Traditional Old Style Hawaiian Lomi Lomi Massage has been a protected, sacred practice, kept strict in its content by the passing on in a lineage form, from master to disciple, always in a one to one apprenticeship. This was kept very strictly in the blood line of family, except in rare cases. In ancient Polynesia, up until the arrival of the missionaries, this practice flourished, and nurtured the entire population. But then the “old ways” came under attack, and all of the spiritual culture in Hawaii had to go “underground”. Thus, the old ways became veiled in secrecy, and became even more secret in its teachings. Kahuna is a title given to “one who has mastered the secrets”, or “keeper of the secrets”. The word or title “Kahuna” (one word) is considered to hold tremendous power or “Mana”, and is used in a hushed tone, reverent and holy. It is known that a true Kahuna will never admit to being such a one, and one who does, has no Mana.
In Dawn I saw the complete vessel, she possesses all the necessary gifts and abilities, humility, willingness, natural healing gifts, focus, discipline, flexibility, lack of overblown ego, selfless service, gentleness and genuine innate willingness to give her whole being to this “work”. Also, a very important trait stubbornness and determination to learn and do exactly as taught. It is my honour to have had this life, to pass this onto Dawn after successfully completing her apprenticeship, to have observed her carrying this torch with such great strength, integrity and humility. She has touched and healed the lives of so many in need, including my own, and it is through this woman that the tradition given to me continues to shine out into the world.
Those who study with her will receive this gift and be blessed, thereby enriching their lives as well as all the lives they touch.
I bow to her, I bow to you, prostrations to all of creation. Thank you for reading this, may your heart resonate to this message and your life be a journey straight to Source.
– Sherman Dudoit (RAMAN DAS)
Our shared history story is told, upon transference of Mana from Teacher (Sherman) to Apprentice (Dawn). Sherman Dudoit no longer teaches or conducts this massage. In-line with the Traditional and as before him, he now spends his life in peace and without the responsibility of the Lineage and its secrets.
In Dawn I saw the complete vessel, she possesses all the necessary gifts and abilities, humility, willingness, natural healing gifts, focus, discipline, flexibility, lack of overblown ego, selfless service, gentleness and genuine innate willingness to give her whole being to this “work”. Also, a very important trait stubbornness and determination to learn and do exactly as taught. It is my honour to have had this life, to pass this onto Dawn after successfully completing her apprenticeship, to have observed her carrying this torch with such great strength, integrity and humility. She has touched and healed the lives of so many in need, including my own, and it is through this woman that the tradition given to me continues to shine out into the world.
Those who study with her will receive this gift and be blessed, thereby enriching their lives as well as all the lives they touch.
I bow to her, I bow to you, prostrations to all of creation. Thank you for reading this, may your heart resonate to this message and your life be a journey straight to Source.
– Sherman Dudoit (RAMAN DAS)
Our shared history story is told, upon transference of Mana from Teacher (Sherman) to Apprentice (Dawn). Sherman Dudoit no longer teaches or conducts this massage. In-line with the Traditional and as before him, he now spends his life in peace and without the responsibility of the Lineage and its secrets.
HISTORY TOLD BY KAHU SHERMAN
DUDOIT (RAMAN DAS)
Throughout the whole of Ancient tradition there have been essential aspects of life that utilised the process of mastership and apprenticeship. The passing on of that knowledge and thus the preservation of the wisdom was kept intact through this very private and intimate association between master and disciple. This applied to all aspects of human existence, whether it was tool making, hunting, fishing, boat building (method of conveyance), growing crops for food and practical use, the herbal medicinal fields of health and healing…the list is endless. In the growth of human evolution and survival of the species there always existed those who have mastered a certain tradition, and the passing on of this wisdom for the sake of preservation to the next generation…and until the onset of the “New Age” this knowledge was kept secret and held traditional to maintain its integrity and purity thus ensuring its essence according to the rules set down for thousands of years.
One of the most essential imperatives of this tradition is that Lomi Lomi was a modality of pure love. The work must come from the heart and through the hands resulting in healing and bonding at a level beyond comprehension by the mind; it is a movement of pure love and grace, even to observe a ‘treatment’ is to receive it… This is the way of Traditional Lomi Lomi in the Old Style.
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.
One of the most essential imperatives of this tradition is that Lomi Lomi was a modality of pure love. The work must come from the heart and through the hands resulting in healing and bonding at a level beyond comprehension by the mind; it is a movement of pure love and grace, even to observe a ‘treatment’ is to receive it… This is the way of Traditional Lomi Lomi in the Old Style.
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.
There will come a time when we all must unlearn, all that we have learned,
in order for the truth of our real nature to be revealed.
There will come a time when we all must unlearn, all that we have learned,
in order for the truth of our real nature to be revealed.
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.
