Shamanism- who, what, where, when?

[HugoDarien]

Shamanism- who, what, where, when?

Thank you my Friend Piti

[parrapiti]

You are always welcome, my friend! It is always a lot of fun to read some of your stuff and to answer to some of it, too!

Piti

[HugoDarien]

Shamanism- who, what, where, when?

Thanks

[parrapiti]

Simon, Barry,...?

I miss your words about this topic, Brothers!

Piti

[barrys]

Piti,

I have really been enjoying reading your posts, just like I enjoyed our talks in Costa Rica.

I spent many years searching for and drifting through altered states of consciousness. Anything to get away from what emerged when I stopped - a great, anguished cry of disappointment. A long, lonely, frustrating journey of great highs and great lows. It can sound epic and exciting but was a very mundane avoidance of reality. I was certainly not grounded and, while I "learnt" things in my journeys, I rarely brought anything back that I could make use of at the time. It merely fuelled an unsatisfiable longing to be someone/somewhere/somehow else.

However, nothing needs to be a complete waste of time. As AA literature suggests - moving on means 'not regretting the past nor wishing to shut the door on it ... no matter how far down the scale we have gone we will see how our experience can benefit others'. So, for me, searching for the highs of experiences is a trait I am aware of and have direct experience of its futility when pursued in an undirected, ungrounded and selfish way.

Your posts bring home the wisdom of the approach to new students who experience 'wonderful' things in their practice - "Yes, now carry on" .

The Shaman I know talks about his journeying in the same way you explain. Expanding into territory beyond everyday reality for the benefit of others. Based on lots of practice. A sacred, seriously undertaken learning of the way in and the way out. A mapping of the territory. An understanding of the layers and dimensions. Not to be undertaken lightly or without a clear mind.

As you say, his practice and tradition is not Shaolin Chi Kung. However, there are similarities. An unbroken lineage passed down in heart to heart transmission. A 'master' who emphasised the importance of direct experience. A 'master' who worked to refine his teaching and practices to the essential core. A simple, direct and effective practice.

At a gross level the "map" that was passed down to my friend contained four levels:

1. The land of the living dead (that much of humanity inhabits most of the time).

2. The spirit that moves through all things. He suggests that in this dimension the key 'law' is to avoid doing harm but providing that is followed students can 'play' and 'learn' in this dimension.

3. The spirit. In this dimension the key 'law' is to journey and act for the benefit of others.

4. The great void

His students are taught to enter an expanded consciousness, which they are then helped to map out so they can move in, around and out with awareness.

I don't practice with him but have done a few sweat lodges and shamanic journeying. My experiences have shown me that a good question or clear intention directly affect the things I get out of the process and can use. I recently got back from a family camping holiday at a gathering practising survival skills. I knew there would be a sweat lodge and used the two to three weeks before to begin my preparation. I used the whole week to explore how I manifest selfishness and its effects. The focus helped bring some things into clear view. The sweat lodge also helped me to see how I can still "close my eyes" in the presence of my and others suffering in a way that does no-one any good.

Which kind of brings us back to the point you keep making. Stay aware and expand from where you are rather than close your eyes and pretend you are somewhere/someone/somehow else.

With metta,

Barry

[Simon]

Thank you those who have taken part in this thread. It has given me many insights into Shamanism and has provided a good debate around the subject of drug use in expanding our consciousness.

Piti, you write very well and your handling of this thread should act as a model for us all. Thanks to Barry for his contributions and for sparking the thread in the first place.

Simon

[parrapiti]

Hi Barry!

Having spent time with you up in the Blue Mountain was inspirational and having the opportunity to read your words of experienced wisdom brings back good memories. It is always good to meet you back and again, even through this virtual world, my friend!

I am looking forward to meeting you in person, too, Simon! Until then, I will keep adding to this line of connection.

Piti

[parrapiti]

Combination of threads

This is a copy of another entry I just made in another thread. I thought it fit here too!

While re-reading stuff around the forum I found an “interesting” connection between very different topics discussed in two separate threads - "Non-combat applications/corporate realm" and "Shamanism- who, what, where, when?":

The context of one is more the every-day interactions in our professional corporate world and the other focuses on the topic of magic vs. psychodelia. The first recurrently touches upon the subject of “integration of perceptive, emotional and intuitive aspects with the traditional rational capacity to debate” and the second focuses repeatedly on “expansion of consciousness” and the use of valid methods to take full advantage of it. But in my opinion they have an essential connection, which I would like to share and hear your opinions about it:

In our modern, urban, corporate world most people want to hire “smart executives” or become one themselves. Intellectual capacity has been therefore rewarded well, both economically and socially, and has turned into the human aspect to formally develop with more intention. Unconsciously, this single focus has subtracted attention and energy to other aspects of human dimension perceived as “less important” in this context – perception, emotion and intuition. These “smart executives”, even when successful in their business world, suddenly find themselves “empty”, unbalanced, lacking vitality – the capacity to enjoy life fully. In their search to regain this balance, to fill this void, they usually try “quick fixes” that come in every flavor and color. One of these paths is the search for “fast spiritual fulfillment” and the new-age offer in this area is enormous and very tricky.

Very few realize that the conscious shift of attention and balanced input of energy invested in the harmonious development and interaction of these four aspects (rationality, perception, emotion and intuition or “mind”, “body”, “heart” and “soul”) generates maximum value for the individual and his/her world of influence. And even less understand that this is a matter of clear intention and constant discipline. There are no shortcuts – one needs to find a true Master who is willing to transmit a true Art from Heart to Heart and then one must be willing to nurture this Art through conscious, disciplined practice.

And the few who have found balance and harmony in these aspects through a true Art, have also discovered that this “modern, urban, corporate world” is perfectly compatible with the ancient magic of shamanism through the permanent development of an expanded, integrated consciousness that allows us to regain full power to build for ourselves and others.

And in my opinion and in my case one of these valid paths is definitely through the practice of the Shaolin Arts.

Thank you Sifu!

Piti Parra Duque

[parrapiti]

I just returned from a very inspiring training in "Adventure Processing" in the mountains of Central Mexico. We combined adventure experiences, Solos, nature awareness techniques and simple/profound "ways" to expand and further explore our intimate relationship (us with ourselves) and our "divine" relationship (us and everything else that doesn't depnd on us or other human interactions). All your words written in this thread came alive for several of us.

Thank you all for sharing!

Piti

[AColarusso]

Shamanic KNOWLEDGE

During an incredible trip to the Islands of LOS ROQUES I was amazed by my findings on how advanced shamanic knowledge was more than 600 years ago. Los Roques is formed by 350 cays, they are located 80 miles North of Caracas. Being almost an untouched coral reef, it attracts many visitors especially from Europe. It only has 1,500 permanent inhabitants, however it receives more than 70,000 visitors a year.
We were sailing to the Island of DOS MOSQUISES to see how the turtles breads but I had a feeling that there were more to find out. All of the sudden a very old fisherman came towards us an explained to the group that there was an archeological finding in that Island and asked us to take a look at it. After walking for about 300 meters we came in contact with what is called the journeys that the VALENCIOIDE made from the continent to the Islands.
The journey in those days took 3 days rowing in canoes, the brought to the Islands many animals hunted mainland to be able to survive the trip, but more amazingly there was no fresh water in DOS MOSQUISES they had to travel to other cays in order to find fresh water. DOS MOSQUISES is the most sacred Island in the Caribbean.
I was shock to know that 600 years ago a SHAMAN could lead its tribe to a journey into the unknown were they had to row for 3 days battle through incredible big waves and only to find an Island that was capable of concentrating the energy necessary to do there rituals.
My question that are still unanswered are: how did they know that this Island even existed, How did they know that there was fresh water, why did the trip was only made by the males, Why did they brought pieces of ceramics for their rituals, Why aren’t there any dead body’s found in the Island.
Well as you can see another door has opened for me into this wonderful and incredible COSMOS, hope to learn more about the SHAMANS in the very near future…
If you want to read more about it here its the link

https://www.notitarde.com/portadas/ediciones/aniver/aniver2004/valenciodes.html

[parrapiti]

We just arrived from the Heart of the Amazon, from a magical place where the local communities have managed to get territorial autonomy through their ATI´s (Assocations of Traditioanl Indigenous Authorities), to preserve an area the size of the UK, under the management of the ancestral wisdom of the Jaguar Shamans (now Immaterial Patrimony of the Humanity by Unesco).

Practicing our Shaolin Arts there was truly magical...

And even more magical was being able to sit with some of these Traditional Elders and confirm the many similarities in Traditional Medicine, be it Chinese or Cubeo, Tanimuka, Yukuna, Matapí or any of the more than 80 living cultures of this wonderful region...

Pure Magic!

Thank you, Sifu!

Respectfully,

Piti

[Charles David]

Wonderful news Piti Siheng! Thanks for sharing!

Charles

[James L]

Dear Sihing, what an amazing time it must have been! I hope the boundaries for the preservation area are extended for the safe keep of the wonderful traditional cultures, creatures and one legged ancestors.

I guess magic does happen!

Best wishes to you and all.

James

[Andy]

Sounds wonderful indeed

[LeeWeiJoo]

Dear brother Piti,

What are the similarities that the art the Jaguar Shamans practice (now Immaterial Patrimony of the Humanity by Unesco) have with traditional chinese medicine?

Can you elaborate a bit more on how the shamans in Colombia commune with the cosmos, the spiritual world? Do they experience effects that are similar to what our chi flow gives?

If there are practical benefits from shamanism that can be applied to my daily life here, please share it here

With Shaolin Salute,
Lee Wei Joo