Fwd: Shamanism

[Guest guest]

, " Kishore patnaik "

<kishorepatnaik09 wrote:

 

Indo-Eurasian_research , " Trudy Kawami "

<tkawami@> wrote:

 

 

Shamanism is a belief system known in historical times and inferred in

some ancient cultures. Central to shamanism is the shaman , an

individual, male or female, who is " called " to the task by spirit(ual)

powers. In general the shamanist cultures see the world in several

planes, only one of which we can see & experience. The other planes (or

realms or worlds, etc.) are where a variety of spirits or powers exist

who affect the visible world. The " job " of the shaman is to visit these

other worlds, realms,etc, to find out what the spirits want so that the

bad things (violent weather, sickness, nightmares & such) stop and good

things (fertility, abundance, even happiness) return or continue or

expand. The shaman accomplishes this task by going into a trance and

then going to the spirit world. He or she leaves the body or transforms

into another being, usually a specific animal familiar. When the shaman

returns to consciousness or this world or the body, he or she then

transmits the messages the spirits/deities, etc. sent.

 

The style in which the shaman performs the task vary from culture to

culture. Drumming, chanting, dancing & the consumption of psychotropic

substances may help one enter the trance state. A shaman cannot just

hang out a shingle & claim to be one; the shaman must apprentice under

another shaman and learn many types of ceremonies, actions, chants, and

of course the cosmology of the other realms he or she will visit. In

some cultures shaman are highly regarded, while in others they are

feared because of their power. In historical times shamans have often

said that they did not choose to be a shaman but were forced to by the

spirits. It can be an onerous position because of the responsibility for

the well-being of others.

 

Shamanism is often called the circum-polar belief system as it is found

in historical times in northern Europe (Finland), northern Asia (Central

Asia,Siberia, Mongolia, Korea) and North America. It has experienced a

sort-of renewal since the 1960s with Carlos Castaneda's romantic

writings, the (re)-discovery of peyote and related events. But the

" legitimacy " of these neo-shamanists is still a matter of debate.

 

I am not knowledgeable about the yogic tradition, but the social

function of the shaman seems to be missing. A shaman does not work for

him/herself but for others.

 

Trudy Kawami

 

--- End forwarded message ---

 

--- End forwarded message ---

[Guest guest]

Shamianism is still practised wisely even today in USA and other

countries, and one should know a good Shaman in order to derive

advantage through such practises, but for us Indians, this is not

advised because we do not like to trouble spirts when they have passed

over to the other side, and the toll they take from us ( from one who

practises this form of Prognostication ), is too much after our death,

it can vary from upto 1000- 5000 years after our death uptil which time

we will have to be of service to them.

 

As a enquirer, its okay ( Though I dont confirm to such enquiries

because it goes against our tradition and Hindu culture )

 

Bhaskar.

 

 

 

 

, " Sreenadh "

<sreesog wrote:

>

> , " Kishore patnaik "

> kishorepatnaik09@ wrote:

>

> Indo-Eurasian_research , " Trudy Kawami "

> <tkawami@> wrote:

>

>

> Shamanism is a belief system known in historical times and inferred in

> some ancient cultures. Central to shamanism is the shaman , an

> individual, male or female, who is " called " to the task by spirit(ual)

> powers. In general the shamanist cultures see the world in several

> planes, only one of which we can see & experience. The other planes

(or

> realms or worlds, etc.) are where a variety of spirits or powers exist

> who affect the visible world. The " job " of the shaman is to visit

these

> other worlds, realms,etc, to find out what the spirits want so that

the

> bad things (violent weather, sickness, nightmares & such) stop and

good

> things (fertility, abundance, even happiness) return or continue or

> expand. The shaman accomplishes this task by going into a trance and

> then going to the spirit world. He or she leaves the body or

transforms

> into another being, usually a specific animal familiar. When the

shaman

> returns to consciousness or this world or the body, he or she then

> transmits the messages the spirits/deities, etc. sent.

>

> The style in which the shaman performs the task vary from culture to

> culture. Drumming, chanting, dancing & the consumption of psychotropic

> substances may help one enter the trance state. A shaman cannot just

> hang out a shingle & claim to be one; the shaman must apprentice under

> another shaman and learn many types of ceremonies, actions, chants,

and

> of course the cosmology of the other realms he or she will visit. In

> some cultures shaman are highly regarded, while in others they are

> feared because of their power. In historical times shamans have often

> said that they did not choose to be a shaman but were forced to by the

> spirits. It can be an onerous position because of the responsibility

for

> the well-being of others.

>

> Shamanism is often called the circum-polar belief system as it is

found

> in historical times in northern Europe (Finland), northern Asia

(Central

> Asia,Siberia, Mongolia, Korea) and North America. It has experienced a

> sort-of renewal since the 1960s with Carlos Castaneda's romantic

> writings, the (re)-discovery of peyote and related events. But the

> " legitimacy " of these neo-shamanists is still a matter of debate.

>

> I am not knowledgeable about the yogic tradition, but the social

> function of the shaman seems to be missing. A shaman does not work for

> him/herself but for others.

>

> Trudy Kawami

>

> --- End forwarded message ---

>

> --- End forwarded message ---

>