The Narrow Path

Karma.

For every action

There is an equal & opposite reaction

No right or wrong

No morality

No judgment

Just an observation of the law of nature

When we cause unneeded suffering to non-human animals

Humanity suffers

Suffer from viruses like covid-19, sars, and swine flu

Suffer from pood poisoning, air pollution, & toxic water pollution

When we justify violence

We can become violent, cold, and apathetic

Not seeing reality through the lens of compassion

Insanity

Repeating the same mistakes

Expecting different results

We can support peace

We can support our mother nature

Invest in solutions to wean ourselves off meat, dairy, and eggs.

Whether this be whole food plants, plant-based alternatives, or cellular meat

We must choose another path

If we want to thrive into the next century

As individuals we can support the future we would like to see

Do we want a peaceful world full of compassion with less suffering & illness?

Or do we want to support violence and unneeded suffering?

I don’t judge anyone for supporting animal agriculture for I did for 28 years

Humanity must decide which path it would like to take

Not through force but through awareness, education, & compassion

Earthlings.

I have a dream

That one day our fellow earthlings will not be exploited

Whether it be for taste, fashion, science or sport

I have a dream that no mother cows will have their calves stolen from them and sold to veal farmers

Exploited for their milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt

Used & abused they are then sent to the slaughter house

I have a dream that no animal will have to live a life of suffering & pain

No animal used for leather or wool

A life is worth more then a fashion statement

I have a dream that no dogs, cats, monkeys, etc will be forced to suffer for science

Forcefully injected with chemicals, drugs, & radiation

I have a dream that no whale, dolphin, seal, or fish will be dragged out of the ocean for fun or food

I have a dream

That all circuses, zoos, slaughter houses, fisheries, and all forms of animal exploitation will come to an end

That humanity will wake up to the suffering of their fellow earthlings

To see them as sentient beings who need our protection

Not things to be exploited for our taste or entertainment

All beings want freedom

Animals suffer just life you & I

Please do your own research

Watch documentaries like “earthlings” or “dominion” and you will see what I have seen

We together can change this world into a more compassionate & peaceful world

This dream of mine will not happen today nor tomorrow

Not even in my lifetime

But the mere fact that I & many others care gives me hope

That maybe one day this dream will come true

For now I will do what I can to help alleviate suffering in this world

Earthlings Documentary:

I recently went to a Vegfest in my local community. The food was great and overall the message was a positive one. A message that we can help stop climate change, transform our health, and vote with our wallets to stop cruelty against animals through eating a plant based diet. A few of the vegans were so angry at meat eaters though. One of the presenters went on an angry tangent about decapitated pigs heads at the grocery store. She yelled at the crowd that she couldn’t understand meat eaters(even though she ate these products most of her life). It was a friendly reminder to me that true compassion encompasses all beings, not just those who live the same way as you. The way of peace doesn’t condone violence but seeks to understand others instead of judge. True compassion encompasses Hitler, Stalin, and Charles Manson.

If we want others to be more peaceful we must be peaceful, it’s as simple as that. Maybe we could just focus on ourself, making our own life our message to others? Our message of peace will be watered down if we communicate in a violent way. Practicing non-violence is something MLK, Gandhi, Jesus, Buddha, and mother Theresa all agreed on. It’s something they wanted us to practice on a daily basis. The next time we complain about the world affairs we could ask ourself “how can we expect the world to be at peace if we aren’t?”

Focus within. One lit candle can light a thousand candles.

With Aloha,

Johnny Hoffman

I’ll Stay in my Own Lane.

I won’t change you

I won’t judge you

I won’t argue with you

I’ll stay in my own lane

For life is too short for me to focus my energy on others

Telling them what they should or shouldn’t do

My work will be to accept all as they are

For I’m no god nor tyrant

No dictator or ruler

My path is mine to walk

No one can walk it for me

And I can not force you to change

Grow & change in your own time

Or not!

Who am I to judge?

I have plenty to work on

Much growth to be had

Any energy spent on you would be wasted

For my life is my message

If others follow

That’s great

If they don’t

That’s fine too!

I’ll stay in my own lane

Kobe & Gigi.

Some of us won’t grow old

Some of us will die too soon

They will not see another beautiful sunset

They won’t see their children grow

Their death is a tragedy

But an important lesson for us all

That life is short

Too short to hold grudges

Too short to be cruel

Too short to hate

Hold the ones you love closely tonight

For we truly don’t know what lies ahead

Show gratitude for your life

Show love to all

RIP Kobe Bryant, Gigi Bryant, & the 7 others who lost their lives today

You all will live on within your family & friends

Paving My Own Path.

Culture wants me a certain way

Break under the pressure

Bend my values

Ignore my instinct of compassion

Indulge my ego

Feed my darker side

How do I pave my own path with such pressure?

Constant flashing lights

Tell me to eat foods against my values of health & compassion

The talking heads on the screen tell me to fear the world

They have enticed me my entire life to choose greed, hatred, fear & apathy

Dividing me into a million labels

For me to fear the other

Not today

I will choose another path

Paved with compassion, understanding, & love

This is the path of the peaceful warrior

A path that doesn’t fight greed, anger, & hatred

It just focuses on growing peace by showing compassion, love, & understanding to all

True Compassion.

If you can show compassion to Hitler, Stalin, & Genghis Khan

You know true compassion

For compassion & love isn’t just for the innocent

But for those who harm other beings

Violence, judgment, & hatred will not bring peace

Only compassion will

Bring awareness that hatred lives within all human beings

Including ourself

If we truly want peace we must seek to understand

For love is the absence of judgment

You are Divine.

Divinity is found within all

Even if they don’t realize it

Buried under years of conditioning

Fear, anger & greed cover the jewel that is your true nature

To be kind

To help

To love

Wisdom is the process of unlearning

Unlearning old habits & beliefs that hold back us from touching true joy

Allowing us to see our true nature

Breaking Free of Status.

I have worked many jobs

None defined me

I have been a dishwasher

Yet managed corporate accounts

I have cleaned toilets

Yet managed a sales territory

I have taken out many of trashes

Yet have a college degree

Money & status do not define who we are

Our salary, benefits or lack of do not determine our self worth

Unless we allow them too

Ranking ourself & others by salary

Worrying constantly about how we portray ourself to others

Let’s break free today

The mental suffering of what others think of us isn’t worth it

The Battle Within

Divinity is found

Within you and I

But also ego

All humans have this battle within

Dark & light

Devil & angel

Ego & divine

Grow the divine fertile seeds with love & compassion

Acknowledge the ego

Bow to it

Feed it carefully

Feed it with understanding

Care for the darker side

For in caring for the dark we grow the light