Tag Archives: shaman

Exploring the Connection Between Shamanism and Buddhism

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‘…a universe conceived of as dead cannot be a universe in which one stands any chance of attaining Enlightenment.’  – Sangharakshita, Living with Awareness

Meditation and spiritual practices enable a dissolution of the ‘false view’ of separateness of ‘self’ and ‘other’ – there is the arising of interconnectedness with the living universe.

What is Shamanism? Indigenous practices of connecting to the non-material or spirit realm have been in place, cross-culturally, for thousands of years.

In Shamanism and Buddhism the universe is alive and sacred and there are practices for directly experiencing this. However, centuries of trauma have lead to disconnection from the realms of ‘non-ordinary reality, the spirit world. This has happened as a result of many factors, including colonialisation, removal of peoples from their ancestral lands and the imposition of oppressive belief systems.

Mircea Eliade explains, in his book, “Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy”, that ‘shamanism’ is pre-eminently a religious phenomenon of Siberia and Central Asia and which may have evolved from the same foundations as Buddhism – and spread as Buddhist teachings and practices also spread.

Indeed the origins of the word “shaman” go to the Tungusic word, šaman – and even further back to the Sanskrit word “Sramana” (श्रमण) which means “a seeker” or “one who toils or exerts themselves for a higher religious purpose”. This correlation presents the shaman as one who “toils”, “labours”, makes effort in practicing to achieve spiritual liberation.

Ancient Oak at Alfoxton Park – a portal to communications with spirits of the land.

While this may be stereotypically associated with an ascetic lifestyle, it is at its heart about seeking enlightenment or liberation through a renunciation of material attachments and deeper connection to the esoteric and spiritual. From this understanding, there is a deep connection between Buddhism and Shamanism.

For the ethnologist, the shaman has been described as a ‘medicine man’, ‘sorcerer’, ‘magician’ or ‘druid’. For those able to interact with the spirit world – the universe perceived as living – there is an understanding of the realms beyond material, dualistic perceptions of ‘ordinary reality’.

In classical shamanism, which I practice and teach to others, the key practice is to form an intention and ‘journey’ though the imaginal consciousness, into the spirit realm. This can include exploring and interacting with the spirit world. This journeying involves altered states of consciousness, such as meditation, trance – and the tool to support a shift in consciousness is the ‘sonic drive’, the repetitive drum beat, delivered at a particular frequency.

The purpose of shamanic journeying can be to clarify answers to life’s questions of to direct spirits or spiritual energies into the physical world for the purpose of healing, divination. All this is to aid the community in some other way, including those in the community who have passed and need support to transcend from connections with the ‘middle realm’. All in all the practice is to restore balance and harmony.

With a primary purpose of helping or healing those in the community, Shamanism expresses the Buddhist ideal of the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva is one who vows to attain enlightenment for the benefit all beings. Shamanic practice includes a requirement to practice breaking through the blockages of conditioned existence in order to connect with a ‘living transcendental plane’ – and to do this for the benefit of all beings, including the ancestors, the children and others in the community.

Places in nature that link the sky with the earth are immensely potent as places of healing and communication with the spirit realm.

Retreats of inspiration, reflection and community

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Sunrise in Devon at the Spirit of the Drum Retreat

From the end of June to the middle of October, I had the privilege – of inclination, time and financial resources – to have gone on a number of retreats. For those for whom this is unfamiliar, going on retreat is a way of dedicating some time and space to practice something.

This year I have been practicing mediation, exploring Buddhism or learning more about the ‘imaginal’ or ‘formless realms’.

Each retreat has been nourishing to body, mind, spirit and interconnectedness with nature.

29 June to 5 July Deep Ecology Camping Retreat. I was co leading this retreat with two other Order Members and it was heartening to share teachings and practices that can empower and inspire us are we face the Climate Emergency using Buddhist teachings.

This retreat was ‘well timed’ in many ways, including because I had just completed Level 1 of a City and Guilds Horticultural Course. I did the course with Organiclea and was delighted to learn lots about Organic Gardening, including soil types, companion planting, weed identification etc. I was so inspired and deeply feel that this is a way to feel empowered in the light of the climate catastrophe that I am now doing the Level 2 training – this time the focus is on Practical Horticultural skills.

28 to 31 July 2022: Into the Wild Retreat with James Low. I went on this camping retreat with my partner. We both engaged in the approach of openness, clarity and sensitivity of direct-seeing into the ‘nature of reality’ – a bright, fresh awareness emerges in each moment that is scintillatingly refreshing!

17 to 21 August 2022: Combined UK/Ireland Are Order Convention. This was an inspiring event and deepened an experience of connection to the Triratna Buddhist Order – and in case you missed it, I was ordained in July 2021. It was heartening!

I enjoyed meeting so many Order Members and felt deeply appreciative and part of an inspiring community – the teachings were heartfelt and I was especially delighted to be lead through the Vajrasattva Sadhana by Suryagupta, the Chair of the London Buddhist Centre, who also lead the POC retreat (see below).

I also camped, and packed my tent, sleeping bag and roll up mat into the front bag of my Brompton and carried my clothes in a rucksack on my back. So I was able to cycle to the venue with everything that I needed for the event. It was fun and something with lots of potential.

The POC retreatants – what an lovely and inspiring group of people!

25 August to 2 September 2022: A retreat for People of Colour (POC) at Vajrasana with the Triratna Buddhist Community. I was on the team for this retreat – and came a day earlier so we could reflect upon and review the experiences of the POC team over the last year or so.

Then the retreat began and I found that being with other POC people, evoked a spirit of openness, appreciation and vibrant connection. There is a freedom in POC spaces – and a resultant deep embodied sense of joy and friendliness.

The theme was on the Wisdom of Equality, evoked through the spirit of the Buddha Ratnasambhava. There were periods of silence on the retreat and this offered an opportunity to connect deeper into the mystery of being and the realms of embodiment and formlessness.

At the Spirit of the Drum Retreat I connected with and came away with a brand new, beautiful black drum which has been a pleasure to bring with me to a number of subsequent retreats.

2 to 5 September 2022: The Spirit of the Drum retreat with the Sacred Trust. This profound and inspirational retreat plunged into the depths of the arupaloka – the formless realms – and it was deeply transformative.

9 to 18 September 2022: Taraloka Retreat on Ritual and the Imagination in which we explored the mythic dimension of rituals and the imaginal realms. It was lead by Order Members – Punyamala, Moshalila, Singhcandra and Samantabhadri.

It was tremendously beautiful to plunge into this retreat so soon after the previous one. I appreciated the opportunity to invoke and ‘work with’ the magic and majesty of various Bodhisatva figures – also within the formless realms – in the ‘homeland’ of Triratna.

I also had the pleasure of drumming during the rituals and that was a transformative experience, enabling beings from the formless realms to be evoked, welcomed and appreciated.

Once I returned, I was blessed to be able to lead another puja at the North LOndon Buddhist Centre and this time, I was inspired to dedicate it to Akshobya – there is an Akshobya pond at Vajrasana that may have connected me to this. This Buddha figure is a majestic blue-black in colour. I wanted to evoke the darkness and beauty of the midnight sky and celebrate the Mirror-like Wisdom of Water and the depths and values that this can bring. I also brought drumming into this ritual and the feedback was positive.

Shrine to Akshobya that I was inspired to create after the retreat on Ritual and the Imagination. I wanted to evoke the qualities of peaceful imperturbability and unshakeable resolve. I used the colours of blue and black or the midnight sky and put water in the tray to evoke the element of Water.
The reservoir near Tiratnaloka – ona bright and sunny day in October 2022.

7 to 14 October 2022: Buddhist Retreat for those in the Nissaya period. The Nissaya period is the first five years after ordination. It was lead by the Tiratnaloka Ordination Team and I was in a group lead by Dharmadassin.

This retreat was the first of its kind for women order members, focused on aspects of ‘weaving oneself in to the Order’. The Order, of course being Triratna Buddhist Order and as I was ordained in July 2021, this was just the kind of retreat that I needed for this stage of emerging as an Order Member.

There were talks on relevant topics such as Being in a Kula and How to give Feedback – it was practical and supportive. There was also time to practice ethics – through ‘confession practice. This is where we bring awareness to how one or more of the ten precepts (undertaken at ordination) may not have been followed close enough. We practice awareness, remorse and resolve to change. It is a healing and life affirming practice that leaves one feeling lighter and liberated.

So now I am back and enjoying being back home again – and on another retreat, this time online, called the Mandala of Awakening. it is happening live at Vajraloka and I am honoured to to set recordings each day and be able to join a group of other Order Members to follow the practices and teachings. It has been illuminating.