GWV retreat 2013

[Jhanananda]

Thank-you Stu for checking in and letting us know you plan to attend the retreat.  Chances are it will be the usual handful of people who show up to the GWV retreats.

[Luke Avedon]

Hi Jeffrey,

I'm certainly interested in attending.  My schedule is still a bit up in the air.  My vote would be for a late summer retreat as in later august--but of course don't go to any trouble on my account as I'm not entirely sure I would be able to attend.

At what time would you need a definite yes or no?

Best, Luke

[nkrivosh]

Hi All, Jeff has put me in charge of organizing the first summer retreat. What we need to decide are which dates are best. So please share which dates are best for you. Lets assume we are doing the first retreat in Flagstaff for around 10 days, I think dates are flexible, we can do more, and we can relocate as we choose. Looking ahead, we have all of May, June, July, and August for this. I myself will most likely not be able to attend anything in August or end of July. Is there any interest for May or June?

Nikita

[Jhanananda]

Thank-you Nikita, for getting the ball rolling on a GWV summer 2013 retreat.  We have been discussing one since February.  Yesterday Nikita and I discussed the idea of holding a retreat in Havasupai.

Havasupai is a side canyon to the Grand Canyon, and sports several spectacular waterfalls, and turquoise water filled travertine pools. It would make an excellent retreat site.  I spent 10 days on solo retreat there in 1996.

To get to Havasupai drive north from Williams, AZ until the road ends, then leave your car in the parking lot and hike 8 miles to the reservation town of Supai, then walk another 2 miles to the camp ground.  Most campsites are on the bank of the Supai creek.

It is a long hike, but well worth the effort for a once in a lifetime experience.

[Jhanananda]

Recently I purchased a 40qt DC refrigerator for use at our GWV wilderness retreats.  I found it cheap at a thrift store because it was missing its power cord.  So, today I made a power cord for it to hook up to the solar panels and 4 batteries on my van.  So it is a solar powered 40qt DC refrigerator.  We can now keep some food and drinks cold at our retreats.

[Jhanananda]

This morning I dug out another 12V DC refrigerator.  I will be testing both refrigerators to see if they will meet our needs on retreat this summer, and not drain my batteries.

Nikita and I will be exploring campsites in the various National Forests in Northern Arizona for the next few weeks.  We hope to locate one or more sites to share with you all.

[nkrivosh]

those photos of Havasupai look like paradise. thanks for posting

[Jhanananda]

Thanks, Nikita, Havasupai is a paradise; and the Supai people choose to live pre-industrial, so anyone visiting their canyon-paradise, must walk, or ride a horse, or take the once-a-day helicopter that delivers and picks up the mail, and a few necessities for the only store in the village.

Upon some reflection I will have decline attending a retreat there unless a trip on the helicopter is arranged, because if I walked it, I would have to be taken to the hospital via the helicopter anyway, as this beast is just getting to old to work that hard.

[Jhanananda]

Today a man called me to let me know he has 40 gallons of waste oil for me to pickup.  With the 70 gallons that Nikita and I picked up last week, and the 200 gallons that was on hand before that, we have far more fuel than we need, but if we do not service our accounts, then they will look elsewhere for the service. So, I propose that anyone coming to the retreat driving in a diesel powered vehicle could have their fuel tank filled up, if they were OK with DIY diesel fuel.

[Jhanananda]

Today Nikita and I scouted possible sites for the 2013 GWV summer retreat.  This is what we found

This is the first site.  It seemed quiet, cool, off the main road, but not far from Flagstaff, AZ.  There is also a spring not far away, where we can get fresh water.

We scouted deeper into the interior and found this long meadow, which is more remote, and more beautiful.  The elevation at both sites is about 7300 feet (2200 meters) above sea level.

Nikita and I plan to camp there for a few days around the 15th of May.  Anyone who wishes to join us may.  Just let us know to expect you.

[Jhanananda]

Today Nikita and I made 90 gallons of diesel fuel blend.  Two days ago we made 20 gallons of diesel fuel blend, which is now in my fuel tank.  Tomorrow morning we plan to make another 20 gallons of diesel fuel blend.  So we have a total of 130 gallons of fuel on hand.  So we are ready to drive to a retreat wherever someone wants one.

Nikita and I plan to camp in the Bradshaw Mountains tomorrow night and through the weekend.  Come and join us on retreat.

[Jhanananda]

I ran into this yesterday...  Stu   http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1776324009/brck-your-backup-generator-for-the-internet  PS Where do we stand on 2013 Retreat dates?

Thanks, Stu, for the suggestion of the BRCK backup generator for the internet.  Sounds like a good idea that I will have to investigate for our use on retreat.

As for where we stand on a date, time a location for a retreat; I have been waiting for some input to see where and when it works for others, but only a few have expressed an interest, no one has really made a specific date, so how about the summer solstice June 20-30, at the meadow near Flagstaff that I posted up thread?

[stugandolf]

I vote 2 x's for Jeff's retreat proposal dates - summer solstice June 20- June 30 - I would have voted more, but 2 x's is enough.  Stu

[nkrivosh]

I'd prefer June 13th to the 23rd because I plan to be in Louisville early July and I'd be road trippin by car. But 20 to 30 may also be fine. Lets see if anyone else makes a suggestion.

[Jhanananda]

Hello friends, thank-you Stu, and Nikita, for maintaining your interest in a retreat.  I have been reflecting upon the 13 years that I have been trying to build a community of mystics; and I have had to accept that it has been as fruitless as herding cats.  So, I plan to be at the campsite mentioned above from June 14th to the 30th.  Any sincere seeker is welcome to join me there.

I will not publicly post directions to any retreat, to avoid giving my persecutors an easy means of harassing us. Just send me a private message if you are planning on attending.  I will post private messages to those who have expressed an interest.

To make retreating with me accessible to more I plan to spend 2 weeks of every month for the next 3 months on retreat in the wilderness.  Those retreats are likely to be within 100 miles of Sedona.

One of my forums has recently been brought down, and I do not think it is coming back.  Expect that SPAMMers, and hackers will bring down this forum, as well as the GWV's web site.

I plan to become an island unto myself.  So, become an island unto yourself.  Take refuge in the charisms.  Be disciplined, meditate deeply, and saturate yourself in the charisms.