TEDxEastSalon - Bjarke Ingels - Hedonistic Sustainability

Hedonistic Sustainability - Bjark Ingels





Bjark Ingels is one of the most inspirational people on the face of the planet, guaranteed. He lives in one of the most inspiring countries in the world, and I have been constantly impressed with Danish citizens. If you are into these projects, and what is possible through design and architecture, combined with the idea of sustainability, check out his website . . .
http://www.big.dk/#projects

Thoughts From Within - Woody Harrelson

Woody Harelson

So, if you already don't love Woody Harrelson, I'm here to tell you that you should look him up. I really love to see those with affluent means using their influence to demonstrate a better way of living to the rest of us. Harrelson has been one of my favorite actors for a long time. He has the innate ability to seamlessly transform a fictional script into a tapestry of reality that is easily invested in. However, my personal love for the man was ignited when I randomly picked up his own documentary film, Go Farther, within which he goes on an epic journey on his bicycle. Trailed by a film crew and a fully equipped motor home housing a personal vegan chef, Woody traveled along the coast of California to different colleges, spreading awareness about sustainability, and the devastation of our nations forests. Amazing film. . . go check it out.

You can watch it free here . . .

http://www.alluc.to/documentaries/watch-go-further-2003-online/402137.html

Also, the man is an incredible poet, and has created a slew of poetry that touches the heart of the matter for citizens here in the states. We vote with our dollar. Every purchase we make is a vote for or against corporate control of our commons. Please make the right decisions. Check out one of his amazing poems. . .

http://youtu.be/Dj0GZQdCct8

All we can do is use our votes, our dollars, to vote out these malicious miscreant corporations. Do not give them your money. Do not give them your energy, and they will have nothing to feed off of. They would all crumble in a matter of days, if we all rise up and stop supporting them. They draw from our veins, like a vampire who has tricked his victim to allow the installation of an IV for a sustained blood supply. We can cut the cord. We have the power to fight the power. They are afraid of us. Otherwise, why would they make such an effort to permeate fear in us through the media. Lets send em running back to the caves they crawled out of tails between their legs. . .

Full-Body Burns

21 People set themselves on fire yesterday in Cleaveland in a successful attempt to break the world record for most people completely set on fire at once, or most participants in a "full-body burn." No, this wasn't a mass suicide attempt. They were all wearing protective gear that prevented any of them from getting seriously injured. I wouldn't say the demonstration set a good example, but it was for a good cause. Most of the proceeds went to the local food bank.

Here's the video

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2013/10/20/nr-lemon-cleveland-people-burning-record.cnn&hpt=hp_c3&from_homepage=yes

Tibetan Self-Immolations

This story did remind me of another under-publicized phenomena that has been going on for several years. Tibetan refugees living in India and Nepal, have been setting themselves on fire, burning themselves to death, in protest of the Chinese occupation and cultural genocide perpetrated in Tibet. 

This graphic display should not be taken lightly. This man, and more than 100 others have been voluntarily consumed by flames since the trend began. It is a horrifying phenomena that must be brought to an end. 

Although surely politically motivated, in hope that China will someday return Tibetan sovereignty to the Himalayan nation, which was invaded and taken over in 1949, this practice is extreme and my be contrary to traditional Tibetan beliefs. It seems minuscule when compared to the over 100,000 Tibetans that have been killed by the Chinese since the Occupation began in 1949. However, any desecration of human life is seen as a great loss from a Buddhist view. These human bodies have a great potential, because we can use them to benefit others, develop positive Karma, and eventually lead us to enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism has called for an immediate halt to the immolations. Karmapa said, "This is definitely not a practice of Buddhism. I strongly wish this would soon stop. The practice of Buddhist dharma is our greatest inheritance as Tibetans. This enjoins upon us to preserve the human existence. It is through this ... that we are able to achieve liberation.” Karmicly speaking It is said that taking ones own life is equivalent to the intentional murder of 1000 Buddhas. Although what the Chinese have done in Tibet is definitely wrong, and a crime against a culture that is valued throughout the world, suicide is unjustified in all cases.

Karmapa is seen here blessing one of his predecessor's (the 16 Karmapa) students, Lama Ole Nydahl. Lama Ole has taught Tibetan Buddhism to countless students during his nearly 45 years of teaching, and continues to travel around the entire world once a year making the dharma easily accessible to all those interested. Teachers like Lama Ole and the Karmapa help spread an awareness of traditional Buddhist values and teachings that can help lead beings toward the cessation of all suffering, or enlightenment. Self immolation, suicide, and actually all forms of negative actions stemming from the confusion of disturbing emotions, are just a part of the cyclic wheel of existence within dualistic reality, and they only create more negative karma that one will have to burn off through purification in future lifetimes.

Depicted hereis the Tibetan Wheel of Life. It shows the six realms. The lower realms include the hells, hungry ghost, and animal realms, while the upper realms show the gods, demi gods, and human realms. The wheel turns and turns as beings traverse endlessly from one life to the next according to their karma. The only way to escape this never ending cycle is by recognizing one's mind, which is most effectively accomplished within the human realm. 

While each human has this precious human birth, it is best that it is used accumulating merit and wisdom, practicing selfless compassion, and practicing the dharma so that eventual liberation and enlightenment can be reached. Negative actions, especially that of taking ones own life as in an immolation, should be avoided at all cost, because they create obscurations on the path to enlightenment.

Obesity Out-Weighs Hunger

Not that it is a worse problem, just a bigger one, literally. There are many more people on the planet today who are overweight, than there are people who are underweight.

Don't believe me? Check it out . . .

World Hunger
7,186,659,724	current total world population
896,920,322	undernourished people in the world right now
1,581,544,772	overweight people in the world right now
527,181,591	obese people in the world right now
18,590	people who died of hunger today
8,903,447	people who died of hunger this year
Economics
$ 289,276,200	money spent due to obesity related diseases in the USA today
$  71,480,264	spending on food purchased and then tossed by US households today
$ 3,323,688	spending on global food aid today
$ 21,609,215	amount that would allow to feed the hungry today
$ 114,913,634	spending on weight-loss programs and products in the USA today
$ 996,058	food aid budget spent on domesticprocessing and shipping today
$ 581,908	revenue for four large US agribusiness corporations derived from food aid programs today
$ 28,261,834	spending on pet food in Europe and USA today
Food
79,789	tons of food wasted in America today
16,624	tons of global food aid provided today
80%	percentage of harvested corn, grains, and soy beans fed to animals in Europe and North America
78%	percentage of malnourished children who live in countries with food surpluses
90%	percentage of hungriest nations on earth that are net exporters of food to rich nations (36 out of 40)

The funny part is, all or most of both of these groups, obese and starving, are malnourished. Along with the advent of industrialized farming, comes the inevitable consequence of nutrient poor crops. Then along comes nutrient poor animals, and of course malnourished people.

I mean seriously. The obesity problem is big, I get it, but how could we possibly let it get bigger than hunger? Well, to explain it simply, when you are not getting enough nutrients, your body keeps telling you you are hungry, and you continue to eat, even though you have had enough. Also, many of the food additives that exist today like MSG, Aspartame, and others actually turn off your body's natural alert system that tells it you are full, so you eat more.

It is each of our own responsibility to do what we can in our own spheres of influence to combat this imbalance in food distribution, and stop industrialized food production and distribution practices. When people are starving out there, it is up to each and every one of us to stop it. The fact that more people are overweight than starving should disgust you, yes, but it should also prove to you that there is hope. We know we have enough food to feed everyone. We just need to distribute it equally amongst people.

The least we can do is allow small farmers to operate without the same kinds of regulations as multinational corporations, so that at least those of us who are smart enough to know what real food looks and tastes like can have a chance at receiving proper nutrition. Buy only organic and locally grown produce, do not shop at corporations, and for your own sake, KILL YOUR TELEVISION.
Media is a grand manipulative tool that the large corporations use to control the masses. That's us. Good little sheep that just keep getting fatter and fatter, while there are starving people out there. Place the blame where it is due, Corporations are killing what is left of humanity people.

Monsanto, Dupont, and corporations like them have gone too far. They have created a vicious cycle of profit-driven food production, that leaves us as consumers starved for nutrients. First they sterilized the seeds, then the ground in which it grows, and now the sterilization reaches humans.

Eventually, we will be manufactured in test tubes, as genetically altered Corporate slaves, that are engineered from birth to be perfectly obedient little consumers. Stop the matrix from becoming a reality.

Buy Local, Eat Local, Live healthy . . . Kill Corporations

Corporations are Trying To Kill you With Fast Food

Not only was it bad enough that giant food corporations like McDonald's, Sysco, and Monsanto were contributing to the deaths of millions by way of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease . . . they are now on a rampage of adding new and dangerous chemicals to their products that can cause serious harm and even eventual death!

Please! Before you go out and eat another cheese burger, read the ingredients list. It is posted on the website, or easily googled. Now here is your homework assignment: Take any ingredients you don't recognize and research them. What you will discover will shock and dismay you. Let me get you started . . .

McDonald's Big Mac Ingredients List

Big Mac® sandwich: Beef Patty Big Mac® Bun Big Mac® Sauce Grill Seasoning Lettuce

Onions (dehydrated) Pickle Slices Processed Cheese Slice

Big Mac® Bun: Enriched wheat flour, water, high fructose corn syrup and/or glucose-fructose and/or sugar, yeast, vegetable oil (soybean and/or canola), salt, sesame seeds, calcium sulphate, calcium propionate, monoglycerides, enzymes, azodicarbonamide, AND MAY CONTAIN ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IN VARYING PROPORTIONS: diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono and diglycerides, BHT, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, wheat starch, calcium peroxide, wheat gluten, sorbitol, dextrin, malted barley flour, ascorbic acid, citric acid, calcium stearate, calcium iodate, silicon dioxide. CONTAINS: WHEAT, BARLEY, SESAME SEEDS

Big Mac® Sauce: Soybean oil, relish [pickles, sugar, glucose-fructose, vinegar, glucose, salt, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, spice extractives), prepared mustard [water, vinegar, mustard seed, salt, sugar, colour (caramel, turmeric), spices], water, frozen egg yolk, vinegar, onion powder, salt, mustard flour, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate, spices, garlic powder, hydrolyzed plant protein (corn, soy, wheat gluten), colour (paprika, caramel), calcium disodium EDTA. CONTAINS: MUSTARD, EGG, WHEAT, SOY

Pickle Slices: Cucumbers, water, distilled vinegar, salt, calcium chloride, potassium sorbate, potassium aluminum sulphate, natural flavours (plant source), polysorbate 80, extractives of turmeric (colour).

Processed Cheese Slice: Cheese (Milk, modified milk ingredients, bacterial culture, salt, calcium chloride, microbial enzyme, lipase), modified milk ingredients, water, sodium citrate and/or sodium phosphate, salt, potassium sorbate, citric acid, soy lecithin, colour (annatto). CONTAINS: MILK, SOY

KEY: SLIGHTLY TOXIC, GENETICALLY MODIFIED, DANGEROUS, CARCINOGENIC (Cancer Causing)

This is just in a BigMac. I have also done this before with the Chicken Mcnuggets, which are just as alarming. I would advise strongly against ingesting any kind of fast food in general, but recently the chemicals allowed into fast food have gotten worse thanks to the Codex Alimentarius. If you have not heard of this, it is an international code of standards for food and other products. It tells large corporations what substances and at what concentrations are safe for consumers. However, the codex is informed directly by the United Nations and the WHO, both of which have strong ties to major multinational corporations. Just as the history repeats itself, what the corporations in the U.S. have done through the USDA and the FDA, the Codex Alimentarius allows the larger world wide corporations to do: Essentially govern and regulate themselves, by their own standards.

The largest and most profitable industry in the U.S. and on the world scale, unless you count WAR, is the production and sale of pharmaceutical grade drugs. Some of these drugs are safe for human consumption and some are really dangerous. What is certain is that many of these drugs are preservatives, emulsifier, surfactants, and other useful chemicals for industry, that allow them to keep products on the shelves longer, and thus to make more money. Unfortunately for us, the consumer, many of these useful chemicals are really dangerous for us to ingest. Here is where the FDA, USDA, and Codex come in. . .

At first, they tell us the truth, so we trust them and give them authority, then they begin de-regulating industry, and dropping certain health and safety standards, so they can use these dangerous chemicals in their products without us being the wiser. If the FDA says it is safe, then it must be, right? Absolutely not! Not at this point. Most of the senior officials at the FDA and the USDA have worked for the largest corporations, like our good friend Monsanto. In fact, they could be seen at this point to be a direct branch of the multinational corporations they represent.

The same is true of the Codex Alimentarius, but on a much larger scale. It does however, trickle down to the level of the FDA and USDA, because these regulatory agencies draw on the Codex to derive their own product standards.

The scary part is . . . they don't give a fuck about us. That's right, in fact many of the world's elite and those in charge of writing these standards, the heads of these giant corporations, are outspoken about the fact that they believe the world is over-populated. Not only that, but that the over-population of the planet, is their most pressing concern. They tell us that the optimum global population would be roughly 1/2 Billion humans. This concern is already being dealt with through the use of the Codex, amongst other methods.

By progressively deregulating the corporations that make most of our consumer goods, and then actually even recommending chemicals that can now be used as deregulation goes into effect, Codex ensures that these chemicals will be included in our food, shampoos, lotions, and countless other products.

Just keep an eye on it. . . the first time I noticed it was on the back label of a snickers bar I bought in 2009, when the first wave of Codex deregulation took effect. There were a couple of new chemicals tacked on to the list of ingredients in the candy bar. So, I researched them, and found out the damaging effects. Needless to say, I do not consume processed candy, foods, or use synthetic products when I can avoid it at all.

The best advice I can give is that we should all consume strictly locally produced, Organic, and fair trade products. This may literally save your life to take this advice to heart. It may be difficult for some of us to transition to this life style, but let me assure you, it has numerous benefits. Besides staying fit and healthy, most if not all major health concerns disappear quickly. There is a wealth of evidence for this fact.

So next time McDonalds, Wendys, or any other shitty tells you their products are a healthy, balanced food-like product, safe for you to consume . . . tell them to shuv it.

Water

You are dehydrated. You are. Don't try to tell me you're not. I am too. We pretty much all are. I just read a book called 'Your Body's many Cries for Water" by Fereydoon Batmanghelidj. This man is amazing. He uses re-hydration methods to cure people of diseases. Thats right, drinking more water to cure diseases. In fact, our fine doctor has been able to cure countless patients of AIDS, Asthma, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Insulin-independent Diabetes, high blood pressure, and many many other diseases, just by giving them enough water.  

How is this possible you say? Well its really simple actually. Dr. Batmanghilidi discovered that your body sends out signals that it is dehydrated, and the feeling of 'dry mouth' is actually the last of those signals. Your body tells you that it needs water and is becoming dehydrated first through dysteptic pain, rheumatoid arthritis pain, anginal pain, low back pain, claudication pain(leg pain), migraine and hangover headaches, colitis pain, and constipation . . . etc 

So how much water is enough? He says that the absolute minimum daily intake of water should be six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day to maintain hydration, and that increases if you live in the desert or a really hot dry climate. 6-8 glasses times 8 ounces, that's roughly 64 ounces. The best times to drink water being 30 minutes before all meals and about 2 hours after all meals. Two more glasses should be added after the largest meal of the day.

He proposes an essential paradigm shift in modern medicine, from thinking about the regulation of bodily functions as dictated by the different solids, to thinking of them as being due to the liquids. He states, "Every function of the body is monitored and pegged to the efficient flow of water."

Since our human bodies are more than 75% liquid, and our brain more than 85%, it is essential that we discontinue thinking of ourselves as solid material beings. In terms of modern medicine, doctors are treating symptoms of 'diseases' that are actually our bodies signals that we need more water, often with 

drugs that can then further dehydrate the body. 

Doctors know that you should drink 8 glasses of water a day, and they may even tell you that. Most doctors have good intentions, but are limited by the system they operate within, and the incorrect paradigm that water is not the most important factor in regulating bodily function. What they can't and wont tell you is that most of the disorders and diseases that we experience in society today are a direct result of the body not getting enough water. 

But I drink 8 glasses of water a day, and I still have some of these issues . . .

Not true. Not possible. There are other factors. If you are taking any kind of medication, to counteract their dehydrating effects, our good doctor recommends 2 1/2 liters minimum daily, which is a lot more. if you drink coffee or tea, or god forbid soda, then you are actually dehydrating yourself more than if you had not drank that liquid at all. Alcohol is especially dangerous in this sense. These seemingly hydrating drinks actually leave you 50% by volume less hydrated than you started out. So if you are going to drink coffee or tea, you need to drink at least that much water. 

The most incredible findings in this book for me are the fact that Alzheimer's, hyper-tension, AIDS, and Diabetes can all be cured, by properly hydrating, and maintaining that level of hydration. Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj has cured over 3000 patients using this methed. 

Happy Hydrating ! 

Neotame and the Corporate Elitist Agenda

So if you didn't know for sure, or if you weren't convinced, corporations are actually trying to kill us. I have proof. Its really not a matter of the corporations themselves, they are just tools that are wielded by the ruling global elite. Don't be fooled by the laws that attribute personhood to corporations people, they are not human beings. Allowing them to be labeled as people under the law in the U.S. makes them much more useful tools. As 'people,' corporations can keep secrets, make private campaign contributions, and do loads of other nasty things because of their sheer size and consolidated spending power that no normal human being would ever be capable of. In effect, corporations are the most intense, disguised, powerful, and dangerous tools for the ruling elite to enact their conniving strategies of manipulation upon us all. What proof do I have you say?

This fancy little number is being marketed to us in mass quantities, and you have probably consumed some of it, without even knowing it. How can this be possible? The FDA and USDA say that Neotame  requires no labeling before being used in foods. That's right, let me repeat, NO LABELING, of any kind required. At least we could spot Aspartame on the label. . .

Aspartame and Neotame are made up of substances which metabolize into a highly toxic poison, our friend formaldehyde. In addition, they contain an exctiotoxic amino acid that agitates, thereby damaging nerves. Very similar to aspartame in chemical structure, Neotame has one chemical added that aspartame does not possess – 3-dimethylbutyl, which just so happens to be on the Environmental Protection Agency’s most hazardous chemical list.

How is this kind of thing possible? Well when you have the kind of revolving door policies for corporations and government offices that we do in the U.S. it is not only possible, but probable and encouraged. Remember the elite are the ones who influence the law-makers and and establish the standards in our society.

Check out this chart of revolving door politics:

http://media.mercola.com/ImageServer/public/2012/january/study1-big.jpg

This is unbelievable to me, and it should be outrageous to you as well, that we could allow for such a blatant conflict of interest to be common place within the regulatory agencies that are supposed to protect consumers . . .

So the next question is naturally 'what can we do to protect ourselves?'

The answer is eat only those food items that are certified organic. Better yet, Beyond Organic, which means that it was produced by you or someone you know and trust, and was not certified organic, but you know to be free of any of the bad stuff because you observed the production of it.

There are many sites and misinformed people claiming that Neotame can be used in Certified Organic products.  These claims have no validity from what I can find on the FDA and USDA sites. There is a list of food additives that are allowed to be included in organic foods, and it clearly states that any kind of synthetic flavoring agent is excluded from the possibility of being labeled organic. So as long as you stick to Organic foods and products, you are safe from the neuro-toxic effects of Neotame.

It is obvious that everyone should maintain a diet composed of nothing but organic, and locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. Now we all just have a little more incentive to resist the allure of the newest brightly packaged concoction Monsanto, or any other large-scale food-like product manufacturer. Consider this a warning label for all non-organic processed food items: It may contain Neotame, and you won't even know it, cause they don't have to label it . . .

16th Karmapa Stupa Crestone

 The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, is the 16th incarnation of the Karmapa, meaning "Master of all Buddha activity."

Karmapa is a Bodhisattva who reincarnates over and over again for the benefit of sentient beings. he is a highly realized mediation master, who has conquered disturbing emotions and taken control of the death process. Karmapa leaves a note every time he dies, explaining with precision where he will be reborn and who his parents will be. He is generally born knowing and, as soon as he can speak, telling people that he is Karmapa.

 Karmapa's current incarnation was telling his parents he was
Karmapa at age 3, and began giving teachings around age six.

The 17th Karmapa is a brilliantly vibrant young man named Trinley Thaye Dorje. Although forced out of Tibet, Karmapa has been able to further expand his scope of influence to the western world, and thus benefit many more countless beings through his great example.

We can have confidence in the teachings, and comfortable with our own death due to Karmapa's teachings and example. Because he is able to make the transition between life, death, and his next life so easily, as if he were merely changing clothes, he is able to show us that it is nothing to fear, and may in fact be a great opportunity to benefit many beings.

Karmapa was foretold of by the Buddha Shakyamuni, and has himself demonstrated amazing foresight. He left Tibet eight years before the Chinese invasion, and was able to bring many of his students and followers to freedom in India.

17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje

There exists a controversy amongst those unenlightened of us concerning the identity of the 17th Karmapa. . .

One of Karmapa's closest students Tai Situ Rinpoche, in a desperate attempt to seize control of the power structure of the lineage, produced a false letter concerning the whereabouts of the  new incarnation and took it upon himself to go find the boy.

After several scandals involving Tai Situ, including embezzlement, forgery, switching of his chosen candidate, and the fact that Orgyen Trinley is too old to possibly be the Karmapa, it is clear to those who are thinking for themselves just what is going on.

This scandal however, is very welcomed and has turned out to be a true blessing. Because of this other candidate, and his allegiance to Tai Situ, who works well with the Chinese oppressors for monetary reasons, our blessed H.H. The Karmapa Thaye Dorje has no need to fear for his life or persecution from the Chinese.

The Dalai Lama has been threatened and persecuted by the Chinese ceaselessly since he left Tibet. It is such a blessing that the Chinese now have their very own puppet Karmapa to tote around and not bother any of the true clear-minded practitioners just trying to meditate.

This also protects our lineage immensely from clouded and confused people, who would otherwise be infiltrating our ranks, possibly having disturbed ideas, unconstructive attitudes, or other personal issues which may cause distractions for many of us just trying to meditate. After all, it is clear from Buddha's teachings that there exists no permanent or real 'Self' with which to experience disturbing emotions or to have issues which may harm, instead of benefit others.

Orgyen Trinley (Chinese Karmapa)

Surely H. H. the 16th Karmapa knew what he was doing, because he kept closest to him not only Shamar Rinpoche, who discovered the 17th incarnation, but also Tai Situ, who recognizes the Chinese Karmapa. As a highly realized and enlightened master, The Karmapa is able to see the past, present, and future, down to the smallest detail. It is often said that an enlightened man is not only able to tell what is being made in the kitchen next door, he is also able to tell what is being thought by the cook while he is making it.

It is so beautiful, and I am so grateful for Orgyen Trinley, who will be considered a great Bodhisattva later on, because he is essentially protecting the real Karmapa from Chinese persecution. Also, he is acting as if he were Karmapa, so it is inevitable that he must learn the teachings of the Buddha, and of the Kagyu lineage, and transmit them to the best of his abilities to the Chinese and anyone else with a confused mind. This is surely an arduous task, that will require great skill and accumulate much merit.

16th Karmapa Rigpe Dorje

Karmapa is such a great Bodhisattva and leader of the spiritual lineage of the Karma Kagyu, which means 'oral transmission.'
The third Karmapa was the teacher of the first Dalai Lama, and has made an impact on the world in every one of his incarnations. His 17th incarnation will be no exception I'm sure, as Rigpe Dorje explicitly stated during his life many times, that his next reincarnation would be better than he was, which would seem incredible to those who knew or experienced this highly accomplished master.

Countless miraculous events surrounded to life of Rigpe Dorje, and his death was such an auspicious one as well. He confounded doctors who attended him, by keeping his heart center warm for three days following clinical death, and then shrunk his body to less than two feet tall, as an alternate display of the renowned rainbow body, after taking on about a dozen diseases, and prior to his cremation.

We are a part of the Vajrayana Buddhist Sangha or community, practicing through the assistance and guidance of Lama Ole Nydahl, who was instructed by the Sixteenth Karmapa to bring Tibetan Buddhism to the west, and has done just that. Lama Ole and his wife Hannah have started over 650 Buddhist center world wide.

Ole continues to benefit countless beings, by making himself available as a teacher, and traveling the entire world twice a year.

My wife and I are seen here in front of the Stupa Rigpe Dorje built in Crestone, CO. We were visiting the area, because our Diamond Way U.S. Sangha is in the process of purchasing an area of land less than an hour from the Stupa that will become  North America's largest Vajrayana retreat land. It is such a special area, that our Lama Ole found while traveling through. He noticed such auspicious signs there that he just had to make it a point to turn it  into a Buddhist refuge, so that we can all go and meditate there together.

Future Cabin and Gompa at Dakini Ranch

The site has adopted the name 'Dakini Ranch,' and from my own personal experience I can say that it definitely has quite a unique feel, as if floating in the clouds, and there are many auspicious features to it. We so look forward to having such an amazing place as a retreat center so close to our home, as it is only 4 hours drive for us.

It is such an inspiration to have a teacher like Lama Ole. He has made all of our activity possible, and I am so grateful. He is easily accessible for those who would wish to meet him. 

Please visit:

 http://www.diamondway.org/us/

or

http://www.diamondway-buddhism.org/

Guatemala

Guatemala

 You must go to the Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Antigua is nice, but its a crowded city, and Guatemala city is like some kind of terrible hell on earth, but the lake is one of the most serene places I have ever been in my life.

 The sunset and the sky in general, but especially at night, amazed me every time I took a moment to appreciate it.

Aldous Huxley wrote ,“really, too much of a good thing.” referring to the lake. 

The indigenous Mayans believe that the first complex life forms were born from the lake. It certainly does feel like to womb of the planet.

The most popular pueblo around the lake is called San Pedro, and where most of the party-scene is.

The lake looks just like the Mandlebrat fractal if viewed from the air, and is definitely a microcosm of the universe in its own unique way.

If you don't know about fractals, I can't help you, but you can look at many online. . . check out http://fractalfoundation.org/

At night, from where we were staying, very bright stars would line up with all of the major three volcano tops, and it would seem as if the universe was in perfect alignment. . .

    San Marcos de Atitlan is one fo the most beautiful Pueblos. It has a large community of healers from all over the world, practicing every form of the healing arts from yoga and Reiki, to chocolate ceremonies and sound healing. It is amazing.

You definitely have to go check out Santiago pueblo also. this is one of the oldest, and there are some strange things going on here. . .

  

There is a legend about a shaman who requested of the forest to send an emissary to heal the people of sicknesses brought in by the Spanish. One of the trees named 'Maximon' came alive, and traveled the whole lake, healing all of the people. Once his task was over however, he became a nuisance by using his powers to turn all of the elders from the villages into young girls, and having them wait on him while he smoked cigars and drank rum all day. 

Finally the people decided this had to be stopped, and so they all attacked the tree-man, and cut off his legs. He then agreed to stop his dastardly behavior, if the people would hold a parade in his honor once a year. This has been a tradition for many years. The tree-man is still there in a small church, which you must go see if you go there.                                                                                        

 He has an opening for his mouth, and takes offerings of rum, and of cigars, which I kid you not, he actually smokes. I did not believe this until I saw it for myself. He actually inhales, and the puffs out the smoke.

He has an attendant who is also very peculiar . . . the man looks just like the tree-man, and is literally growing roots out of the backs of his calves and ankles. 

This place is too magical to describe properly with words here, but you should definitely check it out for yourself.

Took my Skateboard to India . . .

Chennai, India

Had to do a spot of skateboarding in Kathmandu. This place is so amazing. We found some of the best hash, traveled to dozens of sacred sites, including Bodhinath, one of the world's biggest stupas, and several monasteries. Definitely go to Kathmandu if you can.


There is a hostel called the Kathmandu guest house, and it is cheap and really nice, with a view of Mount Everest from the roof, where you can sit and have breakfast. They also had herb growing in pots all over the place.

The entire surrounding countryside is littered with cannabis plants. They just grow along the ditches there. Many of the locals make hand made hash, opium, and it is even possible to find some nice sinsemilla flowers. It seems like most of India doesn't understand the whole, don't let the males pollinate the females thing.



Thoroughly enjoying ourselves . . .

Boddhinath Stupa, Nepal