Free The Controversial Mayan Queen: Sak K'uk of Palenque (The Mists of Palenque) by Leonide Martin Page A

slows. Be tranquil and at peace. Meditate and contemplate the significance of your life. In this time, prepare for physical death. It brings close the time of liberating your spirit, when you will show to your people the continued cycle of being. Many are afraid of death, but death is merely transformation. Life does not cease, it only changes, like the butterfly transforms within its cocoon. Those too attached to life cannot imagine the wonder that awaits.
    “You cannot be in the temple and the forest simultaneously. You cannot wear two sets of clothes at the same time. The shell that is your body remains upon the earth, to make you lighter for a grander reality. The body shell you can use, break and destroy. But the spirit is indestructible. Go forth in this knowledge that you have a marvelous destiny in the dwelling of the immortals.
    “Those afraid of death have much hidden from them. You have great wisdom to give our people, remember to use your powers to serve others. You must overcome all obstacles, including both self-aggrandizement and all personal fears. Become the master of your body and mind.”
    Pakal learned to control his thoughts and feelings, to regulate the activity of his body and mind. The latter presented the greatest challenge, for the mind was a trickster always finding ways to circumvent his techniques. He became the observer of his mental landscape, watched beliefs, fears and emotions play out without reacting or grasping. These wafted across his awareness and dissipated, rose and fell, ultimately resolving into nothingness. He focused until his mind became empty, a clear field of calmness, and entered the blissful state of pure awareness. He simply was .
    3
    Pakal’s long legs took two steps at a time as he bounded up the tiered stairways leading to the Temple of the High Priest. He was late for his favorite lesson; studying Mayan hieroglyphs inscribed in fan-folded codices with the old calendar priest Ah Kuy. Wending his way through vaulted hallways and across the wide central plaza, he quickly ascended the final set of stairs and entered the western chamber that held thousands of codices. Passing through several interconnected rooms, he found the old priest seated on his raised platform with a codex in place on the wooden display box.
    Pakal bowed deeply, clasping left shoulder with right hand.
    “It is my regret to be late, honored Ah K’in. Now am I before you for teachings.”
    Ah Kuy turned his cloudy owl-like eyes toward the boy, wrinkled lips held tight. He paused just long enough to make Pakal uncomfortable, and then gave a toothless grin. The boy relaxed and smiled back.
    “The young are always busy.” Ah Kuy’s voice was high and reedy but conveyed an ease of command that Pakal instinctively recognized. He intended to develop that quality in his voice as it matured.
    “The old, as am I, never busy themselves but savor each moment life still gives them.” Ah Kuy appeared wrapped in deep contemplation. Pakal stood respectfully and waited until the old priest spoke again.
    “Let us resume study of this divinatory almanac based on the original hearthstone event. Do you remember when this calendar began?”
    “At our last session you said it began at the end of the previous count of thirteen bundles, when the hearthstone stars rose at midnight and reached the middle of the sky at dawn,” Pakal replied eagerly and with perfect recall.
    “It is as you say.” Ah Kuy was pleased with the boy’s memory. “And which are the hearthstone stars?”
    “They are the three stars dangling below the feet of the peccary constellation, Am Kitam ,” Pakal replied without hesitation. “The three stars are called osh-lot , three together and their names are Tunsel – little woodpecker (Rigel), Mehem Ek – Semen Star (Alnitak), and Hun Rakan – One Leg (Saiph).”
    “Ah, yes, that is so. You have remembered well. Now let us consider the infinite structure of the Long Count calendar. On what