Initiation
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Initiation (disambiguation).
Coming from the Latin, initiation implies a beginning. The related verb, initiate, means to begin or start a particular action, event, circumstance, or happening.
An initiation is also a ceremony by which a person is introduced into a society, or other organized body, especially the rite of admission into a secret society or order.
Normally an initiation rite would imply a shepherding process where those who are at a higher level guide the initiate through a process of greater exposure of knowledge. This may include the revelation of secrets, usually reserved for those at the higher level of understanding.
In the context of ritual magic and esotericism, an initiation is considered to cause a fundamental process of change to begin within the person being initiated. The person conducting the initiation (the initiator), being in possession of a certain power or state of being, transfers this power or state to the person being initiated. Thus the concept of initiation is similar to that of apostolic succession. The initiation process is often likened to a simultaneous death and rebirth, because as well as being a beginning it also implies an ending as existence on one level drops away in an ascension to the next.
Initiation is a key component of Sant Mat, Surat Shabd Yoga and similar religious gnosis traditions. It denotes acceptance by the Guru and also implies that the Chela (student or disciple) agrees to the requirements (such as living an ethical lifestyle, meditating, etc.)
Initiation is perfomed almost in all cultural groups, but differently . In the bapedi tribe initiation is normaly regarded as stage where a boy is to be taught manhood and a girl womanhood. It is adviceable for one to attend this in order for him or her to be regarded as full member of the tribe.A woman would not be allowed to participate in ceremonies and also to join the other women for preparing food in ceremonies.In other cases she will be offended and told to be excussed for certain reasons of which she should have learned in initiation.
Initiation is considered as a fundamental process because it helps build respect in teenagers and prepare them to be good husband and wives, even though nowadays initiation is not taken that seriously because of the new developed generation, there are still certain areas which still consider initiation seriously.A man will not be allowed to marry or have any special relationship with a girl who didn't go to initiation, because she is not considered as a woman. Normally boys takes about 3-4 months participating in initiation and girls takes 1-2 months. Image:Sepik River initiation PNG 1975.JPG Image:Sepik River initiations 1975.JPG
See also
fr:Initiation he:טקס חניכה ja:通過儀礼 pl:Inicjacja pt:Iniciação