CURRENT MISSION

To actually be in all the moments....

ABOUT ME

Ahhh, all about me.

I turned thirty this year... and it hasn't meant very much at all (it seems there's a lot of age worry going around).

I studied Philosophy at uni, and have always been on something of a mission to find the meaning of things. Without realising it that was my major driving force throughout my twenties and younger. These days I feel like I've found the answers I was seeking (they lie along the path of enlightenment). This may sound a bit like spiritual nonsense to some, but it's very much in the forefront of my thinking these days.

I am learning to become a freelance web designer, and look forward to the day when I'm financially independant and can roam this here beautiful world with a skill to trade for those token pieces of metal and paper called money (along with the search for meaning in my twenties, I built up quite a strong anti-capitalist streak in myself. It's still there to a large degree, in less reactive form).

Works of literature like Geothe's Faust, and poetry by Walt Whitman (and even classical music) have come to be really juicy, sumptuous, brain candy for me lately. I don't really know where it's come from, I never had the patience for classic work of art before. I must be maturing or something!

I can get along with most people. I appreciate people who have thought about things a bit... yaknow, interesting types. This world is full of so much beauty, and a lot of comes from interacting with all the beautiful people out there.

PHILOSOPHY

This moment is all that exists.

Most of the moments of our waking lives - especially when out in nature, eating naturally, when communing - are profound and 'spiritual' enough for us not to have to fall back on believing in men in the sky, or in the traditional definition of an 'after life'. Spirituality is inate; but we have the power to think and search; I don't find the idea of contracting out spirituality to some organised religious structure very appealing at all.

I am pretty suspicious of most institutions, esp. governments and most corporate organisations (most seem immoral and exploitative). As little institutions become big institutions, they seem to lose those founding ideals and most become dysfunctional and bureaucratic. I will write a book on this phenomenon one day!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have surfed twice, once in Berlin and once in England. Both where very positive experiences. I hope to host when I have a place of my own. The whole idea of Couchsurfing gives me a nice warm connected feeling... bring on the community!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Two surfs. No hosting as yet.

Interests

Reading: Alan Watts, Jed McKenna, Walt Whitman.

I love spiritual literature... but am not so sure about the 'industry' (and a lot of the zealots) that surround it. Alan Watts is fantastic, and the book 'Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing' by Jed McKenna changed everything for me (no overstatement).

A Walt Whitman quote off the top of my bonnet:

"I think I could turn and live with the animals,
they are so placid and self-contained.
I stand and look at them long and long.

They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
they do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins.
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to god.
Not one is dissatified,
not one is demented with the mania of owning things.
Not one kneels to another,
nor to his kind that lived a thousand years ago.
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth"
- Walt Whitman

And that my friend is what can only be described as brilliant.

I am pretty interested in living naturally. Food and nutrition are very important to me (I have found my near perfect diet these days. It keeps me going long and long). I plan to grow my own food at some point, and I picture my future containing a house in the country, a family, natural surroundings, self-sustainment, animal husbandry, all of that. Me and my family, in proximity with nature (it is our home after all).

I'm pretty into computers, having spent a lot of time on them over the years. This is at odds with the natural life, but they are pretty amazing machines (capable of beauty) when used in moderation (as an addition to life, not a replacement for it).

That's enough of me for now then.

• animals
• arts
• books
• literature
• poetry
• design
• beauty
• dining
• dieting
• reading
• music
• classical music
• buddhist
• freelancing
• psychology

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: I Heart Huckabees was a great film. Fight Club was my favourite for many years. Ingmar Bergman films are cool. V for Vendetta. Good Will Hunting

Music: I have always loved Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. These days I have an ipod filled with so much... I love the Killers... and Van Morrison is pretty special... ohh, Cat Stevens too. Very good.

Books: Oh, so many to mention.
- Jed McKenna, mentioned above.

- Have loved the works of Robert Anton Wilson in the past... and anything by Alan Watts or Osho I usually find really stimulating.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I had a kidney transplant when I was 10 years old! 20 years ago now. That's a pretty significant thing... I'm doing fine though these days, thanks for asking.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know a lot about computers. I can usually fix ailing old grandpa ones... and I like optimising them.

I have a mass of disparate knowledge in my head about philosophy, psychology, buddhism, enlightenment, consciousness etc... let's get talking!

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Germany

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom

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