The Dialogues of Knowledge

The Maya Dialectic Method was co-developed by Maya Kaqchikel scholar Dr. B’eleje’ Kan and Chicano educator, Dr. Javier Mateos-Campos. Also known as the Dialogues of Knowledge, these are sacred talking circles with simple yet specific protocols that create space for genuine communication in an accessible and replicable format. The Dialogues examine the pedagogical and methodological aspects of Maya Kosmovision, both in and beyond the classroom. Maya sacred talking circles link people, the Earth, and the Cosmos through a communication approach grounded in a rich oral tradition and ancestral science. The Popol Vuh, the sacred text of the Maya K’iche', emphasizes the role of language in shaping reality and assigning meaning to the world around us. In other words, language creates consciousness. In Maya culture, engaging in dialogue with others is essential for achieving el Buen Vivir, or the art of living well, with harmony and in balance. The dialogues are ideal for exploring new forms of unity and organization in working teams, artists’ collectives, student and community organizations, support groups, learning clubs, schools, political associations, labor unions, workers’ cooperatives, and for anyone seeking to reconnect with their humanity.