What does it take to be a Zen Christian Shaman?
Purity, faith and experience.
Also:
Resist the flattering voice of the devil with all the humility of a Mystic-Shaman; resist the lures of the flesh with the chastity of a Warrior-Monk; resist the temptations of the world with the purity of a Philosopher-King.
In other words, reject the world, the flesh and the devil.
Be humble, chaste and pure.
For a Zen Christian Shaman, the way is pure Zen – “a condition of complete simplicity (costing not less than everything)”, – the truth is Christian humility – “the only wisdom we can hope to acquire / Is the wisdom of humility: humility is endless”, and the life is Shamanic transmuted sexual energy – “Love is the unfamiliar name behind the hands that wove the intolerable shirt of flame.” (T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets)
So:
Faith and experience are the bulwarks supporting purity.
And:
We need the humility to get over ourselves and put our faith in a Higher Power, and we need to be chaste if we are to experience our life force (Eros) non-sexually. The stronger the faith and the deeper the experience, the easier it is to maintain the pure awareness of mu-shin (no-mind) in everyday life.
‘Buddha, according to a sutra, once said: “Stop, stop. Do not speak. The ultimate truth is not even to think.”‘ (Quoted in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps)
Another way to understand this saying of Jesus (with apologies to the Buddha!) is as Integral Yoga:
The “I am” is Raja Yoga; the “way” is Dhyana Yoga; the “truth” is Jnana Yoga; the “life” is Kundalini Yoga. The “way” is also Karma Yoga and the “life” is also Bhakti Yoga.
Simply put, the “I am” includes Self-inquiry; the “way” includes mindful walking, cooking, working; the “truth” includes lectio divina, contemplative reading; the “life” includes sacred music, art, ritual and plant medicine.
bread of life 