Greg Hartnett

Over the last few years I have grown more and more interested in Buddhism. I find it helps me to focus on what’s important and keeps me centered. While I am nowhere near the ultimate destination of enlightenment, I have begun the journey, and each day proves another opportunity for learning and growth.

Recently I finally began to try meditating. I had been reluctant to give it a shot, figuring there would be no way that I’d be able to quiet my mind. Fortunately I have found that with mindful awareness, I have made strides in meditating, and now actually get a few moments of clarity. Sometimes I sit on the floor of my office and devote a half hour to meditation. Other times I try to grab a quickie - maybe five or ten minutes while I sit waiting for my wife (which I do a lot).

The objective of meditation is to just be. Sit and clear the mind. Recognize the thoughts as they arise and let them go. But it takes a little while to get there. I usually sit and repeatedly go through a mantra or two before I’m able to get there. My current mantra is from Buddhist meditation master, Kalu Rinpoche:

We live in illusion
And the appearance of things.
There is a reality.
We are that reality.
When you understand this,
You see that you are nothing.
And being nothing,
You are everything.
That is all.

So I finally broke down and joined Facebook (link to my profile). I had held off for some time because I just didn’t see any value for me in the platform. But after hearing about it month after month, the curiosity finally got the better of me.

Overall, I think it’s a pretty interesting concept. Staying in touch with friends, helping to plan an event, birthday reminders - all good stuff. I’ve even seen some colleagues make use of it from a business standpoint. In a nutshell, I think Facebook has a promising future, and could prove to be a next-gen search alternative (social graphing is way cool).

However, I’m taking a stand against all the bullshit that goes with the site. What’s the deal with the sheep throwing and gift giving? They’re fake gifts people. Zombie bites? Puhleeze. Pretend drinks? How about inviting me to have a real drink? Probably much better bang for your buck there…

This morning, I had a business associate “poke” me. Somebody I don’t know very well outside of a business relationship. WTF? So now am I supposed to “poke” him back? And then what? He pokes me again, or steps it up to start throwing things at me?  Shouldn’t we be working?

Call me weird, but I think it’s all a little, I don’t know, lame.  Maybe I’m a bit stuffy, but I have better things to do with my time than screw around with idiotic things on Facebook.

So feel free to friend me.  Invite me to your groups.  Let me know about any causes you are interested in.  Hell, even write on my wall and engage me.  Just keep your sheep and your pokes to yourself.