Today’s Enlightening
Entertainment will be
presented in Spanish,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Japanese,
Korean, Malay, (Mongolian,)
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
By the lake
in the sight of my God,
Beautiful Mother Earth!
In the early hour…
Beautiful Mother Earth!
The Charming Culture
of Lake Titicaca
in Puno, Peru
Puno, located
over 3,800 meters
above sea level,
south of Peru,
in the plateau of Collao,
features as
its main attraction
the legendary Lake Titicaca,
the highest navigable lake
in the world,
which is cared for
by its inhabitants,
both on its islands and
on the areas around it
along its shores.
May you have a good day,
on this great day of yours.
Thank you for visiting
this town by Lake Titicaca,
where we live
near the totora reeds.
I welcome you
to this town of Puno,
to this sacred lake
of the Incas,
at 3,800 meters
above sea level.
We, the lake inhabitants,
live very proud of
our glorious legacy,
our parents, the sun,
our mother the moon,
and our ancestors,
the Incas Manco Capac
and Mama Ocllo,
who founded this empire.
We’ve been proud.
I invite you to know this
majestic Lake Titicaca,
with its alive culture,
with our islands,
with our Apus,
with our highest summits,
with our
snowcapped mountains,
with everything
that is preserved here
on the high plain.
Their spirituality is based
on a direct contact
with nature,
thanking the land
for its products
with the offering
to Pachamama,
Mother Earth;
as well as the Apus,
or mountains,
which protect the people
and their harvests;
also the lake, the sun,
the moon and the stars,
in which the Paccos,
beings endowed
with the skill of sensing
and predicting the future,
forecast the weather
to prevent,
in many cases, floods, or
in other cases to announce
the abundant harvest.
These persons used
natural elements
for the same purpose.
In the Andes world,
in the communities,
in the districts,
Andean religiosity
is still practiced,
in which we show respect
to the Apus, the lake,
the hills, the thunder;
which is a part of our
cultural identity; the sun,
the moon, the stars,
almost every feature
which is with us
is venerated.
Because
if there were no sun,
there wouldn´t be heat,
there wouldn’t be light.
And if there were no moon,
there wouldn´t be night,
there wouldn’t be darkness,
nor half-light,
there wouldn´t be stars,
those bits of illumination
and inspiration
in our communities.
If there weren’t rain, we
wouldn´t have sown fields;
if there weren’t thunder,
we wouldn´t know
to store our crops;
that is a part of us,
it is a part of
the Andean religiousness.
At Easter, for example,
in the communities,
districts, villages,
people climb
the highest mountains.
That day people fast,
nothing is eaten.
They climb the hills
to collect plants.
It is believed that among us,
between the entities,
Catholicism and
Andean religiosity,
there is a fusion,
where herbs become
healing herbs; that cure.
For instance, chicchipa
is used to make aromatic
mate (a herbal infusion);
cedrón is a tranquilizer
for that day, to soothe
pains and sorrows.
And so plants
from over the hills
are collected, to make mate.
Then, back home, people
from some communities
cook twelve meals,
which is a blend
of Andean religion
and Catholic religion.
Twelve dishes are eaten
in the name
of the Twelve Apostles.
Some of the staples
of this culture
are corn, quinoa,
a yellow Andean tuber
called ollucos,
and fresh, tasty potatoes.
At Lake Titicaca,
agriculture is a way of life
and a reason for
celebrating and thanking
Mother Earth.
The dances
which are practiced here
are related to gratitude,
to productivity of the land;
and in accordance
with the different seasons
of the planet,
mainly at carnival time
which is in summer,
harvesting time.
Used as
musical accompaniment,
quenas are
musical instruments
made out of wood, reeds
or bamboo stalks,
to play the most lively
or festive melodies,
to pay homage
to the vegetables
and Mother Earth.
First, we have to
have great care
when sowing before
there is a ceremony,
a kintu, in order that our
sown fields produce well.
Once the plant is blooming
we put more soil on it.
Then we take out the weeds,
and then at the carnivals
we honor it by dancing
and singing in order that
the flowers and sown fields
feel happy, as we feel
being in touch with them.
When we start
harvesting our crops,
we thank the Inti father
(the sun), the mother
Killa (the moon).
Everything which has
granted us these fruits,
we start thanking,
and when we harvest,
when we begin
to select our products.
The biggest potatoes are
for Tinkay, a ceremony
in which we celebrate
our potatoes, because
they are the biggest ones
Mother Earth,
Pachamama, has given us.
Then we choose
the potatoes for cooking
and the potatoes
for the potato starch
and the ones for the next
sowing season, the seeds.
Next, we store
the spoiled potatoes
to make potato starch,
to add to potato starch.
And once all this is done,
crops are stored
buried in the earth,
with some straw
to avoid the worms,
for the next sowing season.
When we return,
we’ll find out more about
the Lake Titicacan culture
of harmony with nature.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Welcome back to
Enlightening Entertainment
and our visit to the
friendly Peruvian people
living on Lake Titicaca.
The relaxed
and joyful residents here
have created many
beautiful, colorful dances.
Let’s find out more about
the dances’ significance
in relation to nature.
Here on the high plain,
for example,
we have spiritual dances,
agricultural ones,
festive ones,
and also funeral ones.
In some villages,
such as the Taquile island,
Amantani, Uros
and Ticonata
in the Capachica area,
their dances are
mostly about gratitude,
because we live
around the lake.
We live in the lake, always
in touch with nature.
We don´t live in contact
with the outer world,
but with the world
which is around us –
nature, the plants,
the animals, the water
which is running near us,
from the springs,
in the lake itself.
Music, which is the most
important thing for us...
For example,
if we feel mournful,
we fetch the pinquillo and
play nostalgic melodies.
If we pick the charango,
then it is cheerful music.
It is a happy instrument,
a carnival one.
And when it comes,
for example,
to ceremonial times,
the pinquillo is used;
or also ceremonial are
nomalca, cuchuijatu,
los pinquillos.
Big, small and medium,
just like the big
or small zampoña (flute).
Then, we have bombos,
or the tarola,
percussion instruments,
and a lot of instruments.
Totora Chullo Green,
green is its small stalk,
with a white
and yellow small face,
“I am very, very tasty.”
The stalk is very green
and tasty.
When people talk to it,
it answers to them, weeping,
“Do not eat me yet.
I have grown to
give strength to children,
for them to have good teeth,
healthy and strong.”
While still young
and immature, they say,
“Do not eat me yet!
When my heart is ripe,
I´ll be good and
you´ll eat me, very tasty.”
It also speaks
to its mom and dad,
to have a great heart.
“I speak to you,
because I love you,
also for you to know
and respect.”
We have
such a beautiful lake
with crystal clear water;
we have reed mace,
which is sweet, and we
use it to make our homes
in some cases, to make
our traditional mattresses,
also for food,
the inner part of it
called chullu.
In this lake, we can find
beautiful islands.
We have lots of traditions,
a lot of character
at our Lake Titicaca.
Crossing it,
we find at the first stop,
a floating island
called Uros,
its name preserved
through history and time;
its main characteristic
being buildings
made of totora reeds
a native Titicaca plant,
as well as the boats and
houses where people live.
In the same way,
a species of totora reed,
called chullu, is consumed
by the villagers for
its high protein content.
They have
some beautiful houses
made of totora,
a natural plant.
It is important to mention
one of the development
centers of rural tourism,
Capachica, located
northeast of the lake.
It has lodging houses
carefully designed,
for a comfortable stay.
Besides its eyecatching
beaches that allow one
to connect with
the nature of the place,
as well as Llachon,
Cotos, Yapura, Chifron,
among the most visited
in the area, with their
outstanding carnivals
and native costumes,
which are maintained
throughout the year.
Well, at carnivals
usually, Tuesdays are
godfathers’ days,
godchildren and godfathers
are visited, or just friends.
They visit at home
and then have
their abundant luncheons
as is customary, and they
spend the day dancing at
their godfather´s house.
On Ash Wednesday,
they go into town
to participate in contests
and bring people
in the capital to the village
what they call
Apaycamuy carnival.
So on Thursday,
we start the contest here,
yes, the grass cutters start.
Then also on Friday they
visit another community,
the Kashuas,
and on Saturday
the grass cutters.
On Sunday the same,
there the carnival
celebration ends.
What places do you
promote here in Cotos
which can be visited?
Here we have
quite a few attractions.
This town is
clearly touristic, we are
promoting tourism.
So here we have
the biggest beach
around in all of Puno.
Besides Charcas
and other small beaches,
we have Chifron, but
this is the biggest beach
in Cotos.
We have
archeological remains
such as Ancasayama,
at the entrance of the alley,
then we have
Ticonata Island
that already
has accommodations
for tourists.
Here we have an
excellent microclimate.
It is not very cold,
nor very hot, as we are
at 2,800, to 3,000 meters
above sea level.
The highest part is
at 4,000, so it´s good for
a quiet stay for a visitor,
even more so
in this season in which
everything is green.
Everything is very good.
So, visit us!
Kind viewers,
thanks for your company
on Enlightening Entertainment.
Please join us again
tomorrow
for the continuation
of our pleasant stay
at Lake Titicaca
in Puno, Peru.
Now, please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television
for Words of Wisdom,
after Noteworthy News.
May your life
be colored by happiness
at every moment.
A mayor from
Formosa (Taiwan) who
was among the very first
in the world to officially
promote a vegetarian diet
to reduce global warming.
We should adopt
the vegetarian diet,
because raising animals
for meat consumption
causes serious pollution.
An ordinary citizen from
Australia who is sharing
the benefits of
vegan living through
her many talents.
Join us as two individuals
are honored by
Supreme Master Ching Hai
for doing their part
to save the planet.
The thing is that
people must be
more aware of
our dire situation
and that everyone’s
responsible action
does help to minimize
or stop global warming.
Saturday, July 3,
on Supreme Master
Television.
Today’s Enlightening
Entertainment will be
presented in Spanish,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian, Japanese,
Korean, Malay, (Mongolian,)
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Greetings,
splendid viewers.
Welcome to the continuation
of our presentation
about Lake Titicaca and
its beautiful unique culture.
Lake Titicaca,
3,800 meters above
sea level, is the world’s
highest navigable lake.
It is between the Andes
mountain ranges
and shared by Bolivia
and Peru.
We are visiting the part
of this special lake
in the area of Puno,
in southern Peru.
I´d like you to come
and visit and learn what
the thousand-year-old
Peru has,
and Lake Titicaca
with all its charms
and traditions.
There are many beautiful
islands in Lake Titicaca
that are home to
both villagers and wildlife.
Let’s visit some of them
one by one.
Ticonata Island,
is another place
which visitors can reach,
having also
it´s own attractions,
characterized by
its houses shaped
in a cylindrical form
with straw roofs, or ichu,
giving to the buildings an
especially ecological style,
inspiring a pleasant walk
along the shore
of Lake Titicaca and
stay at its lodging houses.
They talk about community,
but this is a whole,
it is not separated.
Here, each one
takes care of tourists;
we support them.
Capachica Peninsula
has got beautiful beaches
of white sand;
Chifron Beach,
Collpa Beach in Llachon;
Cotos Beach
in the populated area
of Cotos; Paramis Beach
in the rural community
of Siale,
are beautiful beaches
of clean sand,
where one can go
in the morning to sunbathe.
Or one can stay
in Capachica Peninsula
where people are
so kind anyway,
easy to get on with, with
their own local traditions.
They are used to
receiving people
in their houses,
letting them learn about
their living culture, their
patron saints’ celebrations,
their costumes.
Nature has given us
beautiful places which,
only by visiting them,
make us
become a part of them,
such as the island
called Amantani that
warmly welcomes us –
with melodies
from the area,
joy that characterizes
the inhabitants of
this legendary place on
the Peruvian high plateau.
Amantani Island is
a beautiful island
with two very nice
and strong apus (peaks)
which preserve
the cultural identity
of this beautiful island
named amantan:
the Pachatata Apu
and Pachamama Apu,
where some ceremonies
are held on January 20
for the good of crops,
in favor of the welfare
of Andean society,
for contemporary society,
for it to be kept in harmony,
in order that
farm produce grow.
It’s an island where
its history of costumes
is lovely, with embroidery,
beautiful fabrics;
where the people
are hard working,
where women weave
fabrics and blankets,
ponchos and chuspas
(bags), llijllas, and
men make chullos (caps),
do farming.
There you can´t find cattle,
but rather
farming is done with
two men or two women
to plough the land.
It is an island where
you can spend the night,
there are accommodations,
where people eat
natural foods,
the kañihua (millet),
quinoa, and barley,
for example.
Let me explain a little.
There is the traditional
dish, pata caldo,
or wheat soup,
where you can eat wheat
with a little potato starch,
a few natural potatoes,
which is very tasty,
with no other components
like red meat,
but only natural food
that is consumed on
the island of Amantani.
What we want is
to show you
our life in Taquile and
make you feel at home.
Welcome, everyone!
Taquile Island is located
45 km from the city of Puno.
Its highest point is
at 4,050 meters
above sea level.
The inhabitants
are called Taquileños
and speak Quechua.
Taquile is
the second largest island.
Thanks to the
thermoregulatory effect
of the lake, there is
a microclimate favorable
for agriculture.
The residents’ clothes
remind us of
the pre-Columbian times,
both in design
and symbolism.
The women wear
a red blouse and
many polleras (skirts),
similar to those
multicolored skirts,
covered with another
large black pollera.
The men wear
black trousers
with a white shirt,
covered with a short vest.
The chullos (caps) that
they wear on the head
differentiate single men
from married men.
Taquile's story goes back
to a pre-Inca period.
Indeed,
there are burial towers
at the top of the hill,
built with carved stone.
The island has
a radio station, station
that runs on solar power.
On Taquile Island,
residents do not have
any security system
in their homes
thanks to the high degree
of confidence
that they have in their
neighbors and visitors.
This shows the practice
of integrity and honesty
among them.
There are no guard dogs
to be found.
First, we live a way
of life of community
on the island.
We share and work
together in the community,
and all the benefits
that we get from outside
we share in the community.
In order to run smoothly,
the community
is well organized.
Taquile Island is
divided into four sectors.
The highest authority is
the mayor
of the town of Taquile,
then the deputy mayor,
the Hilacatas,
the Llapucampus –
the presidents
of the sectors
and the president
of each organization.
When we return,
we’ll find out more about
the spiritual
and moral practices
on Taquile Island
in Lake Titicaca.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
Welcome back to
Enlightening Entertainment
and our program about
the Andean way of life
on the legendary
Lake Titicaca.
Lake Titicaca
is a sacred place.
Let’s learn more about
the spirituality specific to
Taquile Island on the lake.
Spirituality on the island
is shared.
Firstly it is devoted
to Taita Inti,
which is Father Sun.
Then we have
our spirituality,
we make tributes
to Mother Earth,
because we live off her.
In addition to
Taita Indi, Father Sun,
there are: Mama Killa,
Mother Moon,
the Sisters Chascas,
who are the stars,
and Mama Cocha,
meaning Mother Lake.
Residents have enormous
faith in Mama Cocha,
because without her,
they cannot travel
on Lake Titicaca.
What are some
of the spiritual places
on Taquile Island?
For example,
on Taquile Island,
there is Inca Tiana
(Inca´s Rest), the apus,
then in the main square,
during festivities,
a ceremony is performed;
and on Amantani Island,
for example,
the biggest apus are
Pachatata
and Pachamama.
On the mountain apus,
or peaks,
Lake Titicaca natives
pay tribute to the Earth
so that the land and
harvests will be good.
When are the tributes made?
Spirituality is
very pervasive.
Since ancient times
our ancestors
have always believed
in Pacha Mama
(Mother Earth).
So, for example,
on June 21
it is Pacha Cuty,
the Andean New Year,
when the Sun and the Earth
come almost together.
Then, one of the tributes
is made,
the most important one,
on July 21.
Then, they are sporadic,
on September 21
with the first digging
of the land, in order that
there be enough
crop production,
and some ceremonies
are performed.
When the gods of nature
answer the prayers
favorably, villagers
rejoice gratefully in
the abundance of organic
vegetables and roots.
These foods
form the foundation of
the people’s ecologically
peaceful lifestyle.
The diet on the island
is completely natural.
There, they eat potatoes
they produce,
broad beans, oca,
olluco (Andean tuber),
isaño (tuber),
natural products.
Then, they produce
small products like caya,
which is made with
dehydrated oca, the chullo
dehydrated potato.
But it is natural food
because you have to
eat well to live well.
In the Andean world,
there are
three important legacies:
Ama Sua, Ama Quella,
Ama Llulla.
Don´t be a thief,
don´t be lazy,
don´t be a liar.
That is very important
to us on the island
and that is why
houses aren´t locked,
because we have
mutual confidence.
For example,
I’ll explain a little.
If we arrive from town
on the island at noon,
we can go up with packs
and sometimes
with products,
then we leave the packs
on the side of the street.
Then the next person
coming, if he sees
that the sun is on it,
on a particular garment,
we move it into the shade,
there is always that
confidence among us,
the respect for oneself
above all, no?
and we keep on
practicing it.
The Ama Sua, Ama Quella
and Ama Llulla
has been extended
with the Ama Lluncu,
that means:
translated to Spanish
means don’t be a thief,
don’t lie,
don’t be lazy and
don´t be self-indulgent,
don´t seek your own profit,
but seek
the community’s benefit.
Just as these places,
on the shore
of our natural host,
there are beautiful beaches
with their own charms,
to hear the song
of the water
coupled with the breeze,
south of Puno.
On the Chuchito Peninsula
lies Karina, with their
arches carved by erosion
giving it a unique charm,
built by the inspiration
of our nature.
A group of tourists
from the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation
(APEC)
have been enjoying
their sojourn with
the welcoming people
of Lake Titicaca.
People here are so nice,
they welcome us so well,
they present a lot,
they did so much.
This is an experience that
I would never ever forget.
At present,
the inhabitants of the lake
have changed
their fishing activities
for experiential
ecological tourism,
in great numbers,
showing us
the natural ways of life.
Lake Titicaca,
Lake Titicaca
of silver spring.
Navigable lake
highest in the world,
deep blue lake.
Titicaca,
you are a natural wonder
of the world,
beautiful flora and fauna
you have
in your crystal clear
and fresh water.
You link brothers
from Peru and Bolivia
where their cultures
have golden stories.
You host in your waters
very beautiful daughters
with their descendants
from the empire of the Sun.
O sacred lake of Titicaca,
you are a wonder
of the world.
Beautiful Andean heritage,
O Titicaca,
natural beauty!
O sacred lake of Titicaca,
you are a wonder
of the world.
Beautiful Andean heritage,
O Titicaca,
natural beauty!
Titicaca!
Origin of the Inca Empire,
the largest culture
in America.
Your surrounding villages
embellish you.
Magnificent
natural landscape.
O Lake Titicaca,
you are a natural wonder.
Pride of Puno and Peru,
O sacred Titicaca,
O Lake Titicaca,
you are a natural wonder.
Pride of Puno and Peru,
O sacred Titicaca
Titicaca!
We appreciate the wonders
of Lake Titicaca
and the beauty
of her residents’ lifestyles
of harmony
and wholesomeness.
May the colorful way
of life for everyone here
continue in peace.
Joyful viewers,
it was a pleasure
having you with us today.
Up next
on Supreme Master
Television
is Words of Wisdom,
after Noteworthy News.
May goodness
and simplicity
be in your every moment.
Travel to northern India
to two holiest places.
Sarnath – the deer park
where Lord Buddha
preached the first sutra.
And Haridwar, host of
the Hindu Kumbh Mela
once every 12 years.
With all due prostrations
to the Supreme Master
Ching Hai.
Here you are standing
right at the top of
the Har Ki Pauri,
the main venue of
the Kumbh Mela bath.
Join us as
Supreme Master Ching Hai
shares her experience of
this pilgrimage tradition.
One time,
I went into a very big
camping place.
That was in Haridwar.
Haridwar means
“the Gate of Heaven.”
On The World Around Us,
Sunday, July 4,
on Supreme Master
Television.