Hitting the Pipe

"My monks are meth heads. My nuns are crack whores. My monasteries are drug houses."
The Chemical Buddha had a pretty realistic understanding of who his followers were: people who were willing to strip away everything to see what remained. They were not distracted by the material trappings of life and did not strive to have the new car or big house. (Unless, they needed to raise cash. Then they wanted it so they could sell it for drugs.) In general, he found them to have a simple view of life with basic priorities like food, shelter and toilet paper. And while most of society shunned his followers, TCB welcomed them with open arms (as long as he didn't have anything of value on his person).
Who do you dismiss based on their appearance?
What judgments do you have about people who are different then you?
Would you describe most of your friends as similar to you or different than you?

Opinions

“Why do controlled substances lead to uncontrollable behavior?”
As demonstrated by today’s insight, The Chemical Buddha had an appreciation for irony and word play. He was said to have mumbled this in the drunk tank at his local jail. The cops and his fellow inmates didn’t share TCB’s ironic appreciation. He also tried this insight when trying to get his fellow citizens to sign his petition seeking to take controlled substances off their leash and make them uncontrolled. And while all of the street people were totally in favor of it, no one else was. And without a valid address (rather than ‘under the 6th street viaduct’) the signatures he did get, didn’t count.
Whose opinion do you value and why?
What sway does their opinion have over you?
What things to you do or don't do because of their opinion? What’s the impact on you?

Will Pray for Food (or Sex, or Drugs)

"My disciples are everywhere: under highway overpasses, on street corners, and in insane asylums."
Like every religious order, followers of The Chemical Buddha are easy to spot when you know what to look for. If you feel so inclined please offer the followers of The Chemical Buddha drugs, money, sex, a hot meal or even a clean pair of underwear. These people have devoted their lives to showing us all another path and a different way of being. Although it might not be one you agree with or have sympathy for, it is the one they have chosen. While The Chemical Buddha walked his path, he too felt the sting of non-believers or those who thought they knew better. His belief is that we are all here to find our way, no matter how unconventional it may look to everyone else, we are all here for a specific purpose. And part of that purpose is to help each get where we want to go.
Do you compete with other people or do you help?
What one thing could you do to help someone along? What is one thing someone could do to help you?