We finally make it ...

Past the border with my mother that is. Yes ... third time lucky but not without its usual challenges. A 2 hour line up, having to go back into the border patrol office to get ANOTHER visa but we made it thru and had this great afternoon with my mom and sister. We had laughs, talked about relatives, made plans for Christmas. AWESOME considering I haven't really talked to my sister in years and now ... we just have such a great time hanging out. Sis, if you're reading this I hope you make it to Philippines for Christmas. Heck ... I hope I make it to Philippines for Christmas. I'm determined to make it happen - I can't miss out on Christmas back home this year. It would be weird ... so chanting to book a few things before the year's end.

Flow ...

So just finished another great weekend soaking up a whole mess of wisdom ... in other words, Barbara Deutsch came to town. From the feedback I got it was the best one that most people have attended. The group of people that showed up this weekend were so funny, energetic and I don't know ... there was such a BIG energy in the group, it's the best word to describe it. People were living large.

I also got my ass kicked by Madame Deutsch. She pointed out the possibility that maybe now was not a good to leave the country for a year as my career is beginning to build some momentum and to let my life be a bit more malleable.

Another thing that Barbara pointed out this weekend was how even a year ago, I was playing such a small game and NOW ... that is so not the case. I'm playing a bigger game yet I didn't realize until this weekend was the I wasn't using the tools or the attitude of playing a bigger game. It's nice to be guided a bit in the right direction.

I just feel different from the past two weekends, stronger - more capacity to be able to handle the challenges. I found out last week that Less Than Kind has been picked up for another season and it hasn't been confirmed that my character is returning ... but I'm optimistic that things will work out ... flow ... flow ... flow.

Breakthrough weekend ...


Last weekend I went to a Buddhist conference with 18 of my other Buddhamates to Vashon Island and it was incredible. With only a few minor bumps, things went pretty smooth in terms of organizing that many people for a road trip. It was the most joyous two and half days.

There was a Women's division leader, Linda Johnson from the US that spoke and the thing she said about faith really touched me. As I paraphrase - she mentioned that we have all the unlimited power within us to achieve whatever we want. Why we suffer is that we don't believe that. We are deluded with a negative belief which causes us to do things that aren't the best for us and that chanting Nam myoho Renge Kyo, this deep phrase, that turns on our Buddhahood or most enlightened self is the key and action to changing that negative belief. As for us Buddhists who do chant, we know it works which is why we still do it. But it's nice to hear it confirmed every now and then but when she said it in that moment - it connected to the heart of every single person in that room and created this amazing shared experience that I think we will all take with us for the rest of our lives. It also worked so well in that moment because throughout the weekend, we studied a lot about the concepts of having a mentor and really being to connected to him In our practice our mentor is Daisaku Ikeda. We really study about the spirit of what he stands for and it's not a guru or god worship thing which is different from a mentor. Here's a great site with some amazing guidance and quotes.

Daisaku Ikeda quotes


So I've been making efforts to really believe that we all have the unlimited potential within to solve our problems and achieve anything we want. My chanting in the past couple of days has been amazing and I am starting to see that potential and awakening it even deeper in my life.


For example - Monday nite to Tuesday my laptop, which I'm writing this blog from was really acting up. It kept on turning off every 3 minutes and I didn't know why. I started panicking a bit because it has 2.5 years worth of material. I had a backup but doing a recover is still a hassle and I was thinking do I need to get a new laptop now? Instead I chanted , came from a calm place - googled on my desktop downstairs and found the answer that there could be some dust inside my laptop. That felt like the right answer, but we don't normally think of that ... so I got my air canister and VOILA ... happy laptop. I know that my seem small but to have to buy another laptop and possibly lose all the work I had on that computer - is valuable to me. So I felt that I really did have the answer or the capability to find it.




















We have the unlimited potential within us to solve our problems and achieve anything we want. What causes us suffering is that we refuse to believe it. Sounds good to me!

What matters ... part deux ...

I finally have time to really write about stuff post Everest. It was such a whirlwind this week, lots more auditions for parts I'm really enjoying! But yesterday, I had time to think about the experience now that the show has aired. There was an e-mail chain started by one of the guys and it was so good connecting with them and sharing the laughs about what happened during the experience. What was also pretty amazing was being at home watching the show with my parents - I was able to go to one of the biggest film premieres and hands down - hanging with my parents and answering questions about shooting Everest wins! I felt like the richest, most famous guy at that moment. I knew they were proud of me yet at the same time it was so relaxed. I just want to keep supporting my family and from there I think it will most likely be easier to handle all the pressures of success. Cuz to me ... having your parents being part of a once in a lifetime experience, that's what matters.

Climb every mountain ...

Finally after about 2.5 years, Everest is broadcast and all these memories came flooding through my mind. The friendships, the challenges and the victories that happen with a once in a lifetime experience. I always wondered why it took so long to broadcast but I'm glad it happened when it did because I got to share this experience with my parents. Watched it in bed with my mom and then hung with my dad in the kitchen at times while he asked me questions about the experience. Priceless ... then the flurry of e-mails with my fellow castmembers. I'm a lucky guy ... I also sent out this press release and it's gone viral all over the virtual universe, from one link to another link to another ...

Check it out here

All the support and well wishes from friends and family feels really good for something that I've worked so hard for. So thanks to you all ...

Amazing ... so things are moving. I feel a sense of accomplishment and completion. But there are definitely more mountains to climb. I have to get to school in 3 months and lots to take care of before then. I'm ready for my next Everest.