Thread: I am a shaman

Originally Posted by GavinGill

Perhaps I shouldn't have been so vague...

I wasn't knocking you or your friend, your post just reminded me of a certain kind of person that I find annoying. I live close to Vancouver and the city's full of suburban (usually White) folks who think they'll magically become enlightened by adopting some Eastern faith (typically Hinduism or Buddhism), growing dreadlocks, talking about attaining "nirvana" (or at least their half-ass conception of it), and basically living their lives as if they were cartoons. It's as if they see themselves as being on top of the "spiritual hierarchy" because they did some reading on Lao Tzu and "raised their consciousness" by reciting a few "Hare Krishna's" in the morning. It's nothing more than modern-day orientalism. Hippes that think they're sages.

Haha, silly me!

Well, I think those eastern religions get more hype because they give importance to mindfulness, while western religions give importance to love, and maybe being raised in a place where love is already the big focus, maybe it feels like an evolution when they add mindfulness to the mix. Could that be it? I feel like the opposite isn't true because Eastern cultures still do have love in their faith.

Originally Posted by Verre

This might not be the best example. There are many forms of Buddhist practice that have nothing to do with meditation, and there are many forms of meditation that have nothing to do with Buddhism.

I think it still was a good example because despite all you said, if a person meditates a lot and identifies themselves as a Buddhist, it's still rude to say "You're not a Buddhist."

For example, I don't drink alcohol. I take sips to taste the different kinds (but as it is an acquired taste, I still never like them ) Anyways, when I am at a party, people feel the need to pressure me. I use to say "It's a life choice. I value mindfulness and have chosen not to drink." but then they would start a conversation with lots of people where everyone makes comments like "You're a child. You're so innocent. Just wait for the day you grow up..." and "Why don't you drink?" and "I know people who didn't drink till your age then they didn't know how to control their consumption". I find that type of conversation very "not-fun". I don't know why they feel the need to do it. And the last thing I want to do is further explain my stance because they will think I am attacking their lifestyle. So I have changed my approach. Now, when people tell me to drink, I just say I am Buddhist. The response is great. They just say "Wow, that's so cool!" I don't call myself Buddhist otherwise though but it makes parties a lot more fun! If they drink, I can be a Buddhist! And it's not so much of a lie because I do value and follow the main Buddhist values and I don't drink for the same reason as them.

Now, it has happened that someone else in the room was also Buddhist and they did drink. How rude would it be for me to say they weren't Buddhist? The reason they were Buddhist is because they had anxiety and concentration problems. Buddhism retreats and meditation allowed them to deal with that. We all have our reasons.

Labels are mostly just for the person themselves. Just like gender identity. It doesn't matter what you truly are. Labels are only ways that help you describe yourself and you're comfortable with. If someone is a Shaman, then they are. But what does it mean to them to be a shaman, that's the true question.