Ty Phillips is one of the co-founders of The Tattooed Buddha. He is a father, writer, photographer and nature-lover. A lineage in the Celtic Buddhism tradition, he makes attempts to unite Anglican and Buddhist teachings in a way unique and useful to those around him. Ty has contributed to The Good Men Project, Rebelle, BeliefNet, Patheos and The Petoskey News. He is a long term Buddhist and a father to three amazing girls and a tiny dog named Fuzz. You can see his writing at The Good Men Project, BeliefNet, Rebelle Society.
The Guru Drinks Bourbon {Book Review}
By Ty H. Phillips “Any guide that can be switched off and rewound while you browse a pornographic magazine or gamble is not going to work.” Right in the introduction, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse nails it. To me, this was the essence of the...
The Truth is, Suffering is not Optional, It is Inevitable…But…
By Ty H. Phillips Being sick, sucks. That’s really all there is to say about it. You feel miserable, long term health issues can cause emotional distress and depression and you are unable to fully enjoy the things and people around you. This being said,...
Am I a Wayward Buddhist?
By Ty H. Phillips Great writers always say to stay true to the course---write what you know; pick a topic that you love and just keep writing. I’ve been hesitant to do this of late. I have a passion for Buddhism but what is it that we are really offering on the...
Deadlifts & Buddhist Wisdom: What Happens When We Let Go of Goal
By Ty H. Phillips I have a strong back. In fact, I have always prided myself in my back strength, so when I was hurt last week doing what I always do, I was a little frustrated. Now, before I go on, allow me to quantify that statement. I do have a strong back....
The Path is Not Always Clean: Clogged Pipes & The Four Truths.
By Ty H. Phillips Three months ago or thereabouts, I became a plumbers apprentice. It was nothing like I expected. Instead of replacing penny-colored copper pipes and adjusting bathtubs, I spend my days jackhammering, digging trench, and for lack of a better...
Awakening From the Daydream {Book Review}.
By Ty H. Phillips In the middle of 2011 I was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome. I was experiencing massive heart failure and was told that I was dying. As one can imagine, the threat of my mortality looming immanently had a profound effect on my psyche,...
The Children of War.
By Ty H. Phillips It happens time and time again. I log onto Facebook only to be greeted with videos or pictures of abused, mutilated, and suffering children; to say I am affected is an understatement. To say I am crushed and left reeling is more than obvious....
Buddha Tells Us to Calm The F*ck Down & Sh*t.
By Ty H. Phillips The job I was working last month quickly dried up. His recent hires, including myself, were let go for the season and I was left searching for work again. As luck, fate, or hell would have it, I found a plumber in need of an apprentice or more...
Boys Don’t Cry.
By Ty H. Phillips Anyone who was alive and not four years old in the 80’s was aware of the Cure. One of their songs said, “and boys don’t cry..” This wasn’t a charge for men not to show emotion but a comment on how he felt we were supposed to be, or at...
In the End, What Will Your Story Be?
By Ty H. Phillips It is a common thing among the sick and dying that they look back on their lives with regret. They spent the majority of their lives working and pushing for money, status, name and career, in order to save and enjoy the "golden years"...
The Path is Made to Walk On, Not Hide Behind.
By Ty H. Phillips Quite often, we offer wonderful advice while following none of it. Our cognitive dissonance allows us to see great swaths of perspective except for our own. We encourage others to embrace and love themselves while we hate ourselves. We offer...
Even Buddhists Can Walk Unaware at Times.
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First Steps.
By Ty H. Phillips Five and a half years ago, I was told I was dying and it changed everything. Shortly after, a little girl was born into my life that would literally and figuratively become part of my recovery---a recovery that many doctors thought...
The Reason I am So Angry with Religion.
By Ty H. Phillips In April of 1976 a small, scared teen with long dark brown hair skimming her low back, was driving to an abortion clinic at the behest of her already abusive boyfriend. “Get rid of it” he told her. He had no intention of helping her through...
What Happens When I Stop Trying to Be a Writer.
By Ty H Phillips I haven’t written in almost a month. In fact, I haven’t had the desire to write. I realize it’s been a while and note its absence yet, the desire is not there. I have made several attempts to sit and I manage to do that---sit. I look at the...