Medicine Buddha Toronto

By: Theodore Tsaousidis

The journey of shamanism is beyond race, culture and religion. It allows one to go outside of cognition and structure into pure, non-discriminative, awareness. In this state, one can sense, see, hear, feel and intuit deeper perspectives on current problems, impasses, decision-making and daily living in general. Shamanism is a deep connection with and celebration of the subtle interplay of mind and matter. It is learning to be comfortable in the wonder and mystery of the cosmic dance. It is this dance that upholds and supports our world and our infinite universe. In this experience of non-ordinary reality, time and space disappear. We have all had these types of experiences in dreams, through illness, or in times of deep impasse. We also experience this non-ordinary reality in occurrences of synchronicity. This is “the vastness” of what it means to be conscious and to be aware that we are spiritual beings and not just physical beings. When we are truly aware of our spiritual existence, then our world and our experience in it becomes a journey in which we can access a boundless array of tools, guides, and knowledge – all of which encourage and inspire us to explore this non-dual aspect of experience. No matter what one’s belief system, the inner shamanic journey itself is consistent and similar no matter where one is in the world. It is not affected by ones ideology, projections, or biases. The actual experience takes over and one’s thinking mind is just there for the ride. One’s consciousness is moving at the rate of speed wherein it is virtually impossible for the illusion of the “little self” to interfere. In short, the practice of shamanism enables one to intentionally access strengths and knowledge that were not apparent in relative consciousness. Connections with energies and beings that have always been there but not recognized can now be seen. New connections with other energies and beings are now able to occur as one proceeds in this journey of awareness. This experience is a state of subtleness where the solidity of the perceptual, cognitive world is dissolved into non-duality. Meaning, that the shaman is not bound by the limitations of time and space. The world is both form and formless. Both are real and must be experienced for true wisdom to deepen – which is ultimate healing.

copyright 2008 Theodore Tsaousidis

This short essay is a synopsis from a paper presented in Toronto 09/08