School of Self-Reliance Party (12/13)

Native American uses for mugwort, Jeff of Martin Survival featuring Christopher Nyerges

Author, mentor, instructor C. Nyerges (PCC)

The School of Self-Reliance annual get together (holiday sale and celebration) is this weekend, December 13, 2025, at 10:00 am at Hahamongna Watershed Park. It's not a formal class, but rather sharing survival and food foraging tips, hiking, living in nature, sourcing water, cooking, camping, and looking at products and packs. Stuff is offered for sale by various people. There's lots of food (of course). There might even be live music, as often happens. All are welcome to join for this end-of-year gathering. FREE. (There is no charge to attend). See the list of classes offered by prolific author, nature guide, and regional expert Christopher Nyerges at SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.

• ‘Edventuring’ with the ‘Real McCoy’ Ed Parker (pasadenaweekly.com)

Outdoorsman Ed Parker is featured in the Pasadena Weekly (pasadenaweekly.com) in an article by Christopher Nyerges (Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025). Read it online, pick up a hard copy, or see the one Parker pasted on the wall of the REI in Arcadia so all the customers could enjoy it.

What happened?

It was a spectacular, warm, sunny Southern California day to be out in nature. Participants gathered to learn what should go in a "go bag," a survival pack to meet all expected and unexpected challenges after bugging out or heading for the woods to camp. Christopher Nyerges (author of more than 25 survival, foraging, and prepper books) is very generous and had many giveaways, lots of healthy hiking snacks, and a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to impart.

Buddhist monks' Peace Walk across USA

(Ed and Pete)

Buddhist Monks' Walk of Peace brings hope to Jackson, Mississippi

(16 WAPT News Jackson) Dec. 10, 2025: "They have sacrificed so much. Some of them are out here walking in sandals. Some of them are walking barefoot. So they're making sacrifices," says fan Kiffany Dugger. "They were welcomed with open hearts as Mississippians clung to every word they shared on the capitol steps," the reporter states.

• Buddhist monks walking (pindapata, kinhin, Sati in (Buddhism), mindfulness practice, Four Foundations of Mindfulness is satipatthana)

(Walk for Peace)

(KALB Central Louisiana News, Weather & Sports) A group of Theravada Buddhist monks from Southeast Asia living in America bring message of peace to Louisiana, walking 2,300 miles over 120 days, having begun on Oct. 26, 2025, with their trusty dog Aloka.

(One Breath Stories) Song for Walk for Peace, true story, monks and Aloka walk Texas to DC

(Ed and Pete) What is driving these Theravada Buddhist monks to walk across the USA?

• With Robes and Bowl (Buddhist Publication Society)

(Ed and Pete) TRIBUTE: Walk for Peace w/ 19 Theravada Buddhist monks and Aloka the Dog [whose karma is such that it was coincidentally born with a heart shaped patched over its third eye, a mark of mixed past karma good enough to be beautiful, bad enough to fall onto the animal plane but among good people]

Yogi in India climbing barefoot to mountain top

PEACE WALK: a peace march, sometimes referred to as a peace pilgrimage (yatra), is a form of nonviolent action where a person or group marches a set distance to raise awareness for particular issues important to the walkers.

• Animals in Buddhism
• Karma (deed-seeds) in Buddhism
• Theravada Buddhism in Laos
• Peace walk (pilgrimage) in the USA

(KPRC 2 Click2Houston) UPDATE: Good Samaritan donates new escort vehicle to Peace Walk

Buddhist monks peace walk from Texas to DC

They left their cozy and tranquil Buddhist temple in Fort Worth to send Trump et al. a message

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(KFDM YouTube) Nov. 24, 2025: A group of Theravada Buddhist monks is persevering on their peace walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., despite facing challenges, including a recent auto accident in Dayton that injured two monks.

Western Zen kinhin practice

The monks or bhikkhus began their journey on Oct. 26th, 2025, at the Hong Dao Buddhist Temple and have covered nearly 300 miles. They aim to complete the 2,300-mile trek in 120 days.

The monks say their mission is to support a suffering society and promote healing worldwide.

"We try to spread that love, loving kindness, compassion, and hopefully that everyone will be living in harmony and unity, and that is our purpose of walking," they said.

Is there a Buddhist way to walk? Yes, mindfully

Supporters have been inspired by the monks' dedication. One supporter shared, "I woke up my daughter and I was like, 'Hey, we got to go! And we flew here... I think it's awesome what they're doing."

Despite the accident involving a pickup truck hitting the monks, which left one hospitalized, the group remains committed to their journey.

"The surgery went well, and he's well, and he's happy. He supported this walk, and he wanted all the monks to continue walk in to finish this journey," they said.

The monks express gratitude for the support they have received along the way, as they continue their walk for peace.

• Walk for Peace: Buddhist monks and their dog Aloka (plus Western participants)

Buddhist monks walking meditation (ar.inspiredpencil.com collection)

Walking Meditation Mastery: Embrace mindfulness and movement for well-being

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Follow KFDM on social media: KFDM on Facebook (kfdmnews), Twitter (kfdmnews), and subscribe to KFDM on YouTube (@newsonkfdm). For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit kfdm.com. Watch live newscasts and other live video at kfdm.com/watch. Have a news tip? Are Buddhist monastics up to more good? Send it directly to us: Email us: news@kfdm.com. Call the Newsroom: (409) 892-6622. KFDM is a Texas-based station and CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. KBTV is a Texas-based station and Fox Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 163 television stations in 77 markets, after pending transactions. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 38.7% of US television households and includes FOX, ABC, MyTV, CW, CBS, NBC, Univision and Azteca affiliates. #kfdm #kfdmnews #beaumont #beaumontnews #KFDM #KFDMNews #localnews #breakingnews

• KFDM, Buddhist monks peace walk from TX to DC, Nov. 24, 2025; Ashley Wells, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Terrifying Amusement Parks (video)

Early amusement parks were terrifying

Tested on live subjects. Mostly harmless.

(Historidame) Creepy clowns, weird Sideshow attractions, a midway, and rides that were actively dangerous -- early amusement parks were terrifying, and I want to visit them so badly. So join me today, dear viewers, as we take a trip into the past and explore the golden age of amusement parks.

• SOURCES: pastebin.com/revdKWN0

Music: Merry Go - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Breaktime - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Fig Leaf Times Two by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ RollerCoaster Tycoon 1 & 2 - Slavonic Dance - Merry-Go-Round #60fps #amusementpark #rollercoaster #coneyisland #history

• Historidame, April 18, 2025; CC Liu, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation) (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Mom, I'm trekking to Mt. Everest (video)

I visited Mount Everest Base Camp

(Luke Korns) July 28, 2024: What's up? My name is Luke Korns. I trekked to Everest Base Camp with a retired Nepalese Sherpa guide from the Himalayas. His name is Phanden. To contact him, email sherpa.phanden@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter (lukekorns ) or Instagram (LukeKorns).

Featured places. See more information in Google Maps Everest Base Camp Campground 4.7 (519) Details

Once upon a time in Nepal...

Just give me a few years of silence.

Once upon a time in Nepal a boy sought enlightenment. He sat under a tree in the woods. But soon he attracted all the wrong kind of attention. It wasn't just the tree spirits and unseen beings who haunt the forest. It was devoted looky-loos and devoted observers. He got up and went somewhere else, acting like a modern-day Siddhartha.

[But Prince Sid Gautama was actually in Gandhara, what the ancient Greeks called Scythia, in the territory or mahajanapada of the Sakas (Indo-Scythians) called Kapilavastu. But never mind about that detail; historians have relocated him to tiny Nepal on the border of India where it's easier to safeguard his story and monuments, leaving the massive ones in and around his hometown in Afghanistan to languish for centuries with no one paying much attention until recently: Mes Aynak, Bamiyan, Ajina Tepe...]

I'm a do-it-yourselfer, a self-awakened buddha.

The boy's name was Ram Bahadur Bomjon (nicknamed "Buddha Boy" for some similarities to the story of Siddhartha), who eventually became an esoteric Vajrayana lama and spiraled into disrepute. Too much fame too soon does that to a meditator.

What would it have taken to ascend the mountain of wisdom and reach the pinnacle of knowing-and-seeing? Restraints on practice, boundaries, a solid disciplinary code (vinaya). "All we ever wanted was everything. All we ever got was cold," sings Bauhaus. Now could an American reach the Holy Land and get to the base of what is reputedly the tallest mountain in the world?

But, Son, what about avalanches? - Oh, Mom!

• Thanks to CleanMyMac X for sponsoring the trip. Get Your Mac vacation-ready with a 7-day free trial of CleanMyMac X https://bit.ly/LukeKorns. Use my promo code LUKEK for 20% off. :D
• Luke Korns, wandering in Nepal, 2024; Dhr. Seven, Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Foraging wild foods: walkabout LA (5/25)

Guide to Wild Foods, Plants

FORAGING FOR WILD FOODS, WITH RIPARIAN FOCUS — A walkabout led by author and outdoor expert Christopher Nyerges, founder of the School of Self-Reliance, on May 25, 2024, from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

We’ll walk into Pasadena's watershed area through the willows and waterways and see the diverse flora up close.

We're here to find WILD FOODS, which means edible California plants possibly including mushrooms.

We will prepare the food we gather.

We will learn about the wild foods, wild medicines, and some of the many uses of the amazing yucca plant so valuable to Native Americans (the Tongva) of ancient Los Angeles.

During this walk, we’ll learn about the unique riparian (near water) plants and the uses of the many plants seen along the walk. Expect to see white sage, lettuce, greens, herbs, alders, mulefat, mugwort, willow, and others up close.

There are many other riparian plants, which we may be growing depending on varying conditions and microclimates. There will be many wild edibles that sprout at this time of the year when there’s enough water.

Foraging Wild Edible Plants

There are always many surprises in store for all participants during these nature walks. Native Californian plants, non-native introduced (invasive) plants, and various wildlife will all be part of the walk.

Bring water and dress comfortably. This walk may be applied towards the School of Self-Reliance Ethnobotany Certificate.

• Foraging for Wild Foods Walkabout
• Arroyo Seco, Pasadena, Los Angeles
• (exact location sent with registration)
• Saturday, May 25, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
• $65 ($45 students/seniors)
• Walkabout – School of Self-Reliance
• Christopher Nyerges, SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com; Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Xochitl (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Fire-Resilient Gardens: Walk 'n Talk (4/26)

Fire-wise Garden in Tujunga, Los Angeles County, California, landscaped by FormLA

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What kind of garden can I make out of this yard?

Fire-Resilient Gardens: A Maintenance Walk and Talk with Erik Blank. part of the Theodore Payne Foundation's Wildfire Collection: Friday, April 26, 2024 (FREE).

Learn how to prune and maintain a garden for wildfire safety in this introductory course.

• This iconic wildflower spot can be dazzling. Is it worth the 150-mile trek from L.A. this year?

Journeys with Plant Spirits

The Theodore Payne Foundation, where 37% of attendees are repeat customers 📈, is on a mission to restore Los Angeles' resilient native species, which sets the stage for the return of all of the original flora and fauna (plants, animals, insects, fish, lichens, and mushrooms).

• Theodore Payne Foundation (TPF) Pergola
• 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley, CA 91352
• Friday, April 26, 1:00-2:30 pm PDT (MAP)

Healing Plants of the West

The Secret Life of Plants

This event will go about 90 minutes. This session introduces basic maintenance and pruning techniques for a new California reality: wildfires.

Learn the when, why, and how of managing a fire resilient garden in this walk and talk around the TPF gardens.

Guide to Wild Plants (Nyerges)

This class is outdoors in TPF's demonstration gardens. Guests are asked to wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and to prepare for up to one hour of walking on steep and uneven surfaces. Water bottles and sun protection are also strongly encouraged.

ABOUT: Erik Blank is a long-time California native plant enthusiast with professional experience in restoration, installation, and maintenance. He joined the TPF Sales Yard in June of 2020. This class is made possible in part by Edison International. More

• Theodore Payne Foundation Demonstration Gardens (theodorepayne.org); Jen Bradford, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation) (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Wild Mushroom Hunt, spiritual uses (2/24)

Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Jen B., Wisdom Quarterly

Wild plants and mushrooms

Let's go on a Mushroom Hunt, Ethnobotanical Nature Walk, Forest Meditation: Saturday, Feb. 24, 10:00 am-12:00 pm ($25.00).

This walkabout focuses on identifying wild medicinal mushrooms and plants and includes discussion of the therapeutic, shamanic, entheogenic, hallucinogenic, and psychedelic uses of plants that offer alternative treatments.

The native and non-native plants in our local environment have many surprising uses.

This leisurely stroll with guided meditation offers a chance to see and identify various mushrooms in this gloriously wet period. The weather has the mycelium running and fruiting bodies emerging from the ground, like we learned at last week's Wild Mushroom Fair at the LA Arboretum.

"Ego death"?

For a moment, I saw what was real!

Q: Why would anyone want the ego to die, even temporarily? A: The ego is an illusion (maya), an unreality, a painful mirage. That's why. Of course, the ego will never believe it. The ego won't let the ego die. But DMT, the "spirit molecule," makes it see what ultimately real and what is not. This could be enough for a start on a journey to Truth, the Beyond, the Beyond the Beyond. Or one may cling to the fleeting even worse than before, spiraling in delusion, taking the unreal for real, the impermanent for permanent, the disappointing for pleasure with a promise of fulfillment.

• Ego death

Wear comfortable footwear. We’ll meet in Pasadena, near the Rose Bowl, at a predesignated location provided at registration. This is a group event, but individual tours may also be arranged. RSVP:

• Wild Mushroom Foraging, Psychedelic Uses, Shamanic Plant Healing, Sun, Feb 18, 2024, 7:00 PM | Meetup
• Wild Mushroom Foraging, Psychedelic Uses, Shamanic Plant Healing, Sat, Feb 24, 2024, 10:00 AM | Meetup
• WILD PLANTS & MUSHROOMS: Ethnobotanical Walk – School of Self-Reliance

Wild Food Cooking Class (1/21)

Christopher Nyerges, School of Self-Reliance; Dhr. Seven, Xochitl (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Nyerges authored many books

WILD FOOD COOKING — edible wild plants of Southern California, Jan. 20, 2024 @ 10:00 am-2:00 pm, $45.00 – $65.00. Learn edible wild plants of Southern California, Saturday. We explore the local area and do our best to create a local meal provided by nature.

We create a meal with a salad, soup, vegetable dish, pancakes, and a drink, from plants we collect today and from plants that were previously collected. Walk is brief and leisurely, collecting plants along the way, learning how to identify food as well as other non-food plants we encounter.

Foraging has gotten popular. Learn how to ethically forage and how to properly identify wild plants. It's a great survival skill. We never know exactly what we’ll find, but we are likely to have wild greens for salad and soup, wild buckwheat for pancakes, herbs for tea, cactus, and possibly some wild fruits for a dessert item. We find out along the way on this walkabout.

THIS CLASS COUNTS TOWARDS THE ETHNOBOTANY CERTIFICATE. Location sent out when upon registration. $65 (senior/student $45): SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com (Events)

• WILD FOOD COOKING - Edible wild plants of Southern California NOTE:  Rain is predicted.  Bring rain gear or umbrella.  If rain is significant, class will be a walk and some cooking.

Lunchtime Wild Foraging Nature Walk (1/18)

Christopher Nyerges (schoolofself-reliance.com); Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

Are cactus pads (nopales) edible?

LUNCHTIME FORAGING WALK: We'll learn plant and mushroom identification, make a salad, and learn about our local habitat on this nature walk. Thursday, Jan. 18, 12:00-2:00 pm.

Ever wondered what sort of edible, medicinal, and otherwise useful plants grow in and around the city? We’ll explore a unique one-acre wildlife sanctuary in the foothills of Highland Park, where we will see native plants, cultivated plants, and many of the plants typical of large urban areas.

We'll learn about the food uses, natural medicines, useful fibers, and more. Discussion will revolve around sustainable/ethical foraging and collection of greens and cuttings to take home.

There is an on-site nursery to purchase various potted plants to grow in home gardens. We’ll also make a delicious salad to taste some of the in-season wild edibles.

Native American toyon berries

It's an excellent opportunity to see and taste some of the plants that everyone living in Los Angeles area will encounter most of the time. Learn how to eat the nopal. It's great survival skills training for all ages.

Location: 5835 Burwood Ave., off Figueroa in Highland Park, near Pasadena's 134 Freeway. Free street parking. We’ll meet and walk up the dirt access road into the one-acre sanctuary. Bring a bowl, water, and be sure to RSVP ($30-45).

• WILD FOOD COOKING, Saturday, 10:00 am, Jan. 20, 2024 -- edible wild plants of Southern California – School of Self-Reliance ($45-65)