My name is Aurelio Mazún. I come from a humble Maya, peasant family. I grew up working from a very young age with my late grandfather, Justiñano Mazún, who endowed me with all the knowledge of nature: from how to begin the milpa by asking permission from the guardians of the forest so that a good harvest may come, to giving the first offering in gratitude for the fruits received. After his passing, he left me this legacy and told me that I must continue this work; now it is my turn to work our Mother Earth, who provides us with food such as corn, beans, and squash. These are the three main crops that should never be missing from a Maya milpa, because they are the foundation of our sustenance, followed by cassava, malanga, and pineapple.
This year we had a blessed harvest because the rains arrived on time and there are already tender ears of corn. My wish is that this knowledge reaches every person, so they may see the importance of the milpa providing us with healthy food—100% natural and free of pesticides. My grandfather taught me that there are four types of corn seeds (white, black, red, and yellow), and I plant them year after year to preserve them, because anyone who one day wishes to plant, I will gladly share my seeds.
Being Maya
In my journey through this world, I have heard many people say that the Maya is a culture or that the Maya people have disappeared, but the truth that comes from my heart is that being Maya is neither a culture nor a mere word: it is a state of being. The word Maya means “without pain” (Ma and Ya). One may wonder how it is possible to reach a state where nothing hurts, and the answer is that for us there was no fear of loss, because we know that in this world nothing truly belongs to us; everything is matter, and even the body and the spirit belong to the Great Light.
Our ancestors did not worry about owning land or money; they lived like the little birds that do not worry about tomorrow because nature provides everything for them. It is not that the Maya have disappeared; it is that humanity has disconnected from the Earth, from Grandfather Sun, from water and from fire, which together are the balance of the world. To be a true Maya, one must awaken that wisdom that lies dormant, leave greed behind, and walk with love and abundance. I cannot say that I am already a complete Maya, because I still suffer, but anyone, no matter where they come from, can reach that state of being and become a true Maya if they always walk with an open heart.
The Story of the Squirrel and the Little Dove
My grandfather used to tell me this story many times when we stayed in the milpa. He said that one day the little dove was in her nest when she received a message that a very strong storm was coming. She wanted to go out and gather plenty of food to be prepared, but she could not leave her two little chicks alone. Just then, the squirrel passed by, and the little dove said to her, “Please, be kind—take care of my little ones while I go get food.” The squirrel agreed, saying that she already knew the storm was coming strong.
However, when the little dove returned, she found neither the squirrel nor her children. The poor little dove began to cry deeply and sang, “coctusen, coctusen,” meaning that the squirrel had lied to her and had taken advantage of her by taking her children instead of helping her. This story teaches us that in this world we should not trust people too easily; we must see who truly has a good heart filled with love and who offers favors expecting something in return or driven only by self-interest.
