. Principally, Finda is a cunning deceiver. She likes to establish laws, but she slyly avoids being under any law.
Lyda = similar to Frya, as a figurative mother, but she follows paths which are more like that of a vicious beast. Lyda is not so much a deceiver, but rather she uses keen senses, brute force, and speed of attack to find her way in the world.
Tex = Set of laws, guidelines, words provided to inspire toward whatever is best.
Juul-day = winter solstice
Other comments, before delving into the ancient book's message:
The Orea Linda includes what seems to be authentic historical accounts. Among the accounts, it is obvious the society described was matriarchal. Most important, however, this manuscript provides the sense of an orderly society operating according to principles, and those principles can also apply in patriarchal types of society.
The book is a compilation of several authors, all of whom are from a particular lineage, and its accounts are beginning at a time of approximately 2193 BC. And yet, the manuscript was copied many times, so that the one that is currently held by C. over de Linda is from 1256 AD. That copy includes its many errors, but this does not detract from the message intended by the original authors (the last of whom wrote sometime during the middle of the last century before Christ).
Principles presented in Oera Linda
Watch (be alert, look all around you, and be willing to go places to observe what is different or uncommon in your home territory)
Understand how to identify three types of people: The people of Frya; the people of Finda and; the people of Lyda.
Value what is truly valuable: liberty, freedom; all have equal rights; steady persistent efforts of work are the best starting approach; be very neighborly without meddling.
Communicate by sending messengers, and participate in meetings and have orderly ranking within teams, yet avoid giving any the right to control anyone else. Instead, let respect be earned and then hope to give heed to those who are respected.
(All of the above is spelled out clearly in the Orea Linda).
The Orea Linda emphasizes the importance of being able to recognize the people of Finda, especially. These are ones who enjoy flattery, both to be under it and as being those who put if forth upon others. They ignore most of what is called "justice" or "peace", and instead, they look for whatever is to their own advantage. Even though the policy of Orea Linda is to immediately cast forth such ones, not allowing them into the society of Frya, it seems at least prudent, among the Tens, to immediately shine light upon any visitor who follows paths like those of Finda. The Creator (Wr-alda or God) is light, and that is the type of light which exposes pretense and fallacy. (Read Orea Linda to learn ways for recognizing "the people of Finda.")
All are responsible for setting a watch. It is not merely the duty of a prominent figure (matriarch, in Orea Linda) or an army commander (known as a "Grevetman" in Orea Linda), but even the lowest private soldier or the most humble father who lives out in the woods should also remain watchful, always. And at the first sign of trouble, whether they identify the people of Finda entering the land or they see the signs of adverse weather or any other hint of danger, they send a messenger to inform their neighbors.
When there is time for it, they gather for a meeting to discuss their options. When there is no need or no opportunity for a meeting, they simply proceed to act upon whatever it takes to resist, defend or flee, in accordance to their best inclination (using what wisdom they have).
Frya's Traits
The following is quoted directly from Orea Linda Book:
"Frya was white like the snow at sunrise, and the blue of her eyes vied with the rainbow.
Beautiful Frya! Like the rays of the sun shone the locks of her hair, which were as fine as spiders’ webs.
Clever Frya! When she opened her lips the birds ceased to sing and the leaves to quiver.
Powerful Frya! At the glance of her eye the lion lay down at her feet and the adder withheld his poison.
Pure Frya! Her food was honey, and her beverage was dew gathered from the cups of the flowers.
Sensible Frya! The first lesson that she taught her children was self-control, and the second was the love of virtue; and when they were grown she taught them the value of liberty; for she said, “Without liberty all other virtues serve to make you slaves, and to disgrace your origin.”
Generous Frya! She never allowed metal to be dug from the earth for her own benefit, but when she did it it was for the general use.
Most happy Frya! Like the starry host in the firmament, her children clustered around her.
Wise Frya! When she had seen her children reach the seventh generation, she summoned them all to Flyland, and there gave them her Tex, saying, “Let this be your guide, and it can never go ill with you.” "
Author's comments: I suggest Orea Linda describes a people with courage, and their beauty is a shining character (warm, peace-loving, friendly, honest, humble, full of joy). Her children cluster around her because she worked at cultivating healthy relationships with them.
Part of the idea of a shining character includes a sincere walk with God (Wr-alda), including the aspect of gratitude. Here is another quote from Orea Linda:
"When in dire distress, and when mental and physical energy avail nothing, then have recourse to the spirit of Wr-alda; but do not appeal to him before you have tried all other means, for I tell you beforehand, and time will prove its truth, that those who give way to discouragement sink under their burdens.
"To Wr-alda’s spirit only shall you bend the knee in gratitude—thricefold—for what you have received, for what you do receive, and for the hope of aid in time of need."
Leadership
The matriarch (volksmoeder) described in Orea Linda is a titular leader. She is focused on caring about the people. She is available for giving counsel. She is ever-watchful against corrupting influences. She is willing to publish any and all mischief, so that a discovered cheater or a "Finda follower" will not be able to carry on with damaging others.
In the marketplace, the land of Frya used the services of overseers, which are partially described in this quote:
"... Therefore my counsel to you is, choose upright men who will fairly divide the labour and the fruits, so that no man shall be exempt from work or from the duty of defence."
Although the society of Frya imposed a market charge (a tax) upon all that was sold at the market, in the Tens the same general idea is applied to contributions which are brought voluntarily to the altar. This is similar to the idea of tithing.
And here is what the Orea Linda suggests about the market charge:
"The market charges shall not exceed one-twelfth of the value of the goods either to natives or strangers. The portion taken for the charges shall not be sold before the other goods. The market charges shall not exceed one-twelfth of the value of the goods either to natives or strangers. The portion taken for the charges shall not be sold before the other goods.
All the market receipts must be divided yearly into a hundred parts three days before the Juul-day.
The Grevetman and his council shall take twenty parts; the keeper of the market ten, and his assistants five; the Volksmoeder one, the midwife four, the village ten, and the poor and infirm shall have fifty parts."
Notice how much of that market charge goes for helping those who are in need. In the Bible, the same is recommended for the orphans and widows. I would not say the same portions need to be used in the Tens, but the general idea presented here is quite useful. In the Tens, a minister divides the contributions in accordance with what the Spirit of God lays upon his heart, and he is wise if he is watchful regarding evidence to show who is really in need of help, and what type of help do they need. Compare this with the way modern taxes are divided up.
Also, regarding markets, Orea Linda says this:
"There shall be no usurers in the market."
The Bible also warns against usury.
Union
"Troops of Finda’s people came and settled in the empty places. Our dispersed people were exterminated or made slaves. Then watchfulness was doubly impressed upon us, and time taught us that union is force."
This quote from Oera Linda is reinforcing the idea of the need for meetings. Union happens from regular meetings, at which the folks get to know one another quite well. Union happens as trust is built. Union is an evidence of peace among the people, and the lack of union suggests changes are coming to the society. And their concern was, of course, due to the rising influences of Finda's people living in the fringes. Without being watchful, they would hardly notice the slow changes being impressed upon their youth, if those youth had playmates from among Finda's people.
Another aspect of Watching
"Do not trust too much to the wisdom of your princes or of your maidens; but if you wish to keep things straight, everybody must watch over his own passions, as well as the general welfare."
Watching over your own passion is the same thing as exercising self-control. I suggest the practice of "going to the balcony", to look at yourself and what you are doing, and in those instances when you watch yourself using anger sort of as a tool to persuade or coerce, it may be best if you immediately make an apology to the one with whom you were angry. As the quote from Orea Linda implies, do not wait for your father or your supervisor to counsel you toward making that apology. Who wants to be there sort of as your baby-sitter? You are grown-up, and you can do this by yourself.
And here is another quote from Oera Linda, on somewhat the same topic:
"All your life you have avoided your neighbours, fearing that you might have to give or do something for them; but one cannot get on in the world in that way, for Wr-alda, who is kind, turns away from the niggardly. Fâsta has advised us, and it is engraved in stone over all our doors.
"If you are selfish, distrustful towards your neighbours, teach your neighbours, help your neighbours, and they will return the same to you. If this advice is not good enough for you, I can give you no better. The man blushed for shame, and slunk away. "
And who was this man who "slunk away"?
He was a man who came to the region's matriarch and claimed a thunderstorm had torn down his house.
But part of her reply to him went like this:
"When Frya was born, our mother stood naked and bare, unprotected from the rays of the sun. She could ask no one, and there was no one who could give her any help. Then Wr-alda wrought in her conscience inclination and love, anxiety and fright. She looked round her, and her inclination chose the best. She sought a hiding-place under the sheltering lime-trees, but the rain came, and the difficulty was that she got wet. She had seen how the water ran down the pendent leaves; so she made a roof of leaves fastened with sticks, but the wind blew the rain under it. She observed that the stem would afford protection. She then built a wall of sods, first on one side, and then all round. The wind grew stronger and blew away the roof, but she made no complaint of Wr-alda. She made a roof of rushes, and put stones upon it. Having found how hard it is to toil alone, she showed her children how and why she had done it. They acted and thought as she did. This is the way in which we became possessed of houses and porches, a street, and lime-trees to protect us from the rays of the sun. At last we have built a citadel, and all the rest. If your house is not strong enough, then you must try and make another."
Proceeding with our best inclination is far more than thinking or speaking a prayer. When every family teaches how and why to use our best inclination in efforts to meet our own needs, we each learn what it means to listen to the Spirit which is able to lead us on our path of life, while at the same time we are becoming ready for helping one another be strong, courageous and healthy.
The Tens is a manner of living. I use this phrase "the Tens", which is short for "Tens, fifties, hundreds and thousands" -- an alternate form of government which is able to exist alongside a government built upon contracts, covenants and gods (such as a civil government with its ordinances and governors). Even though it is not accurate to claim the people of Frya, described in Oera Linda, faithfully used every aspect of "the Tens", it seems worthwhile to read the history presented in Oera Linda, since it describes a people who defended the idea of liberty for all of Frya's people, and that is quite similar to the aim of the Tens.