What is the intention of the Concentration work?
.
The historical development of the Daime Concentration work
What is meditation?
The Concentration begins even before Daime. First off we explore the idea of meditation, and sitting in silence quieting the mind.
Ayahuasqueros and their silent concentration
Then the next step for us to examine is the practices by Indigineous Ayahuasqueros of the Amazon who would drink Ayahuasca and sit in absolute stillness – motionless for hours.
Early Concentrations with Mestre Irineu
[The first concentration works in the Daime before Germano Guillherme presented his first hymn]Mestre Irineu receives the “Hinos Novos” and they are appended to the conclusion of the silent concentration
.
How to perform the traditional Daime Concentration
Part 1 – Opening
.
Part 2 – Concentration
.
Part 3 – Hinos Novos
.
Part 4 – Closing
.
Additonal rules and guidelines for the traditional Daime Concentration
.
Who practices the traditional Daime Concentration?
There are various groups who practice this work regularly.
- The original center of Alto Santo, and all traditional centers which commit to carrying out the work as defined by Mestre Irineu.
- The CEFLI – Fortaleza line also practices the format of the traditional concentration
- Some Independent Daime centers practice this format
Additionally, similar concentrations are conducted sometimes in the line of Padrinho Sebastião, but not exactly to the spec. Padrinho Alex Polari is known to serve Daime in a format of a concentration where the group will lay down in a concentration, or be seated.
Some churches that work in the line of Padrinho Sebastiao also practice this work, sometimes. While this is not the format of the work that is defined explicitly by the standards of Céu do Mapiá, it is not prohibited for a daimista in that line to practice this work.
During the global lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many churches were affected worldwide who could not longer gather for their big 40-50 people concentrations that would alternate 1 hour of silence with segments of singing Oração, Concentration Hinos, an Hinario or selection, and finally the Hinos Novos (Cruzerinho) of Mestre Irineu all with maracás and musicians. When groups would be limited to meeting only within their households or up to 5 people at a time, some made a switch to this format in their smaller groups. Notably, they would make some changes that were a little more egalitarian, such as allowing women at the table or not making the women stand and men sit for the singing component.
The Decree of Mestre Irineu completely outlines the definition of the traditional concentration
As noted in the above section, the traditional concentration begins with a reading of the decree of Mestre Irineu. Here we will summarize some main points in the decree while removing the parts that do not partain to the format of the work.
[decree]
Oddly enough, in the line of Padrinho Sebastião the exact same decree is read… and then they do not follow the instructions that are laid out! The decree outlines the format of the work, it states clearly that there is a Daime serving, concentration, and then we get into formation and sing. Yet Daimistas in the Mapiá line read off these instructions and then do not follow them every single work.
How is the traditional Daime Concentration different from the version practiced in the line of Padrinho Sebastião?
There are a few important points that are emphasized in the traditional concentration which are not present in the
Oração has your mind elsewhere during that first wave of Daime – it is a totally different experience.