Swiss company The Wall AG has a perfect solution for third-world shanty towns, semi-permanent refugee camps and approximately 7.2% of adult Americans: paper houses!
This isn't mere papercraft—the Universal World House is a $5,000, 390-square-foot modular home, outfitted with plumbing and boarding facilities to support up to eight residents each. The secret of its construction is its "paper" shell; the resin-soaked cellulose, made from recycled paper, is shaped into honeycomb walls, which provide structural integrity and insulation to the houses. The house has a convertible closed/open-air kitchen with table and benches. A few countries have placed orders for the UWH, including Nigeria and Angola.
*excerpted from story by John Herrman
January 19, 2009
Live Recycled in a $5,000 Paper House
January 16, 2009
Message from Swami Vidyadhishananda
14th January 2009
Makara Sankranti
Blessed Soul & Adorable Self,
I fondly remember all of your honourable and enthusiastic participation at our recent fellowships. I convey my earnest wishes on this auspicious occasion of the Vedic soli-lunar calendar day of Makara Sankranti, the entry day of Sun into Capricorn. The Sun rises to dispel the darkness of night by its own light. Likewise, the light of spiritual teachings arise to destroy ignorance. However, they cannot illuminate the Self. The Self is luminous like the Sun, and is verily the substratum of these illuminating teachings.
Everyone in essence is self-luminous waiting to proclaim one's pure luminary status by striving, and manifesting the promise of the spiritual teachings. Remember that faith also needs to be cultivated just as a genius needs prodding and practice. When the rays of yearning meet the rays of discourse emanating from the heart of the Guru (a spiritual master), it heralds a powerful wave of spiritual regeneration in the seeker and in the environment. You all help create this magic that fellowships (satsanga) are meant to bring about.
Outwardly, I live in harmony with the Divine Mother and her abundant nature, but inwardly I am drunk steeped with the wine of the mystic. For the wandering mendicant, realization is the fruit of seclusion. For the wondering recluse, meditation is the food for the soul. My long stretches of inner silence during wandering and wondering in forests, caves, altars and monasteries where often the light of Sun is unable to brighten the day, have been fully lit by the light of unalloyed awareness. Even in isolated places I am not lonely because I am alone with God.
I bear many testimonials of my wondering and wandering in Himalaya . At every reflective pause during my trekking, I have been taken backwards through the labyrinth of time. The treks were filled with frequent stops in villages where I often sat and took meals with the most unassuming seekers on my way to remote caves and altars. I offered my prayers at each such site, recognizing the silent blessings flowing forth from these living shrines.
The entire Himālayan range spans about 3000 km and has three layers of mountains acting as a receptacle for a number of glaciers and lakes. The lower Himālayan ranges hold more vegetation and rare medicinal herbs which survive the wintry conditions of somewhat lower altitudes. Himālaya literally translates as the abode of the snow, but has been called the heart and soul of the gods (Devatātma) by the famous Sanskrit poet Kālidasa. Well known for its mystical tradition, it is home to a number of yoga lineages. Most of the distinct mountains have names and are revered as entities each embodying a stream of knowledge. Traditionally, a spiritual lineage of masters is connected with a distinct mountain and a particular esoteric heritage.
The vast body of glaciers and lakes (such as the Mānasarovar next to Mount Kailāsh ) represent the sublime knowledge. And the melted snow that forms their waters captures the essence of divine grace bestowed from the mountaintops. Therein, the glaciers are adored as the body of knowledge frozen and preserved for a timed release. The abundant spree of rivers and rivulets represent the streams of knowledge reaching out to the parched lands to quench thirsty souls. Himālaya is thus considered to be the disseminator of spiritual knowledge and divine inspiration, precipitating the higher knowledge from the yonder abodes for genuine seekers. The mountain villagers view Himālaya with awe as the father of the great shakti and holy mother, Pārvati, who is the venerable consort of the auspicious Lord, Shiva. Himālaya continues to beckon truth seekers and meditators to its abode. Its rarefied atmosphere thins out worldly distractions, and the enchanting holiness makes the seeker adapt to the austere terrain.
This is my message on this rising-Sun-ethos of the Capricorn entry marked by history as the Makara-Sankranti. I bow to the divine grace for letting me put the spirit out there. Your yearning participation allowed our hearts to resonate with the hymns and philosophical renditions of our ancient Sanskritic lore kept alive by the unbroken lineages of the Himalayan Masters. Thank you for being there, here and now.
With my abounding holy blessings,
Swami Vidyadhishananda
This is a transmission from Self Enquiry Life Fellowship, a 501 (c) (3) Nonprofit Organization.
January 10, 2009
So what's it like where you live?
Friends and family and some folks I meet on streets have been asking me what it's like where I live now, so today I took some pix of the house and our views. The house was originally built as a church. It has the A frame kind of structure but shaped more like a barn. You can't tell from the outside but it's actually two residences. The house proper and a two-floor loft. We live in the loft. We have amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, Rincon, and the mountains. Our neighborhood has it's own beach and a strong sense of community is fostered through a community board, newsletter, recycling program, and just friendly people. We love it!
January 9, 2009
Everyone Seeks A Bailout
The latest craze in Washington is to ask the government for a bailout to protect companies from lost profits, bad investments, the down turn in the economy, a bad day, you name it. Last evening I heard on one of the entertainment news stations that even the porn industry is seeking bailout money. Today, my friend Karen sent me this comical rap by Michael Adams, editor of the Natural News, where he raps about the state of the bailout fiasco.
January 5, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
