- About the Founder
In order to provide you with perspective on the energy behind the site, it may be helpful to be aware of my life and background. First of all, I may be a fool. A fool who believes that one being can do really big things to help us all out. I've been told by some whom I respect that we can have little effect and that there is too much sleep and momentum in the world to effect much change. And, that we cannot see through the grand illusion presented as Samsara, Original Sin, The Matrix, and Maya. They may be right, but I have also been taught to not hold on ideas - any ideas. Besides, we all need a role in life and this one appears to have called me. The calling has always been there, I just didn't have the guts to listen. So, I've chosen to play the role of someone who is out to aid in big changes. If that is foolish, so be it. I have to live with myself and it is much easier to live this life if I am active and communicating from the perspectives of a scientist. monk, and artist. It seems to be what I was designed to do.
Expanding perspective has always been my passion. There is virtually nothing that is not of interest and boredom is never an issue. "Wow" is a common thought and sharing the accompanying feeling is one of my greatest pleasures. Most of us put severe and false limits on the possibilities of what can happen in our own lives and that of the world. We only imagine ourselves to be cripples. The concept of limits is one that I absolutely do not share. "I can't" and "It can't happen" are not phrases that appear in my vocabulary. Essentially all I'm doing is standing up with some other beings in a room full of fake hunchbacks and saying that its a much nicer view up here.
My official university training is as a biologist and the intention was to become a professor, but that was sidetracked by a career in photography, and now software, web design and some other creative things are thrown in. The education has continued by incessant observation through meditating, exploring, participating, reading, and listening. Spirituality and religion, sciences, math, cosmology, art, and music are just a few of the major areas of study. I even watch PBS programs on math at three AM. I might be called an "adaptive generalist"; someone whose specialty is being a generalist - seeing many sides to a situation.
I've created and run a business (it actually ran me) with employees, but now work on my own and greatly prefer it. I've been an activist, always vote, personally lobbied the state legislature, and believe that a country runs best when each citizen shares responsibility. This site is one of my responsibilities. Living with great consideration for the environment is also a prime responsibility I gladly take on. My house uses about half the energy of my neighbors, my car is rarely driven, and the household produces about one small bag of garbage every 10 days as we consume very little, and virtually all of the other material is reused and recycled. I plan to build an off-the-grid solar house, buy a hybrid auto, and perhaps, an ocean going sailboat.
I do many of the non-motorized adventure sports, and at last count, have been to about 30 countries and 4 continents as a traveler, not a tourist. There have been quiet periods in monasteries, sunrises in ancient forts, lantern lit nights in a small village in the mountains of Crete with communists, business meetings in Australia, a helicopter rescue at sea, and a high speed head-on collision in New Zealand. I know relationship, loneliness, joy, depression, superb health, and extended health problems. I have assisted loved ones as their bodies whithered away from cancer and arthritis while their grace has only grown. Their spirits and joy expanded.
Neither the Republicans, the Democrats, nor most organizations have any real attraction. Freedom and free-thinking/feeling are of utmost importance. Groups, while very useful in many instances, also have a tendency to stifle freedom and think in a tribal or cult-like fashion. They need to be torn down and be rebuilt once in a while. It all comes down to balance and harmony.
While I may have a relatively broad background, and perhaps then, a somewhat broad perspective, there is one thing that I have never really understood. That is, how can one being deliberately hurt another or want another do badly. My view is that the goal is for all of us to do well. Not do things better than others, just the best that we can do. Imagine what the world would be like if we all did our best and helped others rather than tried to beat them. Even as a small child, it hurt greatly to see how others acted, especially in regards to the natural world with which I have always been so in love. I have always carried this hurt and the pain of directly watching the earth injured by unaware people as in Fiji, where hundreds of years or reef were destroyed each day by fisherman using dynamite.
As someone born in America who respects the basic principles that the nation was founded on, I'm deeply disturbed to see how the present government of the United States shows little respect for the Constitution and Democracy. It is the government itself that freely and usually covertly defies both the letter and spirit of the law. My country is also acting as a uneducated, unaware, selfish and uncaring bully in the world. Great lies are being told and great games are being played throughout society, yet few notice. Most of us walk around in a trance. It's all due to ignorance and I'll do whatever I can to help us all become aware. I've always felt and seen what needed to be done to help the world. But, I was a "cause without a rebel." Now, the pain of inaction is too great. Here is the peaceful rebel. I pray with all my heart and mind that this small effort helps.
