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Sunday, June 19, 2016

Camping Self-Sufficiency Tips, Life Hacks

If ever there were an emergency, could you pitch a tent from scratch? Heat up in winter or cool down in summer? Cook without fire? What about getting stuck somewhere out on Sankirtana?  Or just some fun & simple overnight camping in your own backyard?

I began to wonder these questions for myself. As a result, gradually, I learned how to do a few things. 


This is for everyone. Man, woman; boy, girl [with parents permission & supervision]; renunciant's and grhastha's. Everyone can benefit knowing a few basic skills of this sort.

This page is to share some tips I discovered. Don't worry, I'm not a fanatic about survivalism. But I do feel a little self-sufficiency is good for everyone to put into their memory banks. It will be there for life and can be pulled out to use whenever needed or wanted. 


Be, or get, prepared. Knowledge will save one, but if we don't know what to bring, or we do know but forgot it - it won't help much. Figure out what you need, then place it where it will always be easily available.

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for any non-Vaisnava things they say or items used on videos, tutorials, or anywhere. Tho I feel I kept it down to a low roar, if any pops up. The greater picture is to take gold from wherever found to push forward with Sankirtana, or health for more time on earth for purification, or to get alone-time spiritual life in the woods to recharge & revitalize.
* SHELTER: Easy Tarp Tent:

Set up in 90 SecondsAccording to them anyhow. ha I tried and tho it took this beginner longer, it still was easy and quick. My one different preference is that I rather put the tent-peg thru the corner tarp holes and not the 2nd ones. It gave more space to the inside, which mine desperately needed. The rest was right-on and simple. Do what works best for you. Video: How To Set Up A Tarp Tent, Easily & Quickly - 90 Seconds. Any plastic will work, like a shower curtain, or 'large' picnic table cloths preferably from the dollar store. Tho a tarp is easier and more sturdy.  Yet it's good to know these alternatives when a tarp is not available.

Tarp Shelters are a bit different from a tarp tent and quite easy.  Some additional good tips here.

Really good ideas via this A-Frame Shelter that also apply to tents. Life saving.  Also: how to tie a Clove Hitch Knot [mentioned in the video].

If you're all ready pretty good at putting up a tarp-tent, or else practice the above mentioned 90 second set-up a few times, try this one with a floor.

IMPORTANT: Always pitch a tent etc 'away' from "widow-makers." These are limbs that can fall from a tree during a rain or even unexpectedly, and crush someone in a tent under, or even somewhat near it. Look up before you set up! 
Health Benefits of going outside into nature.
 
* COOLING OFF: Since it's currently summer, and most camping goes on at that time, how about a little A.C. in your tent? Ok, maybe it's not quite that good, but how to cool off? The following video will show that. 

However, there will not be electricity in the woods that they use in the video, so buy a [good sized] battery operated fan coupled with a battery charger. This means you also have to buy special batteries, but it's better than sun stroke and cheaper than an air conditioner. ha  Can recharge them many times. That info coming up, first the "How-To" video: 

Turn a fan into a cooler system.

Alternative: If you are like me and don't own or don't use a drill - here is one made from a styrofoam cooler.

Misting Box Fan

If you're more talented than myself, this one uses copper, ice, water, a fan, etc - the closest I've seen to real AC. 

Before buying a battery charger or the special rechargeable batteries [as you can't use just any battery in the recharger], first figure out what size batteries fit your fan. With that said...
 

Chargers at Amazon.

Batteries that can be recharged, available at Amazon.


Can also find a battery-operated-Fan there too. Of course, get these items wherever you want. I bought my fan at Walmart.

Just discovered this product: It's a small fan water cooler. Runs on USB cord or small batteries. 


     Or if less is needed, try this:











* HEATING UP: When the summer season begins to wane and coldness is just starting to enter, some don't want to give up a little trip to the sattvic woodlands on a weekend, or over night in their backyard to get last healing benefits of EARTHING without having to buy earthing products. Or maybe the car broke down and ya just got stuck somewhere. How to heat up in an easy and affordable way? The following video shows one method

Oh, but like everything else, a little preparation is required such as stopping at a store to buy rubbing alcohol, keeping a soda or similar can available in the car trunk, plus baking soda etc for extinguishing fires. 

[Dirt also works, but sometimes it's not as easy as one might think to get up enough of it quickly to put out a fire. And oil or ghee fires can NOT be put out with water - it makes them worse. Use a lid or again the baking soda for that. However, water is important to keep nearby and works on other types of fires.]

Soda Can Stove 

[Some cut the can with mere scissors. I want to return with an additional version of this type of stove. So stay tuned.]

This one is a Wood (& gas) burning stove made from 2 cans. 

How to make a Smokeless Campfire.

One-ish minute video on how to put out Campfires.

Never light a fire under or close to a tarp, or plastic - or anything flammable.

* COOKING: You've some time on your hands but know you'll be hungry in a couple hours. Can't do a major offering tho something small would be great. But it's hot outside! ha Fire is the last thing you want to make. What to do?

Extremely simple.

This one is using the heat of the sun inside a car

I've also seen it achieved with jars. Some say you must paint the outside of the jar black. I know little about this so don't try it unless you do some research yourself. UPDATE: Just found a video on how to do this.

Others have successfully used pots that have glass lids. I've no experience with it but this one makes sense to me. [A stainless-steel bowl inside a pot with a glass lid under the hot summer sun? Yeah!] Therefore, I want to try it. Getting a cooking thermometer to place inside it can be very helpful.





Important note: Wild animals - I've not time to get into this vast topic and how to be careful in the many different areas of the world of the many different readers. So do the research "before" going camping!  

                                          Sleeping Issues? - Read this:
* RE-PUROSE PLASTIC BAGS for CAMPING USES:

Sooner or later some way to tie this or that will be needed. The following are great ways to recycle, plus save money on rope

Make Rope from Plastic Bags: Here is a 6ish minute version from a camper guy. He also demonstrates it's strength when completed.

These are kids showing how to make a Jump Rope out of plastic bags. Nearly the same thing as camper guy - thus anyone can make rope. This video is less then 2 minutes. 

NEXT, how to make a Sleeping MAT from plastic bags. Intended to make for the homeless so I'd feel bad if I didn't say... while you can make them for camping for yourself, no harm making an extra one for a someone in need. Just ask them to say "Hare Krishna." Sankirtana ki jai! :)

How To ARM KNIT and ARM CROCHET - which comes in handy using plarn. By the way, men do this too. Especially when they're cold enough. 

ARM Knit A BLANKET.

You can even make clothing out of plarn, tho I could not decide via my google search - so you will have to do one and pick. 

Make a PILLOW out of plastic bags. [No knitting involved. lol] Sure, you could just stuff a bunch into a pillow case, but is it really that comfy or pleasing to the eyes? Check out this tutorial.

*  Showering in the woods? Well, you can bring towelettes or similar. But this is an interesting tutorial.  

The Simple Shower - technically an advertisement , feel free to buy it if you want BUT I suspect one could easily make something similar. And poke holes in the lid of a water bottle, hang bottle in a tree. I'm also thinking to tie or tape on a closed lid to avoid wasting water during a shower. ....Or, we once had a watering can where the spicket fell off. If you have one, or similar, use that for the shower head. ...No, I've never used a shower in the woods. lol But it's nice to know in case of emergency.

Here's how to turn large Trash Bags into a Shower. Good tips here even if choosing the others above. 

Next when time allows, I want to research some type of privacy material and how to hang it around a shower. So check back.

UPDATE: Found it! :-) And it was the only one! Apparently most like to buy theirs. Great if you have the money. Tho it's not just about money. It's about knowing what to do in an emergency [along with having fun while practicing]. Check out this guys PRIVACY SHOWER TENT.


MISC:

Slipping and sliding with poor boots or even mere shoes? Tie on some chains for traction [for mud as well]. And avoid mere shoes when you know you'll be walking thru rough terrain

NEW:  Waterproof shoes with beeswax.

 Portable Washing Machine :-) Funny but works:
Obviously - buy a brand new plunger. :) And notice holes in both plunger & lid of bucket

Need a Broom for your camping area? Make one out of plastic bottles. Here's how:
Splinter Extraction:

Fill wide mouthed bottle with hot water nearly to the brim. Press affected part of hand tightly against mouth of bottle. It will soon draw out the splinter. 



No light due to no candles?

Try kids old crayons.

Be fire-conscious please. Place at a distance, preferably on foil, keep baking soda nearby, kids far away.

 Another tip to create light is to follow this Tutorial on how to make a pocket size Oil Lamp out of those free bottles of shampoo etc you get at hotels. Works for most any small bottle just make sure it did not have any flammable chemicals in it beforehand! According to this article, it gets hotter than candle wax. Good when cold, but must I keep saying BAKING SODA? :) It works in cases where water inflames! [Like oil fires.]


How to pack for ease and mobility.



How to Stop smashing fingers when hammering in a nail:

 
Wind keeps blowing out that incense before it can even light? 

Try bringing a few pieces of long spaghetti with you. In the box of course. Or heck, put them in a used but clean incense box.

Still need to watch out for that wind tho. Matter of fact if it's windy, forget the incense.

This is also a great tip for indoors



Repel mosquito's by burning sage bundles. Actually most anything smokey keeps them at bay BUT some have additional properties mosquito's can't stand - like SAGE



Items getting lost in the camping pile? Try this:
                                                              A rope would also work.



 Hear KIRTANAS or Lectures: 

Use a paper towel roll, cut to size

See insert made on pic & copy.

Tacks are used for feet.

Basically just follow the picture.







Lastly: Make sure fires are out "thoroughly." [Sometimes they appear out at the top, but under the earth they are going strong.] In case you missed it above, this is highly important so: One-ish minute video on how to put out such a fire.

And clean up well. Leave no trace that a human was there. 

Really, most on this page is easy. It's just a matter of acquiring new knowledge, picking from it what works for you as an individual, then a little [fun] practice to develop the habit. It's for health as well - on every level.

* Doubt I'll make another post on this subject, so bookmark and check back here in the future to see if I add more tips and tricks. :)

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Bureaucracy



I make this post due to reading - from a very reliable source - disturbing news about various authorities secretive plans for the future. But they can only control you if you let them, if you follow blindly, don't know 'enough' of the philosophy, etc.  ... Please, always check out anything with Prabhupada first. [His Books, lectures, more.] Some out there may recall the old commercial: "Show me the money!" Well, I tend to believe: "Show me the quote!" lol  Anyway, this is all I want to say right now. Let Prabhupada do the talking thru his quotes: 

 "The zonal secretaries duty is to see that the spiritual principles are being upheld very nicely in all the Temples of his zone. Otherwise each Temple shall be independent and self-supporting. Let every Temple President work according to his own capacity to improve the Krishna Consciousness of his center. So far the practical management is concerned, that is required, but not that we should become too much absorbed in fancy organization. Our business is spiritual life, so whatever organization needs to be done, the Presidents may handle and take advice and assistance from their GBC representative. In this way let the Societies work go on and everyone increase their service at their own creative rate. ~  SP Letter to All Temple Presidents - Tokyo, 22 April, 1972 

[Me: IMHO only, to assist or even give advice should not be misunderstood as a position of absolute power over the temple president.]

 "I never wanted that any of my temples shall be dependent upon the other temples. Rather, our main business is to train up men to be self sufficient and competent in many ways to carry on the preaching work, not to make them into specialists or to minimize their responsibility by centralizing everything. If each center must rely upon its own strength to stand, that will be better training ground for the devotees." ~ SP Letter to Damodara, Bombay, India; 9 January, 1973

"Only thing I wanted was that books printing and distribution should be centralized, therefore I appointed you and Bali Mardan to do it. Otherwise, management, everything, should be done locally by local men. Accounts must be kept, things must be in order and lawfully done, but that should be each temple's concern, not yours. Krishna Consciousness Movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled. " ~ SP letter, to Karandhar, Bombay India, Dec 22, 1972

A Fun Spiritual Place

An Herb that can kill Cancer Cells in 48 Hours

I have not made a thorough investigation, but it sounds promising. Maybe we should just start drinking it on a regular basis to nip those bad cells in the bud. Hopefully one less thing to worry about. :)

Remember in hot weather, like right now, just turn it into iced tea.

Read their article and decide for yourself. <- That use to be a link that went defunct. At first annoyed me, ha, but now it has given opportunity to add more about cancer on this page.


First, another link on the exact same topic.

Scientists Discover Root thFat can kill 98% of Cancer Cells.

Cancer Killing herb - $157K Research Grant!

Frankincense Oil - A Wise Mans Remedy for Bladder Cancer.

Alternative Remedies - Stop Cancer Now

The Truth About Essential Oils and Cancer.

3 Reasons Wheatgrass is a cancer healing powerhouse.

Wheatgrass Testimonials - Cancer. 

Chris Beat Cancer - I juiced page.

Avoid these 3 common Juicing Mistakes.
I hope no reader out there has Cancer, and I can not tell you which healing path to take, but whatever you choose, I hope I have helped in some small way. Hare Krishna!

I would also like to invite you to my healing yahoo group to receive the free Mantra Healing Course. Science has proven sound heals. Actually I have done a lot of research in that area, too much to put here! Lets just summarize: 

From shock wave lithotripsy to crush kidney stones, to cymatics evidence that sound moves matter, the power of yogis of the past - to the power of modern medicine, the recognition that airplanes can break decibels thus ear drums if too close - to an opera singer intentionally breaking glass - mantra is something worth adding to your medical program. It is Complimentary Medicine, and every little bit helps. Please read our front page to see if you are a good fit.


For Kids - Krishna Conscious FUN! :)

Real Krishna Consciousness is joyous. Here's some Krishna fun for kids - or grand-kids! :-)



1) Print or sketch. 



2) Have child color, and cut. [Supervise!] 

3) Put together with tabs, maybe add a little tape or glue to the tab. 




Next, they can also have fun playing with them! :) Adorable.

 ~~*~~

Just found more:


 Basically follow the same instructions as above.




You can see how to make it.



Optional idea: Get an old cleaned milk carton or any box, add cardboard wheels etc - and have fun by assisting your children to create their own little RathaYatra! Maybe even add an oatmeal [circular] box as a mrdanga. Happily chant as kids pull the Ratha cart with their Lordships inside it - around the living room. Make a cone-shape from paper plates etc  - put some dry prasad in it to be distributed during the "parade." Great way to get fussy kids to eat as well.

 That idea next caused me to think about the other pics above. ... Collect some twigs or  buy craft pipe-cleaners & make them into trees. Grab a small mirror like those in compacts or just cut aluminum foil the size /shape you want - make a body of water, place the trees around it, add Krishna and Balarama having fun in the forest!

Add some of your own creative ideas to the mix. There ya go. Just see how your children are helping you to be Krishna Conscious as well. :) And it's fun for everyone.

                          RELATED POST:

Kids Blissful Sadhana - Making sadhana/spiritual activities, fun for children.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Divine Sound or Destruction?

Years ago I heard some complain the music in the temple room was too loud. I tossed this aside, as it was a time- period where everyone seemed to be looking for what is imperfect about anything. ha

Low and behold :) some years passed and I have a different idea. Especially after reading a devotees post. One temple decided to bring in an instrument that measured decibels. Initially I thought our [spiritual] music would pass the test. But surprise! It measured too loud for the human ear, and now that particular temple keeps ear plugs as an option to grab before kirtana.

I wondered, is this really Prabhupada's program? 

After reading of a few who feel they are now having difficulty with their hearing as a result, I replied:

"If a decibel instrument had to be brought in, and then it actually read too loud for the human ear - in this case it appears the clanging is unusually loud. I am not speaking of hot kirtans, but kartal etc playing. IMHO only, I do not believe Prabhupada would have used artificial solutions like putting a box of earplugs there. Instead sense control, and teaching kartal players [or those on any other instruments] not to play so loud that it is registering on a decibel instrument badly."

It was a good conversation. Many felt similar. Some posts discussed the high decibel - to which others also brought up - "Prabhupada said no clanging, no banging."

Some pointed out that as much fun as a kirtana is, and should be, at some point where it's crossed the line to causing ear damage, is there not at least some wonder that those playing instruments are showing off? Or, getting too lost in it where they are not conscious how it is effecting others? At best, untrained?

And yet others expressed to only allow a certain number of kartals in the temple room at one time, and making sure to teach how to play them properly.

All good ideas!

Another reminded us there's a statement from Srila Prabhupada that the mrdanga should never be louder than the singing of the maha mantra. This made sense to me, since Prabhupada also said we can play any instrument at all to glorify the Lord - as long as it's music does not become more important than the Holy Names.

One devotee offered, he heard karatals should sound like the gopis ankle bells, a melodious sound, the way Prabhupada used them. 

Some talked about the wonderful experiences they did have during hot kirtanas. I was no exception, living in the NY temple when VishnuJana and team passed thru. I felt honored [and lucky!] to be there. Right time, right place - that's all. 

The devotee who began the original post said she had the same experiences and that was why she wondered about it. [Pros and cons.] I suggested, maybe these things are treats. Another added, we can have hot, rip-roaring kirtans outdoors, just not in the temple room.  

Arotika kirtana's are intended to sing to God/Krishna, for His entertainment.

Someone else pointed out how hot kirtans had been used to wake us up at 4:30 a.m. :) I also liked that. But considering the current problem, the cold shower should be sufficient to wake you up. :) And no one is saying the kirtan's should be turned into bhajana's. No. We can still move around - dance, chant, be happy.

Additionally, I've seen a very popular video of devotee men break-neck-dancing on the temple room floor. Most reviewers said how blissful. Yes, I saw that. But I can't imagine Prabhupada break-neck-dancing. :) 

He gave us a specific process to follow for temple room behavior. Other methods can be done on the street, in a park, and so on. While break-neck-dancing is not about music or sound, I feel the level of excitement on that video was so exceedingly high, it could open the door to other issues - clanging and banging of instruments.

And how many women have needed to get unusually close to their sleeping [or not sleeping!] baby for protection because a group of brahmacari's were not looking where they were going, running back-and-forth into the women side of the temple room, dancing? Tho happy to say, have not seen that in a long time. Many grew up and had babies of their own, so they learned. Yet we get new devotees regularly, and even a brahmacarini could make this mistake. 

Let's train everyone please. Still have fun - merely calm down a smidgen. Remember, even tho it is a party, we're not there "TO" party. ha And we don't want contagious 'mob mentality.'  If anything happened, they'd feel awful too. Therefore, we need to be conscious how our actions effect those around us, and not get lost in our heads. 

Take from this blog-post what you wish, leave what you don't. But please take something and protect your, and others, ears - including the children. 

I have not the time to get exact quotes related to the above. I often get them. This time, it's your turn. :) If you want them, hit google. I believe these devotees cuz they were there at the time. Tho I was too, but I'm the baby of the pack. ha Plus, some of these men had more direct association.

Anyhow, what's most important ... I humbly ask readers, and anyone you can share this info with, to please be considerate when playing any instrument within closed walls of a temple room [as well as where you're running/dancing]. When a machine picks up the vibration as so loud it's unhealthy, we are doing something out of sync to Prabhupada's program. Not saying all temples have this problem, but lets nip it in the bud. We are trying to glorify God, that should be the focus.

P.S. Holy Names can never cause destruction - that title was just a way to catch the eye of the reader. :) We should remember however, we are in human bodies and tho the Names remain transcendental - we have not reached that platform. We should honor the body we are in, and be thankful to have the human form that can grant us Krishna Consciousness.