Nov 27, 2007

Help! I neglect my cushion....

Laziness is the bane of my meditation practice existence. I can usually think of a zillion and one things I'd rather be doing rather than meditating.

Funny part is that when I'm on the cushion, I'm usually caught up in thinking about those zillion and one things I'd rather be doing.

It is said that the antidote to laziness is both perseverance and diligence. In order to "wake up", one needs to be dedicated and take action. Who knew the action of 'just sitting there' could be suffused with so much action and activity.

My favourite kinds of laziness come from attachment to pleasure- the rosy glow of being in absolutely in love and completely captivated with the geekboy of my dreams...Heap onto that my love of sleep, rest and generally being loafy.

(read in the voice of Yoda)- Practice while you can young TMcG. Death, sickness and old age come suddenly and damm it if sitting for hours on a tiny square cube of a cushion with skate-addled knees and an unfocused mind isn't trouble enough for you at such a young age..

I dedicate this post to you- dear reader. I need to devote my practice to you. No matter if you are a friend, enemy or stranger. This is a pre-Boddhisattvic Vow digital commitment.


This gives me perspective and helps to fight the laziness.



Nov 25, 2007

Freaking coooool

I love this image.

∞ yesway ∞

Nov 24, 2007

Be Grateful to everyone

Without others, we would have no chance at all to develop beyond ego. So the idea here is to feel grateful that others are presenting us with tremendous obstacles -- even threats or challenges. The point is to appreciate that. Without them, we could not follow the path at all. Walking on the path of the dharma is connected with dealing with our neurosis. But if there were no neuros-ees, we couldn't develop any neuros-is. Therefore, we should feel very grateful to such persons. They are actually the ones who are pushing us onto the path of dharma.

From "Transformation of Bad Circumstances," in TRAINING THE MIND AND CULTIVATING LOVING KINDNESS, page 92.

For more quotes by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, you can subscribe to Shambhala Magazine's- Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

The Journey of the Soul

The Journey of the Soul

The meditative experience is, to my mind, the practice of dying, the practice of letting go. The more you practice letting go, the more you begin to understand the journey of your soul or your spirit as it detaches from the material nature of existence. There is a river, and as soon as you unmoor the boat and you start to enter that river, you end up on a journey. Not all of us have gone to the mouth of that river, but I think we are all aware, in the meditative process, that the journey exists. As you go deeply inside your psyche you're aware of the similarity of this journey to the journey of the soul after death.

--Bruce Rubin, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, Fall 1991
from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book

Nov 17, 2007

One year to live is coming to an end

Well the One Year to Live program I've embarked on for 2007 is coming to an end. It seems like such a long time since I debated off and on whether I'd go through with it. Subject myself to the painful dismantling that takes place when you try as you might to dismantle the ego.

This month is about letting go of attachment to possessions and I'm hoping to do a big clean up of my surroundings. Bankers boxes and recycling bags are staring me down.

Reducing clinging and attachment. Let's see how this one goes.

Broken Heart & interconnection

Check out this adorable little video.
Motion City Soundtrack "Broken Heart"

Nov 16, 2007

The Playing Favorites

This is almost the best news I've had in a llooooonnng time (future Mr TMcG- you need not be threatened)

Joey Cape of Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is involved in a new band called Playing Favorites and you can listen to a stream of their new album via this link -

Punknews.org | The Playing Favorites

I sure hope they tour soon... Gack... I'm loving the album so far.

Tomorow night I'll be at the Wintersleep show. You know you should go...

Nov 15, 2007

The cutest thing ever!

The future Mr TMcG sent me this link to the adorable "Dalia who was dressed as the Dalia Lama

Oh my gooodness.. Soooo cute

Ironic Sans: Halloween on the Upper West Side

Weezer: The countdown is on

I may have told you this before but I'm soooo excited for the new Weezer album (due this Spring) as well as the Rivers Cuomo solo album (December 18th)

Hoping it lives up to the hype that I am currently building up for it.

Follow Weezer - via this site with all the details.

Nov 13, 2007

The Special Goodness

It's my birthday.

2007 and I'm planning my wedding, my funeral and listening to The Special Goodness

Sometimes life's like that

Nov 11, 2007

The Worst Horse talks to Dharmagrrl founder Erica Gagne

oooh.. Wants some of these....


The Worst Horse talks to Dharmagrrl founder Erica Gagne