A total surrender is required on the spiritual path
Surrender of our fears, worries, and doubts
A total surrender of our will to the power of unconditional love within our heart and soul
We must surrender our addictions, destructive habits and wrong views
Let the power of love transform you from within
Let it heal you and shape you in its image
Humble yourself and you will be free
Surrender everything and you will be liberated from fear, hatred, greed and addiction
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
Shine your light into the darkness
Shine love into the darkness of fear
Shine compassion into apathy
Shine forgiveness into vengeance
Shine mercy into ruthlessness
Shine humility into the darkness of pride
This is the way of true transformation
The light of unconditional love will always transform the darkness of fear, hatred, and greed
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
All of these quotes from Jesus speak of one thing, an open heart to unconditional love of all beings, even your enemies
With love,
Johnny
When you realize that everything is holy
That everyone deep down is divine
You will not steal
You will not lie
You will not cause harm to others
When you realize through meditation that all is born in the image of God, divinity, and love
You will be truly blessed
Many parts of us forget this noble truth and stray us away towards greed, hatred, and fear
Causing much necessary suffering and pain in the world
Jesus & Buddha live with us
They represent the best qualities of humankind
They live within us like a seed that we can water each moment
A source of love within our heart and soul
Mercy and compassion for the sick
Love for those filled with hatred
Peace for those consumed by violence
They show us a way out of suffering and help us enjoy our one precious life
I found Jesus through a Zen Buddhist monk named Thich Nhat Hanh 10 years ago. After a challenging break up, I picked up a book called “No Mud, No Lotus” by Thich Nhat Hanh which led me to reading “Living Buddha, Living Christ” by him as well. This book touched me deeply and changed the trajectory of my life. Thich is one of my most influential Buddhists of the 20th century but also had a picture of Jesus in his meditation and prayer room at his monetary in the south of France, Plum Village. He loved both the Buddha and Jesus with all his heart and wrote another book called “Going Home: Jesus and Buddha are Brothers”. He was heavily influenced by Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960’s when he toured the United States to try to peacefully end the Vietnam war. Vietnam was Thich’s home country and he was exiled from Vietnam because he wouldn’t choose a side in the war. He firmly was on the side of peace which upset both sides. Thich was almost killed by a bomb in the war and many of his disciples were killed in the war.
Many Christian’s and Buddhists are shocked that I can both be a Buddhist and a Christian. You might call me a Taoist as well or a Sufi Muslim. I’m many things yet none of them define me. To me it is very simple, I follow the path of unconditional love to the best of my abilities. God to me has touched every spiritual man or woman of all spiritual traditions. Some might call this mysterious force that heals us from within as God, Allah, Emptiness or The Dao. Jesus said that “ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:16. This is my spiritual path in one verse. There are many spiritual traditions all around the world hearing the same voice. A voice of unconditional love and compassion for all beings. How do you hear this voice? Be still and open your heart with humility.
In Christianity they speak of the Holy Spirit and how it can transform us. The Holy Spirit is how God touches people deeply and changes their heart from stone to flesh. How he shapes them by love into more and more like Jesus. In Buddhism this is enlightenment and at the deepest level it would be described as Nirvana. When God touches you so deeply that all concepts of greed, hatred and fear dissipate. All suffering dissipates in these moments and you are fully liberated from all notions that enslave you. Only unconditional love is left for all beings and in this moment you feel deeply connected to the entire Universe. In Buddhism, emptiness is how they describe God. God is empty of all notions of greed, hatred, and fear that cause us so much suffering on this planet.
Jesus said in Mark 12:32 “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” In my experience, Jesus is saying that those with an open heart will know God no matter what spiritual tradition they follow. A Buddhist with an open heart will know God deeper than a Christian who has a closed heart to love. Even an atheist who follows the spiritual principles of Jesus will know God deeper than an evangelical Christian who has a closed heart.
One of my favorite Zen masters said to never be attached to one religion or philosophy, even Zen. To keep a beginners mind open to all ideas and ready for the infinite possibilities of life. All religious wars began with arrogance that their one spiritual tradition is the only truth while all spiritual teachers emphasize humility and the brotherhood and sisterhood of all beings. Below is a link to the free audio book of “Living Buddha, Living Christ” by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Your brother,
Johnny
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
You have been taught that the homeless are less than
But I’m here to say that they are just as divine as you and I
They are still born in the image of God’s love
They have Buddha nature within them
They are divine beings of the universe
Look within your heart and you will see this too
To cast judgment on them is cast judgment on the divine
Love your neighbor as thy self even if they are homeless
We are here to awaken to the oneness of all beings and show unconditional love to our brothers and sisters
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
The Narrow Path 