Blogs

2/11/19 Gaining merit is a fundamental part Buddhism. As it relates to the Buddhist way of life it means: a beneficial and protective force which accumulates as a result of good deeds, acts, or thoughts.  You may notice I referred to the Buddhist "way of life" and not the Buddhist "religion".  That's because from my experiences the gaining of merit is a ritual practiced by Buddhists who may not spend an extensive amount of time practicing their religion but they would never neglect the responsibility of gaining merit.  Merit is what sets you up for the next cycle of life.  It is, of course,...

Owners Terri and Peter Dawson speak fondly of their century home and storefront. The front of the building shows off the historic gingerbread woodwork. A comfortable mix of international market one-of-a kind finds and local artisan creations is nestled on the shelves at The Green Gecko. Situated in an historic house on the main street in Lyndhurst, Ontario the Green Gecko has literally breathed new life into the downtown core of the village.Opened in 2005 and now celebrating its 10th year, The Green Gecko has become a fixture on the small business scene. Customers drive to Lyndhurst from urban centres...

  Many of the bags and purses I carry in the Green Gecko come from this family-owned business in Bangkok.  They have a row of stalls at the market that are always packed with everything from beautiful silk bags to cute owl backpacks.  It's a bit comedic to work with them. Our encounters always follow the same format.  I start by checking out all the options, colours, styles etc. The gentleman in the picture (the husband) follows me around, smiling all the time and nodding in this cute attentive way. There's always lots of choice. I start with the styles...