What do you think?
Rate this book
The Living Maya: Ancient Wisdom in the Era of 2012
Author Robert Sitler’s immersion in Mayan culture began with a transformative spiritual experience more than three decades ago in the ruins of Palenque, Mexico. Led by a local to a nearby Mayan village, Sitler discovered firsthand what traditional Mayan life was like—a community of people living in peace with each other and their physical surroundings. In The Living Maya , he shares this experience and many that followed. In the process, he immerses readers in a rich indigenous culture and offers a fresh view of the 2012 phenomenon, focusing on the valuable lessons Mayan culture can teach us in this time of transition. Personal anecdotes are interwoven with factual information about the roots of traditional Mayan customs and traditions, presenting a rare multifaceted view of their simple yet profound way of life. The book showcases Mayan infant care, community building, ties to nature, attitudes toward the elderly, and orientation to spirituality. In The Living Maya , Sitler shows how following “the Mayan way” can help us ground our lives in harmony with nature, broaden our perspectives on human existence, connect us with our capacity for compassion, and use the vaunted cataclysm of 2012 as a unique chance for growth.
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 2, 2020
2020-04 – The Living Maya: Ancient Wisdom in the Era of 2012. Robert Sitler (Author) 2010. 208 Pages.
I had picked this book up off the library free shelf a few years ago. I finally pulled it out of storage and gave it a read. This book is not without its controversies. The author is a respected archeologist but he has also garnered the appellation of being a “New Ager” and that his New Age views infect his work. I was really struck though by the labeling … In 50 C.E. Christians would have been viewed as “New Age,” they came off as a new Jewish Sect and an Apocalyptic Cult. Reading what their contemporaries were writing about them … what has survived or not been whitewashed later on is revealing about how radically society and ideas about “normal” have changed. Any person with a modicum of anthropology training can discern in the Living Maya book what, is science, what is conjecture based on science or experience, and what is conjecture of a metaphysical nature. I think the appellation of “New Age” says more about the biases of the labeler than the material itself. Which circles back to Trotsky … If you want the truth you must first compare the lies! He is using his academic background to look into how Mayans lived and then comparing it to what he has seen among the Maya of today during his years of field study. Looking for continuity, breaks, and new traditions. With all of that said this is a good book with much useful insight.
I had picked this book up off the library free shelf a few years ago. I finally pulled it out of storage and gave it a read. This book is not without its controversies. The author is a respected archeologist but he has also garnered the appellation of being a “New Ager” and that his New Age views infect his work. I was really struck though by the labeling … In 50 C.E. Christians would have been viewed as “New Age,” they came off as a new Jewish Sect and an Apocalyptic Cult. Reading what their contemporaries were writing about them … what has survived or not been whitewashed later on is revealing about how radically society and ideas about “normal” have changed. Any person with a modicum of anthropology training can discern in the Living Maya book what, is science, what is conjecture based on science or experience, and what is conjecture of a metaphysical nature. I think the appellation of “New Age” says more about the biases of the labeler than the material itself. Which circles back to Trotsky … If you want the truth you must first compare the lies! He is using his academic background to look into how Mayans lived and then comparing it to what he has seen among the Maya of today during his years of field study. Looking for continuity, breaks, and new traditions. With all of that said this is a good book with much useful insight.
June 7, 2012
Was a great introduction to Mayan culture. Learned a lot.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews