Category Archives: Mahayana Buddhism

Samsara or nirvana

The Buddhist tibetan prayer flags on the top of mountain in Daocheng, Sichuan Province, Tibet of China.

I dream of the promise land; where peace abides

Mountains streamline across the sky

Prayer flags cross the trails on my path to freedom

I am given help along my jouney

Compassion for all the sentient beings on earth

This is my path and it was always meant for me

Rebirth; Samsara

Or a heavenly Nirvana

Buddha poem

Eyes transfixed on Buddha

I chant in Sanskrit

Return to center and emit a white light

Transmit across the atlas

Slow my breathing

Completely enveloped in my practice

Place the candles lit

Offerings for the path I follow

Bowing to them; I’m very thankful

For yesterday, today, tommorow

Close my eyes and listen

My karmatic conditions

Meditating a vision

Peace, love and forgiveness

Now; did I inherit

My past lifes merit

I feel blessed; until my death

I must share it

Thank you universe

Thank you for my buddha nature

Thank you for food and shelter

Thank you for now;

Thank you for later.

-Nina

Sobriety

Sobriety was something I had previously thought to be unattainable; the anxiety of life too much to bear without substance, without alcohol. I needed it for almost anything and usually there was no stopping me from obtaining it; and always wanting more. A vicious cycle of dependence which could not be broken. Thank god I was wrong.

I am currently 8 months sober and the benefits have reached and blessed every aspect of life. I have less anxiety, less illnesses, less arguments, less confusion, less injury, less financial burdens and I could go on forever. Most importantly I have accepted buddha and my sobriety go hand in hand on this path that I have chosen.

There are so many ways to conquer demons of which used to control my life. Im finding myself in meditation everywhere I go and every day that I stay. It is very important for my day to day balance to practice the teachings of various meditations and perhaps my writings can lead others to finding a healthier balance in life regardless of religious belief or path.

Thats all for now.

Love Nina

Buddha sunrise

This is another day to be happy

No matter the yesterdays and tomorrows

Meditating away sorrows

There isnt a second of this second to borrow

I embrace; breathe peacefully transcendent

Counting my blessings

Addressing the necessary lessons

I have chosen a new path

Walk with me because to me this is clear as glass

Fasten your seatbelts life is fast

Never knowing how long youll last

Remove the masks evil and self doubt

Life is like a prison , but im with ya

Let me

Help you out

About me. A return

Its been a very long time since I have been away from WordPress. Id like to come back to this and reintroduce myself. My name is Nina and I’m 31 years old. Im a Buddhist, a step mother, an artist and a trans woman. I started this blog while living in a homeless shelter many years ago and I can remember walking across the street to the coffee shop to do my daily blogging every morning. I had originally thought i would simply write about living on the streets, but. It became much more than that.

Im returning now as many things have changed. I got married and am looking after a young one. I am sober. For the first time in my life. Something like 8 or 9 months. It has been easy but it hasn’t. I am very thankful for this morning; an opportunity to speak and place another step on this path. The path of buddha, sobriety, motherhood, art and most importantly love.

Im not sure where to begin but I suppose I already have. So since I have been gone; budhism has truly become my path. I have realized there is no place for alcohol in a buddhist. I see the dhamma now as the only path to be on. I am also a visual artist. A graffiti writer and painter. I am shocked and happy to say that art is my profession yet am still but what you would call the starving artist. But I am happy.

Sobriety was taken away from me by the age of 13. So 17 years of usage which is more than half of my life and pretty much the entirety of my adult life. I have found new ways to enjoy life, to cope with pain and anxiety. As i write i feel like the lotus blooming from the mud.

Hello everyone. Im here again. Im back

Love Nina

A prayer ….

Walking this path I count my steps

Carefully count my breaths

Walking straight and mindful

Vowing to bring fourth kindness

Drawing another breath I focuss

The simple motions

Eliminating negative emotions

Om nami padme hum

Loving living lotus compassion

Grant me the needed wisdom to encapsul

So i may bring joy while my steps

Carefully counting every breath

Born

I have been reborn over and over but… This time is different I’ve never been sober for this long; decades of relentless; alcohol dependence

The days are in the hundreds; gather abundance; knowledge. Confront my fears try to be humble and acknowledge.

Keep focus; meditation half lotus. Buddha quotes rewrote them post them. Try to be open.

Lessons learned; a great deal. I wait still. Time stands still. The virtue of patience.

As I await, awake here.