Post by Tamrin on Dec 4, 2008 17:50:35 GMT 10
Huna is a Hawaiian word adopted by Max Freedom Long (1890-1971) in 1936 to describe his theory of metaphysics which he linked to ancient Hawaiian kahuna (experts). It is part of the New thought movement.
Long believed the key to Huna is the concept of the Three Selves – the low self, middle self and higher self; or unconscious, conscious and super-conscious, which he called the unihipili, the uhane and the aumakua. Other Huna teachers also refer to the Three Selves but give them the alternate names of Ku, Lono and Aumakua, or simply refer to them as high, middle and low without Hawaiian terms.
Long believed the key to Huna is the concept of the Three Selves – the low self, middle self and higher self; or unconscious, conscious and super-conscious, which he called the unihipili, the uhane and the aumakua. Other Huna teachers also refer to the Three Selves but give them the alternate names of Ku, Lono and Aumakua, or simply refer to them as high, middle and low without Hawaiian terms.
Controversy
The use of Hawaiian words to describe universal principles has raised controversy among purists who love the Native Hawaiian culture. Various perspectives exist among Native Hawaiians on how much, if any, of Huna is authentically Hawaiian. Some say it is not, yet others are Huna teachers.
Long's use of Hawaiian words was primarily based on the 1865 Andrews Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language, which was the only English/Hawaiian dictionary then available.
The term Huna refers to Max Freedom Long's system of metaphysics, and none of the accepted Hawaiian sources - Malo, Kamakau, I'i, Kepelino - use the word Huna for a tradition of esoteric learning.
According to the standard Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian dictionary, the Hawaiian words 'unihipili, 'uhane and 'aumakua do not mean subconscious, conscious and super-conscious. 'Unihipili are the spirits of deceased persons, 'uhane is a soul, spirit or ghost, and 'aumakua are family or personal gods, deified ancestors who might assume the shape of animals.
In the Hawaiian language, the term kahuna is used for any expert. Kahuna include experts in diagnosing illness, herbal medicine, canoe building, temple building, wood carving, star-gazing, agriculture, and others.
Long did not describe ancient Hawaiian religion, largely ignoring the ancient gods and the importance of plants in medicine.
The use of Hawaiian words to describe universal principles has raised controversy among purists who love the Native Hawaiian culture. Various perspectives exist among Native Hawaiians on how much, if any, of Huna is authentically Hawaiian. Some say it is not, yet others are Huna teachers.
Long's use of Hawaiian words was primarily based on the 1865 Andrews Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language, which was the only English/Hawaiian dictionary then available.
The term Huna refers to Max Freedom Long's system of metaphysics, and none of the accepted Hawaiian sources - Malo, Kamakau, I'i, Kepelino - use the word Huna for a tradition of esoteric learning.
According to the standard Pukui and Elbert Hawaiian dictionary, the Hawaiian words 'unihipili, 'uhane and 'aumakua do not mean subconscious, conscious and super-conscious. 'Unihipili are the spirits of deceased persons, 'uhane is a soul, spirit or ghost, and 'aumakua are family or personal gods, deified ancestors who might assume the shape of animals.
In the Hawaiian language, the term kahuna is used for any expert. Kahuna include experts in diagnosing illness, herbal medicine, canoe building, temple building, wood carving, star-gazing, agriculture, and others.
Long did not describe ancient Hawaiian religion, largely ignoring the ancient gods and the importance of plants in medicine.