Category: compassion

Truly Helping

To truly help others

Focus all your energy on healing yourself

Be kind always but don’t sacrifice your own health & well-being by focusing your energy on others

It is possible to reduce others suffering and help others see the inner Buddha that lives within all of us

But if we are drowning in our own suffering we can’t help others who suffer

It is possible to awaken

To not let fear, hatred, anger, and ignorance run & ruin our lives

No matter your skin tone, gender, age, or wage

Thanks to impermanence, we can transform our suffering into joy

And we can help others do the same

Not by force but through understanding, compassion and forgiveness

Namaste,

Johnny

5 years Vegan

Veganism is not a diet
Not a weight loss strategy
My intention is not to reduce my carbon food print

It’s a radical shift in the way I look at non human animals
To see them as individuals with the capacity to feel pain, joy, and suffer
To harm them is to harm myself

5 years ago I vowed to look at all beings through the lens of compassion
To reduce suffering in the world by not supporting the exploitation of animals for food, clothing or entertainment
To practice peace in each meal

I don’t expect the world to understand or agree with my life choices
I understand many are not ready for this radical message of non violence

With aloha,

Johnny

Deep Compassion to Ourself

When I child suffers, he or she cries a lot. They are hurt and in pain. A mother can transform their child’s suffering into tears of joy by listening and showing loving compassion to their child. Soon the child is smiling and joyful. I have seen this and experienced in real time.

You can do the same with your most inner child. Showing deep compassion to the hurt, misunderstood, and anxious parts of ourself. This is the practice of healing ourselves and the world. This is a way to transform suffering into joy in our own body and mind. 🙏🏻

Namaste,

Johnny

Nature Within

Breathing in I see myself as water, flowing & flexible

Breathing out I see myself as a mountain, strong & stable

Breathing in I see myself as a flower, fresh & beautiful

Breathing out I see myself as space, free & vast

Water, flowing

Mountain, strong

Flower, fresh

Space, free

Breathe, enjoy

With aloha,

Johnny

Namaste Sober

1 month sober

Forever changed

Thank you to those who taught me the way

Thank you to those who taught me what I do not want to become

This path is more difficult but the rewards are great

I will not force my views or tell others to follow my path

I will not fight a crusade or try to convert others to my way of thinking

I will just sip my herbal tea peaceful with non judgement

My life is my message 🙏🏻

Namaste sober

With aloha,

Johnny

Liberation

Let go of the need to be right
Let go of the need to control others
Let go of the need to control your surroundings
Allow others to be who they are
Allow situations to unfold without complaining or controlling anything
True liberation is found when we don’t allow outside situations to hinder our own happiness
True strength found in staying positive even in the most challenging situations

Your life is your message

With aloha,

Johnny

Feeding the Good Wolf

There are two wolves inside of us.

Always at battle.

A good wolf.

That is kind, brave, and loving.

A bad wolf.

That is fearful, angry, and greedy.

The one you choose to feed.

Is the one that grows.

To end this constant battle.

You must show deep compassion & love to the bad wolf.

Feed the good wolf with how you talk to yourself, others, and your actions in the world.

With Aloha,

Johnny

31 years

31 years

I have loved

I have learned

I have met so many great people

Seen so many new places

Experienced the beauty this world offers

I’m content with the life I have lived

Even with the challenges each day brings

I’m grateful for life

Here is to each day alive

“Life is a test, gratitude is the answer.” -Timber Hawkeye

Self-Love

When I eat vegetables

I show love to my body

When I eat fruit

I heal my body

When I eat beans & whole grains

I nourish my body

When I exercise

I practice self-love

I vow to treat my body with love

For this is my one life

“What if your one focus this year was loving yourself?” -Timber Hawkeye

With Aloha,

Johnny

Choosing Compassion 3 Times A Day

Will you choose compassion?

Or apathy?

Will you choose curiosity?

Or tradition?

Will you choose peace?

Or taste pleasure?

Each day we can choose what world we want to live in.

Each meal deciding the fate of innocent animals.

Each meal deciding the future of our species.

Each meal deciding our health outcome.

We vote with our wallets each day & meal.

The first step is awareness.

The next is action.

Consider a vegan diet & lifestyle.

With Aloha,

Johnny