CURRENT MISSION

To loosen my shoulders and learn to love a bit of the less publicized world. How does one learn to love the unknown? Books relay facts, teachers impart knowledge, only lived experience can nurture love.

ABOUT ME

Friends tell me I'm a calming presence. This is, I believe, because I possess that rare faculty of appreciative listening. I'm endlessly interested in humanity and strive to appreciate every interaction. Of course I often fail, who doesn't? Nonetheless this trait dominates my relationships, it is what people appreciate and notice about me.

My interests extend in all directions. I am very much a body and crave physical activity - dance, song, sport, massage or a silent stretch. Intellectualy I am a generalist with a specialty in philosophical inspection. That specialty is more natural than cultured. Although my major in University was philosophy, I was a distracted student, more likely to grab a book off a friend's shelf than to complete a class assignment.

What about me is evil? I'll leave that question to you. No doubt I will possess some trait with which you disagree. Nonetheless, on the whole I mix well with most cultures, counter-cultures and hidden nitches of humanity.

PHILOSOPHY

A human is no greater nor worse than the strength of his concepts. There is worth in every well developed concept, although one may revile it instinctively. People who live by the weak flame of undeveloped concepts are... slaves. They may be nice, you may enjoy their presence - but such people lack control over their thoughts, passions, lifes. Thus one should meditate often upon the concepts by which one lives. Concepts should be well understood. They should never stagnate but should change as experience dictates. I believe that if people live by this pattern humanity will increase in strength, independence, and diversity. Humanity itself will become a pantheon of demi-gods.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

As a homeless drifter I do my part by crashing couches, cleaning toilets and exhibiting appreciation for the devine beings who put me up. I'm an avid, if inexperienced chef, always happy to throw together some vegetables for my host.

Unfortunately, I'm a homeless traveler at present and cannot offer my hospitality as I would wish. When the year turns I hope to have a space of my own to offer travelers. Until then I spread the good word to friends and family.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Most of my couchsurfing experience has been informal. I have been traveling in "developing nations" and inevitabally many of the people with whom I stay lack Internet and remain ignorant of this glorious couchsurfing community. They are simply families with warm hearts.

However I have surfed a few couches in Nepal and have met one excellent man by the name of Nripal Adhikari who has extended far more than his couch to me. Thus you may say that if I am inexperienced quantitatively I am fortunate in the quality of my experiences.

I will soon be traveling through New Delhi and I hope to stay will locals while there - I'm none to anxious to enter than sea of humanity without a personal contact.

Interests

I once told a friend that while he is a great lover of humanity, I am simply a lover of humans. I am interested in great humans and in the greatness available to humanity but found only in select individuals. I worship excellence and am interested in all of its manifestations.

My interests are varied and impermanent, they swell and receed with the tide. They depend upon my environment; I prefer to experience what is best in my immediate environment.

Nonetheless, several trends follow me wherever I go. These great loves never wane: MOVEMENT - sports, dance, etc...; CONVERSATION - delving deep into a concept or wandering aimlessly with a beautiful mind; MUSIC - I am an inept musician but enamored with sound; EXPLORATION - a vast concept but one which I try to apply to all my experiences.

• books
• dancing
• environment
• meditation
• partying
• traveling
• music
• sports

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies.... delightful things but I never seem to find the time. I enjoy watching them but none jump to mind so I guess they're mainly a communal entertainment for me and, as such, temporary.

Music! "If you can talk you can sing if you can walk you can dance." Music and dance lift humanity towards godhood. I enjoy many sounds - some demand movement; some inspire thought; others evoke emotion or lull a man into a relaxed stupor. Again, I won't name names because to do so would be silly. The names that come to mind would be of no more import than the names I forget.

*Books* Until third grade I could hardly read. The teacher wanted to put me into a special Ed. class.... Then something clicked and I have read rapaciously ever since. When I was young books awakened new realities, they provided fodder for my developing imagination. Now I chew through books to get at the concepts buried within. Through books I can spy on genius. I can reach in slyly and pocket a golden nugget of wisdom.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've seen the sun set over many monuments and been party to the extremes of wealth and poverty but the image that flashes through my mind in calm carefree moments is my mother's shy smile smile. Close your eyes, activate your imagination and I'm sure you'll agree it's a glory to behold. I've also crossed the Tibetan plateau - Yunnan to Nepal - on motorbike. That was a fine bitch of a trip.

Teach, Learn, Share

I rant too much as is. If you desire a snippet from my mind you can read one of the other sections. Or, if you care to sit and read a good solid rant, give me a topic you're intersted in and I'll expound to an agravating degree.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, South Korea, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Costa Rica, Japan, Nepal, South Korea, United States

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