Knowledge is not enough
Beliefs are not enough
Wise men like Jesus & the Buddha taught that we must practice compassion, forgiveness, peace and love in our daily actions
This is the way to transform, heal ourselves and the world
We all have the deep capacity to live like them
May 2024 bring you the healing power of love
May it bring you joy from practicing deep compassion for yourself and others
May it bring you transformation
It’s never too late to resurrect your life
With love,
Johnny
God of my understanding
Use me as your instrument of love
Where there is violence
May I practice peace
Where there is apathy
Compassion
Where there is doubt
Faith
Thank you for the gift of life
To show gratitude
I will practice compassion, love, forgiveness and grace to the best of my abilities
With aloha,
Johnny
Any path that isn’t for the betterment of others is not worth taking
Even if we find our spiritual path though Buddhism, Hinduism , Christianity, yoga, or transcendental meditation
Our practice is still driven by ego if the sole intention is to better ourselves
We must take what we learn on the yoga mat, church, mosque, or meditation cushion, roll up our sleeves and help others in our daily lives
Don’t discount even the smallest acts
Even a smile or a kind word to a stranger can significantly help others
Choose compassion over apathy
Love over fear
Curiosity instead of judgment
With aloha,
Johnny
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
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
The sun will rise
And set
Relax, nothing is under control
Days will go by
People will get sick
Loved ones will die
Jobs will be lost
People will cheat, lie, and push your buttons
Relax, nothing is under control
Our mission is to rise above and stay positive even in the darkest of times
Knowing that everything & everyone is impermanent
We can find joy by letting go of control of others and situations
All we can control is our reaction and attitude to the chaos around us
Resilience is built by not avoiding hard situations but by embracing them with love, compassion, and acceptance.
With aloha,
Johnny
Accept others
For who they are today
Not what you think they should be
The ego wants to control everything & everyone
While the divine accepts & loves others for who they are today, no matter how “flawed” they are
There is a wise zen master in all of us knows that others will change on their own pace (or not change at all)
Focus the energy you have used arguing or controlling others on becoming the best version of yourself
Your life is your message
“We are all mangoes on the same tree, ripening at different times.”
With Aloha,
Johnny
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
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
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
-Saint Francis of Assisi
The Narrow Path 