The Bowl of Light: Ancestral Wisdom from a Hawaiian Shaman

I have just read the reviews and can understand why the one stars are writing their comments - If one expects a comprehensive treatise on Hawaiian/Polynesian rites/rituals/step by step expose, one will most definitely feel "cheated" -BUT, I personally found this work one of the most worthwhile as well as enjoyable books I have ever encountered (in over 55 years of "searching" through "what's out there")! I enjoyed the almost novelesque style of writing, BUT the MOST valuable benefit for me in reading Wesselman's work was that it "gave increased validity" to what I had pieced together as my understanding/belief of "what is", as well as a "surface peek" into a few aspects of Pacific cultures.I was pleased to discover the gist of what the Kahna Makua espouses was what had seemed to be truth found in a variety of other "sources", which I had determined as "true for me". Again, this is my own personal experience and entirely subjective (so take it as something which will not be universally agreed with), but Makua'a explanations regarding core questions which we will all eventually ask about the basic questions of existence from a human perspective were in alignment with all of "my personal favorites" -BUT clothed in a non-Western cultural context such that, although many of the same things are discussed, there was enough of a shift in perspective that I personally gained insight on questions I have long pondered -and from time to time the difference in perspective made these new insights anything but trivial!! As one with but little knowledge of Hawaiian/Polynesian cultures, I enjoyed the aspects that were chosen for presentation/explanation in so far as they were selected to underline the message to be conveyed to the reader. As a retired Historian, I also was interested in the tangential historical asides which were presented as a part of the Pacific cultures' oral traditions -some things bearing on a much larger/longer historical context which I have long come to realize were "ignored" by mainstream Western "experts". Again, it is only a personal opinion, but it seems to me that those who rated this text with low stars had their attention focused on faults which were never the concern or main intent of the messages of the "authors" contained in this work. I have enjoyed, "learned", and seen my own beliefs "fleshed out" by this work to such an extent that instead of merely recommending this book to friends (whom I believe will be interested in the several levels of information conveyed) I am ordering a half dozen copies to pass out and encourage reading by friends - everyone must be their own judge(or "teacher" as Makua would say), but for me (who am anything but a novice to literature/history/philosophy/spirituality) this book will remain one of my "perennial favorites". If one is more concerned with "the larger questions of Life and being human" than an in-depth expose of Hawaiian spritual practices, I would strongly urge the reading of this work.

I initially experienced this as culturally inappropriate, but reading it to the end, I changed my view to having mixed view.. The tone of the author made me a bit uncomfortable, a sense of self-importance/inflated ego. Still, as an individual who has been a seeker, and the insights that have come along the way, there was affirmation from some of what was within the book. For this, I am grateful, and ready to evolve, and move on.

I have an instinctive negative gut reaction to outsiders being "experts" on something so basic and so essential to a people's identity as their spirituality. Especially, as spirituality is a bridge between the transcendent and humanity; as such, it is rooted in culture and its expression is sensitive to the subtleties of life experience within the culture, language and perception. Wesselman may have had some unique mystical experiences as he claims, profound insights and been blessed with a close relationship with a knowledgeable and wise traditional elder. I don't deny that, yet he is an outsider, not having been raised in the culture and not being able (I assume) to think in the Hawaiian language.This book appears to be a distillation of Hale Makua's understanding of Hawaiian spirituality. No doubt he is well versed in the traditions of his people, their sacred stories, sacred rituals and sacred places. However, he also understands these elements of his culture through the lens of someone living in the last half of the 20th century and the first few years of the 21st. His point of reference is the Hawaiian culture of that same period, which is the context in which his cultural heritage was handed down to him. It is further filtered through the memory and understanding of an outsider. Many of the ideas presented were not entirely new to this book or Makua, as Wesselman makes clear when he speaks of parallels to the ideas presented from other traditions. For example, the discussion of the three souls is common to classic Greek philosophy and even early Christian scholars, such as Augustine, spoke of it, though not exactly as presented in this book.Part of the reaction that bubbles up in these reviews seems to be rooted in a debate over whether cultural traditions can be preserved in their original purity and kept as a unique cultural property of a people. Or, is it possible or right to pull together similar understandings from a variety of traditions that interact and apply what results to contemporary experience. The difficulty with the first position is that culture is not an artifact that can be preserved but the expression of a living community, as such it evolves and can not remain uninfluenced by those cultural and social pressures in which it finds itself. The difficulty with the second position is in finding the boundaries of the community. Is there such a thing as pan-shamanism, beyond the academic theories of a few scholars and workshop presenters? If so, what is the community it serves and whose culture gives it substance?A related question is whether a haole academic and workshop presenter can be a legitimate vessel for speaking as an "expert" on Hawaiian culture and spirituality? If he was presenting himself as an academic specialist in Hawaiian ethnology, even if he is a haole, I could classify his work as ethnology and consider it from that perspective, applying the appropriate academic criteria. Yet, he doesn't approach the topic from that perspective. Further, his training is in physical anthropology, which is a significantly different branch of anthropology from cultural anthropology/ethnology. A further difficulty is that the author doesn't present himself as an objective observer but rather as a full blown participant.Having said all of that, I must confess to having enjoyed the book. The portrait of Hale Makua that Wesselman presented, was engaging. Much of what he had Makua saying resonated with my experience and studies over the years, much of my adult life having been spent in the Pacific Islands. The book is not meant to be scholarship. It is one person sharing his memories of a friend who had a profound impact on his life and who died. At that level it is not a bad read. If you want any more than that, my above concerns come into play.

This is a fascinating and really quite unique book, enjoyable to read and I was sorry to have to put it down when I reached the final page. Much is contained in the book and while reading I felt a sense of gratitude to the author for sharing his experiences of friendship and discourse with Makua. Read it and form your own opinion.Anyone into Dr Wesselman's books should also seriously look into the 3 below written in 1915,1916 by W D Westervelt (available free online at Sacred Texts):Hawaiian Legends of old HonoluluHawaiian Legends of VolcanosHawaiian Legends of Ghosts and Ghost-Gods

I learned so many things about hawaians. I knew a white man didn't have it easy to be part of hawaian society. Now I know why, hawaians are too spiritual for a white man. This books talks about how sensitive they are and about how wise they are. And they chose a white man (Hank Wesselman) to tell the world about hawaians because he is a sensitive man.Just read it, it's is great. Buy other books written by Hank Wesselman, too.

Littered with profound spiritual insight, 'The Bowl of Light' offers a fascinating insight into the Hawaiian wisdom tradition, and is underpinned by a heart warming tale of friendship between the author and the native Shaman that he encounters. Wesselman has a dry, down to earth writing style but this compliments the other worldly information that he is seeking to covey to the reader.

though enjoyable, I have found this heavy going. Knowing you have to be in the right frame of mind to read any book, this one is staying with me till I can give it the attention it deserves.

A good thought full book