March 1, 2019

Dear Hong-An,

Good day. May this letter find you in the best of health and good spirit. I would like to thank you for sending me issue #80. I was deeply touched by the “ABCs of Buddhism” as well as Sarah Franz’s letter. I look forward to receiving the Mindfulness Bell subscription again. I truly missed receiving issues. If it is possible, I would like to share again by submitting a letter to be read by the Mindfulness Bell readers. Forgive me? I believe it was back in 2016 or 2017 that I wrote concerning the inspiration I received by a young writer, a eight-year-old at the time, about his letter to then President Obama. I truly enjoyed that. Smile.

I look forward to my next subscription, and thank you again, Conscious Aspiration of the Heart.

In gratitude,

Broadus “Zin” Hill

Blue Lotus Sangha at Hardee CI

Blue Mountain Lotus Sangha at Everglades CI

Southern Palm Zen Group @ Boca Raton, Florida

What It Means to be Buddhist

By Broadus “Zin” Hill

For years, I searched outwardly to find peace, love, and happiness. I couldn’t find them in books I read or religious belief systems. Growing up in a Christian home, I felt unwanted, empty. Don’t get me wrong; my parents were the best! It was just my mother’s way of trying to indoctrinate me with a religious belief that I didn’t care for. It wasn’t until I started to learn how to help myself, love myself, and heal myself that I began knowing how to do the same for others. I thought by giving lavish gifts of gold diamonds, this would help me find happiness or love. It took my incarceration, my learning about the self, and my friend and Dharma brother, Brian Gibson, to learn what it means to be a Buddhist in a world we live in that’s torn by racial division and hatred because of our religious preference. Being a Buddhist has taught me how to look within deeply, and disregard any differences—whomever the person is—and have compassion, respect, and love.

April 25, 2019

Dear the Mindfulness Bell,

I thank you again for your kindness. I recently was surprised to see an article in the last issue from a friend of mine, Bobby Bonia, who had written “The ABC of Buddhism.” I had introduced him to Buddhism; I am so happy he stuck to it and it changed his life, even though we are in separate camps. Now I’m happy that he advanced his studies, and I am proud of him as a Buddhist Brother giving back to the Sangha. Congratulations, Bobby! This gatha is for you, my friend, and all sentient beings as well.

With metta to all,

Jorge S Pascual

Gatha 

As the ocean pushes against the shore
And quickly recedes over and over
Again it is the same as our prana breath
There is no I
Just four elements of nature that flow together 
In mindfulness, in harmony, in union
In everything there is no doer 
Just causes and conditions of phenomenon
That transport you to the other shore
The shore of enlightenment
Breathe in and out
You are one with Buddha nature

- Jorge S Pascual