Friday, March 30, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
South Island
after hitch-hiking down to the south island, i am now staying with Andrew and Melisa who grow/sell flowers and raspberries here in Blenheim. I hope to amke it down to christchurch, dunedin, and then back up to golden bay in the next month. then ill head north again for the winter- where hopefully it will be a little bit warmer! hoping to work for a permaculture workshop in may and then sit another vipassana mediation course and do some more service at the center in helensville
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Goodbye Mangawhai, Kia Ora Coromandel!
As per the request of my loving and caring father, I shall provide some narrations of recent events and my current whereabouts.
I lived in a stone house. Originally built as a milking shed, it has been restored as an accommodation for visitors on this farm. It was quaint, cozy, and old-school. I read by candle light and ate local fruits and veggies. In exchange for for meals and a place to stay, I worked a few hours on the property. I scraped paint off old Kauri planks, did some planting and gardening, and built a footpath through the woods to a waterfall. Healthy, sustainable agriculture and "permaculture" will no doubt be a focus of my life. I believe that learning to function off-the-grid and support oneself through small scale farming and local community cooperation will be crucial as the food industry, politics, and world-wide ignorance become more and more out of hand. As I learn more about this way of living, I am excited to share this knowledge and lifestyle with my family and the rest of the world.
The beach wasn't far away, so sometimes we would head down to the check out the surf. I spent a few afternoons busking at local markets, and usually make enough to buy some chocolate! Kiwis are generally pretty friendly and I often strike up conversations with listeners.
As I work, sing, or just simply the stars, I wonder where I will go and what I will do in my lifetime. I feel privileged for the freedom and opportunities in my life. I am realizing that the spiritual ideal of true freedom is entirely possible and ready for anyone to experience. The only thing stopping us from being eternally happy, peaceful, and liberated is... ourselves. As fun, exciting, helpful, or pleasant as worldly activities may seem, I seek something beyond them. I feel my addictions and attachment to this world so strongly and am noticing how often they rule my life; it is difficult to work through them to maintain any kind of awareness. Even after observing hunger during a fast, my desire to over-eat and consume, consume, consume is astonishingly powerful- often overwhelming. But I always try to move forward with a positive attitude, knowing this all will change.
I am now in the Coromandel, where I will be living at a retreat center. Last night, after playing music at a cafe and jamming with some musical folks, I met up with Donna and Lee Bost. They treated me to dinner and we toured the peninsula together. It was great to see them again! Thanks Donna and Lee!
I lived in a stone house. Originally built as a milking shed, it has been restored as an accommodation for visitors on this farm. It was quaint, cozy, and old-school. I read by candle light and ate local fruits and veggies. In exchange for for meals and a place to stay, I worked a few hours on the property. I scraped paint off old Kauri planks, did some planting and gardening, and built a footpath through the woods to a waterfall. Healthy, sustainable agriculture and "permaculture" will no doubt be a focus of my life. I believe that learning to function off-the-grid and support oneself through small scale farming and local community cooperation will be crucial as the food industry, politics, and world-wide ignorance become more and more out of hand. As I learn more about this way of living, I am excited to share this knowledge and lifestyle with my family and the rest of the world.
The beach wasn't far away, so sometimes we would head down to the check out the surf. I spent a few afternoons busking at local markets, and usually make enough to buy some chocolate! Kiwis are generally pretty friendly and I often strike up conversations with listeners.
As I work, sing, or just simply the stars, I wonder where I will go and what I will do in my lifetime. I feel privileged for the freedom and opportunities in my life. I am realizing that the spiritual ideal of true freedom is entirely possible and ready for anyone to experience. The only thing stopping us from being eternally happy, peaceful, and liberated is... ourselves. As fun, exciting, helpful, or pleasant as worldly activities may seem, I seek something beyond them. I feel my addictions and attachment to this world so strongly and am noticing how often they rule my life; it is difficult to work through them to maintain any kind of awareness. Even after observing hunger during a fast, my desire to over-eat and consume, consume, consume is astonishingly powerful- often overwhelming. But I always try to move forward with a positive attitude, knowing this all will change.
I am now in the Coromandel, where I will be living at a retreat center. Last night, after playing music at a cafe and jamming with some musical folks, I met up with Donna and Lee Bost. They treated me to dinner and we toured the peninsula together. It was great to see them again! Thanks Donna and Lee!
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