13 B'aktun: Mayan Visions of 2012 and Beyond - Softcover

Gonzalez, Gaspar Pedro

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1556438966 ISBN 13: 9781556438967

Publisher: North Atlantic Books, 2010

Synopsis

As 2012 looms with its promise of radical cultural and spiritual change, humankind is increasingly seeking strategies to survive and thrive. In 13 B’aktun, Gaspar Pedro González turns to the traditional Mayan belief system to navigate this uncertain future. The term 13 B’aktun refers to the thirteenth cycle of 144,000 days in the Mayan Long Count Calendar. Many scholars believe that this cycle is set to end on December 21, 2012.

Framed as a fictional dialogue between a contemporary Mayan father and son, the book explores such questions as “Will life continue on Earth?” and “Will there be another creation at the end of this era?” The father imparts the knowledge of his ancestors and shares his direct mystical experiences that bring alive traditional beliefs about creation and the divine purpose of humanity, the Earth, and the universe. Through the father’s poetic words, the author helps us to critically reflect on our existence, the state of the modern world, and human destiny.

In addition to ancient Mayan wisdom, 13 B’aktun incorporates the insights of modern philosophers, scientists, and religious texts concerning consciousness, human behavior, and predictions for the future. What unifies all of these sources is the message that despite our existing world dilemmas, there is still time to change our ways. The only book on 2012 by a Mayan author, 13 B’aktun draws on the storytelling experiences of the author’s childhood and his academic research as an adult. Countering the widespread hype and misinformation surrounding 2012, González blends past and present thought into a persuasive plan for moving into the new era.

About this title

About the Author:

Gaspar Pedro González is a prolific Mayan author and intellectual who has contributed several books and articles on topics related to Mayan culture. An official for the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture, he is also an instructor at the University Mariano Gálvez in Guatemala, where he lives. He has been honored by officials in the Mayan Q'anjob'al linguistic community and has presented at international events including the conference of the Latin American Studies Association and UNESCO. He has been invited to speak at over twenty universities throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America.

Translator Robert Sitler is a professor of modern languages and literature at Stetson University, where he serves as director of its Latin American Studies program. For more than three decades Robert has worked with over a dozen different indigenous groups in Mesoamerica, especially with the Mam-speaking Maya of northwest Guatemala.

Review:

“Gaspar Pedro González's 13 B'aktun offers something unique: a contemporary Mayan intellectual's passionate inquiry into the meaning of the end of the Long Count calendar that interweaves ancient cosmology with modern history. González proposes that the completion of the cycle will be the opening of a new era for human growth and renewal, as our species reckons with the horrors we have unleashed and embraces a deeper purpose. In Robert Sitler's compelling translation, 13 B'aktun offers a valuable addition to the literature around 2012: what it portends and what may soon follow.”
—Daniel Pinchbeck, author of Toward 2012: Perspectives on the Next Age and 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl

“This is an important offering from a contemporary Mayan philosopher and scholar who uses the classical format of a dialogue to engagingly convey his insights into the vital and relevant worldview of his culture. A thorough foreword by Robert Sitler, the book's translator, puts Gaspar Pedro González's unprecedented contribution into proper context, identifying it as a much needed Mayan perspective on 2012, a subject that has become confused by an exploitative marketplace that has very often disregarded its authentic Mayan origins. Here is a voice that unites ancient wisdom with modern concerns.”
—John Major Jenkins, author of The 2012 Story: The Myths, Fallacies, and Truth Behind the Most Intriguing Date in History

“Gaspar Pedro González harnesses the ancient Mayan cosmo-vision regarding 2012 into an impassioned plea for world transformation.”
—Mark Borax, author of 2012: Crossing the Bridge to the Future

“13 B'aktun is an open door to ancestral knowledge, a sacred ceremony with the fire of wisdom from one of the most luminous civilizations in the history of humanity. It breaks down [doomsday] fears and provides an explanation of Mayan prophecies through the oral tradition.... It is a jewel for those who love the truth and respect cultural identity.”
—Marco Antonio Sagastume Gemmell, Human Rights Advisor, University of San Carlos, Guatemala

About this edition

• Publisher: North Atlantic Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1556438966
• ISBN 13: 9781556438967
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168