Shamanism for the Age of Science: Awakening the Energy Body - Kenneth Smith 2018
Evaluating A Philosophy
Closing in on Fundamentalism
Unless you are somehow gifted, to firmly move forward in learning you need a system that will offer you an enlarged worldview, channel markers to keep you on track, and how-to-do-it skills. This is exactly what metaphysical philosophies and science offer. The markers provided may be simple tips. For example, don Juan advised Castaneda not to become overconfident, as Toltec practices can be deadly. This is backed up with scientific research. Psychiatrist Arthur Deikman, in his landmark study of cult behavior, The Wrong Way Home, found that overconfidence leads to the demise of spiritual organizations as well as individuals.15
A philosophy provides a framework that can help you in the process of letting your current knowledge become obsolete as you develop a new set of perspectives. Part of the challenge requires you to remain true to a philosophy while also remaining true to yourself. In this light, a viable philosophy always has two features that indicate whether it’s strong enough, and flexible enough, to get you to your core—the overriding consideration of developing your energy body.
The first indicator of a viable system is that it’s non-exclusive. One part of this concerns access to ideas outside the system. That is, if you’re a practicing Toltec and come across a Buddhist or Christian practice that helps you, you don’t shun it because it isn’t part of your primary path. You welcome and incorporate it into your life. The flip side of this is that ideas, practices, and procedures of a system are open to all. If they provide positive influence to a person or group, others should not be denied access.
Another facet of non-exclusivity focuses on whether practitioners follow the path they preach about. Deikman found that self-righteousness is a marked feature of cult members. You’ve found your way and that’s that . . . often producing great suffering for those around you. Embarking on such a path may only lead into room after room of mirror images of yourself, or rather of the images you have of yourself. This is often accompanied by the attitude that group membership is the be-all and end-all; this is often taken to a level of criticizing if not ostracizing others. The attitude that there is only one path and there are only a chosen few who may follow it provides another indication of cult behavior. Deikman found that devaluing outsiders firmly indicates cult activity.16
The second indicator of a viable system is that the philosophy clearly teaches that it is only a means to an end. It is to allow clarity for better assessment, not lock perception within its grand scheme. Author John Van Auken has observed that phenomena, or the imaginings of a worldview, can blind one to the greater realms of existence or can serve as a bridge to them.17 Having fun with psi, OBEs, NDEs, and mystical experiences may open the way to a greater sense and vision of the world. On the other hand, these experiences may lead you to think that they are the world and to become so enthralled with your discoveries that you forget about further development.
A doctrine or system represents the articulation of craftsmanship. This becomes a group’s baseline consciousness and like any other baseline the orientation, terminology, understanding, and skills change over time. Part of a high-value system is that it helps you continually expand your boundaries. For the individual or the collective, remaining at the level of craftsmanship invites fundamentalism. The path needs to point the way to artistry and, in so doing, connect you with infinity. Otherwise dogma and possibly cult behavior result.
In fundamentalism, instead of closure serving to support learning, the work of learning turns into acts of closure. As members of the flock, fundamentalists find meaning within group understanding. On the other hand, an artisan or master finds meaning by matching personal energies with pure potential, and then letting life unfold from there. This augmented awareness is then offered to the group for consideration, not compliance. From this relationship, each and every step of life means renewal, not repetition.