Connections with the Andean People

Mollamarka, a village of indigenous Quechua people, is situated above Don Américo Yábar's ancestral home of Salk'a Wasi, at 11,000 feet, in the mountains east of Cuzco, Perú. It is a small village of five hundred. When in Salk'a Wasi with Don Américo, we were with the people of Mollamarka in ceremony and enjoy festivities together. They are a loving, giving, shy people, who love you because you're another person on the planet.

When I was there, in 1998, with a physician from our group, we ran a small clinic for some of the villagers. (Seen in the photo on the right.) Many of the problems we saw could have been prevented or treated easily with the use of clean water. There was no electricity, latrines or sanitation.

I wanted to give back to these kind villagers, ayni, or reciprocity, for their assistance with my Spiritual Path and for the gentle offer of friendship they gave me. My intent has always been to make their lives a bit easier, and a little softer. I wanted to help improve the health of the village, by providing clean water and education, without disrupting the culture. There is the old adage that it is generally better to 'teach them to fish.' After spending time there again, what I learned is: They know how to fish. They are much more sophisticated and knowledgeable of the outside world than I knew or gave them credit for. They are the ones who need to decide for themselves how much of modern culture and technology they want to embrace, and are in the process of doing that, as I discovered in early 2002.

Electricity had recently come to their village, and they are now dealing with that reality. By having a source of light in the night, it is disrupting their work and social routines that have been in place for hundreds of years, and has created a need for money that was not there in the past. The community as a whole, being subsistence farmers, can make small amounts of money selling their crops at Paucartambo, 20 miles away. The individual family, however, if electricity is put in, has to pay for it individually. All the communities in the Andes live with the concept of allyu, community. To survive at these altitudes they have always relied on each other and other communities as well; the concept of individuality is foreign to them.

There is a water tank now, paid for and taken care of by the community. There is medical post also that, I understand, is funded by the village of Mollamarka and the other nine communities in the area. All of these communities, including Mollamarka, total almost 5000 people. The people of Mollamarka understand the need for latrines. There is virtually no cost of materials, save some seats and piping for venting, and they have both the plans and technology to do this. Same goes for the water. They are being taught that drinking contaminated water isn't healthy for them; it is their decision to do something about it.

Don Américo standing with Mollamarka's presidente

My intent is to continue to assist the medical post, to support the Club of Mothers (which assists many of the children in the Andes), and to make connections with other villages in the area. I provide myself as a bridge for both cultures to connect with one another so that we may all be connected in the luminous fabric of existence.

It is a small project, but one that is done for the purpose of moving Love and creating connections. The Club of Mothers in the past has taken groups of women with flowers to climb the tall apus (mountains) and offer prayers for all of us. This last fall, they wove ten large rugs to place on the floor of the meditation room at Salk'a Wasi. Again they will pray there and make offerings for the planet. We will continue to meditate and pray also, sending filaments in their direction, thus creating an exponential effect. The ayni, or reciprocity, continues.

I will continue to support the teachings of the nurses and support young people to continue with traditional healing therapies. If the village wants help beyond my ability for connection, I will encourage them to follow channels that are available in their area, with the understanding they must ask for it themselves. I am supported by The LifeWorks Institute, a 501 (3) (c) organization.

See the LifeWorks Institute web site, www.thelifeworksinstitute.org/home.html#indian, for further information about their work.

Purchase Dearest Waiki with intent, and facilitate the movement of Love and Salk'a on the planet for all. If you would like to open your heart to the mystical filaments in meditation, please e-mail Marilyn@intiwasi.org to schedule a date and time. Please see the Classes and Sessions page to learn about other forms of connection.