We each have an affinity made possible from the seeds of consciousness. These seeds existed before birth, for example, through our parents, and our ancestors. These seeds are also cultivated from our community and our friends. As these seeds grow, our affinity of expression shines.
I do enjoy learning much about a broad range of spiritual teachings. However, I ultimately concentrated on what people call “Zen”, a word which I never use personally unless conversing about publicly, as I am now. This is the affinity I have chosen, and in some way or another, the seeds of consciousness has paved path this for me.
Funnily enough, I never really experienced the miracles of success when I studied Buddhism. When I practiced in Christianity and in Hinduism, or even other practices, there were many events that were spontaneously blessed of good fortune and luck, sort of like winning the lottery. There were times of danger, either in myself or others, that people spoke of prayer. These calls of prayer has brought miracles to many, or even, suffering through death, in which we hope they are blessed in the afterlife and perhaps live on today. I have heard so much about miracles, superpowers from spiritual masters or by God. People who could lift mountains, raise oceans, see into the multi-verse, and know their infinite lifetimes. Yet I was never someone who was attracted to the extremes or like to derive my happiness from miracles of the past. I was not the best at dwelling upon scripture, experiencing chakras, and so on. I’m just a normal human being, living moment to moment, and that is perfectly fine with me.
Here now, I recognize a part of my affinity of what has brought me here to where I am now. I can be happy with the little things. I can be grateful with no outstanding miracle. I can choose to be at peace in the silence. I will have sadness too, at the next moment, tomorrow, the day after, and a year from now. But I try again and again with my best effort.
Namo Guan Shi Yin Pusa. I am sure despite any contradictions to what I have said, the compassionate bodhisattva understands my intent and is patient in my growth. It is ridiculous to say that I have not experienced a miracle from the compassionate bodhisattva, but I chose these words for this level of explanation.
Charlie Tran 