More Information about Circle of Life

Circle of Life presents, in written form, traditional oral Native American sacred teachings from the Iroquois, Lakota and other traditions. The author, James David Audlin (Distant Eagle), has been receiving these teachings orally from elders since he was a youth. The wisdom includes Native American views on cosmology, ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, sociology, psychology, healing, dream interpretation and vision quests.
     Audlin is not a spiritual teacher nor does he even consider himself an authority—he sees himself as a conduit through which the oral traditions handed down to him by elders from various tribes can be presented in a meaningful manner to peoples in today’s modern world. He outlines universal principles common to all the Native peoples of “Turtle Island” – and, in fact, to many traditional peoples the world over. We are all a part of the Sacred Hoop, he explains, and the traditional ways of the Native North Americans differ only in relatively less essential outer characteristics from the traditional ways of other peoples. The “Red Road” is available to everyone—regardless of religion or ethnicity—who is willing to follow its paths. These paths, however, are often not easy and require deep personal and spiritual commitment. Circle of Life can be used as a guide on this journey. As Audlin says in his introduction, “If this book serves any purpose, let it be to help us bring the Sacred Hoop of All the Nations back together again, so we and all that lives may stand as one in silent awe before that Great Mystery.

About the Author: James David Audlin (Distant Eagle) was born in Alexandria Bay, New York. He received his B.A. from Eisenhower College and M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School. He is an ordained clergyperson in the United Church of Christ, has taken precepts with Chogye Zen Buddhism, and has extensively studied the Native American spiritual tradition. He writes novels, stories, plays and poetry, and he plays several instruments, sings and composes music. He has also been a pastor, an adjunct instructor in world religions, a newspaper editor and a professional musician. Audlin lives in the Catskill Mountains region of New York state and has two children, Katharine and John.