I suspect that eronbraids is using the CAN_loopback.ino loopback test program.
This only does the loopback within the MCP2515, therefore no data would appear on the CAN bus.
To send data as per post #3 would need the CAN_send.ino program from the same library.
If there is really no activity on the transceiver Rx when the CAN bus is active, this would indicate a hardware problem as the data sheet shows the Rx of the transceiver continuously monitors the CAN bus regardless of whether it is currently transmitting or listening.