This is a very important topic. I personally live a minimalistic lifestyle because of the things that you've mentioned in the video. I wish other people would follow this advice because plenty of people think that more is always better and that simply isn't the case.
Also, greed is what keeps wars coming. Fighting over more land or more power. Just to see that it is not what he or she wanted in the end. But many people do not understand greed itself till they have gotten to the point of making their own experience.
As always, thank you Doug for taking the time to expand my knowledge. I must say, for whatever reason, greed has never been much of an obstacle for me. I have very little and I am always looking for ways to downsize. Janis Joplin once sang "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose".
@@thebetbetunderground9548 clinging to non ownership? So you mean clinging to nothing? It's impossible to cling to something if nothing is there. Zero multiplied by anything is still zero, friend
It occurred to me that depression could be seen as a manifestation of greed. The thoughts that lead to depression, "I should be ...", "I should have done...", "I should have ..." are all statements of lack, as if we and life are not enough. Many of these thoughts are influenced by our culture. You need to make your mark. You need to be successful. You need to look a certain way. You should have certain things. If we give creedence to all of these messages it can make us depressed when we don't rise up to meet impossible standards. My life stinks because I don't have the nice house my brother has. My life stinks because I am not as talented as that person on TV. My life stinks because I only have two friends instead of ten.It's greed when you think that you don't have enough. It's greed when you think that you are not enough. It's much easier to detach from cultural ideals than a person however. Losing a beloved person is heartbreaking. I suppose the concept that all things are impermanent helps. If we let go of greed, wishing they were still here, we can celebrate the brief time we shared our lives with that someone and hopefully not suffer endlessly.
There is nothing more liberating and freeing than giving your stuff away. The problem is attachment to all the material junk we accumulate throughout our lives💗
I wasn't available on UA-cam sir that's why I missed some of your vedios but not anymore as your vedios aren't equivalent to that of other youtubers but way better than then ,specially to me, as I feel interconnected to you watching your vedios. Thanku Sir and keep uploading vedios.❤❤
Thanks! Your multiple-car analogy had me reflect again on home ownership vs renting. I rent and I'm in my 40s with a decent job in an expensive city and have debated buying. Even though home ownership 'feels like success' in this culture, it seems like it would cause me lots of stress due to the maintenance, repairs, and concern for the investment made. I'm content being a renter and letting the landlord worry about that stuff. If I were really into 'handy-man' type work it might be another story, then the effort might bring me joy.
Yeah that's great Eric. I'm not qualified to be a financial planner but my suspicion is that renting and owning make sense under different circumstances, and we can "make it work" either way if we prefer.
The last week I was thinking about it, and I said what is the point in trying to have cars, houses, companies etc? 🤔 If I know that those things won't make me really happy. But I mean it's really hard to us because of the society, they think that you're not successful and you're not happy because you don't have material things or children etc
In understanding greed and desire, it is important to recognize the difference between spending and investing. By not being greedy, we naturally gather wealth. Wealth is neither good or bad, and should not be confused with greed. It is what we do with that wealth that can be either good or bad. We can spend irresponsibly or responsibly. We can spend so we enable others to be successful and contribute to society, or we can spend frivolously. We can make wise investments that help many, or we can invest in things that take advantage of others. We can look to enable others to be productive, or we can look to make others dependent upon us. Much of the issues in the world today revolve around making people dependent, rather than enabling people to become independent and contribute to society. You briefly mention healthcare, and that is one of the areas that is currently being used to make people dependent. Notice how the focus is on health insurance, rather than healthcare. The government decides everyone should have health insurance. But if everyone suddenly has health insurance, shouldn't we see more hospitals opening up all over the place? Should medical schools be expanding to provide more doctors? Why don't we see that? Because the money goes to health insurance companies, rather than the healthcare system. In other words, it is a bait and switch. Nothing has occurred to provide more healthcare. What is the result? People become dependent upon the same old system that is shrinking because the money goes to the health insurance companies, rather than the health care system. One of the uglier sides of this is that healthcare providers now recognize they can simply charge more because the people's ability to pay has increased. In other words, costs were increased, and the amount of care decreased through unskillful means. But how can this be? Because the goal was never to provide healthcare for all. Here is a link to an article that may be of use: www.learnreligions.com/greed-and-desire-449725
Right Steve, wealth isn't the same as greed, though they are often related. And as to healthcare, yes if universal healthcare is implemented correctly (as it is in most of the "first world"), there have to be very strong regulations on pricing. There may or may not be room for insurance companies, but either way the funding has to be oriented towards care rather than overhead.
@@DougsDharma Competition and preventing monopolies are the best way to reduce cost. Regulations increase cost, reducing providers, and reducing the amount of healthcare available.
Not to mention, the rest of the world's heathcare systems are dependent upon the US healthcare system. Ironically, we end up paying more so other countries can pay less, although they do get inferior care.
Much can be learned by looking at the response to COVID and the death rates compared to other countries. One of the more surprising things is the number of total deaths in the US during 2020 is expected to be about the same as in 2019. That is why it is very important to look at actual data and avoid believing the media hype.
@@DougsDharma A good example of this is looking at your chance of dying if you get the disease. It is less than 3% on average. If you look at the chance of getting it and dying, it is less that 0.07% Of course, this is highly dependent upon age and pre-existing conditions.
I have a friend whom gave birth to six kids. She never have any attachment to her kids. She devote herself to her business and healing centre. She left her kids to nannies and grand mother. She experience no suffering over her kids. She is not worry about having another 2 kids. Some people who has one kid, they over-protective over one kid and devote most of her time to one kid enrichment. Because the one-kid parent revolved their life around one kid. The paradox of having 6 kids and paradox of having one kid.
Doug, I don’t really see the connection between the Buddha’s approach and Visaka’s suffering. The Buddha seems to be addressing the problem of greed and owning more (as you are), but visaka’s problem is losing her granddaughter, not having as many granddaughters as possible because she thinks it’ll make her happy.
Ah. The deeper problem is one of clinging, whether it be one granddaughter or a thousand. We think that clinging to more will make us happier but in fact it only makes us more insecure. 🙂
This is a very important topic. I personally live a minimalistic lifestyle because of the things that you've mentioned in the video. I wish other people would follow this advice because plenty of people think that more is always better and that simply isn't the case.
Quite right Afanasi. I used to live quite differently but have come to see the same. 🙂
Also, greed is what keeps wars coming. Fighting over more land or more power. Just to see that it is not what he or she wanted in the end. But many people do not understand greed itself till they have gotten to the point of making their own experience.
Thank you so much my dear friend. Glad to find your channel with such valious teachings.
You are very welcome!
As always, thank you Doug for taking the time to expand my knowledge. I must say, for whatever reason, greed has never been much of an obstacle for me. I have very little and I am always looking for ways to downsize. Janis Joplin once sang "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose".
That's a good place to be! 😀
that's also a kind of greed -- the clinging to non-ownership...
@@thebetbetunderground9548 clinging to non ownership? So you mean clinging to nothing? It's impossible to cling to something if nothing is there. Zero multiplied by anything is still zero, friend
It occurred to me that depression could be seen as a manifestation of greed. The thoughts that lead to depression, "I should be ...", "I should have done...", "I should have ..." are all statements of lack, as if we and life are not enough. Many of these thoughts are influenced by our culture. You need to make your mark. You need to be successful. You need to look a certain way. You should have certain things. If we give creedence to all of these messages it can make us depressed when we don't rise up to meet impossible standards. My life stinks because I don't have the nice house my brother has. My life stinks because I am not as talented as that person on TV. My life stinks because I only have two friends instead of ten.It's greed when you think that you don't have enough. It's greed when you think that you are not enough.
It's much easier to detach from cultural ideals than a person however. Losing a beloved person is heartbreaking. I suppose the concept that all things are impermanent helps. If we let go of greed, wishing they were still here, we can celebrate the brief time we shared our lives with that someone and hopefully not suffer endlessly.
There is nothing more liberating and freeing than giving your stuff away. The problem is attachment to all the material junk we accumulate throughout our lives💗
Well said Renata! And sometimes easier said than done as well! 😀
I wasn't available on UA-cam sir that's why I missed some of your vedios but not anymore as your vedios aren't equivalent to that of other youtubers but way better than then ,specially to me, as I feel interconnected to you watching your vedios.
Thanku Sir and keep uploading vedios.❤❤
Thanks for the kind note Shwetabh Gangwar. I will continue uploading videos. 🙂🙏
Thanks! Your multiple-car analogy had me reflect again on home ownership vs renting. I rent and I'm in my 40s with a decent job in an expensive city and have debated buying. Even though home ownership 'feels like success' in this culture, it seems like it would cause me lots of stress due to the maintenance, repairs, and concern for the investment made. I'm content being a renter and letting the landlord worry about that stuff. If I were really into 'handy-man' type work it might be another story, then the effort might bring me joy.
Yeah that's great Eric. I'm not qualified to be a financial planner but my suspicion is that renting and owning make sense under different circumstances, and we can "make it work" either way if we prefer.
Truly, You are a Bodhisattva, sir :)
Ha! Well I try to help out a little here and there. 🤓
This is one of the keys to Success
Yes I think so too Agisanang. 🙏
The fact this video after 4 years has only 51 comments, shows the powerful grip money worship has on the western world
you deserve more subscribers
😄Thanks for the kind message gong wee jie. Feel free to share the video around and let people know!
The Pali city name Savatthi confused me. In India, we are used to call the city Sravasti where Buddha spent a number of his days. Great video!
Yes Savatthi is the Pāli; Sravasti is Sanskrit.
Very nice sir...
Thank you very much Dilip. 🙏
I have realized that attaching yourself and your ego to things and achievements gives power away to those things.
Yes, and opens us up to dukkha.
The last week I was thinking about it, and I said what is the point in trying to have cars, houses, companies etc? 🤔 If I know that those things won't make me really happy. But I mean it's really hard to us because of the society, they think that you're not successful and you're not happy because you don't have material things or children etc
Indeed so Alexis. Societal values are often unwise. Do we want to live by them or let them go? 🙂
Yes you're right. In fact I'm trying just to hear them with mindfull and compassion and without judging
In understanding greed and desire, it is important to recognize the difference between spending and investing. By not being greedy, we naturally gather wealth. Wealth is neither good or bad, and should not be confused with greed. It is what we do with that wealth that can be either good or bad. We can spend irresponsibly or responsibly. We can spend so we enable others to be successful and contribute to society, or we can spend frivolously. We can make wise investments that help many, or we can invest in things that take advantage of others. We can look to enable others to be productive, or we can look to make others dependent upon us. Much of the issues in the world today revolve around making people dependent, rather than enabling people to become independent and contribute to society.
You briefly mention healthcare, and that is one of the areas that is currently being used to make people dependent. Notice how the focus is on health insurance, rather than healthcare. The government decides everyone should have health insurance. But if everyone suddenly has health insurance, shouldn't we see more hospitals opening up all over the place? Should medical schools be expanding to provide more doctors? Why don't we see that? Because the money goes to health insurance companies, rather than the healthcare system. In other words, it is a bait and switch. Nothing has occurred to provide more healthcare. What is the result? People become dependent upon the same old system that is shrinking because the money goes to the health insurance companies, rather than the health care system. One of the uglier sides of this is that healthcare providers now recognize they can simply charge more because the people's ability to pay has increased. In other words, costs were increased, and the amount of care decreased through unskillful means. But how can this be? Because the goal was never to provide healthcare for all.
Here is a link to an article that may be of use: www.learnreligions.com/greed-and-desire-449725
Right Steve, wealth isn't the same as greed, though they are often related. And as to healthcare, yes if universal healthcare is implemented correctly (as it is in most of the "first world"), there have to be very strong regulations on pricing. There may or may not be room for insurance companies, but either way the funding has to be oriented towards care rather than overhead.
@@DougsDharma Competition and preventing monopolies are the best way to reduce cost. Regulations increase cost, reducing providers, and reducing the amount of healthcare available.
Not to mention, the rest of the world's heathcare systems are dependent upon the US healthcare system. Ironically, we end up paying more so other countries can pay less, although they do get inferior care.
Much can be learned by looking at the response to COVID and the death rates compared to other countries. One of the more surprising things is the number of total deaths in the US during 2020 is expected to be about the same as in 2019. That is why it is very important to look at actual data and avoid believing the media hype.
@@DougsDharma A good example of this is looking at your chance of dying if you get the disease. It is less than 3% on average. If you look at the chance of getting it and dying, it is less that 0.07% Of course, this is highly dependent upon age and pre-existing conditions.
helpful
Glad to hear it ID.
I have a friend whom gave birth to six kids. She never have any attachment to her kids. She devote herself to her business and healing centre. She left her kids to nannies and grand mother. She experience no suffering over her kids. She is not worry about having another 2 kids. Some people who has one kid, they over-protective over one kid and devote most of her time to one kid enrichment. Because the one-kid parent revolved their life around one kid. The paradox of having 6 kids and paradox of having one kid.
Thanks for letting us know Ifirst ilast. 🙏
@@DougsDharma i like your advice.
Doug, I don’t really see the connection between the Buddha’s approach and Visaka’s suffering. The Buddha seems to be addressing the problem of greed and owning more (as you are), but visaka’s problem is losing her granddaughter, not having as many granddaughters as possible because she thinks it’ll make her happy.
Ah. The deeper problem is one of clinging, whether it be one granddaughter or a thousand. We think that clinging to more will make us happier but in fact it only makes us more insecure. 🙂
Is upgrading an iphone count as greed? You still only have one.
That's the sort of question that can be up to our practice, to decide for ourselves.