Arnulfo Oxlaj's Story
Arnulfo G. Oxlaj is an indigenous philosopher, teacher, artist, author, activist for native rights and ambassador for peace on behalf of his K'iche' Mayan people in Guatemala. Born deaf, blind and mute into extreme poverty and genocide, Arnulfo discovered he had a gift and privilege: as he puts it, ¨With the mind and eyes of my soul, I was - and am - free to see the secrets of the universe.¨ One of these important insights gave him the ability to use medicinal plants to treat the sick, which he began to do in his village where there were no doctors. At night, he would observe the planets in order to see beyond the surface to the deepest realities of nature, space and time. He saw how special the human being truly was in creation, the great miracle of life, and resolved to help protect it.
At the age of seven, his childhood was interrupted by a terrible event. Arnulfo and 115 children were rounded up by soldiers and thrown into a deep well to die. Five days later, Arnulfo was rescued by a woman. Of 116 children, he was the only survivor. In gratitude for his life, Arnulfo vowed to devote his life to helping others, sharing the mysteries of the universe and delivering a message of peace to humanity. In honour of this vow, he intensified his efforts to take food, medicine and words of justice and hope to those in need every night under the cover of darkness.
Since that young age, Arnulfo Oxlaj has dedicated his life to motivating and guiding people, both in Guatemala and internationally, to free themselves from all obstacles and injustice in order to realise their mission and dreams and achieve the peace the world is seeking today, through his unique mix of soul sight, natural wisdom, and personal experience.
Arnulfo Oxlaj is the founder of AMOR, a dynamic grassroots movement and home of “the revolution of love and generosity” to free his indigenous people and all people from oppression and work together for equality, freedom, justice and so achieve true peace.
Arnulfo has worked with thousands of people in Central America, North America and Europe, and spoken at public events, conferences, prisons, hospitals, churches, corporations, universities, schools and camps.
Arnulfo is an artist whose works have been exhibited in the UK, Sweden, Canada and Guatemala.
Arnulfo is the author of The Light of the Soul, hailed as a 'gift for the heart of humanity', 'its simplicity a great blessing', inspiring comments such as 'I actually feel privileged to have read this book.'
For more information on Arnulfo Oxlaj and his work, please visit www.arnulfooxlaj.com.
AMOR was founded cerca 2000, a local group led by Arnulfo Oxlaj, a survivor of the armed conflict in his village who, through his relevant skills, experience, and above all his passion for helping his people, over many years attracted international support from individuals and small groups for specific small-scale projects (based on the immediate needs of the people around him). Arnulfo’s art has been an important co-funder. These projects included building 66 homes, 15 school extensions, empowerment and sustainable livelihoods projects involving 166 women, a youth leadership and art project for 26 teenagers, and food and health support programmes reaching over 8,000 people. Arnulfo Oxlaj has worked for programmes outside of AMOR intended to give women a voice through sustainable livelihoods and literacy support, notably for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (2006).
At the age of seven, his childhood was interrupted by a terrible event. Arnulfo and 115 children were rounded up by soldiers and thrown into a deep well to die. Five days later, Arnulfo was rescued by a woman. Of 116 children, he was the only survivor. In gratitude for his life, Arnulfo vowed to devote his life to helping others, sharing the mysteries of the universe and delivering a message of peace to humanity. In honour of this vow, he intensified his efforts to take food, medicine and words of justice and hope to those in need every night under the cover of darkness.
Since that young age, Arnulfo Oxlaj has dedicated his life to motivating and guiding people, both in Guatemala and internationally, to free themselves from all obstacles and injustice in order to realise their mission and dreams and achieve the peace the world is seeking today, through his unique mix of soul sight, natural wisdom, and personal experience.
Arnulfo Oxlaj is the founder of AMOR, a dynamic grassroots movement and home of “the revolution of love and generosity” to free his indigenous people and all people from oppression and work together for equality, freedom, justice and so achieve true peace.
Arnulfo has worked with thousands of people in Central America, North America and Europe, and spoken at public events, conferences, prisons, hospitals, churches, corporations, universities, schools and camps.
Arnulfo is an artist whose works have been exhibited in the UK, Sweden, Canada and Guatemala.
Arnulfo is the author of The Light of the Soul, hailed as a 'gift for the heart of humanity', 'its simplicity a great blessing', inspiring comments such as 'I actually feel privileged to have read this book.'
For more information on Arnulfo Oxlaj and his work, please visit www.arnulfooxlaj.com.
AMOR was founded cerca 2000, a local group led by Arnulfo Oxlaj, a survivor of the armed conflict in his village who, through his relevant skills, experience, and above all his passion for helping his people, over many years attracted international support from individuals and small groups for specific small-scale projects (based on the immediate needs of the people around him). Arnulfo’s art has been an important co-funder. These projects included building 66 homes, 15 school extensions, empowerment and sustainable livelihoods projects involving 166 women, a youth leadership and art project for 26 teenagers, and food and health support programmes reaching over 8,000 people. Arnulfo Oxlaj has worked for programmes outside of AMOR intended to give women a voice through sustainable livelihoods and literacy support, notably for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (2006).