Category: buddhism

We are Buddhas, We are Christs

To me Buddhism is studying how Jesus became Jesus and how we can become like him too through the holy spirit, similar to enlightenment or nirvana in Buddhism. It’s core belief is that we all can awaken and become a Buddha; actually we already are a Buddha but are lost in our attachments to worldly things and are consumed by our fear, greed, and hatred (sin in Christianity).
Buddha just means awakened one, similar to the title Christ in Christianity. We should not be scared of other spiritual traditions but our own fear, hatred and religious dogma that can blind us from seeing the truth and goodness in all religions. Be curious and open minded. This type of mindset is what Jesus and Buddha had in their times. This is not to assimilate or convert but to build brotherhood and sisterhood.

I found Jesus through a Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh who wrote a book called “Living Buddha, Living Christ” that changed my life 10 years ago.
He dedicated a lot of his life trying to bridge the two religions and fostering brotherhood and sisterhood.

The Ultimate Reality

You have heard that the good fights the evil

But I say the compassionate, merciful and loving take good care of those who are suffering from hatred, fear and greed

Like a big brother taking good care of a younger brother

Many religious people do not understand the ultimate reality

That good doesn’t fight evil

For fighting hatred only causes more hatred

The ultimate reality is non duality

The light transforms the darkness within us and the world around us

In Christian terms, God with his infinite mercy takes good care of Satan like a doctor taking care of a sick patient. If you imagine a war between these two forces, you have lost everything Jesus taught. Jesus said “love your enemies and pray for those who spite you for you will be children of God.”

This is non-dualism at its highest.

The only cure for the sickness of hatred and fear is unconditional love

If you don’t see the world through dualism; violence, war, and confusion will be inevitable

But if you see the world through non-duality; peace, love and forgiveness is possible right here and now.

Your brother,

Johnny

The Divinity Within

At our core

We are holy

We are divine

We are one with God

One with love

At our core

We are Buddha’s

Born in the image of God

Even the harshest, violent and mean spirited people have love at their core

This is why we love our enemies and pray for them

This is why we turn the other cheek to violence and hatred

This is why we show grace, compassion and unconditional love to those lost in hatred and fear.

Your brother,

Johnny

Beginners Mind

When you have a beginners mind

You become as fresh as a flower

Your mind becomes like a still pond

An empty canvass

Open to the infinity possibilities of life

With a beginners mind

You can find joy in fresh mandarin

You can experience nirvana looking deeply at a bird

Find peace and serenity right here and now

When your mind becomes rough and demanding

You will lose your beginners mind

And life will become dreary and meaningless

Your mind will need more and more stimulation

Leaving you depressed, numb and anxious

In a beginners mind there is true love, compassion and insight

A beginners mind is fresh and alive

In a beginners mind there are many possibilities

For an expert mind, few

To be a beginner, we must practice deep humility

With no thought of attaining enlightenment or any self centered ideas

Your Smile is a Miracle

Your smile is a miracle
Your lungs and heart are miracles of life
To be alive is a miracle in itself
You don’t need to strive to become something
You don’t even need to strive to be a
Buddha (awakened one)
Deep down you already are one
You are already successful as you are

You are a miracle of life

The entire cosmos came together to create you and all living beings

The sun, moon, stars, bacteria, plants, water and numerous animals all had to come together for you to be alive here and now

The paradox of life is once you accept yourself as you are today with radical transparency, then you can heal and transform
So accept yourself with deep loving kindness
Shame, hatred, and violence will not heal yourself and the world
Only true love can

Your brother,
Johnny

May my Enemies be Joyful

May my enemies sleep well tonight
May they feel safe and loved
May they heal

May they be joyful like small children
For they are not my true enemy
My true enemy lies within my own greed, hatred and fear

With love,
Johnny

Everything is Within You

Do not seek enlightenment or God outside of yourself

Everything you strive towards is already within you

Be still and open your heart

Do not strive to be a Buddha

Your inner most self is already Buddha nature

Your inner most self only desire is to be like Christ

The kingdom of love is like a seed within you

Water this seed and let it transform you from the inside

God is Within Us

If you look for God in the sky above you

You will only dream

If you look for God within your heart and soul

You will awaken and heal from within

The kingdom of God is a seed of unconditional love within you

Water this seed and it will transform you

From fearful to an embodiment of love

From greedy to selflessness

All your worries will vanish

All your suffering will be transformed

Keep looking within yourself each moment of the day

Keep watering this seed of love within your heart and soul till your last breath

With love,

Johnny

Abandon Everything

Abandon everything

Abandon all greed, hatred and fear

Abandon selfishness

Abandon all attachments to temporary pleasures

Those who have the courage to abandon everything will be rewarded

Yet do not focus on any reward because this itself is self centered

Just focus on your breath and open your heart

Let unconditional love purify your heart and soul from within you

Calm Within the Storm

No matter how strong the storm is

There is a blue sky above

The sun shining light into the darkness

On the surface of life all we see is suffering but if we look deeper we can see an ultimate dimension

Behind the dark storm of fear, hatred, attachments, and greed

Behind the suffering on the surface

There is a mysterious source of unconditional love

Infinitely compassionate and healing

This mysterious source of unconditional love goes by many names

Some call this God(holy spirit), Buddha nature, or the Dao

Every sage, guru, Buddha or prophet experienced this deeply and helped others so the same

We must develop deep faith is mysterious source of love to keep going on this path

With this faith our fears will vanish and we can help others see the light

This is the way of transformation and healing

This is the path of the peaceful warrior

Surrender everything and you will be liberated