Howdy!
We are moving on to our next common usage of the term religion and how it relates to Mask Shamanism. I think that before I head into this actual discussion I will talk a little bit more about the framework that Wilber posits in his AQAL theory. Diving deep into his work is quite the headspin, so I will keep it to the basics (which can still be overwhelming.) If your head hurts, I am sorry! This is an extremely good way to build the bridge towards understanding shamanism, masks, non-ordinary reality, spirits and how it all ties in with religion, spirituality, and transformative practice. I will even begin to point out where I believe he has erred when it comes to shamanism (at some point.)
Let's begin with human development. Nearly every culture in the world agrees with one thing: We all progress through successive stages of development. In order to begin a healthy development of a later stage, you need to first acquire the basic fundamentals of the stage that you are on. Different cultures have different models. Our modern culture begins with the stages around pregnancy and gears it's members on up to a highly developed, rational/logical autonomous self. This is a fully individuated self that functions within the given culture. To give basic examples, this could be the stereotypical university professor, psychologist, philosopher, mathematician, etc. Ideally, identity does not rest with just the bodily consciousness or just the mind consciousness. Rather, it becomes an identity with the body-mind. Other cultures, such as the eastern Hindu system, gives seven levels of development all the way up to God-consciousness. One of the old Christ-based sages broke up development, and the realms of knowledge within each development, into three categories called the three eyes of knowing: The eye of sensibilia, intelligibilia, and transcendelia. They are broken up in so many ways that it is an entirely fascinating world to be in right now, since we have nearly every developmental chart from every culture and major spiritual figurehead at our fingertips for studying cross-cultural similarities. This however, is a much bigger topic of which ours is a part. Let's stick to the basic idea here.
There is a developmental pattern that we, as human beings, progress through and have the possibility of progressing through up to some of the highest known stages of being/identity.
Our last post on Religion and mask shamanism worked with these stages of identity. In that post, I used the terms pre and trans. This is using development with a map of three basic stages. Ex: pre-personal, personal, trans-personal. As a stage development, we concluded that shamanism rests within the trans-personal developmental levels. Later, we will explore these areas with more depth.
So what else do we have? Let us talk about the next part of AQAL theory that directly relates to our next definition. Along with natural hierarchical growth we have what is called heterarchical growth. Instead of developing up, we develop out...so to speak. Each level of development is going to have a heterarchical component.
2. Religion as extremely meaningful or integrative engagement. This usage says religion is not something that occurs on specific nonrational dimensions or levels but is a particular functional activity on any given level, an activity seeking meaning, integration, etc. In my opinion, this usage actually reflect's each level's search for mana-the search for meaning, truth, integrity, stability, and subject-object relationship (exchange.) Since mana'translation, as we have seen, must occur on each level of structural organization, then whether that level appears "religious" or "secular" does not matter; it is religious, or mana-searching, by this definition.
This usage is also reflected in common sense. Thus, even the typical individual who initially says that myths, saints, sages, and such are religious but science is not, will usually understand exactly what you mean when you say, "Science was Einstein's religion." Star Trek fans say, "logic is Spock's religion." Here, even purely rational endeavors are said to be religious, because they are, like all levels, in search for their phase specific mana, and this mana-search-on whatever level, high or low, sacred or secular-is natively understood as religion.
Notice that, although both rd-1 and rd-2 are acceptable usages, they are nonetheless quite different, almost contradictory, and unless we specify which we mean, certain paradoxes and spurious conclusions will result. For instance, rd-1 denies secular religion, rd-2 demands it; rd-1 denies science as religion, rd-2 says it is (or can be.) Both are acceptable, as long as we understand that behind the one word "religions" there are different functions. Oftentimes common sense will use both of these meanings without specifying them, thus producing a pseudo-paradox. The person might say, "Mr. Jones doesn't go to church; he doesn't believe in religion-money is his religion."
Well, when we look at this definition, we are almost certain to conclude that shamanism can be called a religion. However, this does seem to be a very vague use of the term. In fact, it seems to me that many people seem to have this context behind the word spirituality (a few others we will point out later.) Anything which is good, meritorious, or mana-generating (devoid of the opposite.) Good energy, good vibes, the whole shebang. Not that there is anything wrong with this type, since integration/processing experience is important in nearly every endeavor. It just won't likely lead to transcendance, which is what many of the worlds authentic religious traditions aim to do.
This use plays a minor role in a conceptual view of Mask Shamanism compared to the first definition. Wilber posits that shamanism helps to take you towards subtle, beyond the body-mind identities (soul.) I agree completely. This, by another word, is transcendence. However, his claim is that your hierarchical growth happens only up to a low level of trans-personal development. This is a part of his theory that I would like to work with and re-vise during the later periods of this blog, since I think it mistaken (slow down Justin, you will get there...)
When you have an initial immersion into reality through advanced shamanic techniques, such as making a mask, going on a vision quest, etc. you are thrown into something that is very deep and very profound. After you are done with the immersion, you have to make sense of the experience. So you let it settle for awhile. THIS tends to be the mana-generating, usage two Religion that we are talking about. You find meaning from the experience, relating it to your life process.
So where does this heterarchical term fit in? When you come to a major change in your identity and you make sense of the experience, you can usually do one of two things. You can keep generating more mana at that particular level. Or you can assimilate and work with just what is needed to keep moving forward/up. Heterarchy is just a precise way of saying we are focusing on outward, or horizontal, growth.
Often times a person may only develop through one or two major stages in their lifetime after they reach the stage development that their particular culture helps them to get to, if even. If you are a person that is deeply spiritual/religious and feels somewhat alienated by the people in the US around you, there is a good chance that you have passed through the major cultural stage development. Provided your sense of alienation is not based on a psychological dis-ease or illness (or is part of a normal, healthy psychological development of a younger person.) It seems that, the higher up you go with your development, the more you are on your own. That is why quite often the spiritual journey is one you walk alone. There are other people who see from the same stage as you...but it will just be a very, very small percentage of the world population the further up you go. This is probably another topic I should clarify later on so no-one develops confusion over it.
I would like to mention that it is highly unlikely, though possible, that you will go through a major stage development through receiving healing or working with ceremony. More than likely you are either working towards relieving past restrictions/fixations, assimilating/integrating, or working with state experiences (glimpses) from the next level of development to help prepare you for this "jump." This will be talked about more when I begin talking about what healing is and what healing practice can do for you. Right now, I speak of the deeper practices and understandings that come from subjectively working with non-ordinary realities and transcendent beings through advanced initiatory practices.
Along with the following definitions will come the discussion of what are known as states, types, lines, etc. These will all be explained thoroughly, so don't worry. Any big irregularities that you see may come from confusing what I am talking about with definitions in these areas.
In the end, once I have gone through the major definitions, I will synthesize and create an "overall view" of this practice. Editing and re-fining where needed.
Feedback is helpful! You may have the same thoughts someone else does, and it could help to clarify things for people. : )
Cheers!
Justin
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