Shamanism and Contrasting Ideologies

It dawned on my that both Alli and McKenna are modern Shaman's. I failed, of course to mention anything in regard to the orginal shamans, or the the way the role of the shaman has evolved into more functional ideologies. Alli and McKenna represent fringe culture and also a need to easternise the west or westernise the east. This is in part due to a need to equalise shamanism across cultures, or maybe some sort of egoic drive. Alli is happy to critise zen or indeed try and poke fun at its strange logic I can't work out why other then some sort of need to prove he has superior intelluct. McKenna wants a quick high, he disregards meditation for drugs. His point in logic rather humourous "I meditate and nothing really happens or it happens only for those who beileve... If you take mushrooms it happens regardless if you beileve it or not". However neroscience does proves a direct relationship between meditation and happiness in the brain and it also proves a direct relationship between Schizophrenia and mushrooms. Meditation never sent someone to th looney bin on its own.

In both cases shamans advocate an arguement for excess - in terms of activities and exploration of reality - they claim modern life is a smorges baord of ideas - try what works and throw out what doesnt.

Now I thought I should contrast this to toaism - which is the ancient shamanic practise of the chinese. It involves the principles of yin-yang. In fact yin-yang as dialectic principles can claim to map all of reality. I wont go in to it however it is a claim the toaist makes. They also put forward a strong case for simplisty. That is through discipline of the will and mind - one obtains a perfection in seeing reality for what is it. That one sees the unity of life the universe in all its maginificance. A cultivation of years of experince....yet our modern day shamans claim this can be achieve through one acid trip.

Maybe it can be - but toaism is older then christainty and underlies part of the thinking of the most powerful country now on this planet (China, i really dont think you can claim America is anymore). Whilst the 8 circuit model is damn cool - sometimes it needs to be put in its place as it is only a map. yin-yang is a a compass.