my "Buddhism" schtick

The other day, I received notification that someone had bought a copy of my book. As always, there was a slight jolt of surprise A. that there was a book and B. that anyone would be interested enough to lay out good money for something so far in my mental past: 2007 ... who reads that stuff any more?

But the notification made me aware of a slight sense of guilt. Once upon a time, I could take any topic under the sun and relate it back to something called "Buddhism." I was perfectly at ease in 2007 dispensing what I saw as the broad highways and byways that encompassed ... well, everything. Hot damn! Everything fit, one way or another, into this well-tailored and wise satchel I might readily have called "Buddhism."

The guilt comes from not seeing things that way so much any more. On occasion I can feel guilty for letting my Buddhist chums down. I feel as if I ought to make up for this by saying something like ....

Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism...

Way kool! Buddhism!

And don't get me wrong -- I do think the practice of Buddhism is a pretty good thing.

But these days "Buddhism" reminds me of the old expression, "trying to fit ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag."

I don't mean that as some sort of insult: It's the practical application that interests me. Trying to stuff everything into Buddhism is possible and I have done it. But since it simply doesn't work very well, why bother? Do it when it seems appropriate, but otherwise ... bagging and tagging doesn't pan out very well.

And I don't mean to convince anyone else. It's just how I felt after receiving notification that someone had bought my book.