Research

Research, conventional, rational research is about explanation. That is to say, rational mind to rational mind communication. What we are looking for, however, is experience, a sense of awakening within, beyond rationality, in the body. We are not seeking detached intellectual engagement that brings no life, but rather full connection between all of our faculties and the world at large. To do this, one has to engage with being, which is beyond mind. This is a deep 'within' which is awoken through encounter with the world. Our first inkling that there is something beyond our minds are the emotions and feelings we have. We can listen to our bodies and they tells us things. However, there is something even beyond feelings and emotions. There is being. In Māori we say 'mana'. Wānanga is about reaching deeper and into mana, activating it, enabling it to flow. Ihi and wehi belong to the mind, to the psyche. Mana and tapu belong to the wairua, the spirit, being. Nohopuku is a process of moving beyond mind (kia whakapaua te hinengaro), the psyche and into mana, pure spirit.  The stages are moving beyond mind, beyond emotions, and into the realm of mana. The second stage is to allow mana to flow into mind. A practical process is water, earth, tree and bird. One final note - the most important mana of all, te mana tuturu, is aroha - wholeness expressed in a world of duality. The mana to bind, to connect, to weave.