Change Me!

"If you want to change your world, take some acid."
The Chemical Buddha was in favor of changing the world and actually set out to do that. But after almost a half hour, he gave up. It was waaaay too hard. So he decided to change how he saw the world. Buddha and Aristotle talked about how the world is merely what we see. Reality itself may or may not be as we actually see it. TCB found nothing changed how he saw the world better than hallucinogenics. They totally changed what he saw, heard, smelled and tasted. In fact, he had trouble deciding what world was actually real. If changing some minor chemicals in his brain could have that kind of impact, what might huge changes actually do to the world around him? He set out to discover what would happen. We believe he ultimately found that the world changed so much he had to leave it.
How do you deal with change? Do you embrace it or resist it?
How have your feelings about your past changed as you’ve gotten older?
How have your views of the world changed?

Here's Hoping

"While a man believes he's going to get laid, the woman actually knows."
The Chemical Buddha found a lot of fertile ground comparing perception with reality. However, this discovery was one of his least favorites. Before he gained awareness of today's insight, he thought he actually had some sway over whether or not he got laid. The reality was far from the truth. Well, that's not completely right. Because it was possible for him to do things that would prevent him from getting laid, everything from an eye roll to a silent fart three rooms away from his partner. But he couldn't do anything to ensure he got laid. That was completely up to the woman. As a result, TCB started to wish he would come back as a woman so he could get laid more often.
What do you know and what do you believe?
How have those two things changed as you've gotten older?
How much control do you think you have over your life? How much do you really have?

Do You See What I See?

"The brain sees only what it recognizes. Which is why you look like a vagina smoking a joint to me."
For millennia various philosophers and religions have talked about how the world around us is merely an illusion. How we don't really see what's happening around us. The sages, mystics, and shamans have said our concept of reality has very little to do with what's really there. This is a concept The Chemical Buddha heavily bought into. In fact, he took it further and twisted reality into what he wanted it to be. Some called it living in his own fantasy world. He called it reality substitution. And who was to say his version of what was happening was any better or worse than what other people saw or believed?
Why do you believe what you believe?
How do you cope when things aren't as you want them to be?
Does your version of reality align with other peoples' versions?
If your version is different, how does that help and hurt you and your relationships.

What was the Question?

"Drugs are rarely the answer, but they'll help you forget the question."
Later in The Chemical Buddha's life, he thought that maybe, just maybe drugs weren't the answer to all his problems and questions about life. But to seriously consider that thought may have required him to undo the years of work he had invested into his path and teachings. So he figured there must be a way out of this setback. After thinking about it for at least several seconds, he realized that he couldn't remember his questions, or better yet, his problems. (Truth be told, he couldn't even remember his own name and address). So maybe drugs were actually a help after all? After this profound insight, The Chemical Buddha taught (and smoked, injected, fucked, and drank) with a new verve.
What are you using to distract yourself from the big issues in your life?
What reality are you avoiding?
If you are avoiding something, why?
Do you think avoiding it will make it go away?

Self-Taught Chemist

"Chemically enhance your reality."
The Chemical Buddha watched a lot of TV. One of the things he learned from some science show on TV was that our interaction with the world was based on the chemicals in each of our brains. And that so-called 'crazy' people have a slight imbalance that causes them to see the world slightly differently than 'sane' people do. To him, this was just another reason to show that he was on the right path. A TV show couldn't be wrong could it? Especially one with a bunch of scientists that used words with more than one syllable. This also gave TCB a quick retort to people who called him a lush, burnout or stoner, When he heard these things The Chemical Buddha would reply that by altering his chemical make-up he wasn’t running from reality, but merely enhancing it to make it more tolerable and interesting.
Is there an area in your life that could use some outside help to make it better?
What one thing would you change about your life?
How could changing that one thing effect everything?

I. Don't. Like. You.

"If you have to ask yourself if someone likes you, then the answer is 'no.'"
The Chemical Buddha often misread the signals women were sending out. If a woman merely glanced in his direction, TCB would waddle over and proceed to talk and grope her. No matter how she protested and tried to push him away. He just assumed they were playing hard to get. It was after misreading all the signals for several years, The Chemical Buddha came upon this insight. What he took as interest was actually just tolerance. Eventually, The Chemical Buddha met someone who was actually 'into' him and they made it very, very obvious. So much so that it never occurred to him to ask the question of whether or not she liked him.
What areas of your life are you hearing/seeing what you want to hear/see rather than what is going on?
What prevents you from seeing (and accepting) the obvious?

Taking A Poll

"Alcohol: liquid persuasion."
The Chemical Buddha discovered that somewhere between buzzed and alcohol poisoning was a sweet spot where he could get someone to do practically anything. Of course, this was the same zone where someone could want to kick his ass for practically any reason too. But to him, it was worth finding 'the zone'. TCB was convinced that some of the best sex he ever had was while he was drunk. The only problem was, he didn't remember any of it, so him being good in bed existed mostly in his mind. Judging by the stories we've heard and some of the videos we've been shown, we have to say his fantasy did not reflect any known reality.
How great do you think you are?
How great are you?
How often do you ask other people's opinion of you?
How often do you give your opinion to other people? When giving your opinion, do you tell them the truth or try not to hurt their feelings?

I Love the Dark

"Oftentimes, your lover's true beauty can only be found in total darkness. Or, at least, very dim lighting."
The Chemical Buddha always claimed to be a big believer in inner beauty. Of course he was also a believer in 'mood' lighting. We're not sure if that was so his sexual partners weren't repulsed/scared when they saw his bloated, pale body (picture the pallor and consistency of a saltine that has been left in a bowl of water and you get the idea) or if it was because he didn't want to see who he was actually sleeping with (or what he was doing to them). We have our guesses, but no working knowledge of TCB's motives. On the multiple times we saw The Chemical Buddha naked, we wished it was darker than dark. Because, even at an early age, TCB had the ass of a 95-year-old man.
How do you keep yourself and others 'in the dark'?
What's the benefit to you of not knowing/acknowledging things in your life?
What are you afraid you'll see if you turn on the 'harsh light' of reality?

Fantasy Land

“Don’t spoil my fantasy with your reality.”
The Chemical Buddha lived in his own little fantasy world. Part of this is attributed to his powerful mind that could bend any fact and situation to fit his needs. Add to that his ability to justify his actions (which bordered on something like a super power) and the various chemical combinations he had coursing through his bloodstream at any given moment and you'd have a fantastic mix. So it’s probably easy to understand why TCB often disagreed with people on what was actually going on at any moment in time. But The Chemical Buddha firmly believed that no two people saw reality the same way because it was all subjective and based on one’s perspective. So he figured if we already weren’t going to agree on our shared reality, why not live in the version of reality he wanted to live in? All the great mystics and dead heads have done it for generations, so it seemed good enough for him.
What is your ultimate fantasy life?
Is there a way for you to make your reality more like you fantasy or do you think the two can never meet?

If a Cell Phone Rings and No One Hears It, Does it Make a Sound?

“Reality check: buying a mobile phone so you don’t miss any calls, only to realize how few phone calls you actually get.”
One of the reasons The Chemical Buddha tried so hard to alter reality was because when he was in it, he found it very painful to deal with. In short, he became so involved with reality that he noticed every sweet, delicious moment of it and each moment’s passing left him hurting and awestruck. By focusing on sex, drugs and food, it allowed TCB to hone in on specific things that he knew would end. One heartbreaking dose of reality that almost did TCB in, was when he got his first mobile phone because he was sure he was missing all sorts of bootie calls. He would often stay up late into the night so he didn’t sleep through any potential hook-ups. Tired and disillusioned, TCB soon adjusted to the fact that, in reality, no one missed him as much as he thought they did.
What stories do you tell yourself to make reality more bearable?
What reality would you have to accept in order to start making changing it?

You Don't Have to go Home, but You Can't Stay Here

“The ultimate last call is death.”
The Chemical Buddha seemed to swing between being on top of the world and a preoccupation with his own mortality. But when he was using, he saw how his view of the world depended entirely upon what chemicals were flowing through his body. So was reality when he was sober or was reality when he was high off his ass? Regardless of which it was, whenever last call/death came, reality, as he knew it ceased. And while there was always a chance he had something at home to keep the party going, once death came, the party was over. His atoms would then disperse and join other parties somewhere else. And the thought of his atoms going to another party without him was enough to make him drink heavily. Although he didn’t give a shit about the atoms he got rid of himself. He was perfectly happy leaving them behind.
How do you feel being left behind?
How do you feel about leaving others behind?

Discovery Drugs

“Most ‘discoveries’ are accidents.”
The Chemical Buddha found it funny how scientists took credit for finding things that were already there. It’s not like they didn’t exist before they were discovered. Most things that are “discoveries” were just stuff we didn’t know about before. He also found it amazing that most stuff was discovered while the discoverer was looking for something else entirely. The Chemical Buddha noticed how only in the field of science and exploration is an accident hailed as something of greatness. Of course, when it came to personal experiences such as enlightenment or visiting other realities, people always wanted proof. When the truth is, anyone could make these discoveries themselves if they were willing to put in the work.
What do you need proof of before you’re willing to believe?
Do you think seeing something for yourself makes it more real?

What's More Than Real?

“Telling someone the observed cannot exist without the observer is the quickest way to a restraining order.”
Contrary to popular belief, The Chemical Buddha was capable of long-term relationships. Of course, he considered anything over a few days, long term. But perhaps the biggest love of his life was someone he never actually dated. Well, not in reality. In his mind they dated, had kids and were very happy together. This relationship would be the very definition of the term stalker. After several flowers (scrounged out of a florist’s dumpster) and pages of creepy notes (the last of which included today’s insight) The Chemical Buddha was hit with a restraining order. And while, at some deeper level his insight may be true, (this thought falls under the “if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?” idea) it’s not the sort of thing that plays well in court. Just so you know, The Chemical Buddha thought the answer to the tree question was “no”. Because sound only exists if it’s heard and doesn’t if it is not.
What truths are you unwilling to recognize?
What ideas only exist in your mind but not in reality?

Drug Lord

"To visit new plains of reality, first visit your 'pharmacist'."
The Chemical Buddha had a different view of reality than some people. All right, let's make that most people. He didn't believe that much of what we experienced was actually real. Sure, it might seem real at the time, but our view of reality seemed to depend upon how we felt about things. So does that make it real? The Chemical Buddha believed that only by watching our emotions and thoughts like we'd watch TV or a movie (or better yet, a movie on TV) would we see reality. And he found the best way to feel like he was outside of himself was drugging his brain down to where it was only concerned with the basics like breathing, blinking, and keeping his heart beating. It was from this place of not thinking, that The Chemical Buddha believed we could experience the One (also called God by some.) But he would only trust his health to a trained pharmacist. Or someone who at least said he was a pharmacist. Or someone who once went to a pharmacy.
When in your life have you been able to be 'outside' of yourself?
Are you ruled by your thoughts and feelings or by reality? How do you know when you're in touch with reality?