What did the Maya know?

Wisdom Quarterly

The Maya or Mayans knew one thing for sure. The Ages change. And this one is coming to an end. As of today, or perhaps December 21, 2012, we transition from one to another. This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

There is great astronomical and astrological significance in this. But few of us now regard the significance of astronomy in our lives, and astrology has been made a pop media joke. There is significance. We are separate from space. We are in space. This is a space world. It is visited by other space worlds. It is influenced and influences other space worlds.

The Maya were told that and taught various calendars and synchronaries. The days of the week, the phases of the Moon (which is the Earth's timepiece once so valuable to everything we did that the powers that be -- other space or subterranean entities -- could not stand for it and obscured it as evil and replaced it with worship of the Sun, which also was always important), the days to undertake an endeavor.

We laugh. How naive of our forest-dwelling forbears who somehow built monoliths and observatories, pyramids and spiritual centers (all with aid from above). Never mind that all over the world similar groups did the same thing, from Egypt to Cambodia, from Sumeria to India, from Easter Island to Stonehenge, from unknown site to unknown site. These sites are everywhere.

The world will end, guaranteed.

But it will spring up again. That is certain.

If we fear change, we will always live in fear, because change is the only constant.

What can we do?

We suggest we work out our liberation (salvation, emancipation, improvement) with diligence. We'll see you in heaven, in paradise, in good states supported by the profitable karma willed, performed, and accumulated right NOW. And for a few all praise is due, who confirmed that it is possible right here, right now, in this very life: Nirvana is visible within samsara. They are not the same thing.

• Be the Change: Occupy Together
• Buddhism in ancient America
• Rick Fields' book will remain as the first attempt to document the Buddhist movement in America. There are approximately eight hundred persons and places named in the book, from Shakyamuni, who started it all, through to the Tibetans, Koreans, Vietnamese, Japanese, Sinhalese, Chinese, and a plethora of Westerners. It's a fascinating story full of eccentric characters, good intentions, and unstinting effort....Buddhism's migration to the new lands....