Welcome to Evanland

Circular Breathing Practice

2010-05-27T10:56:00.001-04:00

Liz teaches us how to circular breathe. I don't suggest using root beer...

Muse - United States of Eurasia snippet - 4/14/2010

2010-04-15T10:55:00.003-04:00

Live from Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA. Shot on my iPhone.

Muse - Sunburn snippet 4/14/2010

2010-04-15T10:55:00.001-04:00

Live from Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA. Shot on my iPhone.

Muse - Uprising snippet 4/14/2010

2010-04-15T10:48:00.001-04:00

Live from Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA. Shot on my iPhone.

Erin Kline from Cazadero, CA is a CHEATER!

2010-04-01T11:40:00.004-04:00

OK, after much deliberation, I've deleted this post.

Why?

I guess it just wasn't very nice. I know, what she did wasn't very nice to me...whether it is labelled "cheating" or just "being dishonest."

I suppose that we're all just looking for happiness, right? Even if, at times, we do a bad job of it.

Peace out.

My Wonderful, Exciting Life Here In California. Part 3

2009-10-08T21:35:00.001-04:00

Evan made a bed

SLC to Reno

2009-08-29T18:36:00.000-04:00

I wrote this whole long post, an it got erased. Doh! Basically, the trip to Reno was uneventful, save for the 100+ temperature! Some final pics from Salt Lake:

Thanks to Michael and Sophia for putting me up!

My final night I saw Genpo Roshi speak here. He's amazing...

Other pics from the drive:

Later!

-- Post From My iPhone

Hello from Salt Lake City

2009-08-26T20:48:00.001-04:00

Well, I've been in Salt Lake City for a few days now, and I must say it is a really lovely place. The weather is great and the people are very kind. My old college friend Michael Case and his girlfriend Sophia have been kind enough to put me up for a few days, until I leave for Reno.

Last night I saw my favorite band, the Avett Brothers! They played an outdoor concert. Here's a pic:

Michael and I checked out the huge Mormon Temple. We weren't allowed in the actual temple, since we're not Mormons, but we were able to go to Temple Square:

Today Michael took me to possibly the best pizza joint in the west, Este Pizza. And then we went hiking. More pics:

This is the view Bringham Young saw when arriving to the Salt Lake basin, after walking 1300 miles, and proclaiming, "This is the spot."

Ta ta!!

-- Post From My iPhone

A few Dathun pics

2009-08-26T19:24:00.004-04:00

Lots of silence!
Beautiful rainbows throughout, including the first and last day:

Beautiful sky....

Group photo!

This is a typical oryoki meal. Here we have oatmeal and scrambled eggs:

One morning we woke up at 5am and hiked half an hour to see the sunrise...

Acharya Ferguson:

The tent. It got really, REALLY cold at night!

Out of Sangha Retreat and Dathun!

2009-08-26T19:14:00.005-04:00

Wow, that was an intense five weeks! The first one was spent with Acharya Adam Lobel, Pema Chodron and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The the next four weeks was spent, mostly meditating in silence, with Acharya Gaylon Ferguson. I posted all my pictures at www.facebook.com/evansilverman but I'll throw a few up here:

Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, Which Liberates Upon Sight:

Last picture with best friend Ciprian, who was at Shambhala Mountain Center on a different retreat:

With Pema Chodron!

At the highest point of SMC, called Marpa's Peak:

For Dathun pictures and more, go to my facebook page. Much easier than posting here!

David Bartlett encounters iAlien during Dathun

2009-08-26T10:24:00.001-04:00

Perhaps anything is funny during a thirty day meditation retreat...

Waking up to deer at dathün

2009-08-26T10:23:00.001-04:00

Leaving my tent in the morning while on meditation retreat, I encounter 3 deer!

Last update for a while

2009-07-26T09:53:00.001-04:00

Today I begin a four week retreat called a dathün. They're moving us to a new section of SMC called "Red Feather" and noone is allowed there unless they're also doing the retreat.

Some pictures before I go...

Small group photo at Stupa

The deer walk right up to you here!!

I snuck a picture of this set of Chogyam Trungpa photos in someone's office

This is the "padma west" campground

Oh deer!

-- Post From My iPhone

Acharya Adam Lobel Auctions off Calligraphy by Sakyong Mipha

2009-07-24T16:30:00.001-04:00

Acharya Adam Lobel auctions offa work of calligraphy by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Hilarious! Taken during the 2009 Sangha Retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado.

Few days off from retreat

2009-07-24T16:07:00.001-04:00

I spent the last week in retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Center with Pema Chodron, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Acharya Adam Lobel. What a wonderful week! Now I have a couple of days off before starting a monthlong retreat called "dathün".

8,200 feet high, at Marpa Point

With Pema Chodron

The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, Which Liberates Upon Seeing

-- Post From My iPhone

In Colorado, finally

2009-07-17T09:58:00.000-04:00

Yesterdays loooong drive was fairly painless. It's nice when the speed limit is 70mph, as it is in Kansas. Then in Colorado it turned to 75mph!

Here are some pictures from the drive:
Obama air fresheners

-- Post From My iPhone

The loooong drive!

2009-07-16T07:22:00.001-04:00

If you're reading this today, give me a call and keep me awake! 917 847 1263. I hit the road around 7:30 Central Time Zone, one hour earlier than NYC.

Longest drive of the trip!

-- Post From My iPhone

Final pictures to & in KC

2009-07-16T07:18:00.001-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I spent more time at a doctors office trying to handle this ear infection. Think it's finally under control. Got a lot more medicine. Tomorrow I begin 5 weeks of retreat, with only a few days where I'm free. So, this thing has to be handled right away.

I can't believe how well everything worked out here on
Lake Lotawana. Cullun and Leanne were wonderful hosts. Entering today's drive with a very clear head.

Ok, so some final pictures. Here are shots from the drive:

KC Royals Stadium:

Fishin'

Cullun & Leanne:

Oklahoma Joe's is a famous ribs joint. #13 on this list:

Mmmm I'm Gene Simmons of rib eating!

Some final KC sunsets;

-- Post From My iPhone

BBQ Sauces at Oklahoma Joe's

2009-07-15T21:45:00.001-04:00

A visual description of the different kinds of hot sauces. yummm!

Oklahoma Joe's Line

2009-07-15T19:53:00.001-04:00

It's a ribs joint. It's a gas station!

Driving and video taping

2009-07-15T10:30:00.001-04:00

This is mainly a test of uploading software.

Hitting the road

2009-07-14T08:37:00.001-04:00

Chicago to Kansas City. 500 miles! Here we go!

-- Post From My iPhone

Owwwey in Chicago

2009-07-13T16:08:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we drove back from Green Lake. My right arm is as red as a lobster and now I have an ear infection. Earlier this morning I went to a clinic at the local Walgreen's and had both drops and antibiotics prescribed. They still haven't done much to help the pain yet, dammit.

Listening to the new Avett Brothers ep helps a bit.

Tonight I'm seeing Brüno!

A couple of pictures from the trip:

-- Post From My iPhone

Hello from Wisconsin

2009-07-11T10:03:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was a treat. An old friend invited me to their parents lakehouse on Green Lake, which is about 3.5 hours north of Chicago.

It was a beautiful drive. So much farmland!

When we finally arrived to town we went to Friday Fish Fry. FFF is a religion in Wisconsin. Everyone does it. The place was packed and we had to wait over 30 minutes just for a table for two. And boy, was my stomach hurting after! Unlimited fish and fries sounded like a good idea at the time...

We were treated to a really beautiful sunset after dinner.

After we arrived at my friends house we drank as much white wine as possible and played Trivia Pursuit. It was really nice to unwind! Hopefully today will be as relaxing as possible, reading my new book (Andy Karr's Contemplating Reality) and playing in the water.

Tomorrow evening we'll return to Chicago. But let's leave tomorrow to tomorrow...

-- Post From My iPhone

A little trip down memory lane

2009-07-09T19:48:00.001-04:00

Drove around my old neighborhood today...

House I lived in from 4-11:

I used to fish in this pond:

This was my elementary school:

See this driveway? I asked Natasha out on a date here, and Patricia asked to come along...good start! In kindergarden already going out with two beautiful girls at once!

A lake by Auntie Helen's:

Auntie's car:

Nice sky!

-- Post From My iPhone

Schaumburg, IL

2009-07-09T13:43:00.004-04:00

First time signing on in a few days. I've been helping out my Aunt, who has had an unfortunate year so far: a broken broken and a broken pelvis. I've gone around with her helping her shop and run lots of errands. A lot of patience is involved, and I'm doing the best I can. Tomorrow I'll go North to Wisconsin for a few days. A friend of mine has a lakehouse and I'm going to spend a few days decompressing before I continue my journey across the country.

A snag has come up. I was supposed to stay in Nebraska next Tuesday, but now my friend is going to be out of town for work. Now I've got to find another place to stay! Ultimately I have to be in Colorado by early evening on July 16th, I'm sure everything will be fine...

Fireworks on the Ohio River

2009-07-09T13:43:00.001-04:00

In Schaumburg, IL

2009-07-07T12:00:00.001-04:00

Staying for a bunch of days with my Aunt Helen, who lives in a close suburb of Chicago.

Chicago!

This year has been a tough year for Auntie...she's broken both her elbow and her pelvis...so it's nice for her to have someone to help her out with shopping, etc...

Tonights the MJ memorial! Plus rioting in Xinjiang, China. Pretty disconnected from everything here.

-- Post From My iPhone

From a slice of heaven: Cleveland Heights

2009-07-06T09:45:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I left West Virginia...here are a few final pictures:

I drove two hours to visit a friend in Cleveland Heights. There was no traffic and a beautiful sunset:

Today I have a loooong drive, all the way to the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, where I'll get to say with my Auntie Helen for a bunch of days. Here's the itinerary:

Have a great day!

-- Post From My iPhone

July 4th on the Ohio River

2009-07-05T11:19:00.002-04:00

Spent July 4th watching fireworks on a small boat on the Ohio River. It was so beautiful! Here's a picture:

Here's a video:

>

Then this morning I woke up with a hottie:

Life is good. I am so fortunate!

-- Post From My iPhone

Early morning in Honey Brook, PA

2009-07-04T08:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a really wonderful day...

- lunch with an old friend in West Chester, PA. I didn't know that West Chester was where the tv show Jackass is from! Also, Marley & Me was filmed there. Nice little town filled with young people.

- from there met up with friends from the Chagdud Gonpa sangha in the quant town of Honey Brook. HB is almost Amishland. Here's a pic I took while driving:

That's right, quite putty.

After my second ever meal at a Chili's, we went back and watched the movie I Heart Huckabees. Then we made a campfire and talked for hours...eventually we made it back in and then watched Darjeeling Limited. Eventually, at four am we went to bed.

Four hours of sleep, five+ hour drive today!

-- Post From My iPhone

Baby Asa video

2009-07-02T17:39:00.003-04:00

Panoramic iPhone experimentation

2009-07-02T16:09:00.001-04:00

Robin's block:

-- Post From My iPhone

Hello from Philadelphia

2009-07-02T15:27:00.001-04:00

"Clearly seeing the bad news is good news." - Gaylon Ferguson, Natural Wakefulness

So, let's see...having a nice relaxing day here in Philly while my old friend Robin is at work. Last night I got to meet her sisters new beautiful baby, Asa. We also saw the movie Public Enemies. Johnny Depp was great, but I found that the way the movie was edited often distracted me from both story and the acting.

It's been nice to sit around today...catch up on sleep, read, practice...no real plans for tonight, but I'm sure something will come up. I've been homeless for only two days now...quite an interesting feeling to have just about everything I own in my car!

The front seats has a couple of plants in between them:

Here is the Jade:

I'll post a YouTube clip of the baby in a little...

-- Post From My iPhone

Note to self...

2009-07-01T14:17:00.001-04:00

Mileage at start: 84,100.

Woohoo!

-- Post From My iPhone

Stop 1: Jersey City

2009-07-01T00:56:00.004-04:00

Tonight I'll be staying at Ciprian's house, in Jersey City. He lives in a terrible neighborhood and I'm a bit nervous about the car (which is packed to the gills) making it through the night without it being broken into. Well, cross your fingers!

Poor Ciprian is sick, so we can't drive until sunrise. Next time!

Test from phone

2009-06-30T08:40:00.001-04:00

Let's see how this works...

That's Ciprian with Acharya Spiegel's bike. Trouble!

-- Post From My iPhone

The lowdown on my arrest in China

2008-09-03T09:53:00.004-04:00

As you probably are quite aware of, I have supported the non-violent struggle for political and religious freedom in Tibet for over a dozen years. I joined Students for a Free Tibet a few months after they started, and I watched them grow from a dozen chapters in high schools and colleges in the US to thousands of chapters worldwide. I was their first Regional Director and then Sector Coordinator for the entire tri-state region. So, this is not only a cause I feel close to, it's something that I have pledged a good portion of my life supporting.

After nine days in China, on August 9th I took part in a demonstration in Tiananmen Square. This was not a spur of the moment action - on the contrary, I spent three months training for it! We were arrested and held for eight hours before being deported from China. I made my point clear to the interrogating officers: this was NOT a protest against the Chinese people. Instead, it was a protest against the Chinese Government.

Were we successful?? You bet! We managed to shift the attention of the Olympics from China's glitz and glamour to the real situation inside China. And almost every day, news headlines around the world mentioned our protests. Just our protest had a HUGE amount of press - CNN, NY Times, etc... my Grandmother called my mother at 8am because she saw an article in the NY Daily News!!

Here is a short video of the action:

Tiananmen “Tibet Die-in” Protest 080908 from Students for a Free Tibet on Vimeo.

Here is a long video of the protest (I strongly suggest watching this one!)

Here are some pictures from the action, the rest are at http://louiss19.winkflash.com/ :

Thanks for reading!!

From "Taming the Mind" by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

2008-09-03T04:45:00.004-04:00

Basically, like the Buddha, we are trying to get to the truth. We're trying to find out the basic truth about what is going on so that we have some perspective on life. We want to be able to say, "I finally ifgured out my life. It's taken me a long time, but I've finally figured it out. I did. I've figured out what I'm going to do with my life, the meaning of my life. I've figured out the value of family, friendship, love, and work." Yet these questions are always on our mind: What is going on? What is it that makes me get up in the morning? What is it that takes me from conversation to conversation, from thought to thought, from pain to pain, from pleasure to pleasure, throughout my life?

Welcome to my new blog

2008-09-02T13:57:00.000-04:00

Hello! Welcome to version 4 (?) of my blog/online journal.

The first one was the blog at my old record company, Discipline Global Mobile, but I cannot seem to find it and so two years of entries such as "Still on tour, still having fun!" are now missing.

My next blog is still available at http://esterling.livejournal.com/ , which I used from 2002-2006 and is still online.

After that, I moved it to my myspace page, which I kept somewhat updated until recently. I got somewhat bored of myspace and started spending more time on facebook (and outside, in the non-cyber world) which is the reason for the low number of entries this year.

Sooooo....here we are!! The new place for my thoughts, to share with you. If you have any advice how to correctly use blogger, please share them with me. Subscribe to my page, if you want! And feel free to leave comments!

Love,
Evan

Trying this out

2008-09-01T20:19:00.000-04:00

This work?