In this “New Age” everything has evolved out of the ancient ways kept strict and without variance into what I like to refer as “variance on a theme”… thus began in my opinion, the disintegration of the fabric of the traditional old ways. We now have a society that one only needs to look at to perceive of this loss of cultural heritage into a chaotic mix of an endless array or “supermarket” of watered down and delusional belief systems, corrupted from bits and pieces of the old ways, that have lost their traditional purity, due to the loss of tribal community and many other reasons, this is the way of things neither negative or positive it just is…the nature of all things, birth, growth, decline, decay, death and rebirth.

In ancient Polynesia existed the healing practice of Lomi Lomi which means to “knead or to squeeze and to make soft”. There was also the medicinal practices through the use of herbs, plants and the elements, this was called LA.PA.AU. Lomi Lomi began at birth, mothers lomi’d their child from birth, especially the stomach and the feet of the infant, using primarily coconut oil one of the most healing substances on this planet, resulting in extraordinary health and strength. Lomi Lomi in its most traditional aspect was taught and practiced entirely with the open hand “To knead, to squeeze, and to make soft”.

Sherman Dudoit, now Raman Das, was told at an early age by my grandmother that I was “born with a gift in my hands” and that one day I would be found by a Kahuna and taught in the old ways. Kahuna means “Keeper of the secrets” or simply Master of Tradition. I naturally began this way of life by being drawn to the sick and dying, always wanting to help, always somehow “knowing” that I could help others to feel better, at first just by laying on of hands, later massaging and stroking wherever there was pain.

I became known as “the Little Doctor”… this continued, all the way through grade school, and by the time I graduated high school I was the team chiropractor, as this knowledge also manifested naturally and without effort. Upon leaving high school at the 12th grade I left Hawaii for California to pursue spiritual studies and also practical study in several methods of Massage, Reiki, Reflexology and Chiropractic study.

During this time I decided to deepen my innate tendency towards spiritual pursuit and entered into six years of strict discipline as a monk of the Self Realization Fellowship Order, founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, who came to America to teach Kriya Yoga “the way of direct union with God through strict meditative practices specifically focusing on the life force in the spine, Kundalini life force.” This resulted in a direct personal illumination, and relationship with what I now call “Source”. Shortly thereafter I left the Ashram to go out into the world to share “my gifts” which had now become amplified by the years spent in isolation in almost complete daily silence, going deep into the mysteries of life, death and existence beyond that.

Shortly thereafter I met my final teacher, a Kahuna from Maui Hawaii who was visiting and working on patients in California. To make a long story short, he said to me “I’ve been waiting for you, if you want to apprentice with me, let’s see how fast you can come to Maui.” Three months later I moved to Maui and began my apprenticeship.

This was done in the old Traditional way, one on one, strict and no frills attached. It was gruelling, but the lessons learned from the great repository of the “Old School” were invaluable. He trained me in the strict old-fashioned way…the way of the open hand, no elbows, no forearms, no dancing around the table… the table is the alter he would say… treat it as such. It is a sacred space.

HISTORY AS WE KNOW IT

In modern thinking and societies most look for logical written proof, the most common way is now Wikipedia, which for some is the definitive evidence that something is and exists. But this a modern way of thinking and being, limiting knowledge and understanding within a modern constraint. This can be explained by using the Aboriginal history as an example here in modern Australia, which shares a very similar situation with the traditional teachings of Hawaii and other indigenous cultures, so much has been lost and not accounted for in written form. Aboriginal history, knowledge and understanding were told through stories, dance and dreamtime. Traditionally Hawaiians would share stories and knowledge and understanding through talking, stories and Hula. 

When Hawaiians talk, they share what is in their hearts. Nature and natural elements are a huge part of daily life for spiritual Hawaiians, which always meant that they were drawn to live close to the power and energy of the Ocean, Volcano’s (Pele – the Goddess), Waterfalls or immersed deep within nature. Kahuna’s do not see themselves as separate from nature and consider themselves part of the natural world, in which everything alive possess its own form of consciousness and awareness and connection to all. Pule (Prayer) is offered for all required occasions addressing to the gods and ancestors to allow the force of nature to assist and flow for the best outcome for all.

Almost nothing is written or known about our lineage before Sherman and Dawn, due partly to the explanation given in the opening part of our History. The arrival of Captain Cook and his men in 1779 marked the start of huge changes for Hawaii, its Indigenous population and its Traditional cultures were decimated and effectively outlawed which contributed to keeping everything secret and unknown due to fear. But even before and after these terrible times it was not usual for Hawaiians to write details of practices, the traditional way to acquire knowledge was to learn by hearing and feeling:

“Our ancestors have left us, just as the ancestors of the white and other races here in Hawaii have left to them, some good medicines for some of these sicknesses and why do we not seek them and treat ourselves with these medicines?…Why do we not allow these medicines to use their healing powers?… We think this, not to deny the skill of the doctors for to do so is foolish, to ask the native Hawaiians who know these good remedies, the kind of sickness and the proper medicines, and the ways of preparing them; to try to make a booklet to keep in memory the good medicines from ancient times. We are throwing away the healing sought by our ancestors and depending entirely on the skill of the doctors. The bills that come in are big and the poor cannot catch up with them… it would be well for them to know of these good medicines, where to find them, how to use them and the sickness to use them for. This will be a great help to them in time of trouble.” [Ka Lapaau Ana I Na Hawaii, Nupepa Kuokoa, July 19 1901, HEN Vol.Newsp.,p.Kuokoa 7/19/1901]

One thing is certain that every person has their own truth that resonates deep within themselves, we trust and can feel when something is true and right and only then can this be taken as our own truth.