In the past I have poked fun at myself and other bloggers. Spiffy web designs, digital photos, and the extension of our mighty thoughts to the entire blogosphere, tempt us to puff up into a sort of mad prophet (without a license). Today I read something that made me giggle out loud, in Barrett's Irrational Man, p. 81:
The Greek word for "I know," oida, is the perfect of the verb "to see" and means "I have seen." He who knows is the man who has seen, who has had a vision.
Well, "Howard Beale" (of the movie Network) and the rest of us agree wholeheartedly!
Comments
These visionaries were shamans, those who connected the spiritual world to the physical. Barrett goes on to make a very significant point..the shamans were the admired in their culture and have been replaced in current cultures by the "rational philosopher nd the theoretical scientist."
I would say, we've lost alot in the transition.
Thus, we have created the puffed up mad scientists you referred to.
What have we lost along the way?
It would be interesting to experience a real shaman -- not the version that people romanticize at New Age drum circle.
When she was in some Bali village, she met a shaman there and watched him practice his "craft". He used plants and mixtures and words for the locals for various and sundry events requiring a rite of some sort. Sounded a lot like the rites of churches. Hence my comment: a shaman by any other name might be a church's spiritual leader.
To me, this goes back to my previous reference to humans being, by design, pack or herd animals who are naturally seeking an alpha of some sort. You know, shamans, churches, "mad scientists", Ben Bernanke, etc. would never have the power of their voice if we, the lowly masses, didn't choose at some level to listen to them.
I see alot of this crazy mentality going on with this recent financial meltdown.....the credit cards maxed out, the bad mortgages, etc..........if the "alpha" (the banks, credit card companies, etc.) lets me buy a house I can't afford, etc., well, then it must be OK.
BP
Again, from what I have read, the individuals in these societies formed their identities from how they served the tribe. That is, they had much less of a sense of "I" than we do today. This is a crucial difference. They were much more willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the tribe....well, they would pay a negative social consequence if they did not.
Whereas we today have lost this sense significantly. The "I" is of utmost importance. We have a feeling of intense entitlement as a consequence.
Just my take on it.
BP
I see your point about the real shaman suspending the ego. That would be great -- if all shamans could do that. No doubt there were shamans who recognized the power they held and took advantage of their status within the tribe. Not a whole lot different in the tribes of today believing the power of todays' shamans (experts, leaders, priests).