Tag: Zen

Lost at Sea

At times we can feel so lost

Lost in an emotion

Lost in the worries of the path unknown ahead

Lost in the past mistakes & regrets

I know what it feels to be lost

Not knowing what is up or down

My life falling in pieces

What I thought was the end was actually the beginning of something much more beautiful

For every storm runs out of energy

The trick is to not run from it but embrace it

Life doesn’t give us what we want

It gives us what we need

To grow, adapt and eventually move on from

So if you’re feeling lost just know everything is temporary

That each day can be a start of something fresh and beautiful

With aloha,

Johnny

To Truly Live

To truly live
We must die each moment
We must let go of the past
Not obsessed over the future
Not worried about what could go wrong
Just enjoying this moment


Naturally our mind will wander like clouds in the sky
With mindfulness we anchor the mind to our breathe
Breathing in we know we are of the nature to grow old
Breathing out we know one day we will die
Knowing this we vow to live each day like it’s our last

We look at all life through the lens of compassion

We vow not live our life full of fear, anger, and hatred

Instead we will water the seeds of compassion, peace, and love each day

So they bloom at any moment
Living this way will benefit yourself, the planet and the ones around you

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

Letting go of the Pursuit of Happiness

For us to be truly happy we must let go of the pursuit of happiness

Because when we feel temporarily happy, we desperately cling to it

We become restless and fearful of losing happiness, which causes a vicious circle of suffering

So for us to be truly happy we must be calm and centered

You can’t be truly happy if you’re not calm

So instead of seeking pleasure or avoiding pain

Seek the discomfort of stillness

Look within that restlessness, anger, or hatred

And let go of the pursuit of happiness

Instead of trying to find this elusive happiness, practice the middle path of awareness, peace, and being calm

Each time we fall off the path of clarity & calmness we self reflect, let it go and move forward

From my experience, this way of living seems much more sustainable than chasing elusive happiness

A friend shared this with me and it has enriched my life significantly and I hope it does the same for you

With aloha,

Johnny

Nature Therapy

Turn off the phone

Leave it behind

Only bring yourself & some water

Go into nature

Breathing in

Breathing out

Smile

Enjoy mother nature with out any distractions

She carries all the answer to our ills if we can look deeply into her nature

With aloha,

Johnny

Darkness into Light

From my experience, our suffering can bring much joy

But we must sit with the pain even when we want to run from it

For us to transform, we must get to know the darkest parts of our mind.

Sit with our demons until they don’t scare us anymore

Show compassion & love to the darkest parts of our soul

Surrender to the reality in front of you

Do not fight or run

Sit still & get to know them

They will always be there

But our mind can be a sanctuary, even with the demons; not a warzone

With aloha,

Johnny

A Simple & Uncomplicated Life

A simple & uncomplicated life is for me

I do not need fancy clothes, shoes or any other material goods

True joy is not found in sports cars, jewelry or the amount of money in our bank account

True happiness is not acquired through what we receive in life but what we give to the world

Giving is living

I vow to not hoard money

But to give to those in need

I vow to live a simple life

And to reduce suffering in myself & the world

With aloha,

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

Dreams

Here I lay

Listening to the soft voice of a yin yoga teacher

In a deep meditation

An American backpacker in a distant land

Byron Bay is the perfect place for those who are searching for self knowledge

A place to heal emotional wounds.

So here I lay in a dark yoga studio

Suddenly tears come down my cheeks

My inner Buddha speaking clearly without the distractions interfering

If I don’t let go of gambling

I let go of my dreams

I let go of my happiness & freedom

My life will read as a tragedy if I don’t change my ways

I’m 6 weeks sober from gambling

Turning my life around 1 day at a time

With aloha,

Johnny Hoffman

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