About Gregory Burdulis

Long Story

I have been interested in the depth and breadth of what is possible for human beings for as long as I can remember. As a child my curiosity led me away from home so often Mom pinned a note on my shirt: “My name is Greg Burdulis. Please call my mom at 256-0893.”

My senior year of high school was in Switzerland.

My interest in the natural world led me to guiding wilderness canoe and mountaineering trips—which paid for college, where I investigated the deeper layers of human experience while studying psychology, counseling and dance.

Exploring the breadth of human experience, I traveled in Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. I rode freight trains, soloed mountains and the Great Pyramid of Cheops, and did famine relief work in the Sahara.

Expanding creativity, I made a living as a storyteller and volunteered for hospice. I danced on and choreographed for the low-flying trapeze.

Articles about my hospice experiences and travels and teaching with Matthew Fox were published in national journals. Newspapers wrote warmly about my dance. A fiction piece was published in a literary journal.

In hopes of understanding the spiritual dimension of life, I gained a Masters of Spirituality degree. What I learned about compassion and the inter-web of life motivated me to reach out more toward others. I trained and served as a chaplain.

I learned that “study” only goes so far. I was hungry to completely immerse myself in spirituality. I lived in Asia for 9 years, studying philosophy and practicing meditation.

Meditation is hard work. I thought being a monk might magically make meditation easier and hurry up the process. Nope.

However, I experienced profound fulfillment and elated, but serene states of freedom. I knew from direct experience that time didn’t exist and realized the transience of all phenomena. I could see that pain is inevitable in life and suffering is optional. I connected with our tremendous human potential for positive change.

My father was dying. I returned to the States. I saw being a happy hermit was no longer the challenge. Being a happy, peaceful layman and husband while contributing to society are the new challenges.

What I experienced as a monk is invaluable. It changed my life profoundly for the better…and still does. My work is to help others learn what I did. This is one way to contribute to the inter-web of life.

I’ve been consulting regularly at one of the hottest ad agencies in the world. Stress and pressure are extreme. Though employees don’t have the benefit of a cave, they are learning mindfulness, concentration, patience, perseverance, appreciation, the power of intention and the vigor of happiness.

They look better, smile more, and manage stress effectively.

They are happier…and everyone around them is better off.

After all, we’re all in this together.