Karma Kash

"Salvation doesn't come cheap. Which is why I offer payment plans."
Everyone always talks about wanting to be saved. They seemed worried about what was after this life and concerned that their actions here might have an impact on whatever comes next. The Chemical Buddha thought everyone should put their energy into living a life where they didn't have to worry about 'heaven' or the 'afterlife'. TCB's plan was to deal with life as it happened. No need to worry about the end. You might miss what's happening now. Of course, none of that prevented him from taking advantage of people's fear and charging them for salvation. Or, as he called it, 'possible salvation'. That way, if there was an afterlife people couldn't be too pissed at him for not reading the fine print of his offer.
Are you proud of the life you lead?
What secrets from your past do you worry about people uncovering?
How much time do you spend thinking about the past and the future?
How much time to you spend thinking about the present?

Pass the Past

"An unexamined life is bliss."
Once the Chemical Buddha set out on his path of self-examination (which took some really big mirrors) and enlightenment, he arrived at today’s insight. And believe us, once he figured that out, he wondered why he went that direction in the first place. He figured if one never looked at their lives they wouldn't experience things like loss, guilt or regret. It was realizing what could have been and opportunities missed that led to that pain. We can’t tell you how many times TCB told us the story of how much he regretted not eating the roach of one particularly potent spliff he smoked. Legend has it, he regretted that for the rest of his life.
If anything, what do you regret about your past?
What can you do differently to live without regret?
What stories do you tell that others are tired of hearing and why do you tell them?
What from your past do you need to let go of?

Back to the Future

“Too many people worry about what's next instead of what's now.”
The Chemical Buddha was all about the now. Except when he was looking forward to his next high or lay. Which was pretty much all the time. But we digress. He found people worried about what was going to happen next and missed what was happening now. Before someone even had a moment to enjoy the bite of food they were eating, they were already taking the next bite. He thought this was because the brain was all about looking for the 'what’s next.' While the body was about enjoying the what’s now. TCB found being stoned slowed his brain down enough for him to enjoy what’s now. He had heard that other's used meditation to do the same thing.
Do you live your life in the past, present or future?
Where would you prefer to live you life? What would it take for you to do it?

Spiritually Bankrupt

“Jesus saves. Chemical Buddha owes.”
The Chemical Buddha would always see the words ‘Jesus Saves’ and he couldn’t ever figure out what that meant. Did it mean Jesus saves money? Coupons? Baby seals? What exactly does he save? If it was money, TCB couldn’t see the benefit of doing that. Every dollar that was in his pocket was a dollar that could be out making sure he was having a good time. The Chemical Buddha would also borrow against the future to have a good time now. His thinking is summed up in the simple idea: ‘I always eat my dessert first, because I’m not sure I’ll live long enough to make it the end of the meal.’ In fact, TCB was so in the now, he didn’t think about the future at all. And once he got there, he was always surprised at how fucked up everything was.
What do you think about the most? The past? The present? Or the future?
How does that influence your level of satisfaction with your life?

Hung Over Until Next Year

“The better the night, the worse the day after.”
Often The Chemical Buddha would be seen enjoying himself one night only to look like the undead the next day. The good news is, he would just start all over again and have another "best night of his life." The Chemical Buddha believed this pointed to the transitory nature of life. One moment you're up, the next you're down and vice versa. He recommended not becoming too attached to one or the other because it will only change. And both are a part of each other. There is a little bad in every good and a little good in every bad. At the dawning of the Christian New Year (because the Western calendar is based on the presumed birth of Jesus), if he were still among us, The Chemical Buddha would hope you are able to apply the learnings of this past to attain more happiness and fulfillment today. Or, he would at least hope you'd fill up on whatever makes you happy.
What is the cost of the highs and lows in your life?
What one thing from your past do you need to learn from in order to attain happiness today?

Past Perfect Tense

"People always think the past was simpler. But as far as I can tell, they still lied, cheated and killed each other back then too."
The Chemical Buddha couldn't figure out what the fascination with the past or the good ol’ days was about. Yes, things were simpler then. As in you had to take what you could get. Plagues from God could just wipe you out. Or people would torture you trying to get you to worship their God(s). People still killed each other. Did unspeakable things to children and the old. Cheated on their wives and most of the STDs we have today are from back then. No, now is best time to be alive. With designer drugs, internet porn, and you can be scarred for life without ever leaving the security of your four walls. People have always done this stuff and as far as The Chemical Buddha could tell, always would. Maybe not as a society or culture, but individually people will continue to hurt each other. So we might as well enjoy all of the comforts we have.
What part of your past do you cling to and what is the cost to you and your happiness?
Someone once said, "True forgiveness is not wishing for a better past." What one thing do you need to let go of to forgive yourself and others?