good talk on how wanting too much leads to suffering
- Thread starter hardy
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Roman Legion
Well-known member
I'm a minimalist because in my childhood I had very little and what I did have we lost when we fled the house we were squatting in, so I came to the realisation we are a society of consumers and we can't take all that crap with us when we die, we are only the sum of our memories. Right now, I can fit everything I own in the world into my small car and I find peace in knowing that—Not to mention the more you own, the more cost associated with owning everything.
Roman Legion
Well-known member
That would be the age old phrase "Too much of anything is a bad thing.". When I do things for others, I never expect to get praise, I don't care for fame as all it brings is adulation and that is tiring and the same with popularity which is essentially the same thing, just on a smaller scale than fame. I am a misanthrope, so I hate most people and expect everyone I meet hates me. But you are correct, wanting does lead to suffering on the inside, but on the opposite side of the spectrum not wanting anything can lead you to nowhere fast and in some cases physical and emotional issues. The buddhists might have it right in the philosophy that one must seek balance in life—We as a species are far from perfect, but corrupting forces make it much harder and easier to get lost in our search for balance. I'm also not buddhist, I just like some of their teachings, I'm actually an atheist.
dottie
Well-known member
thanks for posting this video. much enjoyed and i hope more people watch and take from it.
@atrus the point of this video wasn't to promote apathy or complacence. at one point he even mentioned that the best income to make is $55,000. anything below that is not quite enough, anything above that is excess... both causing stress of having to much or too little.
personally, my question becomes... what to do about work? i've never had a job that left me feeling adequately compensated for my time or effort. the conditions leave me feeling miserable everyday. even on weekends i obsess about returning to that place i loathe so much. is this from wanting too much?
(upon further thought, maybe this is what atrus is getting at?)
@atrus the point of this video wasn't to promote apathy or complacence. at one point he even mentioned that the best income to make is $55,000. anything below that is not quite enough, anything above that is excess... both causing stress of having to much or too little.
personally, my question becomes... what to do about work? i've never had a job that left me feeling adequately compensated for my time or effort. the conditions leave me feeling miserable everyday. even on weekends i obsess about returning to that place i loathe so much. is this from wanting too much?
(upon further thought, maybe this is what atrus is getting at?)
Roman Legion
Well-known member
So my income for the past several years being barely $10,000 isn't enough? :thinking: Didn't need a video to tell me that! :
:
Roman Legion
Well-known member
I'm in America, so maybe I should move to Asia or Africa?
gustavofring
Well-known member
I like his style, he brings it with a lot of humor.
If you move to Asia or Africa, you will lose your job (unless you're working online or running an online business) and you will have to find work in the foreign country, which doesn't pay in American dollars.
Another alternative would be to start saving money and then retire abroad.
Roman Legion
Well-known member
I can't find work in America, hence why I had to join the Army Reserves in 2008 and that only lasts until January 2014.
JackOfSpades
Well-known member
I remember a study about a year ago that said the optimal salary in the U.S, was 75k. At which point there was no longer an increase in happiness from the added quality of life the money brought.
I didn't watch the video, so I can only speak to generalities about buddhism and desire/suffering. I don't know if he just reiterated the whole philosophy.
I didn't watch the video, so I can only speak to generalities about buddhism and desire/suffering. I don't know if he just reiterated the whole philosophy.
JackOfSpades
Well-known member
Haha I like it.
I say, If you can't find a way for 75k+ to make you happier, you aren't being creative.
I say, If you can't find a way for 75k+ to make you happier, you aren't being creative.
gustavofring
Well-known member
I like buddhism, but some aspects of it seem a bit nihilistic. As if you shouldn't have goals or worry about things at all. It doesn't work that way in Western civilization, which is very goal and accomplishment oriented. If we accept whatever is in our lives, and if we settle for whatever we have, how can we take positive steps towards the future? I think there must be a middle path, but it creates some dissonance in me.
Roman Legion
Well-known member
Compromise, get into David Carradine's character mindset. He is at peace and makes his way in the western world. :thinking:
gustavofring
Well-known member
^Didn't he die in some bondage ritual? :question:
Roman Legion
Well-known member
Keyword here is "character", not the actor, but the character!
JackOfSpades
Well-known member
I have problem too with reconciling acceptance with goals and desire. I think desire is important, and fear both stagnation without it and becoming a passive person who gets nothing because he doesn't fight for anything. Sometimes you have to push back a little.
But the way I figure it when it is working for me is something like this: I try to imagine im climbing up a mountain of steps. Thousands and thousands of steps are laid before me, and my goal is to reach the top. Every step I land on, no matter if it's the first, or the 100th or the 1000th-every step has to be intact-that is to say I have to be at peace. Or I cannot stand or take the next step. The steps are representative of my mentality. And I can only walk up them insofar as my peace allows them to exist onward.
But the way I figure it when it is working for me is something like this: I try to imagine im climbing up a mountain of steps. Thousands and thousands of steps are laid before me, and my goal is to reach the top. Every step I land on, no matter if it's the first, or the 100th or the 1000th-every step has to be intact-that is to say I have to be at peace. Or I cannot stand or take the next step. The steps are representative of my mentality. And I can only walk up them insofar as my peace allows them to exist onward.
hardy
Well-known member
Having goals and desires is okay...if you listen to the talk , the monk talks about it. He says it's not wrong to have desires...please listen to the talk(for your own benefit
) and also know what Buddha exactly taught. We take others teachings too lightly....what can he tell me that i don't know or i am not interested in this stuff kind of thoughts will not take us far.
Buddha said ,'do not to indulge in too much sensual pleasure nor live like an ascetic who doesn't even eat food'. Avoid both extremes,...the Buddha's teaching is the middle path.
There were many lay disciples (people with families and riches) of Buddha who attained real happiness and enlightenment.
) and also know what Buddha exactly taught. We take others teachings too lightly....what can he tell me that i don't know or i am not interested in this stuff kind of thoughts will not take us far.
Buddha said ,'do not to indulge in too much sensual pleasure nor live like an ascetic who doesn't even eat food'. Avoid both extremes,...the Buddha's teaching is the middle path.
There were many lay disciples (people with families and riches) of Buddha who attained real happiness and enlightenment.