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.

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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.