Yachay – knowledge. Knowledge is what drives intention. You must learn otherwise; you are a master of what? You need to learn and handle the four elements to really understand and comprehend this knowledge. That is why we listen to Pachamama; we tune into the rocks and trees to use our visualisation and experience that sensation. So everybody knows you have experienced it. Yachay entails knowledge put into practice.
Llankay – work. Honest labour, honest to yourself and to others. Whatever you do, you must do it well. When learning – do it well, teaching – do it well, healing – do it well, with honesty. Make sure you are not stealing from others, … because as we know, in the Andean cosmovision, if you are idle (if you are not working, if you are not doing your part), it is just as if you were stealing (from the work of others) – this is the notion of Ayni.
Munay – love. This aspect of love is not romantic love; that kind of love is only an extension of Munay. Munay is unconditional love. It can be given and received with your partner. That unconditional love is the essence of Christ or the Buddha. This unconditional love exists in nature.
Two principles that govern everything that exists.
Kausay – Everything in the world is living energy – everything that can be contained is energy. My body is energy, and through all our body systems – nervous, lymphatic, endocrine, etc.- that is all energy. Kausay encompasses a holistic, communitarian, eco-spiritual way of life with deep cultural meaning and identity for the indigenous peoples of the Andes mountains. All this energy is translated into Ayni.
Ayni – is the law of reciprocity, but it doesn’t mean that if I give something to you, you must give back to me. If I give you to you, giving back is part of Ayni, it’s an expression or part of it; if you are always aware of being honest, truthful, diligent and loving, you will honour the principle of Ayni. Through Ayni, you can give love to everybody. As Alto Misayoq, we practice ayni in the community by helping paqos and pampas, attending despachos, by bringing people to the workshop; that is ayni! Ayni is not only between alto’s. Remember that as you sow, so will you reap. Sowing now but reaping only in a few months or years is also fine. There are several forms of expressing Ayni. Reciprocity can even return in twenty years when you have a son or a daughter. That is Ayni, life itself. We do ayni with our parents, families and friends, neighbours, co-workers, and strangers. Ayni is to do good and to give a helping hand. The concept of Ayni is multi-directional, and its effect is timeless.
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