The Zoopranos

[Alexander]

https://youtu.be/W2V9LfTKuDs

[Jhanananda]

An orangutan driving a golf cart through a zoo was pretty funny. I wonder if it is common for him to do that, and do they have any accidents because of allowing him to?

[Alexander]

An orangutan driving a golf cart through a zoo was pretty funny. I wonder if it is common for him to do that, and do they have any accidents because of allowing

The world is a zoo

[Jhanananda]

The world is a zoo

That I agree with. To me civilization is completely insane, and the only way to sanity is leading a rigorous, self-aware contemplative life, and getting as far away from materialism as possible.

[Tad]

Orangutan looks like a real boss driving the cart, just like Tony Soprano

Jhananda, I keep trying to make civilization work while Im stuck in it, but there is too much suffering. I need to find a way to get away from it to at least where Im not as entangled as currently. I think the last time when I was starting to feel some inner goodness was when I had COVID and just spent two weeks at home meditating in bed, going to a forest, and just barely doing anything. The mind was able to slow down and it felt so good. But as soon as I got back to work and daily struggle, the goodness ended pretty quickly. I think someone with strong samadhi would be able to take the stress of fast civilized life better. However, for someone that is already in some sort of mental pain, civilization is just too much.

[KriyaYogi]

Tad maybe you can find a way to generate passive streams of income.  I have recently become interested in this idea.  I was researching ice machine vending this week.  Ice machines apparently require an initial investment and then later only a small amount of regular servicing of a few hours weekly.  There are no purchasable goods for them needed, unless they break, unlike regular vending machines.

Another alternative is landlording.  By purchasing some property you could potentially have close to passive forms of income that let you continue your retreat lifestyle. 

There may be other passive forms of income.  Some cities now are considering Universal Basic Income as well, although the decision to give out free money seems to be in the early states so far.  As more things become automated, we might see more free money given out, as well as price drops...

[Tad]

Passive income is of course a good idea. What do you think the minimum monthly income would be to support retreat lifestyle?

[KriyaYogi]

Tad I suppose it depends on each individual.  I receive 280$ of food stamps monthly and a free government SIM card for calls.  My credit card bills tend to be around 300$ for various other foods not supported by stamps, supplements, gas, beer, clothing, and retreat supplies such as rosaries as well as going out to dinner once a month.  I spend maybe 75$ cash a month as well at a local farm buying milk. 

I suppose a person could forage or live on a calorie restricted diet but I don't myself.   That puts my total around 600-700$ minus food stamp costs of expenses a month.  We recently got rid of my car because it was old and I drive a family car now when needed, which for now saves a bit.  I don't pay rent but some might.  With rent the costs would be alot more I imagine.  I went into this retreat with a good amount of savings, so far I have spent 5000$ or so of my own money.

I'm considering online focus groups or making money through online passive methods such as maybe drop shipping as well as I go into my second year of retreat.

-David

[Tad]

The biggest expense is clearly housing. Once that is taken care of, then there is not that much money needed to survive.

[KriyaYogi]

Yeah I suppose a person could survive on any means if it came down to dire circumstances.  I suppose it depends on what a person's standard of living is.  I know there are Yogis in Bhutan, India, Nepal, etc... living in caves maybe owning a cow for sustenance.  I still have some material attachments so I like to live in a house and occasionally use a car.  I like to have access to the internet, movies and a cellular phone as well as have coffee during the day and on some evenings a few beers and newer clothing so I suppose it adds up....  Theoretically a retreat could be done free or almost free if you were brave enough and resourceful enough I suppose.
-David

[Jhanananda]

The biggest expense is clearly housing. Once that is taken care of, then there is not that much money needed to survive.

Living in a motorhome or a van becomes very inexp3nsive as long as one is not doing a lot of driving

Yeah I suppose a person could survive on any means if it came down to dire circumstances.  I suppose it depends on what a person's standard of living is.  I know there are Yogis in Bhutan, India, Nepal, etc... living in caves maybe owning a cow for sustenance.  I still have some material attachments so I like to live in a house and occasionally use a car.  I like to have access to the internet, movies and a cellular phone as well as have coffee during the day and on some evenings a few beers and newer clothing so I suppose it adds up....  Theoretically a retreat could be done free or almost free if you were brave enough and resourceful enough I suppose.
-David

Here in the USA we can receive food stamps for food, plus go to the local food bank to augment nutrition, and once one is on food stamps then a free smartphone thanks to uncle Sam can all be had.