Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Sumak Kawsay - Good and Perfect Life in the Intercultural and Plurinational Ecuador


Ecuadorian society is characterized by cultural and ethnic diversity.

The goal of Ecuadorian constitution is to build a new form of civil coexistence in diversity and harmony with nature to achieve the good life, sumak kawsay.


SUMAK KAWSAY

The concept of "good living" takes its terminology "sumak kawsay" of ancestral Quechua worldview of life.

According to its proponents present similarly among the Aymara as suma qamaña and among the Guarani as Porâ teko teko or kavi.

In its original meaning Kichwa, sumak refers to the realization of the ideal and beautiful planet, while kawsay means "life," a decent life to the full.


The "sumak kawsay" ancestral sees people as an element of Mother Earth or Pachamama (mother world).

So, unlike other paradigms, sumac kawsay seeks balance with nature in the satisfaction of needs ("take only what is necessary").


SUMAK KAWSAY TODAY

The relationship with nature has a privileged place in the vision of "Good Life" by Ecuador’s Indigenous People.

The man takes the second place after the environment, because we are a part of the nature.

Nature is the source of life and the humans are the thinking part of this reality.


The nature has the priority because without it the mankind cannot live.

So, to be concerned about the good of the humanity means to first defend the land and establish harmony between nature and human beings.

Which implies respect for all natural environments.

23 comments:

  1. I always learn something new on your blog. Nature is, indeed, very important and does deserve respect.

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  2. Such lovely photo's and so important to respect nature :)

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  3. It does look like a good life! Beautiful pictures you take! I always look forward to reading your posts

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  4. I'm always just in awe of your photos. This is so interesting, I love learning all about Ecuador - I often wonder how neat it would to be in their shoes!

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  5. great photos, and a really great post x

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  6. around here you will never seen allot of wild animals around.. and never see anyone feeding anything but there own.

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  7. Take only what's necessary! I was talking to my children about this just this evening. Here in the UK we are such a greedy and wasteful culture!

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  8. those pictures are so beautiful. I hope to go there some day. awesome!

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  9. Great photos! I'd love to experience Ecuador in the future.

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  10. the scenery and your way of life is amazing

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  11. Amazing - I love how you make me want to travel.

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  12. The scenery in your photos is always so breath takingingly beautiful, amazing x

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  13. I feel like we take the beauty around us for granted. Thank you for your gorgeous pictures and reminding us of the beauty nature holds

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  14. I've read a survey few days ago and the Ecuador was voted by expats no1 country to move to

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  15. I love the photos! I love the uplifting words! Beautiful post! So much learned from these words today!

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  16. As always I really enjoy reading your posts. Your pictures are fantastic and the mountains are just gorgeous. I would love to experience Ecuador.

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  17. It's something we should all strive for - the good and perfect life!

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  18. Stunning photo's accompanying a beautiful post

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  19. What a lovely post. Beautiful pictures as always

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  20. Great philosophy and gorgeous photos - love that monkey!

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  21. A wonderful philosophy to live by. If only more people adapted it.

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