Archaeologist Emiliano Gallaga Murrieta removes dirt from remains that were among those found at a tomb that is one of the oldest in Mesoamerica.
An elaborate crypt at least 2,500 years old was found in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The remains are believed to be an early ruler of the Zoque people.
The Zoque are generally thought to be descended from early emigrants from the Olmec culture. The tomb was near the top of a three-story pyramid at the site of Chiapa de Corzo, about 60 miles southeast of the Olmec coastal city of La Venta on the Gulf of Mexico.
Aerial view of the Mound 11 excavations. (Oscar Leon Ramírez)
“For so long, the Olmec people have been considered the ‘Mother Culture’ where everything started in Mesoamerica,” said archaeologist Carl Wendt of Cal State Fullerton, who was not involved in the research. “This find is showing that complexity is not necessarily confined to the Olmec area.”
The multi-layered universe of the Mesoamerian culture has been taught and appears in books as if it has been proven. Jesper Nielsen’s article Dante’s heritage: questioning the multi-layered model of the Mesoamerican universe questions this notion.
It appears the pre-conquest model of the universe was of the cardinal directions, the center, the upper world and Underworld thus making for a three tiered universe. The different levels were divided into different regions and on each of the levels these different regions correspond to the four cardinal directions.
The number nine is prominent. It is represented by a god in the center and two gods at each of the four cardinal directions. These added up equal nine.
After the conquest, it appears there was a mixture of the cosmological ideas from Dante’s The Divine Comedy brought by the Franciscan friars with the ideas of the native Indian’s resulting in a skewed view of their universe which is how it is taught now and not seriously questioned.
The full article can be viewed at the following link.
Friday, September 3 to Monday, September 6, 2010 San Juan Bautista, California
(1 hour from San Jose Airport)
Through guided meditation, Conscious Body-Breath Impressions™, dialogue and private interviews, William
Patrick Patterson explores the theme. Open to all levels of simplicity. No previous experience necessary.
Because space is limited and past seminars have filled quickly, please make your reservation early. The total cost of tuition, lodging (double occupancy) and meals is $575 with reservations received by August 15, 2010. Afterward, the cost is $675. Space is reserved with a deposit of $300.
Mary Ellen Korman speaks on her new book, A Woman’s Work with Gurdjieff, Ramana Maharshi, Krishnamurti, Anandamayi Ma & Pak Subuh: The Spiritual Life Journey of Ethel Merston, published by Arete Communications.
The spiritual life story of Ethel Merston based on her diaries and recollections is an important historical work, as well as a keen insight into many of the seminal teachers of her times. Merston was one of Gurdjieff’s first English pupils and lived at the Prieuré from 1922 until 1927. Her seriousness and organizational abilities led Gurdjieff to put her in charge in his absences. Fritz Peters gives a wonderful account of what she had to put up with (he gives her the name Miss Madison) in his Boyhood with Gurdjieff. In India, she lived at Ramana Maharshi’s ashram for many years. She gives a first-person account of his death and also the meeting between The Mother and Sri Aurobindo and Anandamayi Ma (with whom she often traveled). She also attended many of Krishnamurti’s talks and seminars in the 1930s, was a friend of Sunyata, Alain Daniélou, Krishna Prem and Swami Omananda. In the 1950s she was initiated into Subud by Pak Subuh at J. G. Bennett’s Coombe Springs study house. At Mendham, she met again her friends from her Gurdjieff days—Mme de Salzmann, Mme Ouspensky, Olga de Hartmann and Peggy Flinsch—and was introduced to Lord John Pentland.
Thursday, April 29, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Towson, Maryland
Location:
Ukazoo Books
730 Dulaney Valley Road (in Dulaney Plaza across from Towson Town Center)
21204
Thursday, May 13, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Washington, D.C.
Location:
The Musical Source
1409 15th St. NW (lower level), corner of P Street
20005
Metro: Red Line, Dupont Circle stop;
or Blue & Orange Line, MacPherson Square stop
This vertical column of ancient Mayan glyphs was painted on stone found in a Guatemalan pyramid complex dating back to between 200 B.C. and 300 B.C. and show the Maya were writing at a complex level 150 years earlier than previously thought, though simple glyphs are dated to as early as 600 B.C.
They were found on preserved painted walls and plaster fragments in the pyramidal structure known as Las Pinturas, in San Bartolo, Guatemala.
The writing is completely different than the Zapotec writing and indicates they are not simple derivatives of each other.
Though a lot is now known of Mayan writings it is not known what these glyphs say.
The new issue of The Gurdjieff Journal is out. Some of the interesting articles in this issue is an exploration of the only thing that is certain in an uncertain time: “Certainty in a Time of Uncertainty.” Also a look at how Buddhism views the soul in “In Search of the Soul, Part IX, Buddhism, Part I.” The basis of self-transformation, prolonging our time in the physical body in order to develop other higher bodies in the article, “Gurdjieff, Food & The Prolongation of Human Life, Part I.” “A Visit of Gurdjieff’s Institute” gives a view of Gurdjieff and his Teaching. A Probe on taking the good or bad end of the stick: “Good Stick, Bad Stick.” An essay investigating Gurdjieff’s birth date: “When was Gurdjieff Born—1866, 1872,1877?” Also, “Pinder at Lunch,” “Sayings of Substance” and “Letters.”
Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31, 2010
Morristown, New Jersey
Through guided meditation, Conscious Body-Breath Impressions™, dialogue and private interviews, William Patrick Patterson explores the theme. Open to all levels of simplicity. No previous experience necessary.
Performed by alto Nancy Caporaso and pianist Michael Dale
Nancy Caporaso has performed for many years with the Master Chorale of Washington, D.C., and the Master Chorale Chamber Singers.
Michael Dale is a multi-instrumentalist, composer-improviser and conductor in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he performs regularly with jazz and free improvisation groups.
Thursday, March 4, 2010, 7:30 P.M.
Berkeley, CA
Location:
Northbrea Community Church
941 The Alameda
Berkeley, 94707
Donation: $15 ($5 may be applied towards the purchase of a book, video or CD)
Friday, March 5, 2010, 7:30 P.M.
San Rafael, CA
Location:
First Presbyterian Church
1510 Fifth Ave.
San Rafael, 94901
Donation: $15 ($5 may be applied towards the purchase of a book, video or CD)
Saturday, March 6, 2010, 4:00 P.M.
Sacramento, CA
Location:
Prieuré North
For reservations please call (800) 470-3086
Donation: $15 ($5 may be applied towards the purchase of a book, video or CD)
MesoAmerias.com has published Daniel Brinton’s argument that Tula was merely one of the towns built and occupied by that tribe of the Nahuas known as Azteca or Mexica and its inhabitants were called Toltecs, but there was never any such distinct tribe or nationality; they were merely the ancestors of this branch of the Azteca and the Toltec “empire” is a baseless fable.
Through guided meditation, Conscious Body-Breath Impressions™, and dialogue, William Patrick Patterson explores the theme. Wear loose clothing. Bring a mat and a sitting pillow. Open to all levels of simplicity.
Location:
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
5603 North Charles Street
21210
Registration: $90 on or before Thursday, January 14. $125 at the door.
To reserve a place, send your electronic payment below. Use your PayPal receipt as your entrance ticket.
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