"A person can absorb wisdom like a sponge absorbs water. You will use your wisdom to teach other human beings. You will be a teacher, a deer-teacher.".

You can find this quote on page 31 in The Honey Jar by Rigoberta Menchú.

The reason why it stood out to me is that Ajaw, the Heart of Earth and the Heart of Heaven, claims that a person's ability to learn is the same as a sponge's ability to absorb water. So when a person doesn't learn its as if they are deliberately avoiding the knowledge. This made me remember the film we watched, where they mentioned that a person could not deny another person the right to learn because that is their natural right. What we know about indigenous groups is thanks to someone who took the time to learn and then took the time to teach. If there is no one to do this, then these stories of the past disappear and then the past itself does too.

The reason this quote stood out to me is because it teaches how to be generous with others. Being selfish or greedy can often lead to problems. For example, something good happened to you today, and you decided to be greedy. The next time something good happens to others, they will not want to share their positive experiences as well. In this case, the weasel uses this as an example that nature provides enough for everyone; there is no need to be selfish and take more than what you need. Someone's happiness is not always about how much they have, but also the respect and kindness they share with others around them.

This story and quote from the units reading, stood out to me because it showed how fast people can betray you after being so positive and welcoming around them. The people were left without food, an essential source to serving, and when the weasel gave them a source of food which was corn they were all in joy. Quickly, the people offered the weasel their best roosters and turkeys in exchange for the knowledge of the corn he had showed them. Instead, the people quickly got greedy and gave the weasel the smallest hens and roosters available which showed they did not appreciate his finding of the corn. It shows that you should be grateful for what you have and not take things of advantage because they can easily be gone.

"To the Maya, corn is peculiarly sacred. Even today, after four centuries of Christian influence, it is still spoken of with reverence and addressed ritualistically as "Your Grace." It is the gods' supreme gift to man, to be treated with full respect and not a little humility."

This quote stood out to me because it mentions how this crop, in particular, has helped the Maya so much that they believe it is superior and a prized possession. those beliefs have stayed into today's times, which people learn about the importance on how did maize became so favorited by the maya

"The flesh of the man was made from white and yellow maize."

This quote stood out to me because it talked about how growing maize was participating in the cycle of creation itself. Maize was known as renewal and life. Mayas believe in death and rebirth, Maize is planted, which is buried it dies on earth and is reborn as a new plant.

This quote stood out to me because it shows how farming maize was not just work or like agriculture for the Maya people but also part of their culture and religion. They believed that growing maize was connected to respect for the land. This shows how they viewed nature as something sacred and important for them to protect and how they had such a strong relationship with the earth.

A quote that stood out to me is "This is how the weasel taught us not to be miserly and to be grateful for what we are given" (pg.43).

This quote stood out because this story is not about finding food but about learning a life lesson. To share and be thankful for what you receive instead of being greedy. If someone is miserly and likes to keep everything for themselves, it can harm and affect everyone. This quote reminds us that we should practice gratitude and think about others, too, not just ourselves.

This phrase really jumped out at me because it goes against the very common idea that Indigenous knowledge is old-school and no longer pertinent. These systems of Indigenous knowledge continue to evolve and adapt to changing environments and social conditions. They are grounded in generations of observation, experience, and engagement with nature. So, this is important, as it demonstrates that Indigenous communities are contributors to ideas that will yield value, including things like environmental sustainability, agriculture, and climate knowledge. Rather than a historicization of Indigenous knowledge, the reading situates it as knowledge from living time that continues to matter.

You will use your wisdom to teach other human beings. You

will be a teacher, a deer-teacher."

This quote stood out to me because in Latino and Indigenous cultures, wisdom is often passed down through generations. The idea that a person “absorbs wisdom like a sponge” reminds me of how we learn from our family, elders, and community just by being around them. It shows that learning is not only from school but from lived experiences. The part about becoming a “deer-teacher” connects to Indigenous ways of seeing nature as a guide and teacher. It makes me think about how knowledge is meant to be shared to keep culture alive. Wisdom isn’t just personal, it has responsibility and purpose within the community.

This quote stood out to me because it is saying monkeys are more than just animals telling us a deeper meaning of what being human means.

Even jades fracture; even gold ruptures,

even quetzal plumes tear:

Not forever on earth: only a brief time here! Ohuaya, ohuaya." The Flower Tree, Cantares Mexicanos #20 (16v-17r)

From this week's flower poems, the third one spoke to me the most. We often place so much superficial value on expensive things, and oftentimes, we end up placing too much value on said items that we end up placing them somewhere on display for others to see, but not for us to enjoy. Whether it's saving an outfit for a "special occasion," not wanting to use the last bit of perfume, or not wanting to use a product because it's too expensive. What happens when these occasions never happen? We are only on this earth for a very short amount of time, and all of these things are also temporary. We shouldn't value an object or an item more than life itself, which is what this poem is saying.

But some villagers hid their own livestock, and so the weasel sought retribution for their actions. It shows how we should be generous to those who have helped us in our most dire situations and be grateful for what we have been given because we are better off with it than without it. Giving is better than keeping because when everyone shares, it helps more people than less. 

This specifically stood out to me because it reflects Indigenous perspectives by showing how closely connected people are to the land. Instead of learning from books or classrooms, the brothers gain their knowledge by paying attention to the water, earth, wind and sun. Many Indigenous cultures see nature as a teacher, something you build a relationship with. This idea, that wisdom comes from living in harmony with the environment, shows how important the land is to Indigenous identity and everyday life.

This quote stood out to me because they mean that men have the freedom and have to get treated with power and not treat them any lower than the men they are.

This quote stood out to me because it shows that Indigenous knowledge is not just information in a textbook. It is something that lives through people, culture, and land. Unlike the Western systems that often separate humans from nature, Indigenous knowledge sees everything as connected. That idea feels powerful to me because it reminds us that we are not above the earth we are part of it.

I also think this connects to how knowledge is passed down through stories, traditions, and lived experience. It isn’t just about facts it’s about responsibility. When knowledge is tied to a relationships, it means we have to care for the land and for each other. That makes learning feel more meaningful

This reading helped me realize that there are many valid ways of knowing, and we should respect knowledge systems that have existed long before modern institutions.

At first I thought that this might have been a cautionary tale as often people feared turning into animals, but with this story they simply embraced it and did not shy away from it. The story also has so much optimism with the reaction they would get from the village, as in this world the supernatural is accepted. And it does end with mostly all the characters at peace.

The phrase caught my attention because it shows how humility and careful observation, rather than force or power, are often the keys to success and knowledge. Because of his careful movements and consideration for his environment, the weasel succeeds in the story when larger animals fail. Indigenous knowledge systems, which emphasize patience, balance, and learning from nature, are reflected in the lesson. It teaches that, like the weasel bringing corn back to the people, even those who appear unimportant or undervalued can contribute valuable knowledge to benefit the entire community.

This quote from The Honey Jar stood out to me the most because even though it is a fictional story some parts we can relate to real world situations. For example, this quote. It is no secret that we pollute, litter, and take advantage of mother nature. Which is also a reason why we have switched to paper bags instead of plastic. This reading is a great way to get this story across, the harm we are causing to out Earth. And as the quote says now that we have a better understanding lets try to get that point across, using our knowledge on the subject, our wisdom.

This quote from the honey jar stood out to me because of how we treat animals in the world today. Recently, we have killed many animals for food, separated many families to bring them to zoos, and tested many with chemicals. Instead of living in peace with Mother Nature, we are hurting Mother Nature every day by taking animals away. Recently it has been worse with wars, killing both humans and animals everywhere, causing huge catastrophic heartbreak worldwide. We humans are destroying the peace that we were supposed to be giving to animals.

“They also knew the secrets of the trees and footpaths, the mysteries of the streams, the confessions of the hills. They had so much to tell it would take more than a lifetime to do so.”

This quote stood out for me because it amazed me how these people were able to navigate and efficiently use their land, learning and mastering the land takes years of experience. It also stood out to me because of how in the statement above they explain how it would take a lifetime to explain the amount of knowledge they know about the land, I found this relatable. This is because it accurately depicts how much knowledge one can carry on something they love or from their personal life and how that affects their lives in various ways because of experience and mastering.  

'"'A person can absorb wisdom like a sponge absorbs water. You will use your wisdom to teach other human beings. You will be a teacher, a deer-teacher.'"

This quote stood out to me the most since after continuously hurting Mother Nature by cutting down trees, polluting rivers, and killing animals all for his wealth, Mother nature still found a way to not only forgive him, but also teach him a great, valuable lesson. Mother Nature found a way to be able to spread this wisdom that he acquired to those around him.

This line stood out to me and is powerful because it shows that even when someone has made mistakes, they can look for forgiveness and change. It highlights the importance of redemption and the potential for growth through remorse. It reminds me that everyone deserves a second chance to make things right.

This line stood out to me because it clearly shows the message of the story. It explains how the man's actions hurt nature, even though he didn't think about it at first. It highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge, where people believe humans, animals, and nature are all connected. The story shows that when you harm the enviornment, you are also harming living things. It reminds me that nature isn't separated from us, and we should respect it more.