Dualism, Dreamworld, and High Shamanism

Until we move beyond the oppositional perspective (dualism), our thinking can never be clear, or spiritual. Every "yin-yang" (oppositional) view of the cosmos represents only relative truth. Absolute truth is that the cosmos is a seamless Mind, whole and undivided. It is a mirror of the Brahman of the Upanishads. It is all Buddha-nature, all Christ, all God, nothing but great Spirit (In native tradition, Wakan Tanka or Manitou).

Astara is a very interesting school. It is not a true mystical school, but, like its Rosicrucian roots, a metaphysical one. Of course, metaphysics is fascinating, even compelling. It can be quite profound and true. Its highest forms can lead even to mysticism. Much of it concerns reality (truth). But the ultimate Truth, or Mind, is the arena of mysticism rather than metaphysics.

So, a mystic can be relaxed and open to many metaphysical speculations, but devotes her timenergy to defending none of them. She is neutral rather than dogmatic. She embraces what is good in all schools and religions. The only focus of the mystic is the Ultimate, the Absolute, the Lovemind or Godself that is the very nucleus of the Unconscious mind. Many of the Egyptian adepts, for example, such as the historical basis of the legendary Thoth and Osiris, were true mystics. All the "people from the stars," from every cultural tradition, brought mysticism as their great gift to the human race, and mind. Not only native American and Egyptian, but virtually every other culture, traces its spiritual origins to the "people of the sky," or to "gods and/or goddesses" of some kind.

Do these represent extraterrestrial ancestors or teachers? It is possible, but the mystic has no dogma. So, her heartmind can be open to all; she is an infinite being.

A good example is the set of predictions about the year twenty-twelve. The mystic is completely free from the shackles and chains of being forced into a particular belief-structure. She does not panic, or spend her days and nights in fearful worry. Mystics do not believe in "end of the world" scenarios. Still, even if an entire planet does expire, the mystic continues on her sacred Way! Enlightenment, the only thing that matters, or will ever matter-- that of the whole cosmos-- has nothing to do with time, prophecies, or calendars.

So the enlightened do not get mixed up or entangled with this kind of speculation. For in the entire history of the world, every prediction about the "end" of civilization (and there have been hundreds) has been dead wrong. People love to create "metaphysical soap-operas" in their minds. There is something unhealthy and even perverse in the human psyche that delights in the spectacle of the death of millions, polar shifts, Armageddon,etc., but the mystic will countenance none of it. It is all much too destructive and wasteful. She longs only for the evolution of all sentient beings into an enlightened state. She knows that the destiny of this cosmos is peace, Light, and Love. To quote the famous mystic Paul, God will be "all in all."

Her greater Self is timeless, and she does not waste timenergy arguing about calendars, which are phenomena of the spacetime, or lower, "material and external," world. This is only illusion; it is all a dream.

Re the "aquarian age": Almost all astrologers believe that it has already begun, and is marked by events such as the computer-revolution, travel to outer space, and the United Nations. It is believed to have begun in the 1950's, but this is only a matter of calendars, and again, the mystic is not dogmatic.

Dualism is expressed by the statement, "The universe is real, not a dream." For the cosmos is real, very real. But at the same time, it is a Mind product or dream. The words "real" and "dream" are not exclusive or opposite. For this is to fall from the enlightened perspective into the darkness of dualistic thinking. All mystics agree that the entire cosmos is Mind, plus nothing. But, because Mind is "real" (part of "truth"), so is the cosmos. But its reality is secoondary or relative. To what is it relative? On what does it depend? It exists relative related) to Mind, and its existence depends on Mind. And only Mind is absolutely real.

This means this: If you were to make the whole cosmos disappear, Mind would still remain, exist. But if Mind were somehow to disappear, so would the entire cosmos! In Western psychology, this condition of creation by Mind is called "dream." Light, prana, and ether are but various expressions/manifestations of Mind.

There are two forms of the One, "mental and physical." There are two apparent forms of Mind, but the Mind is essentially, at root, undivided. So even "matter" and the "physical" cosmos are also Mind or Mindenergy in a special form.

Re shamanism: To be a "high shaman" is much different than being a "low shaman." A low shaman knows about tricks, curses, hexes, and a lot of psychic stuff. He or she can usually be bought or hired for money. The low shaman is big on the paraphernalia, and loves to wear bones, claws, and play with lots of dead animals, or parts of them.

But the high shaman respects all life. So, when possible, respecting creatures, a high shaman will usually do ceremonies without using parts of dead animals. A high shaman has no interest in collecting parts of killed innocent animals. A high shaman is always first and foremost a mystic. He or she emphasizes the sacredness of all life, for it is all the One. Anything is possible in a dream. So it is only the high shaman who rises above the phenomenal world into the worlds of inner Mind. Low shamans are always talking about "spirits," "powers," "other worlds," and "secrets." Much of this is nonsense or fiction. High shamans are nonegotistic, and personal "power"means little to nothing to them. In short, they are mystics. They seek to be conduits for the One Power, defined as respect, compassion, goodness-- in a word, ultimate Love.