Buddhist Baseball Bat

I can remember it fondly. I was on a long drive near Rochester New York. I was spinning in my own thoughts about Buddhism, it's awesomeness, and the awesomeness of how I was such a good Buddhist. I was learning so fast. Things were clicking.

Somehow, probably from listening to a Thanissaro Bhikkhu talk, I had some ability to see this spinning. And the pride and sense of superiority. I thought I knew it all. And I thought I knew how to judge other people, inferior Buddhists.

I named this style of thinking the "Buddhist Baseball Bat". That name has stuck. Anytime I'm starting to use Buddhism to

• Criticize other people, especially in a mean way
• Focus on my superiority
• Or criticize myself, in terms of "A real Buddhist would XYZ, and you're not doing that Eugene..."

That is the Buddhist Baseball Bat.

And when I call it that, some mix of awareness and humor helps me snap out of it. The "spinning" is blunted. And I've broken that instance of the chain of dependent co-arising.

It helps me not fall for my own thoughts.

UUDR.