"No matter who you are, some religion thinks you're going to hell."
The irony of this being on September 11th was lost on The Chemical Buddha when he came up with this daily meditation for the medicated, but it seems appropriate. Regardless of the god, ungod, tree or glow worm you worship, someone somewhere thinks your going to hell or will be eternally damned because of your beliefs. Or, you think they're going to hell for theirs. Good times. The Chemical Buddha realized all this did was separate him from others. (As in it prevented him from getting in the pants of people who believed differently.) Therefore he embraced as many beliefs (and naked people) as possible.
How do your beliefs keep you separated from those around you?
Is it more important for you to understand or to be understood?
And what is the impact of that in your life?
Showing posts with label hell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hell. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Friendship is Hell
“The prospect of going to hell doesn’t bother me. All my friends are there.”
Like most people The Chemical Buddha didn’t like going to parties where he didn’t know anyone. And he especially didn’t want to go to a lame party. If there is a heaven, The Chemical Buddha wasn’t sure he wanted to go, let alone hang out with the people who seemed to think they were going to be there. He couldn’t imagine being around all of those judgmental, self-righteous, martyrs. In fact, he was pretty sure they would all get on each other nerves. But if he could hang out on the cool level of hell (not with the murders or pedophiles, but the people who just took the Lord’s name in vain and cheated on their spouses) that sounded like his kind of party. He was pretty sure he would know most of the people there anyway.
What would you go through to be with your friends?
What would you do to keep your friends?
Like most people The Chemical Buddha didn’t like going to parties where he didn’t know anyone. And he especially didn’t want to go to a lame party. If there is a heaven, The Chemical Buddha wasn’t sure he wanted to go, let alone hang out with the people who seemed to think they were going to be there. He couldn’t imagine being around all of those judgmental, self-righteous, martyrs. In fact, he was pretty sure they would all get on each other nerves. But if he could hang out on the cool level of hell (not with the murders or pedophiles, but the people who just took the Lord’s name in vain and cheated on their spouses) that sounded like his kind of party. He was pretty sure he would know most of the people there anyway.
What would you go through to be with your friends?
What would you do to keep your friends?
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?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Damn You
"Some sins are worth risking eternal damnation."
The Chemical Buddha found that how sins were defined changed throughout time. Murder has always been considered the utmost. However, if you accidentally kill someone that seems to be OK. Adultery, while sort of bad now isn't nearly as frowned upon as it was 500 years ago. So this changing sin gauge made The Chemical Buddha wonder if there were souls in hell that were thinking, "Fuck, I’m in eternal damnation for something that's no big deal now. Shit! This sucks." Or do they get out of hell as values change up here? It really didn't matter to The Chemical Buddha because the pursuit of making a TCB sandwich with his best friend's wife and their age of consent daughter while the family dog licked his balls was worth any consequences.
How have your perceptions of what is 'bad' and what is 'good' changed over time?
What one thing are you willing to risk anything to get?
The Chemical Buddha found that how sins were defined changed throughout time. Murder has always been considered the utmost. However, if you accidentally kill someone that seems to be OK. Adultery, while sort of bad now isn't nearly as frowned upon as it was 500 years ago. So this changing sin gauge made The Chemical Buddha wonder if there were souls in hell that were thinking, "Fuck, I’m in eternal damnation for something that's no big deal now. Shit! This sucks." Or do they get out of hell as values change up here? It really didn't matter to The Chemical Buddha because the pursuit of making a TCB sandwich with his best friend's wife and their age of consent daughter while the family dog licked his balls was worth any consequences.
How have your perceptions of what is 'bad' and what is 'good' changed over time?
What one thing are you willing to risk anything to get?
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