What Does It Mean to be Spiritual? For the Multicultural Resource Center and Religious and Spiritual Life University of North Carolina, Charlotte March.

What Does It Mean to What Does It Mean to be ‘Spiritual’?be ‘Spiritual’?

For the Multicultural Resource For the Multicultural Resource Center and Center and

Religious and Spiritual LifeReligious and Spiritual Life

University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina, CharlotteCharlotte

March 22, 1010March 22, 1010

Personal, inner, goal-directed Personal, inner, goal-directed (enlightenment, awareness, (enlightenment, awareness,

Godliness, subjective, Godliness, subjective, otherworldly focus)otherworldly focus)

Definitions of Definitions of ‘spirituality’‘spirituality’

Within a religious context Within a religious context (church, mosque, synagogue)(church, mosque, synagogue)

Outside established religionOutside established religion(nature, dreams, sacred (nature, dreams, sacred

sites)sites)

ContemplationContemplation

On a sacred text or revealed On a sacred text or revealed teachings (teachings (the Bible, Koran, Torahthe Bible, Koran, Torah, , Baghavad GitaBaghavad Gita, , VisuddhimaggaVisuddhimagga ) )

Teresa de Avila,French mystic:“It will be as well, I think, to explain these locutions of God, and to describe what the soul feels when it receives them.”

Tree of PracticesTree of Practices

Bearing witnessBearing witness MovementMovement Creation processCreation process Martial artsMartial arts MusicMusic

Center for Contemplative Mind in SocietyCenter for Contemplative Mind in Society

http://www.contemplativemind.orghttp://www.contemplativemind.org

Sacred Images and IconsSacred Images and Icons

Action in the worldAction in the world

M. K. Gandhi“What is faith if it is not translated into action?”

Physical and mental Physical and mental self-explorationself-exploration

Ritual for prayer, reflection Ritual for prayer, reflection and connectionand connection

“ “Every image of every power was Every image of every power was majestically danced with in their majestically danced with in their respective feasts. It was this respective feasts. It was this dance, these words spoken with dance, these words spoken with tears, these offerings tears, these offerings ingeniously made and given, ingeniously made and given, that renewed the spirits behind that renewed the spirits behind the images, bringing them back the images, bringing them back to consciousness, reanimating to consciousness, reanimating them out of their swoon of them out of their swoon of exhaustion after having worked exhaustion after having worked so hard for us humans here in so hard for us humans here in the Umbilicus of the World.”the Umbilicus of the World.”

Martin Prechtel, Martin Prechtel, Long Life, Honey in the Long Life, Honey in the Heart: A Story of Initiation and Heart: A Story of Initiation and Eloquence from the Shores of a Mayan Eloquence from the Shores of a Mayan LakeLake. London: Thorsons, 1999.. London: Thorsons, 1999.

HealingHealing

ANDREW HARVEY, DIALOGUES WITH A MODERN ANDREW HARVEY, DIALOGUES WITH A MODERN MYSTIC, QUEST BOOKS, 1994, PP. 21-22.MYSTIC, QUEST BOOKS, 1994, PP. 21-22.

““A mystic is someone who has direct cognition of God A mystic is someone who has direct cognition of God beyond thought or image. A mystic is one whose eyes beyond thought or image. A mystic is one whose eyes have been opened through purification, discipline and have been opened through purification, discipline and grace to the living mystery and lives consciously in the grace to the living mystery and lives consciously in the divine presence. …All cultures at all times have had their divine presence. …All cultures at all times have had their mystics who have known the supreme secret that God is in mystics who have known the supreme secret that God is in us and we are in God as a part of God and who have owed us and we are in God as a part of God and who have owed their spiritual health to the reality of wisdom and love their spiritual health to the reality of wisdom and love which the mystic directly awakens” which the mystic directly awakens”

PurificationPurificationSilenceSilencePrayerPrayerSacrificeSacrificeDisciplineDisciplinePracticePractice

Rachel Mann“Shrine of Healing”The Art of Survivinghttp://www.artofsurviving.org

“In many ways disease and episodes of sickness remind people that meaning is an achievement. The notion that human beings live meaningful lives is both a problem and a promise. In the face of disease and other challenges that becloud meaning or disclose it in painful glimpses, you are impelled to try to discover, clarify, or achieve meaning through creative expression.”

Lawrence Sullivan, “Images of Wholeness: Interview with Lawrence Sullivan, Parabola, p. 13.

Lloyd, “Dawn”The Art of Survivinghttp://www.artofsurviving.org

MettaKnowledge for MettaKnowledge for Peace, LLCPeace, LLC

““At first, we cannot see beyond the At first, we cannot see beyond the path that leads downward to dark path that leads downward to dark and hateful things--but no light or and hateful things--but no light or beauty will ever come from the man beauty will ever come from the man who cannot bear this sight. Light is who cannot bear this sight. Light is always born of darkness”always born of darkness”

Carl Jung, Carl Jung, Modern Man in Search of a SoulModern Man in Search of a Soul

BRADFORD KEENEY, BRADFORD KEENEY, SHAKING MEDICINE: THE SHAKING MEDICINE: THE HEALING POWER OF ECSTATIC MOVEMENTHEALING POWER OF ECSTATIC MOVEMENT. DESTINY . DESTINY BOOKS, P. 39.BOOKS, P. 39.

““Ecstatic bliss arises when [the Bushmen] throw Ecstatic bliss arises when [the Bushmen] throw themselves into spirited shaking and dancing, themselves into spirited shaking and dancing, which serves to open their hearts. Shamans help which serves to open their hearts. Shamans help bring forth the spirited interactions that open the bring forth the spirited interactions that open the doors to circular absorptive relations with doors to circular absorptive relations with others.”others.”

Cave Paintings of Laas Gael, Cave Paintings of Laas Gael, Swaziland Swaziland

9,000-8,000 to 3,000 B.C.9,000-8,000 to 3,000 B.C.

happen. People are somehow freed not to be simply happen. People are somehow freed not to be simply the result of social norms and their childhood the result of social norms and their childhood conditioning. In these circumstances, they know conditioning. In these circumstances, they know each other as full human beings. People recognize each other as full human beings. People recognize this feeling and this feeling and likelike it.” it.”

Edith Turner, Edith Turner, Among the Healers Stories of Ritual and Spiritual Among the Healers Stories of Ritual and Spiritual Healing Around the WorldHealing Around the World, Praeger, 2005., Praeger, 2005.

“The collective element is communitas, fellowship or friendship….arising in times of illness, danger, or change; when new and exciting things are going on; and during sacred events….In these circumstances, odd things

““The survivor is a scholar of his or The survivor is a scholar of his or her own experience.” her own experience.”

Roberta CulbertonRoberta Culberton

Director, Center for Violence and CommunityDirector, Center for Violence and Community

http://www.virginiafoundation.org/research/violence/index.htmlhttp://www.virginiafoundation.org/research/violence/index.html

Cold War ConsciousnessCold War Consciousness

The USSR and the US hold one another’s shadowsCarl Jung, Man and His Symbols

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We are the cause We are the cause of our own sufferingof our own suffering

Christopher Hedges, Christopher Hedges, War is a Force That War is a Force That Gives Us MeaningGives Us Meaning, New York: Public , New York: Public

Affairs, 2002, 13.Affairs, 2002, 13.

The American The American Holocaust Holocaust

Understanding the Impact of First Understanding the Impact of First ContactContact

The Major PlayersThe Major Players

Christopher Columbus lands on the shores of San Salvador in the Bahamas, 1492

The ExplorersThe Explorers• Norse, Newfoundland, 1000 Norse, Newfoundland, 1000 • John Cabot, Newfoundland, 1497John Cabot, Newfoundland, 1497• Amerigo Vespuci, South America, Amerigo Vespuci, South America, 1515thth century century• Giovanni da Verrazzano, North Giovanni da Verrazzano, North America, 1524America, 1524• Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, Mexico, the Aztecs, 16Pizarro, Mexico, the Aztecs, 16thth century century

Delivering the Dark Delivering the Dark AgesAges

The Black (Bubonic) Plague spreads through Europe in the 15th c. and continues through the 17th:Estimated 20,000,000 deaths or 2/3rds of the pop.

““The Spain that Christopher The Spain that Christopher Columbus and his crews left behind Columbus and his crews left behind just before dawn on August 3, 1492 just before dawn on August 3, 1492 as they sailed forth from Palos and as they sailed forth from Palos and out into the Atlantic, was for most of out into the Atlantic, was for most of its people a land of violence, its people a land of violence, squalor, treachery, and intolerance. squalor, treachery, and intolerance. In this respect Spain was no In this respect Spain was no different from the rest of Europe.”different from the rest of Europe.” -- --David Stannard, David Stannard, American American HolocaustHolocaust (1992). NY: Oxford Univ. Press, (1992). NY: Oxford Univ. Press, p. 57.p. 57.

European FamineEuropean Famine While the rich and While the rich and

aristocrats lived high, tens of aristocrats lived high, tens of thousands lived “on the thousands lived “on the margins of perpetual margins of perpetual hunger”hunger”

An average increase in the An average increase in the price of wheat or millet killed price of wheat or millet killed a proportion of the French a proportion of the French population equal to nearly population equal to nearly twice the percentage of twice the percentage of Americans killed in the Civil Americans killed in the Civil War War

European FilthEuropean Filth

European FilthEuropean Filth No bathingNo bathing Rotting offal of butchered animals in Rotting offal of butchered animals in

the streetsthe streets Roadside ditches w/stagnatn water Roadside ditches w/stagnatn water

used as public latrinesused as public latrines Open pits of the deceasedOpen pits of the deceased Skin diseasesSkin diseases

Witchcraft AccusationsWitchcraft Accusations

In many towns on the Continent, as In many towns on the Continent, as many as 1/3many as 1/3rdrd were accused of were accused of witchcraftwitchcraft

Malnutrition, Disease, Malnutrition, Disease, and Slaveryand Slavery

Homeless poor sold Homeless poor sold themselves as slavesthemselves as slaves

Most children died Most children died by the age of 15by the age of 15

Abandonment of Abandonment of children and babieschildren and babies

Children sold into Children sold into slavery by parentsslavery by parents

ViolenceViolence Robberies, murder and revengeRobberies, murder and revenge Among earldoms, republics, duchies and Among earldoms, republics, duchies and

noble families there was kidnapping, noble families there was kidnapping, torture, mutilation, fratricide, patricide, torture, mutilation, fratricide, patricide, assassinationassassination

The Holy WarThe Holy War

Christianity seeks world Christianity seeks world domination from the 11domination from the 11thth through the 13through the 13thth centuriescenturies

Other wars wage Other wars wage between nations and between nations and feudal statesfeudal states

Pre-Conquest AmericaPre-Conquest America

EsEstimated population 145,000,000timated population 145,000,000 Beautiful, clean, disease-free, gold-encrusted Beautiful, clean, disease-free, gold-encrusted

citiescities Lack of emphasis on warfare in most areasLack of emphasis on warfare in most areas Children encouraged to be independent, yet Children encouraged to be independent, yet

responsible to the communityresponsible to the community Egalitarian political structures (Iroquois Egalitarian political structures (Iroquois

Confederacy)Confederacy) Elaborate social and cultural characteristicsElaborate social and cultural characteristics ““Affectionate and fearless cordiality towards Affectionate and fearless cordiality towards

strangers”strangers”

The FiguresThe Figures

By the time the 16By the time the 16thth century had ended, century had ended, 200,000 Spaniards had moved to the 200,000 Spaniards had moved to the Indies, Mexico and Central AmericaIndies, Mexico and Central America

By the same time, 60,000,000 to By the same time, 60,000,000 to 80,000,000 were dead80,000,000 were dead

By the middle of the 19By the middle of the 19thth century, 1/3 century, 1/3rdrd of of one percent of America’s population—one percent of America’s population—250,000 out of 77,000,0000—were natives250,000 out of 77,000,0000—were natives

By the end of the 19By the end of the 19thth century, 100,000,000 century, 100,000,000 natives deadnatives dead

Death MarchesDeath Marches

• Cherokee Trail of Tears, 8000 died Cherokee Trail of Tears, 8000 died • Seminoles, Chikasaw and ChocktawSeminoles, Chikasaw and Chocktaw• By the end of these forced marches, as many Natives had lost their By the end of these forced marches, as many Natives had lost their lives as the deaths of Jews in Germany, Hungary and Rumania between lives as the deaths of Jews in Germany, Hungary and Rumania between 1939 and 19451939 and 1945

Policies of genocide in the Policies of genocide in the 2020thth century century

Forced removal of children into white Forced removal of children into white boarding schools until the 80s and early 90sboarding schools until the 80s and early 90s

A federal program resulting in the involuntary A federal program resulting in the involuntary sterilization of 40% of all native women of sterilization of 40% of all native women of childbearing age in the U.S. in the 1970schildbearing age in the U.S. in the 1970s

Native Americans forced out of their Native Americans forced out of their reservations into the city in California in the reservations into the city in California in the 70s70s

Imprisonment of Native Americans due to Imprisonment of Native Americans due to racism, such as Leonard Peltierracism, such as Leonard Peltier

RacismRacism

“ “European thinkers were certain, there lived European thinkers were certain, there lived creatures who may have seemed bestial, but who creatures who may have seemed bestial, but who were humans, with souls, and who even might were humans, with souls, and who even might become the holiest of saints if treated with Christian become the holiest of saints if treated with Christian care. However, in that indistinct, borderline, care. However, in that indistinct, borderline, substratum of life, there also existed human-like substratum of life, there also existed human-like creatures whose function in God’s scheme of things creatures whose function in God’s scheme of things was to be nothing more than what Aquinas called was to be nothing more than what Aquinas called ‘animated instruments of service to civilized ‘animated instruments of service to civilized Christian humanity. That is, slaves.”Christian humanity. That is, slaves.”

David Stannard, American Holocaust: The Conquest of the David Stannard, American Holocaust: The Conquest of the

New World, Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 173.New World, Oxford University Press, 1993, p. 173.

The Legacy LingersThe Legacy Lingers

1490s to the 1890s: An unbroken string of genocidal campaign against the Native peoples of the Americas

Environmental and Human Environmental and Human DestructionDestruction

One and a half acres of rainforest are One and a half acres of rainforest are lost everydaylost everyday

137 species of animals, plants, and 137 species of animals, plants, and insects lost everyday due to insects lost everyday due to rainforest destruction (50,000/year)rainforest destruction (50,000/year)

10,000,000 Indians lived in the 10,000,000 Indians lived in the rainforest 5 centuries agorainforest 5 centuries ago

Today, only 200,000 remainToday, only 200,000 remain

Rainforest Facts: http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

““The Spain that Christopher The Spain that Christopher Columbus and his crews left behind Columbus and his crews left behind just before dawn on August 3, 1492 just before dawn on August 3, 1492 as they sailed forth from Palos and as they sailed forth from Palos and out into the Atlantic, was for most of out into the Atlantic, was for most of its people a land of violence, its people a land of violence, squalor, treachery, and intolerance. squalor, treachery, and intolerance. In this respect Spain was no In this respect Spain was no different from the rest of Europe.”different from the rest of Europe.”

David Stannard, David Stannard, American HolocaustAmerican Holocaust (1992). NY: Oxford Univ. Press, p. (1992). NY: Oxford Univ. Press, p. 57.57.

“ “Healing always points toward a renewal of Healing always points toward a renewal of creative powers, toward a condition that is creative powers, toward a condition that is vital, stirring, strong and whole, as befits a vital, stirring, strong and whole, as befits a creative beginning….One reason why creative beginning….One reason why people are so creative in relation to disease people are so creative in relation to disease is because it is there that they face is because it is there that they face elementary forces that both constitute and elementary forces that both constitute and decompose them.”decompose them.”

””Interview with Lawrence Sullivan”, Parabola MagazineInterview with Lawrence Sullivan”, Parabola Magazine

HealingHealing

“ “[Shaman] refers to communal leaders and [Shaman] refers to communal leaders and religious practitioners who might otherwise be religious practitioners who might otherwise be called by very different, more local names, such called by very different, more local names, such as as bornohbornoh, , yadganyadgan, , mudangmudang, , angakoqangakoq, or , or referred to only adjectively as, for instance, referred to only adjectively as, for instance, payepaye people…Last but not least, shaman also refers to people…Last but not least, shaman also refers to practitioners within various therapeutic, spiritual practitioners within various therapeutic, spiritual and cultural movements in ‘the West’.” and cultural movements in ‘the West’.”

Harvey, Graham. Harvey, Graham. Shamanism: A ReaderShamanism: A Reader. London: Routledge, . London: Routledge,

2000.2000.  

Shamanism Shamanism and Neo (new)-Shamanismand Neo (new)-Shamanism

Putting Putting Practice Practice

onto Paper:onto Paper:The Literary and The Literary and

Spiritual Legacy of Spiritual Legacy of

Black Elk SpeaksBlack Elk Speaks

Black Elk SpeaksBlack Elk Speaks“ Grandfather, Great Spirit, you have been always, and before you no one has been. You yourself, everything that you see, everything has been made by you. The star nations all over the universe you have finished. The four quarters of the earth you have finished. The day, and in that day, you have finished. Grandfather, Great Spirit, lean close to the earth that you may hear the voice I send.”

A prayer by Black Elk, Black Elk Speaks (first printing, 1932; second printing, 1959.)

The Story of Black ElkThe Story of Black Elk• Born 1863 into a band headed by his father, a medicine man related to Crazy Horse• Civil War ended and the US drove westward building roads and railway lines• The original inhabitants of the lands were forcibly removed into a reservation under the terms of the Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868• The official religion of the reservation was Christianity and all Lakota religious ceremonies were illegal

Joseph Epes BrownJoseph Epes Brown“ I am fortunate in having met at least some of those men of the old days who possessed great human and spiritual qualities. But Black Elk had a special quality of power and kindliness and a sense of mission that was unique, and I am sure it was recognized by all who had the opportunity of knowing him.”

Joseph Epes Brown, Preface to the The Sacred Pipe, 1953.

The Sacred PipeThe Sacred Pipe“ Most people call it a ‘peace pipe,’ yet now there is not peace on earth or even between neighbors, and I have been told that it has been a long time since there has been peace in the world. There is much talk of peace among Christians, yet this is just talk. Perhaps it may be, and this is my prayer that, through our sacred pipe, and through this book in which I shall explain what our pipe really is, peace may come to those peoples who can understand, and understanding which must be of the heart and not of the head alone. Then they will realize that we Indians know the One true God and that we pray to him continually.”

Black Elk in his introduction to The Sacred Pipe, 1953.

Sun BearSun Bear

“This book is not written by an anthropologist. It is not about one tribe, but a composite of many. It is knowledge I have learned about my people. It belongs to them, and credits are to the American Indians.”

–Sun Bear in the Introduction to Buffalo Hearts (1970)

Sun Bear published 8 books Sun Bear published 8 books between 1969 and 1994between 1969 and 1994

Lame Deer Seeker of Lame Deer Seeker of VisionsVisions

“For us Indians there is just the pipe, the earth we sit on and the open sky. The spirit is everywhere. Sometimes it shows itself through an animal, a bird or some trees and hills. Sometimes it speaks from the Badlands, a stone or even from the water. That smoke from the peace pipe, it goes straight up to the spirit world. But this is a two way thing. Power flows down to us through that smoke, through the pipe stem.”

–Lame Deer from Chapter 1, Lame Deer Seeker of Visions (1972)

Fools CrowFools Crowby Thomas Mailsby Thomas Mails

“ Dallas and I were astonished when [Fools Crow] suddenly changed the conversation and said that in his last vision quest at Bear Butte in 1965, his god, Wakan-Tanka had told him that although he was a humble man with little to offer, the time had come for him to tell certain things about himself and his Teton people to a person who would be made known to him. This way the record would be kept and the world would know about it.”

Thomas Mails, in Chapter 1 from Fools Crow, 1979

Voices of Our Ancestors: Voices of Our Ancestors: Cherokee Teachings from the Wisdom FireCherokee Teachings from the Wisdom Fire

“ This book is written with the hope of bringing to fruition peace and harmonious relationships for all beings….In 1969, after generations of secrecy, it was decided to share the teachings of the Tsalagi tradition with non-native people, so that our children would have water to drink and a place to walk. The intention is to strengthen individuals’ relationships with their families, communities, nations and the land, the Earth itself. We do not invite people to become Indians. We invite people to be in good fellowship and to respect the teachings of the their family of origin. Thus may we all cooperate in manifesting a vision of peace.”

Dhyani Ywahoo, from the Preface to Voices of Our Ancestors (1987).

Fools Crow: Fools Crow: Wisdom and PowerWisdom and Power

“ At first, Wakan-Tanka had all of the spiritual power inside Himself. But He loves to share things so He gave some power to Grandmother Earth and some to each of the Persons He placed in the Cardinal Directions…Then He told them that when faithful human beings or other creatures called upon them for help they must send them their powers and save the people…Wakan-Tanka taught each tribe to believe in ways that work best for them. It depended on where they lived nad the way they thought about spiritual things.”

Fools Crow as said to Thomas Mails, in Fools Crow: Wisdom and Power (1991)

The Way of the ShamanThe Way of the ShamanMichael HarnerMichael Harner

Anthropologist Michael Harner publishes The Way of the Shaman about his experiences with the Jivaro people of the Amazon and creates “the shamanic method” in 1980

Island of the SunIsland of the Sun

Anthropologist Alberto Villoldo publishes Island of the Sun in 1994 about his experiences as a student of a Peruvian shaman named Don Manuel and founds the Four Winds Society

Bushman ShamanBushman Shaman

Psychologist Bradford Keeney publishes Bushman Shaman in 2005 about meeting the Bushmen of the Kalahari and finding the ancient traditions of “shaking medicine”

Secrets of the Talking Secrets of the Talking JaguarJaguar

Half-Indian, half-white Martin Prechtel publishes Secrets of the Talking Jaguar and two other books in a triptych about his training as a Mayan shaman and village leader in Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala (1999-2002)

Shamanism in a New AgeShamanism in a New Age

Exploring SufferingExploring Suffering

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

There will be suffering in life.There will be suffering in life. Suffering arises due to attachment.Suffering arises due to attachment. Freedom from suffering is attainable.Freedom from suffering is attainable. There is a path the end suffering.There is a path the end suffering.

TransformationTransformation

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Community BuildingCommunity Building

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Spontaneity and play!Spontaneity and play!

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ConnectionConnection

The Path of the Wounded The Path of the Wounded HealerHealer

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We Heal and are Reborn in We Heal and are Reborn in Every MomentEvery Moment

To contact me:To contact me:[email protected]

434-227-0538434-227-0538http://www.mettaknowledge.com