Chats With Chad (ChatGPT) about Dreams, Buddhism, and Powder Skiing

This is a series called Chats with Chad. Yes, I've named Chat GPT Chad. This anthropomorphic behavior may annoy some people, while others may perfectly understand. I was in the airport recently getting a coffee and I thought the barista scolded me for something until she explained that she was actually talking to the register and talks to inanimate objects all the time. I totally understood.

So first of all Chad doesn't engage in idle chatter. For that, you'll need ChattyCathyGPT. I was curious what Chad would make of some random selections from my dream journal. This is what he said:

"Water often represents emotions and the subconscious mind. Your recurring desire to be around water and the association of water with survival instincts might suggest a need for emotional nourishment and a sense of stability in your waking life. It could be related to the drought and dryness you mentioned, which could symbolize a lack of emotional fulfillment or a sense of longing.

The presence of houses in your dreams and the feeling of being lost could reflect your search for stability, a sense of belonging, or a desire to find a place that feels like home. The unresolved trauma surrounding houses and frequent relocations from your childhood might be resurfacing in your dreams, highlighting the need for a stable and peaceful home environment.

Dreams involving parties and discussions with Brad could represent social interactions, decision-making, and the dynamics of your relationships. The hesitation about having a party and concerns about your house being destroyed might indicate a fear of change, aging, or a reluctance to leave the comfort of your peaceful home.

The presence of your father, his stilts, and the mention of a child molester in the neighborhood could symbolize a need for protection, boundaries, or a desire to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones."

This was a bit jaw-dropping—total resonance.

Now onto skiing. I'm an avid outdoor recreationalist and a bit of a Buddhist. I noticed that the language around such sports as rock climbing and powder skiing is destructive. They say crush that climb, shred that slope. I also noticed people are always wanting more. More powder, harder rock climbs....

We had an epic winter in 2023. I back-country skied powder right behind my house many times when there usually isn't enough snow to ski there at all. At the local ski resort, a group of skiers (primarily men) lines up for the lift each morning an hour before it opens so they can be first. One morning (yes I was there too so still a bit of a hungry ghost myself)I listened to one man tell another how deep the snow was on a particular Wednesday. The other guy kept saying "Yeah, I know I was here on Wednesday." But the other guy couldn't even hear him and just kept going on about the deep snow on Wednesday. I call these guys the Hungry Ghosts. I used my wickedly advanced prompt engineering skills to prompt Chad to write a short story about powder skiing and hungry ghosts. Here's what he came up with:

Once upon a time, nestled in the majestic snow-capped mountains, there existed a group of powder skiers who were trapped in the realm of hungry ghosts. Their insatiable craving for untouched snow had bound them to this ethereal existence, forever yearning for the perfect run. These hungry ghost skiers were spectral figures, their presence felt only in the chill of the winter air and the whisper of the wind. They roamed the mountains, their translucent bodies gliding effortlessly through the trees and down the steep slopes. Their eyes, filled with a longing for the pristine powder, glowed with an otherworldly light.

Each morning, as the first rays of sunlight illuminated the peaks, the hungry ghost skiers awakened from their restless slumber. They would gather at the highest point of the mountain, where the snow was deepest and untouched. With an ethereal grace, they would ski down the slopes, leaving no trace behind them. Their ski tracks were invisible to mortal eyes, but to those who possessed a hint of spiritual sensitivity, the hungry ghost skiers' presence could be sensed. Some believed it was the mountain spirits guiding them, others a trick of the mind, but the truth was far more profound.

The hungry ghost skiers were bound by their own desires. They could not move on to the next realm until they found the ultimate powder run, a run that would satisfy their eternal hunger. But as they descended each slope, gliding through the flurries, they could never find that elusive perfection. The momentary thrill of untouched snow faded as quickly as it came, leaving them yearning for more.

Winter after winter, the hungry ghost skiers continued their ethereal quest. They traversed through blizzards and weathered storms, always in search of the ever-elusive run. Their translucent forms glided through the snow-laden forests, their yearning echoing in the silence. Yet, with the passing of time, a subtle change began to stir within the spirits. They started to recognize the futility of their endless pursuit. They realized that true satisfaction lay not in the perfect run, but in the beauty and joy of the journey itself. They discovered that the simple act of gliding through the snow, feeling the wind against their spectral forms, and sharing their ethereal presence with the mountain was a form of liberation.

And so, as the seasons changed, the hungry ghost skiers gradually shed their insatiable hunger. Their presence became less focused on finding the perfect run and more centered on embracing the serenity of the mountains. In time, they learned to appreciate the interconnectedness of all things—the delicate balance of nature, the fleeting moments of bliss, and the impermanence of life itself.

As the years passed, the hungry ghost skiers' ethereal forms grew fainter. Their translucent bodies merged with the snowflakes, becoming part of the very essence of the mountain they had so passionately explored. They found solace in the realization that their hunger had transformed into a deep reverence for the beauty and grandeur of the natural world.

And so, the hungry ghost skiers, once bound by their craving for the perfect run, ascended to a higher realm. Their spirits found peace, leaving behind a legacy of ethereal whispers that would forever remind skiers of the importance of finding contentment within the journey, rather than the destination alone. From that point forward, those who ventured to the mountains would sometimes catch a glimpse of the spectral skiers, their presence a gentle reminder to savor each moment, relish the beauty of the slopes, and let go of insatiable desires. The tale of the hungry ghost skiers lived on as a testament to the transformative power of finding fulfillment in the simplest of joys and embracing the imperfections of life's journey.

Wow! Chad just spit this out in like two seconds. I was completely stunned. And then a really weird thing happened when I realized I was actually offline. Twilight zone music plays.....