I’m just a lil ol southern boy Buddhist, trying to make my way in the world, and letting the world in on it. I go by the moniker of the Meditator Man, so pull up a cushion, get comfy and lets hang out.

My current passion is podcasting. I am currently producing the Enlighten Up Podcast and having a blast with it. Check it out!

BUDDHIST BEGINNINGS

How did I get into this whole Buddhism thing?  It’s actually a mildly interesting story.  When I was about 10, I had gone with my mother to a book store in Memphis, TN.  I was wandering around and saw a couple of books on the shelf.  One was ‘The Three Pillars of Zen’ and the other was ‘Zen Flesh, Zen Bones’.  When I saw them, I knew I was supposed to get them.  I had no idea why, or even what Zen was, but I new I was supposed to read those books.

I checked my money and pulled the books off the shelf.  When it came time to leave, I went to the check out with mom.  ‘You’re sure that’s what you want?’, she asked.

‘Yes, maam.’, I replied.

‘Do you even know what Zen is?’

‘No, but I want to learn.  They look like neat books.’

So I got the books, and began reading ‘Three Pillars’ on the ride home.  Over the next few years, I read these books over and over.  In addition, I got a few more, including ‘Zen In The Martial Arts.’  These were all great books and I kinda understood what I was reading, but I knew something was missing.  Over then next 20 years, I bought numerous books on Zen and had quite an intellectual understanding of it and I even tried to meditate, on occasion, but I still didn’t get it.

Finally, I went to a meditation center to receive formal instruction.  This was a center whose lineage was Tibetan.  As soon as they began to explain the formal process to me, it all began to make sense.  What I was missing, began to immediately take shape.  Over the next 5 years or so, I read every book I could get my hands on dealing with Tibetan Buddhism.  I also took numerous classes and everything began to click more and more.

THE MEDITATOR MAN DIVES INTO NEW MEDIA

In the summer of 2005, I decided to start a blog and the most interesting thing I could think of to blog about was my Buddhist experiences.  That’s the start of Enlighten Up!

Since then, I have throughly enjoyed the blogging experience.   Since the beginning of 2007, I have started the weekly Enlighten Up Podcast, where I’m discussing Buddhism in the audio world.

I have no goal, nothing set that I am particularly trying to accomplish.  I am having a blast and plan to continue it!