"Good Karma is when you find half a joint in your car's ashtray."
Some call it luck. Some call it Karma. The Buddhist belief of Karma is based on the idea that you get back from the universe what you put out. In the case of today's insight, when The Chemical Buddha found half a join in his ashtray, he assumed it was because the universe was paying him back for all the good work he was doing to promote enlightenment. In fact, he created an entire story around that one event that explained his entire life to bring him to this one moment where he would find half a joint just when he needed one most. Words cannot explain the elation he felt.
What hidden benefits are out there in your life?
(If you know the answer to this one, then it's not hidden is it?)
What are you putting out in the universe and what are you getting back?
What do you want to put out and what do you want to get back?
Showing posts with label buddhist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buddhist. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Inner Roommate
“Think of the inner witness as your own personal stalker.”
When The Chemical Buddha first had this thought, it sort of freaked him out. Just thinking that there was something inside of him that was aware of everything he did gave him the hee-bee-jee-bees. Buddhists believe everything happens in awareness and so awareness is all that is. After he drank so much he blacked out for three days, TCB came to in a fog and realized that having an inner witness meant he was never alone. This insight provided him with a sense of comfort because it meant at least someone cared about what was going on in his life. And he didn’t have to get a restraining order. Or, more correctly, he wasn’t sure what he’d be trying to restrain. He did put some thought into getting his ‘inner roommate’ to pay rent or at least do dishes.
If the only person you have to live with is you, what does your inner roommate think of you?
What lies do you tell yourself and what is their impact on you?
When The Chemical Buddha first had this thought, it sort of freaked him out. Just thinking that there was something inside of him that was aware of everything he did gave him the hee-bee-jee-bees. Buddhists believe everything happens in awareness and so awareness is all that is. After he drank so much he blacked out for three days, TCB came to in a fog and realized that having an inner witness meant he was never alone. This insight provided him with a sense of comfort because it meant at least someone cared about what was going on in his life. And he didn’t have to get a restraining order. Or, more correctly, he wasn’t sure what he’d be trying to restrain. He did put some thought into getting his ‘inner roommate’ to pay rent or at least do dishes.
If the only person you have to live with is you, what does your inner roommate think of you?
What lies do you tell yourself and what is their impact on you?
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
¢hri$tmas Eve
"Consumerism is the new religion."
On the eve of one of Christianities biggest holidays, The Chemical Buddha would like to add his voice to all of those thinking it's too commercial. Of course, TCB usually used this as an excuse to not buy people gifts, but he was OK accepting them. However, he did believe when the talk of Christmas sales became newsworthy and people started camping outside and even beating each other to get a gift, things had gone too far. Christmas had disintegrated into a holiday holy war. Which was fed by companies counting on the holiday to turn a profit. He wasn't sure what the difference was between the pursuit of spiritual salvation and the year's hot new toy. The more he thought about it, the more he thought there wasn't any. And he would loudly tell you this from his bar stool at the local watering hole. Especially when he was by himself on Christmas. He'd also tell you Buddhist didn't believe in Christmas in one breath and ask you to buy him a Christmas shot in the next.
What do you religiously follow?
What has the impact been on your life following something so devotedly?
On the eve of one of Christianities biggest holidays, The Chemical Buddha would like to add his voice to all of those thinking it's too commercial. Of course, TCB usually used this as an excuse to not buy people gifts, but he was OK accepting them. However, he did believe when the talk of Christmas sales became newsworthy and people started camping outside and even beating each other to get a gift, things had gone too far. Christmas had disintegrated into a holiday holy war. Which was fed by companies counting on the holiday to turn a profit. He wasn't sure what the difference was between the pursuit of spiritual salvation and the year's hot new toy. The more he thought about it, the more he thought there wasn't any. And he would loudly tell you this from his bar stool at the local watering hole. Especially when he was by himself on Christmas. He'd also tell you Buddhist didn't believe in Christmas in one breath and ask you to buy him a Christmas shot in the next.
What do you religiously follow?
What has the impact been on your life following something so devotedly?
Monday, December 15, 2008
Karma
"Fortunately, Buddhists don't believe in hell."
After one weekend filled with particularly shameful (according to some holy books) activities, The Chemical Buddha contemplated what he had done and the potential impact on his soul. Then he realized that Buddhists didn't believe in hell as defined by most Christians. Buddhist believe we make hell (or heaven) right here. This reframing helped TCB see that he had actually spent the weekend in sweet heaven. Just like the Ozark Mountain Daredevils sang ("If you want to get to heaven, you’ve got to raise a little hell.") Of course, everyone else involved was scarred for life. But while Buddhists don't believe in hell, they do believe in Karma. As in, what you put out in the universe you get back. And you can rest assured that The Chemical Buddha spent some time in hell so that others could feel a little heaven. When that happened, TCB thought it might be better to believe in a hell that may or may not be there in the afterlife. In fact, he was in catechism at the time of his death. We're not sure how transitioning from one religion to the next affected his reincarnation (which Christians don't believe in) or hell (which Buddhist don't believe in).
How do you use your beliefs to justify your behavior?
How could the simple act of changing what you believe change your entire world?
After one weekend filled with particularly shameful (according to some holy books) activities, The Chemical Buddha contemplated what he had done and the potential impact on his soul. Then he realized that Buddhists didn't believe in hell as defined by most Christians. Buddhist believe we make hell (or heaven) right here. This reframing helped TCB see that he had actually spent the weekend in sweet heaven. Just like the Ozark Mountain Daredevils sang ("If you want to get to heaven, you’ve got to raise a little hell.") Of course, everyone else involved was scarred for life. But while Buddhists don't believe in hell, they do believe in Karma. As in, what you put out in the universe you get back. And you can rest assured that The Chemical Buddha spent some time in hell so that others could feel a little heaven. When that happened, TCB thought it might be better to believe in a hell that may or may not be there in the afterlife. In fact, he was in catechism at the time of his death. We're not sure how transitioning from one religion to the next affected his reincarnation (which Christians don't believe in) or hell (which Buddhist don't believe in).
How do you use your beliefs to justify your behavior?
How could the simple act of changing what you believe change your entire world?
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