My Blog

I wish to lose this concept of me and my but there remains the I wishing to lose the me and the my

MARK — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:16:25 GMT

brilliant as a bolt of lightening fading as quickly as it came.Suddenly one day, the fog simply faded away, and I saw things more clearly then,than I do now.I meditate daily and try with all of my might to revive the energy and the insight that i had experienced at that time in my life.It is gone now...where...not sure.Has this ever happened to you? The experience is hard to describe.I am not sure I understand it all myself.A change. A complete overhaul of who I once was to who I had come to be, all in the blink of an eye.I believe the Buddhist calls it an enlightenment. i suddenly put away old habitual thinking patterns and became a much more focused human being.I had began to see the suffering in the world as I had never imagined it to be.I do know though, that during that brief walk by the glow of the lightening bolt I suddenly understood...and I was powerful in my understanding. I began to live in a new world. Old habits died hard and new understanding helped me every step of the way. I learned to slow down. be mindful of each step I took. Learned to breath for the first time in my life. It was then that two friends stepped into my life...two Buddhist Monks...my brothers. Both ex-bikers who had taken refuge in the Buddha. They wore traditional robe of the Mahayana Buddhist monk and they lived in West Vancouver in a small temple...the Sangha. I was invited to move in with them and offered to stay in th efront temple room at night...an Honor. The elder of the pair was a mountain of a man...like an Arnold Swarzegger covered in tattoo's.However the other, though muscular as well was slightly smaller. They operated a community Sangha where people would come and participate in daily meditation and chant services. Each morning on Monday it would be myt turn to serve for the day. That meant fresh pasta had to be readied in the morning and fresh homemade bread had to be made. It was my duty to serve full course breakfast lunch and dinner to all the members. I had to scrub the place from top to bottom. All of this I had done with great love and care. The other 4 days of the week the same was done for me. This freed up four days of each week to everyone to participate in studies and debate and of course...meditation and practice.Weekends we had off...thats when all of us would laugh at cartoons...the men all slept in the backroom on four bunkbeds...as I mentioned I slept in the temple. They said it was because i required the extra strength for my own personal practice...helping the street kids in the hood.

The Key Chain Project

MARK — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:39:53 GMT

We visit street involved youth at-risk and pay them 25cents to make my trademark spiral key chain. The key chain in itself is protected by industrial design trademark application and is a hands-on experiential learning tool created by me to re-inforce the concepts taught within my WGACA core philosophy.It takes about one hour to make 40 key chains...the participant earns $10 on the spot and I of course earn one hour. One hour to encourage and inspire the participant to explore and investigate their morales values attitudes and beliefs around the concept of what goes around comes around. I document the result s of a carefully designed set of questions. Studies show that more programs are needed that go to those in need of help rather than waiting for them to come to us. I TAKE THIS PROJECT TO THE STREETS! The Key Chain Project aims to provide opportunities for learning and personal development for young people at--risk. The goal is to create and offer opportunities to partake in a culture of self-expression and contribution and to encourage and inspire others to do the same. I have been very sucessful in helping young people deal with substance abuse and other related issues like low self-esteem, gang involvement, poor school performance and family conflicts.Since 1996 there have been over two thousand participants. GIVE A PERSON A FISH FEED THEM FOR ONE DAY...TEACH A PERSON TO FISH FEEDS THEM FOR LIFE!

About the program

MARK — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:28:59 GMT

The professional selling skills program is specifically designed to help develop basic life skills, intended to enable persons through the transition of the street and getting into the workplace. The street life wears a person down, especially a young person. They can lose their self-esteem and with it their own self confidence.However, this life also creates in itself the position where the street involved person must be industrious and creatve in order to survive. The direct selling of key chains that they themselves have made provides a sense of accomplishment and recognition and a perfect opportunity for those involved to utilize these skills as well as develop inter-personal skills in areas such as basic thru advanced communication.Selling of key chains provides conflict resolution as the salesperson learns to deal with the customers ever changing attitude as they try to sell the product and /or idea. Skepticism to who they are as an individual, indifference to their own ideas of self help and of course objection/rejection. Instead of just a handout we provide a helping hand.

TARGETED INTERVENTION/STREET YOUTH OUTREACH

MARK — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:09:26 GMT

STAYING SAFE from injury & death from maltreatment, neglect, sexual exploitation, safe from illicit drugs, crime and anti-social behavior. BEING HEALTHY physically healthy,mentally and emotionally healthy,sexually healthy, have a healthy lifestyle and choose NOT TO TAKE DRUGS POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION engage in law abiding behavior, develp positive relationships & self confidence, succesfully deal with changes and challenges and to develop enterprising behavior

What Goes Around Comes Around Presents...The Key Chain Project

MARK — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:04:42 GMT

The Key Chain Project aims to provide opportunity for personal learning and development for young people. The goal of The Key Chain Project is to imagine, create and offer opportunities to participate in a culture of self expression and contribution and to inspire others to do the same. What Goes Around Comes Around Incorporated/The Program, services include provision of drug/alcohol related education for children, young people and those who work with them. The project will strive to mdoel and maintain an impeccable level of integrity and acountability in providing educational programs for schools/agencies and organizations. Sevices can be one time presentations or on-going long term initiatives.Our track record is very impressive.