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TA’s Recent Blog Posts
- Finding Centre and Other Life Lessons from Boatbuilding
- From Stem to Stern
- I’m Always Climbing A Mountain or “How I climb anything is how I climb everything…”
- Visual Soliloquy #1280 It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure…
- Visual Soliloquy #1279 If you propose to speak, always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind ?”
TA's Adventures that Move
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2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Antarctica Antigua Atlas Mountains Buddhism Canada canoe Chile Churchill River climb Elbrus Climb for my Dad El Salvador Everest Everest 3.0 Everest 3.0. school curriculum Everest 2010 expedition Eyes of the Spirit Find Your Fit GHT Go for Greenland Grand Canyon Great Himalaya Trail Greenland Guatemala Hat Trick of the Americas Iceland Kanairiktok River Karuna Kilimanjaro Labrador Lojong Slogans Mission 5959 Mista Shipu Morocco mountain Mountains of Morocco Nature Nepal Newfoundland NOLS north Africa Notakwanon River Nunatsiavut Ojos Oma peak photography Post by Voice prostate cancer Quotes School Curriculum sea kayak sea kayaking Seven Summits St. John's Sweden Tire Pull train training Travel trek Twillingate Vinson volcanoes What's TA Climbing Next? WOKies YukonRecent Comments
- Carolyn ` Paul on From Stem to Stern
- Anonymous on I’m Always Climbing A Mountain or “How I climb anything is how I climb everything…”
- Jill on I’m Always Climbing A Mountain or “How I climb anything is how I climb everything…”
- Anonymous on Arms Wide Open and Other Lessons I Learned from Jim
- TA Loeffler on Everest 3.0: Out of the Fog, Flights to Nowhere, and Seeing the Mountain Blush
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Category Archives: Buddhism
Snow in St. John’s as my Teacher: Life (and Snow) is Precious
The week of Valentine’s Day moves many of us to express our love to those near and dear to us. As well, this week, with our wonderful 45 cm snow fall, had me professing my love for snow days! Today, … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Life
Tagged 2015, Buddhism, climb, Seven Summits, snow as my teacher, train
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21 days to Mera Peak, Island Peak and the Amphu Labtsa and counting…
Here is our itinerary for the trip…three weeks and counting. Training is going well and it’s time to start putting out gear in piles and turning the living room into an expedition staging centre. My excitement is mounting each day … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Mera & Island
Tagged 2013, Amphu Labsta, Island, Mera, Nepal
2 Comments
A Theory of Relativity
I pulled this tire up Signal Hill three times this morning. The first pull felt awfully hard. Indeed. Really, really hard. Interesting to note that that feeling of hardness made me really really want to stop. It was dark. Cold. … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Gunnbjørn Fjeld
Tagged 2012, Buddhism, Go for Greenland, Tire Pull, train
3 Comments
Vinson Visual Lojong #22: Don’t bring things to a painful point
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, climb, Nature, photography, Quotes, Travel
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Vinson Visual Lojong #21: In post meditation, be a child of illusion
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, climb, Nature, photography, Quotes, Travel
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Vinson Visual Lojong #16: Three objects, three poisons, and three seeds of virtue
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
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Vinson Visual Lojong #15: Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
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Vinson Visual Lojong #10: Liberate yourself by examining and analyzing
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
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Vinson Visual Lojong #9 Two activities: one at the beginning, one at the end
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
1 Comment
Vinson Visual Lojong #8: When the world is filled with evil, Transform all mishaps into the path of bodhi
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
1 Comment
Vinson Visual Lojong #7: Don’t try to be the fastest
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
2 Comments
Vinson Visual Lojong #2: Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
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Vinson Visual Lojong #1: First, train in the preliminaries
Lojong is a Tibetan Buddhist mind training practice based on a set of 59 slogans first formulated in the 12th century. For most of my climbs, my Buddhist mentor (or “Buddhist Personal Trainer” as I like to call her) prepares … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Photography, Visual Soliloquy
Tagged 2011, Buddhism, Lojong Slogans, Nature, photography, Travel
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Antarctica Countdown 15 Days and Counting: Super-size The Wisdom of No Escape
“There is a story of a woman running away from tigers. She runs and runs and the tigers are getting closer and closer. When she comes to the edge of a cliff, she sees some vines there, so she climbs … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Vinson
Tagged 2011, Antarctica, climb, Pema Chodron, Seven Summits, train, Vinson, Wisdom of No Escape
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Antarctica Countdown 47 days and counting: Flashback to YOD
This new training program has me running again. Thankfully I am back up to an hour of running without any major challenges thus far. I ran outside Wednesday around Quidi Vidi lake and again this morning from the house. In … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Denali, Everest 3.0, Vinson
Tagged Antarctica, climb, Mount Vinson, training, Year on Denali, YOD
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Antarctica Countdown 56 Days and Counting: Where the Rubber Hits the Road
I love this shot that Natelle took this morning! The blurring of the pavement as I drag the tire ever upward. It was one of those morning where, when the alarm first went off and the house was shaking in … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Vinson
Tagged 2011, Antarctica, climb, Seven Summits, train
2 Comments
Mont Blanc Hallelujah
(Click the video to play while reading the blog entry) I’ve heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don’t really care for music, do you? It goes like this The fourth, … Continue reading
Slack Line, Beginner’s Mind
After 22 out 24 days of rain in St. John’s, the sun finally graced our presence for the Canada Day long weekend. After a month of waiting, we could finally try out our new slack line. Slack lining involves learning … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Life
Tagged beginner's mind, bongo board, slack line, unicycle, zen mind
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#13 Be grateful to everyone
It’s been a tough yet joyous week. The joy has come in celebrating the achievements of four friends; all of who have worked and trained tirelessly to reach their own personal Everests. One qualified for the world championships in the … Continue reading
Hammered on Hvannadalshnuku
So much to describe and share and so little time to find the words. Days are passing here like the wind, very rapidly and measured in meters per second, both the speed of the wind and our experiences on the … Continue reading
Running Towards the Biting Phone
The Tibetan Plateau muted my senses. Its colour palette draws most strongly from the autumn family of ochres, tans, beiges, browns, but there are also the most intense sky and water blues imaginable. Other than blue, there were no bright … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Tibet Bike, Vinson
Tagged 2011, climb, Pema Chodren, phone phobia, Tibet Mountain Bike
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Borrowing Discipline
My Buddhist refuge name is Tsultrim Mig Gya. It means Discipline Great Vision and represents what my teacher saw as the path to my enlightenment when I took my refuge vow in 2005. It was a time of great personal … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Life
Tagged 2011, Blue Monday, Buddhist, discipline, life lessons, New Year's Resolutions
2 Comments
Looking for WIndhorse II
Prayer flags are often called Lung-ta or Windhorse in Tibet and Nepal. One traditional prayer flag design has a windhorse in the centre and the Four Dignities (Lion, Tiger, Garuda, Dragon) in the four corners. As some of you will … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 2010, Everest-007, Life, Tibet Bike
Tagged 2011, Everest, gratitude, photography, prayer flags, teachers, windhorse
1 Comment
Wanted: Unconditional Confidence
Howdy, Sunday has rolled around again. After a year’s hibernation, I’m back attending a Buddhist retreat this weekend called, “Wisdom in Everyday Life.” I’m appreciating being back within the community of the Sangha, which has been a critical part of … Continue reading
Das Boot
Hey, It’s Sunday once again and the time has been a blur. My mom was admitted to hospital about a week ago in serious condition and I’ve spent much of the week sending my love, prayers, and good thoughts to … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 2010, Motorcycles
Tagged Buddhist Learning, climb, dirt girls, motorycles, training
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Fence Boards and Paneer
Congrats to Spain, Condolences to the Netherlands, Another seven days has quickly passed and I find myself stealing a few moments in my chair once again. I’m a bit tired from my biggest day of riding yet and I’m going … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 2010, Motorcycles
Tagged Everest 2010, F&W, Seven Summits, training, Yamaha XT 250
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A New Altitude
Good Evening, In an unusual moment, I am lost for words. In the scale of human tragedy, this week’s earthquake in Haiti has given me (and most folks I know) an occasion for pause, for prayer, and for sorting out … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 2010
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A New Elevation
Good Morning, When climbing a high altitude peak, we don’t just climb it once. We climb it at least twice, perhaps three of four times. In order to acclimatize properly, mountaineers use a strategy of “Climb High, Sleep Low.” … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 2010
Tagged climb, grief, high altitude, mountain, training
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New Views
Howdy, Happy three months to my birthday day. I’m a few days late in writing this but it’s been a rollercoaster weeks of intense highs and lows and I’m tried to take inspiration and meaning from both. I flew out … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest 2010
Tagged Buddhist Learning, Grand Canyon, polar, school presentation
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Off to Chile
There is a rich tapestry that forms the foundation of our lives. It is woven from threads of experience coming together to form patterns, textures, and surprises. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I forget to look for and … Continue reading
Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight.
“Fall down seven times, get up eight.” This is a Japanese proverb that came my way once on a tear-away calendar. Of the 365 sayings that year, this one stuck. As I ran intervals on Signal Hill Tuesday morning and … Continue reading
Happy Thanksgiving to All,
Funny how it works than when you let go of something, the resulting space allows for it to occur. Just when I said, “I want to do as little training as possible for Chile,” I found it within me to … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Ojos
Tagged Eyes of the Spirit, Ojos, training
Everest-007 September 2007
I was battered and bruised by something that does not move. A mountain of epic proportions. In my mind. And out in the world Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest-007
Tagged climb, post partum
Everest-007 March 2007
Walking in the footsteps of others 3/31/2007 Flat Stanley at Pumori Flat Stanley in front of Pumori. I am so aware as I trek to Everest Base Camp that I walk in the footsteps of so many others. Camped here … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest-007
Tagged expedition, IMG, Nepal
Everest-007 January 2007
Another Rich and Full Week 1/27/2007 Another busy week has unfolded on the Road to Everest. I received a gift from my niece in the mail. Rayne is four and a budding artist. She painted me a picture of Mount … Continue reading
Posted in Aconcagua, Buddhism, Everest-007
Tagged Aconcagua, Argentina, CAAWS, Seven Summits
Everest-007 December 2006
Last Day of the Year 12/31/2006 Hello to All, I’m back in Mendoza after several long days of hiking off the mountain. Thanks so much to all for your kind thoughts and prayers and well wishes. I’m sure they helped … Continue reading
Posted in Aconcagua, Buddhism, Everest-007
Tagged Aconcagua, Argentina, climb, expedition, Seven Summits, training
Everest-007 September 2006
Happy Autumn (and nine months to my birthday 🙂 9/24/2006 There is that wonderful crispness in the air–combine that with a sunny clear day–and I am a happy camper. I had a good week and an even better weekend. I … Continue reading
Everest-007 July 2006
Happy Midsummer Night’s Dream! 7/29/2006 I’m sitting here with ice on various parts of my lower anatomy. I did my long run today and am trying to soothe my aching limbs. It’s been a tough week. One of the hardest … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest-007
Everest-007 May 2006
Happy Memorial Day Weekend to All 5/28/2006 Wow another big week of training and decision-making!!! When I face a big decision, I often feel like I’m in the middle of a snow globe. I’m in the middle of a swirling … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest-007
Tagged Everest 2010, Seven Summits, training
Everest-007 March 2006
Outer Coast Adventure Happy Spring to All, The day began with a dog bark and ended with a shower; in the blink of an eye lives and plans changed. On March 22, the Queen of the North sank. On March … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Everest-007
Tagged BC, Necky, NOLS, sea kayaking
