Dropping out...or dropping in?

Why is it wise to live in a society where everyday we are confronted with problems, conflicts, and arguments? Why do so many strive to reach a certain level of wealth, and once that is attained, they set their eyes on more and more? I realize that it is in the human nature to want more than we have at a single time, and I know this seems cliché, but I think we should be happy with whatever we have. It may be natural for most to want more, and look up to the man who lives on top of the hill, without realizing that somebody is looking up to us in the same way. In the end, we can waste away our lives to achieve what is defined by many as success, but once we reach that we will never be truly satisfied. It does not matter if a family is making 40,000 a year or 400,000 a year, it is just a common headache between. The former family is bitching about their Corolla and the latter is bitching about their Mercedes. Either we can enter this endless cycle of incessant problems and constant crap, or we can come to terms with the fact that what we have is fine and just move on. I think that it is so easy today to just be like everyone else and try to attain what the popular society deems as “success”. In the end everybody has something to bitch about and nobody has enough. It’s just a shame that this is so widely accepted and promoted.

 

i couldn't have said it better myself.

 

because living in poverty sucks, plain and simple.

 

a lot of people aren't even close to being in poverty, and yet they still want more...

 

whats your point. life can always get more convenient and fun, and money helps a lot with both.

 

hey if folks aint harming you, dont rag on there lifestyle congradulate them on being happy as they are now an encourage them to share the wealth.

 

Wealth matters in this day and age. And simply put, I'm sure everyone would rather be rich than poor. Including you.

 

why dont you just get a job instead

you probably want to get rid of that link if you dont want to be banned.

 

The act of striving for more stems from thoughts of desire.
To desire is to bring on suffering. End thoughts of desire and end one's suffering.

Many people don't realize this to be the case, and may never see it. They will, however, always wonder why they are unhappy.

 

You are such a Buddhist.

I just want enough money so that I know I never have to worry about being poor without any. 'Cos living that way really fucking sucks.
I don't really care about being rich. I haven't had much money during my lifetime, and I view "rich" as one thousand dollars a month, give or take a few. I don't see why my perspective on such things will change once the dough starts rolling in, because I've never really been very materialistic.

 

I love how you said that Debbie
I must say i agree with you

 

Ha ha. Thanks you guys.

 

i have plenty of desires. yet i'm still not unhappy. i hate how buddhists assume that. fuck eliminating suffering - suffering builds men from boys.

 

Brad...

It's not meant to come off as self-righteous. You may be in a place where you are content with your life and aren't unhappy. That's great, I'd like to know your secret.

However, for many others, it's their desires that lead to their unhappiness/suffering. It's about getting to a balance, not necessarily enlightenment, that you (not 'you' personally) will find fulfillment.

 

I don't think anybody can fully eliminate all of their desires, but I think once one realises what can be possibly possible and what can not then its perfectly reasonable to believe that a person can be completely content with their life.

 

once again, i think desires are healthy.

since when did ambition become a negative trait?

 

Those who seek enlightenment choose to eliminate all their desires. Desires ultimately hinder one's abilty to seek out of themselves for the truth. It's a step in the eight steps to happiness.

Those who do not seek enlightenment need to strike a balance, as Chuck said. Desire can in theory be good (if you don't mind the "consequences"); so long as you recognize what it truly is and where it is coming from. Say you really want some nice rims for your car. You look all around for them; online, in the store, and the price that you keep coming up with is $400. You are disappointed because you can't afford to purchase them. Here is the first part of suffering.

So you go one of two ways. You continue to look at them and want one, being further unhappy because you can't purchase them. Sort of sour grape-ish. Suffering.

Or, you work really hard, sacrificing something else in your life so you can get them. Your relationship with your friends (no to the cutoff point, but it suffers)? A girl? Spiritually speaking? yourself? You finally get the rims that you want, but what are they really? Just an inanimate object. Suffering.

It's just about diving deeper into the matter, you will see if you look hard enough that any form of desire (outside of survival necessity), be it "good" or "bad" leads to suffering of some form.

By the way, suffering really isn't the best term. It usually has an extremely negative connotation, but in this case it can range from desparity to minor inconvienence. That's the trouble with the English Language, the right word to describe it doesn't exist.

 

No one's saying you can't create a word of your own. :sunglasse

 

money is something no one can live without. and if u can, its damn hard haha. people tend to think the more money you have the happier you will be. I dont think thats true at all, money can buy you things that will make you happy, but it cant buy you happiness. if you can live off the land and have peace with the people you live with and yourself. you will be the happiest person alive. the good energy and vibes from those around you and the environment u live in is all you need to live your life. What one sees as success is something different from another person. whether its having millions of dollers with a big corporate job... or just having a steady job living paycheck to paycheck being simple, free, and happy.
peace~

 

True that.

Hmmm. sdskjef seems to fit the bill.