I've determined that it's too difficult for me to write about work already completed before I keep a daily journal. Therefore, I'm going to keep a day-to-day record and use my "time machine" dialogue to document work already completed.
I planned to go to The Rock (aka Jones Mountain) today. Got caught up in a business conference earlier, so I was unable to get to the mountains. Gabriel has a baseball game tomorrow and I have a training class on Friday, so I may not make it back to Shambhala until Saturday.
Taking a few of the tiki torches on the next visit. The torches will provide great ambiance and the citronella oil will ward off mosquitoes.
Planning to open my mill to make lumber from felled trees. News flash -- making lumber is VERY HARD WORK. It took me an hour to cut a piece of wood that is only big enough for me to use as a paddle for Gabriel's butt. It's a darn good paddle, but I need to finish the base for my primary tent. I am leaning very heavily in favor of getting 4x8 foot sheets of plywood from Home Depot. Yes, it will be difficult lugging wood that large and heavy up the hill. However, if I have the wood cut to 4x6 feet sheets, the wood might be easier to lift and control. As I stated previously, I MUST finish the base and install the bathroom so that I can stay overnight.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
In the Beginning...
Shambhala is commonly understood to be a
"place of peace and tranquility". Tibetan sacred texts speak of a mystical kingdom called
Shambhala hidden behind snow peaks. Both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions say it
contains a magnificent central palace radiating a powerful, diamondlike
light.
Creating Shambhala began January, 2015 on property owned in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California. This blog is intended to show the work, energy, and fun that is going into creating Shambhala. Shambhala is real and is my sanctuary. It is a place of peace and tranquility. The area chosen is entirely made of decomposing granite. This is great because the area may get a little dusty, but it does not get dirty or muddy when it rains and/or snows. The overall pad size is 30 feet by 75 feet. It is unlikely that I will be able to have a road constructed up the mountain to reach the area, so I have decided to build Shambhala using the raw materials on the land.
I admit that I am not the best at stopping to document my daily activities. I think it stems from the fact that I don't think many truly care about what I am doing in my life. I assume that most people are like me and have many personal concerns that require much of their attention. Why take the time to read about someone else in a Blog post? However, it appears that I am in the minority (yet again) as I do not even find it necessary to have a Facebook account. There are few people who I call friends. They are "real" and not "virtual" people who I see when possible. It's ok if we don't talk for months. It is great to see them when I do. And, guess what; we have hours and hours of face-to-face conversation because we have not spoiled the plots by posting our lives for all to see on social media.
The site plan was drawn on the original image of the site. Measurements were made and a general idea of what I wanted started to take shape.
To reach the site, the trek from street level is about 1/4 mile with a 300 foot elevation gain. Climbing Jones Mountain will take your breath away in more ways than one. I like to think of it as purging the urban air with all of its impurties and replacing the air in the lungs with refreshing and healthy mountain air. One can really tell the difference once the exchange has taken place. Breathing is much easier and refreshing. I suggest that anyone who does not get winded while in route to Shambhala, either climb Jones Mountain again or run up Jones Mountain to reach the site.
Building and maintaining the site has been challenging. Mother Nature wreaked havoc via unseasonable snow and strong winds in the area. I have had to rebuild the screen tent 3 times so far. I replaced the factory aluminum poles with 1/4" and 1/2" EMT to add strength to the framing structure. Some of the tarp areas were reenforced with additional 4 mil tarp. Areas of the mesh were sewn and repaired.
However, one area has only had to be created once and continues to be a favorite place -- the hammock. The area selected is between two 7 foot round pine trees. I'd like to remove the granite boulder directly under the center, however, it does not pose an immediate problem.
The hammock provides orchestra seating to listen to the creek winding through the valley below as the wind gently rocks the hammock to and fro. The urban world fades away as you ingest the mountain air. A short nap in the hammock is in order and is rejuvenating.
The hammock has become too popular. There are times that I would like to relax in my hammock and find that others have taken liberties. :<)
Buddhist texts say that
Shambhala can be reached only by a long and difficult journey across a
wilderness of deserts and mountains, and warn that only those who are
called and have the necessary spiritual preparation will be able to find
it.
If you feel worthy and choose to take the journey to reach Shambhala, you will find that it is still a work in progress.
The screen tent has been resurrected, the kitchen is taking shape and the fire pits are ready for use. Two milestones are the completion of the tent base and the bathroom. The tent base will allow me to pitch the 8' x 10' "A" frame wall tent. I plan to build furnishings for the interior, however, I need to read more on how to build furniture from raw timber. The other milestone is the bathroom. Currently, anything other than urinating at the site is complicated. There is a Porta-Poti 6000 toilet that is going into service very soon. I've modified some aspects of the toilet to make it more user friendly. The modifications are not limited to the commode chair that serves as the framework for the toilet. Tent and toilet make it possible for me to stay overnight.
As the Shambhala creator and ruler it is incumbent on me to provide all of the essentials needed for a comfort level to help one seeking enlightenment. The lama stated that the ruler of Shambhala is 'ever vigilant in the cause of mankind': he sees all the events of earth in his 'magic mirror' and 'the might of his thought penetrates into far-off lands'. He stressed that the secrets of Shambhala are well guarded, and that it is impossible for anybody to reach Shambhala unless their karma is ready and they are called. Similarly, the Hindu Puranas say that a future world redeemer -- the kalki-avatara, the tenth and final manifestation of Vishnu -- will come from Shambhala.
This is the first post of many that will show Shambhala to the world. However, "...it is impossible for anybody to reach Shambhala unless their karma is ready and they are called."
Creating Shambhala began January, 2015 on property owned in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California. This blog is intended to show the work, energy, and fun that is going into creating Shambhala. Shambhala is real and is my sanctuary. It is a place of peace and tranquility. The area chosen is entirely made of decomposing granite. This is great because the area may get a little dusty, but it does not get dirty or muddy when it rains and/or snows. The overall pad size is 30 feet by 75 feet. It is unlikely that I will be able to have a road constructed up the mountain to reach the area, so I have decided to build Shambhala using the raw materials on the land.
I admit that I am not the best at stopping to document my daily activities. I think it stems from the fact that I don't think many truly care about what I am doing in my life. I assume that most people are like me and have many personal concerns that require much of their attention. Why take the time to read about someone else in a Blog post? However, it appears that I am in the minority (yet again) as I do not even find it necessary to have a Facebook account. There are few people who I call friends. They are "real" and not "virtual" people who I see when possible. It's ok if we don't talk for months. It is great to see them when I do. And, guess what; we have hours and hours of face-to-face conversation because we have not spoiled the plots by posting our lives for all to see on social media.
Building and maintaining the site has been challenging. Mother Nature wreaked havoc via unseasonable snow and strong winds in the area. I have had to rebuild the screen tent 3 times so far. I replaced the factory aluminum poles with 1/4" and 1/2" EMT to add strength to the framing structure. Some of the tarp areas were reenforced with additional 4 mil tarp. Areas of the mesh were sewn and repaired.
If you feel worthy and choose to take the journey to reach Shambhala, you will find that it is still a work in progress.
As the Shambhala creator and ruler it is incumbent on me to provide all of the essentials needed for a comfort level to help one seeking enlightenment. The lama stated that the ruler of Shambhala is 'ever vigilant in the cause of mankind': he sees all the events of earth in his 'magic mirror' and 'the might of his thought penetrates into far-off lands'. He stressed that the secrets of Shambhala are well guarded, and that it is impossible for anybody to reach Shambhala unless their karma is ready and they are called. Similarly, the Hindu Puranas say that a future world redeemer -- the kalki-avatara, the tenth and final manifestation of Vishnu -- will come from Shambhala.
This is the first post of many that will show Shambhala to the world. However, "...it is impossible for anybody to reach Shambhala unless their karma is ready and they are called."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)