I Love Buddhism

08/25/2026

𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱.

You think you're seeing something, but your mind/brain is hallucinating the experience as a way to interpret and process the differences in a specific spectrum of electromagnetic radiation via rods and cones that capture said radiation within your own eye (that's a mouthful 😂). Your unenlightened mind is what you're experiencing, a hallucination, not objective physical reality.

You think you're touching something, but your mind/brain is hallucinating the experience as a way to interpret and process the differences of the physical repulsion of one atom to another atom within your own body and nervous system. Your unenlightened mind is what you're experiencing, a hallucination, not objective physical reality.

You think you're hearing something, but your mind/brain is hallucinating the experience as a way to interpret and process differences in vibrations and pressure waves in the air within your own ear. Your unenlightened mind is what you're experiencing, a hallucination, not objective physical reality.

You think you're tasting something, but your mind/brain is hallucinating the experience as a way to interpret and process the differences in the chemical makeup of a substance within your own mouth. Your unenlightened mind is what you're experiencing, a hallucination, not objective physical reality.

You think you're smelling something, but your mind/brain is hallucinating the experience as a way to interpret and process the differences in the chemical makeup of a substance in the air within your own nose. Your unenlightened mind is what you're experiencing, a hallucination, not objective physical reality.

Lastly, you think you know your own mind - the differences in the experiences/hallucinations within it - but without fully realizing all of what has been said in this post thus far (and so much more), you only know what your own opinions tell you - you only know what experiences you've had - you only know your own mind/brain's experiences/hallucinations, sealed within your own skull and body. You only know your unenlightened mind. You don't truly know the objective physical world/reality around you and within you. You only know what it is you hallucinate and opinionate. That is, unless you mentally leave your body behind (which isn't at all easy to do while alive) - that is, unless you fully realize Nibbana/Nirvana - that is, unless you skin the cow (more on that soon).

To fully realize all that is contained within this post thus far - realize, not simply know or read - is one big stepping stone in fully awakening to the ultimate and totally objective reality of the world/reality around you, or rather, of your own mind, brain, and body. For the world cannot truly be know for certain while we rely on the subjective experiences of the mind/brain/body system and it's hallucinations within an unenlightened mind. Only once the continual illusory nature of the mind and it's hallucinations are fully left behind can we see the world objectively, fully enlightened, whether alive or dead.

Buddha compared leaving behind this illusory nature while alive to skinning a cow and then putting the skin back on. The skin is 'us', whatever you wanna say 'we' are, and the cow is the five aggregates (the mind/brain/body system). Once we are done clinging and grasping at the five aggregates (the clinging/grasping at the five aggregates being what causes these hallucinations), once we are done clinging and grasping at the body of the cow, we have separated ourselves from our body (or what has here been described as the skin of the cow) - we have become fully enlightened!

Yet there is no need to leave the body of the cow behind. There is no need to leave our body behind. Enlightenment isn't about leaving the world behind. Once enlightened, we can continue to follow our own body around until we die. We put the skin back on. We do not cling, crave, or attach. Then, once dead, we have Parinibbana/Parinirvana (enlightenment while dead). We should train ourselves to do just this [by not clinging to our own experiences/hallucinations, and the opinions and so-called facts within our own mind].

To quote the Bahiya Sutta: "~you should train yourself thus: In reference to the seen, there will be only the seen. In reference to the heard, only the heard. In reference to the sensed, only the sensed. In reference to the cognized, only the cognized." This is The Way that ends all suffering! This is full enlightenment. This is awakening.

For the record, Buddha translates to "awoken." And we can all be like Buddha! We can all fully awaken to objective reality as a whole; that is what Buddha's entire teachings are about (aside from also being compassionate, etc, which springs fourth naturally once we have fully realized objective reality)!

Let go of your opinions! Stop grasping at what you think are facts, or even the actual facts themselves. Let go of all of the hallucinations of your own mind, and the mind itself - let it ALL go!

May we all find full awakening (while alive). May we all understand the strengths and weaknesses - the ins and outs - of our own mind, brain, and body; and the hallucinations and opinions within it. May compassion fill our heart-mind, as we understand not everyone fully understands objective reality - likely not even you (or especially me). May all suffering end. And, may the teachings of the Buddha bless us all!

With mucho metta,

Hope

P.S: If you are somehow fully enlightened, this post is not directed at you, though I would warmly welcome any criticism towards my logic and experiences. Thank you for being you. 🙏🙏🙏

08/22/2026

07/27/2026

Years ago, I became very confused when I found out that one of our American Buddhist nuns had left our community and become a born-again Christian. I had just said to another nun, ‘She’s really wonderful. She’s so wise, so pure-hearted. She’ll be a great inspiration to you in your nun’s life.’

I was really embarrassed and confused when I heard the news. I thought, ‘How could she fall for it?’ I remember asking my teacher, Ajahn Chah, ‘How could she do that?’ He looked at me with a mischievous smile and said, ‘Maybe she’s right.’

He made me look at what I was doing – feeling defensive and paranoid, wanting a clear explanation, wanting to understand, wanting him to tell me that she’d betrayed the Buddhist religion.

So I started looking at the confusion. When I began to embrace it and totally accept it, it dropped away.

Excerpt From
The Anthology Volume 4
Ajahn Sumedho

[A classic prototypical teaching tale by Ven Sumedho illustrating his humility, humor and wisdom, while showcasing the unique and effective style of his incredible teacher — Ajahn Chah.]

03/31/2026

When the mind becomes tangled, the world outside starts to feel even more confusing. As the noise outside grows louder, the voice within gets suppressed. We argue, we justify, we build walls between right and wrong, but we rarely pause for a moment to see what is happening inside us. Meditation begins right here, with looking within.

Meditation is not a difficult practice; it is the most natural act of life. Just like breathing. The only difference is that breathing happens on its own, while meditation requires us to remind ourselves, “I am here, in this moment.”

When we close our eyes, it is not the outer world that opens, but the inner one. Thoughts arise, memories of the past, worries about the future, unfinished tasks, knots in relationships.

Many people give up here, thinking meditation isn’t for them. But the truth is, meditation is not about stopping thoughts; it is about observing them. Just as the sky watches clouds pass by, we must watch our thoughts pass.

Gradually, a shift begins. The same thoughts that once pulled us in now simply appear and pass. The entanglement lessens. The mind feels lighter. This is the first sign of meditation, a little space being created within.

Meditation does not teach us to escape; it teaches us to pause. And in that pause, we begin to understand that the source of our restlessness is not outside, but within. We search for solutions in the world, while often they are hidden within our own mind.

The practice of meditation makes us more sensitive and aware. We begin to observe our words, our actions, and our decisions more consciously. Instead of reacting, we develop understanding. Where there was anger, there is now stillness. Where there was fear, there is now a bit of trust.

The effect of meditation does not remain limited to the individual. When one person becomes calm, the environment around them begins to change. Relationships shift, behavior transforms, perspective evolves. Slowly, this change spreads to family, to society, to every place touched by that person.

Meditation also teaches us that everyone is on their own journey. Some are ahead, some are behind, but everyone is learning. This understanding frees us from comparison. And when comparison ends, true peace begins.

The most beautiful aspect of meditation is that it comes with no conditions. No fixed time, no specific place. You can sit with yourself anywhere, anytime, even for a few moments. Feel your breath, listen to your heartbeat, recognize the silence within.

Gradually, that silence becomes your strength. You learn to remain calm even in the midst of noise. Circumstances may keep changing, but your center remains steady.

There is much in life that is not in our control, but our mind, our awareness, is in our hands. Meditation connects us to that awareness. It does not perform miracles; it simply brings us closer to our true self.

When we begin to know ourselves, understanding the world becomes easier. And perhaps that is the greatest transformation, not outside, but within.

“Meditate… because the answers have always been within you.”

03/29/2026

Love is but a song we sing
Fear's the way we die

You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why

Come on, people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Some may come and some may go
He will surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last

We are but a moment's sunlight
Fading in the grass

Come on, people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

If you hear the song I sing
You will understand, listen

You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command

I said, come on, people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Right now
Right now

- Get Together by The Youngbloods