Actual Churches?

@Adder, the keycode setup would be rather simple to set up. The same server that holds this site could be used to host the virtual server needed to host the key codes. THe physical server itself would have it's own operating system, and within that operating system, we could created a virtual (or logical) server using a virtual operating system (Windows Server 2008R2 or similar) and tie that directly in with the directory service that is used to manage permissions to the site.

To our brother who is proposing building a Praxeum (sry, I changed up the name again, since Academy implies that we need educational credentials, and Temple makes it sound like a cult), I hopefully will be relocating to the Portland area sometime within the next 16 to 18 months, and I would really like to sit down with you and hash out some ideas.....

If I was building a Temple ideally it would be out of range of all artificial radio transmissions, meaning no wifi or cell phone coverage. Also no pollution or downwind from any likely nuclear targets!! I guess shielded cables could bring in rudimentary connectivity, and some parts of it would greatly benefit from some nice touchscreens full of educational videos and communications software, but I think it would be good if its main area was as 'pure' as possible, if that makes sense?

Power sources? Solar, wind and hydro. Top of a hill seems the best, as the Temple itself could channel rainfall into storage for gravity release through a micro-hydro turbine after dark to compensate for lack of solar, and to slow down the draw from the deep cycle batteries, but we do not want to loose rainwater so to me ablution and habitation might have to exist below the temple along the sides of the hill accessing a secondary post-generation storage area. Wind turbines around the food crop's will generate 24/7 power assuming wind, and scare away birds too probably.

So mine might be a training Temple at the top, then a production layer below it for energy and food, with a habitation layer below that. Ooops day dreaming again!!!

Dude, we should have black lights and those black light posters in one of the rooms.

Emailed the people that give land grants on the Baca, no word yet. Heading down to my property this weekend to dig out the foundation. Excitingggg

It looks like the Manitou Institute (or Manitou Foundation) is a real possibility. I google searched "Manitou Land Grants" and the first two hits laid out who they are and what they're doing quite nicely. Jedi, with our collective focus of training and deepening our understanding and connection with the force, fits right in for what Manitou is saving this 'spiritually charged' land.

MtnDave303 sounds like he took the first step. I'm curious how he worded it, and what details he gave/ asked for. If you'd like to share MtnDave303, that would be awesome.

With what I know about investors in general (which I'm considering Manitou since they're investing their land to people) is that before they just had over the keys per-say, they want to know why we want it, and exactly what we intend on using it for. This would probably need to include some precise details like how many and what types of buildings we intend on building. What "community sustainability, utilizing alternative, environmentally appropriate building and agricultural technologies." (from Manitou's mission statement) we plan to use and as exact of details we can give without having any surveying of the exact land we'd be using.

Another thing to keep in mind is the 'do-it-yourself' aspect of our stuctures construction. If we do get a land grant from the Manitou Foundation, I don't believe they will be paying for the buildings we want built. So we will need to provide the materials and labor and logistics on our own. This means either paying other people to do it for us (the easy way out) or do as much as we can ourselves (the way that takes effort and sweat:).

To me, this work includes taking our plan that we create, and going out and sourcing each thing that our earth can't provide on site. For example, contacting a Wind Turbine Company about what we intend to do (maybe finding out if other spiritual center there already have had Turbines donated and going first to those companies) and using our Jedi negotiation skills to ask for one or more turbines to be donated. Of course, giving them something in return such as having their logo or company name painted on the side of the turbine tower would help them feel like giving.

So long post short, let's try to put together a plan for "basic" (since we haven't seen the land yet) layout, including buildings, obstacle course, etc. And our plan for what this place will provide including training, study material, and partnerships with other institues such as YMAA for having seminars at our location.


I know I've been really busy with work traveling and stuff, but if people want to email me their ideas, I can start compiling them and put them into some PDF documents with pictures and stuff. Then I'll post every so often with what I've gotten. (chabione.ro) and that is a gmail address.



Also, for the creative process… This is Manitou's mission for their land. It's best we observe it:)

"Mission

A Place Of The Heart

To donate land in the Crestone/Baca area of Colorado to representatives of world religions, mystical and traditional, particularly those with unbroken lineages, for the establishment of Centers that -
- perpetuate the ancient tradition of peoples of many tribes journeying here for a sacred connection to the Earth, and deepening of their spirituality.
- provide retreat centers for people of various faiths for this purpose.
- provide teachings and resources for the preservation and practice of the world's great wisdom traditions.

To donate land for the establishment of centers in Crestone/Baca Colorado, offering educational programs & projects for children, youth & adults, that
- facilitate Earth stewardship activities of restoration, conservation and preservation.
- demonstrate models of human community sustainability, utilizing alternative, environmentally appropriate building and agricultural technologies.

To administer a land preservation program, including
- setting aside the majority of land (900 of 1,400 acres) held by Manitou Foundation, in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to preserve their pristine quality and protect the natural plant and wildlife ecosystems.
- identification and protection of the abundant historical, archeological and sacred sites on Manitou Foundation and grantee land.

To network with individuals and organizations - locally, nationally and internationally to facilitate the above mission objectives." (http://www.manitou.org/MF/mf_index.php)


I think we could formulate an "About Us" centered around the key points of their mission statements. We are based around many traditions like Taoism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Shamanism and mystical groups throughout history. And we all know the Force is at the center of our training, and that Nature holds it in vast consolidated amounts, great for building individual awareness and strengthening both mind AND body.

I'll work on putting THIS project into a more condensed and streamlined form that we can email to people interested in helping. And potentially staying as the person who collects and consolidates peoples' ideas. Not everyone is on this site. And we might need to start getting those serious about traveling to the site and operating it in contact together and working as a group. Still taking in suggestions from all people interested in the concept.


- Jedi Matt

Oh man our temple will blow their requirements out of the water... This isn't some evangelical revival auditorium with a paved parking lot... We're talking about a Jedi temple... built from the living force itself... man it's like the people there might call it Gaia or something. It's totally beyond anything like green building and crap like that.

Oh I just learned the word for it: regenerative

Ill be all over this. Id even live on site to help build. I have high mechanical skills, 4 years of welding knowledge from tech school and a full love for this temple and a its physical manifestation.

ferreire580 wrote: Ill be all over this. Id even live on site to help build. I have high mechanical skills, 4 years of welding knowledge from tech school and a full love for this temple and a its physical manifestation.

Yeah we can bring tents and camp out for a few weeks until a structure is up. No worries.

After having re-read all of the posts on this topic, I believe that we are headed in the right direction with the manifestation of a physical Academy (I dread using the term Temple, because the Temple of the Living Force is within all of us, and this would most likely be a center for learning). Ferreire580 has a very valuable skill and the willingness to use it and do whatever is necessary to make it happen. The Manitou Foundation is a good place to start looking for a land grant, but a) we need to not have all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak, when it comes to land. There may be private landowners who may wish to downsize or simply want to help our endeavor; b) we need to have a tangible architectural layout of each building, designed using regenerative and self-sustainable practices such as several of Adder's ideas (hydro, solar, wind power; collecting rainwater, deep-cell batteries). I personally think we should do all the work ourselves, as we gain a greater sense of satisfaction from the experience, learn new skills, and become closer with one another through the endeavor. So here is a prioritization list and how we might be able to accomplish it:

1. Draw up architectural drawing and general Academy layout.
-Someone with an architectural drafting program on their computer would be perfect for this. In order to convince a potential investor (either of land or money) that we are serious, we need to have our act together and have as much information as possible (i.e. needed land size, number of buildings and their usage, usage of available resources, how much external resources we will need, and options for self-sustainment.

2. Begin looking at land grants and potential donors.
-We need to have more than just a few options. Our ideals make for interesting theoretical conversation, but we as a group need to be able to show a more coherent sight for investors. Those of us that are seriously interested and committed to making this Academy a reality need to get together and create a list of potential donors and investors that are likely candidates for helping us. Once we have this list, we need to present this list to the Jedi Council and seek their approval.

3. Compile a list of every single piece of material needed, down to the last nail.
-The first year to the third year of any endeavor is more about survival than about prosperity. One of the easiest, though time-consuming, ways to take steps toward prosperity is to be as attentive to detail as possible. By getting estimates of every single building material, we have a ball-park figure with which to pitch to prospective investors. If we find a land grant in an area that is heavily forested, then we save an investor money. Location, location, location. We need to be able to find a place that is heavy in natural, inherent resources, so that we wont be beholden to anyone for very much. Between all of us, we have the accumulated experience of several lifetimes of knowledge across an ever-expanding range of expertise. We know more about building technologies than our ancestors did even a hundred years ago.




Those are just a few things that have flowed through my mind as I read the posts on this topic. Anyone is free to provide counterpoints. If anyone would like to discuss their ideas in private, please feel free to message me.