Master Jose Pineda Vargas is known by the Shamans as the Master Mancoluto, a title derived from his family name. He is the main custodian of the Bancotauri, founder and inspector of the “Apus Inka” organization. He has been recognized as a first level shaman since childhood. As a shaman of the highest order, he is known for his superior knowledge of metaphysical reality and for his development of the seven senses, knowledge which he imparts to his students. His teachings transcend ordinary human knowledge and is much more profound than what passes for philosophic or religious knowledge. He is a direct descendent of inhabitants of the Chavin civilization.

Mancoluto’s teachings challenges many philosophic systems, which view the ego as something undesirable, something negative. According to Mancoluto, if people’s minds and senses were truly opened, they would realize that a little ego isn’t something all that undesirable. After all, the human being does have a physical body, isn’t perfect and will always carry a little negativity. Without the ego, in fact, human negativity would be even greater. There would be more confusion since people would think that the absence of ego would somehow demonstrate enlightenment. Like everything else, they would then turn the absence of ego into a philosophy. Trying to quash the human ego and human individuality can only lead to a conformity which breeds satisfaction with ordinary human knowledge, removing the strength and dedication necessary to seek a profounder understanding of reality and rediscover knowledge that has been lost in time.