CURRENT MISSION

To live in accordance with the principle of ahisma

ABOUT ME

We are two wandering, yet peaceful spirits, a philosopher and an artist. We are aged 27 (Jonathan) and 30 (Briana). We are interested in learning so as to live and work towards upbuilding and life-giving ends. We are motivated towards the creative and away from the destructive: towards laughter, tasty food, good drink, live music, and nearly all forms of ridiculousness.

PHILOSOPHY

We live our life in an attempt to follow a general principle of 'ahisma,' particularly as modelled by traditional figures such as M. Gandhi. In short, we understand it as life aimed at that which is constructive, creative, and essentially life-giving, a life aimed away from activities and patterns of destruction and death. On an immediate level we practice vegetarianism, promote environmental sustainability and compassionate living, and attempt to engage in meaningful positive relationships. On a more general level we pursue a flourishing way of being-in-the-world, which includes the flourishing of ourselves as individuals as well as the flourishing of the people and places in our ever-changing world. All of that said, we also like to "cut loose" and sing and drink and make memories. Joie d'vie in the best of Nietzschean spirits. Like Zorba the Greek.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We are interested in exploring the effectiveness of intentional community. We are often travelling, but would love to offer our couch whenever we are home (in Austin). We are fairly busy folks so sometimes as hosts we can only offer a place to crash and you will have to do your exploring without us (sadly). We will offer what we can though.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

See above.

Interests

In no particular order:
--> painting and glassblowing
--> outdoor activity (hiking; biking; tree-planting; skiing; swimming; climbing; etc.)
--> reading
--> writing
--> playing/listening to music
--> board games
--> stimulating (or unstimulating) conversation
--> composting
--> sports

• writing
• singing
• dining
• drinking
• board games
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• music
• live music
• guitar
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• skiing
• sports
• rock climbing
• swimming
• philosophy

Music, Movies, and Books

BOOKS:
Soren Kierkegaard - everything
Herman Hesse - everything
David James Duncan - The Brothers K
Nicole Klauss - The History of Love
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - The Little Prince
Fyodor Dostoevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Aldo Leopold - A Sand County Almanac
Erwin Schrödinger - What is Life?
J.R.R. Tolkien - Lord of the Rings
Rainer Marie Rilke - everything
Doris Lessing - The Golden Notebook
Eric Jong - Fear of Flying; Any Woman's Blues

MUSIC:
- Ornette Coleman
- The Meteors
- Ryan Adams
- Neil Young
- the White Stripes
- Bruce Cockburn
- Blind Melon
- the Tragically Hip
- Neutral Milk Hotel
- Joni Mitchell
- Daisy May

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

-been attacked by a bear (Briana)
-hitch-hiked across the United States and Northern Europe (Jonathan)

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach:
-basic (very basic) guitar
-philosophical explication
-composting
-general environmental stuff
-tree-planting

Learn:
-German (language)
-different cuisine
-secret awesome music
-anything that feels worth offering

Share:
-artistic enthusiasm
-philosophical/theological discourse

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States