Here we go again...

Sorry for the lack of updates but yet again the world of TMcG gets a bit rattled.

The job that I really liked experienced cutbacks recently and I was one of the folks to be let go. Rather than my usual updownspiral of 'freakoutedness', I've been quite calm and developed a 'come but may' attitude.

I feel quite bad for the owners of the company rather putting all of my energy into feeling sorry for myself and I spread out hope that the economy can only perk up a bit to help others who may be suffering the ill effects of some not-so wise decisions made by those we've entrusted our with economic well being.

These are tough times. All the more reason to be forgiving, gentle and kind with one another.

The Urban Monk is no alarm clock!

In a recent post by one of my fave blogs 'The Urban Monk' author, Dogo Barry Graham wrote so profoundly (in my opinion):

"My enlightenment is delusion for you. My awakening is darkness for you - because it is not yours. You have to get it from yourself, experience your own Buddha-nature. Secondhand awakening is no awakening at all, only a vivid dream. What another person gives you can also be taken away, and, even while you have it, it is just one more hindrance."

Well said... So very well said.

This path is mine and the uniqueness and the preciousness of this human form I inhabit will never cease to amaze me. Is it time to wake up? It could be

Redesigns, refocus and a new name

I've been absent from this blog again.

After years of saying that I'd update the design and structure and get my own domain name, I'm working on it.

Stay tuned.

Pixelated with a spin- Buddhist online conference

My former boss, Mitch Joel blogged about the cool idea of Pixelated - creating a ' new business virtual conference' in that one wouldn't need to leave the comfort of their home to feel like a participant of a day long session but could merely tune in to the selected videos which the 'host sponsor' selected that best illustrated the selected topic.

I read this and thought "Holy Buddha Batman!" This is what I've been doing all these years on this blog. Picking and choosing selected videos that resonate with me (although many of them are old punkrock or skate videos!)

So here for you dear readers is the day-long TMcG sponsored "Pixelated Buddhist Conference". Please join in and create your own as I'd love to see what other great Buddhist videos are out there circulating on the web. Drop me a line if you decided to post your own "Pixelated Buddhist Conference".



Venerable Robina Courtin - "Be Your own Therapist



The 4 Noble Truths - in Claymation



Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche - Spiritual Materialism (2)



Noah Levine- "Anger"



Ram Dass - "on Experience"



Pema Chodron - Why I became a Buddhist



Ethan Nichtern - "One City: A Declaration of Interdependence" reading at Google




His Holiness the 17th Karmapa- "How can we deal with everyday distractions?"



Brad Warner - "Skillful Means"

It's all about the motivation

If we live our lives continually motivated by anger and hatred, even our physical health deteriorates.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Thankful today....

Let us rise up and be thankful,
for if we didn’t learn a lot today,
at least we learned a little,
and if we didn’t learn a little,
at least we didn’t get sick,
and if we got sick,
at least we didn’t die;
so, let us be thankful.

-The Buddha