On Being Rich!
Random Thoughts March 3rd, 2009After a little incident involving a failed handbrake and my car smashing into a Saab, I have once again been considering the merit and comfort factor in being a rich bastard.
Surely a large portion of the cash I have to my name will be paid out to two parties to fix their cars. I will be poorer. At first that makes me feel quite shithouse as I work pretty hard to make the pittance that lies dormant in my bank account. But upon deeper thought I remember that having a bigger number in the account doesn’t actually make me feel happier than I am at the present. A very wise friend of mine once asked me ” who gives a f%$# if you got $100000000000 when you live stressed and depressed 23.9hrs a day?”..
His question begs the deeper question of how much money is enough? Why does money give us comfort, if materials don’t add up to happiness; and money can only really buy materials? The aforementioned friend also said that” once you can let go of material shit, you’re better off”… My assumption was that in saying this, my friend meant that an attachment to anything material can only really lead to pain as it is impermanent by nature. The Buddhist philosophy is that EVERYTHING is impermanent and therefore we should have no attachment to ANYTHING. While I find this a little extreme and close to impossible to achieve while still living in any society, I can see the merits in the theory.
Everyone needs money to survive and money itself is not evil. Perhaps its the greed fueled by the positive feelings we have once we spend the money that people become hooked on. From here it is a short journey to greed and tightarsery which is behind so many million/billionaires. I sometimes wonder if it is even possible to be a million/billionaire without ripping someone off or doing wrong by someone…
What are your thoughts?
April 14th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I find this topic particularly relevant to my life at the present moment.
Money, itself, as a lone, tangible and physical object cannot instill the qualities of happiness within a human. It is, after all, plastic.
Therefore, its somewhat safe to say that it isn’t money that makes us happy, but what money represents.
Inextricable to the material of money, is this imaginary yet known attachment of power. Money, as a physical object, represents the power of someone to achieve their means. Therefore, we are not only shifting the physical material of money when we purchase something, but also power.
Please understand this. Exchanging money is exchanging power.
Exchanging money however shouldn’t be a power shift, rather a healthy power swap. Me buying a stove for example shifts money/power to a stove vendor, but, it consequently returns and gives me the power to cook food.
Materialism ultimately becomes dangerous when we, as consumers, cannot re-fill the power vacuum that is artificially created when we purchase something. Lets look at a piece of clothing. The essential function of clothing is to protect one from the elements and enable him/her the chance to participate in society (it’s illegal to walk around nude for example).
Therefore, what point is it purchasing a label shirt over a “home-brand” one, when its essential function is the same? We are handing over more power (in way of higher price tags) than we are receiving power as the function and performance of the shirt is still the same.
I can already hear the masses piping up at this.
In today’s society, you have to dress well and in expensive labels in order to receive respect. This usually results in better opportunities and extended possibilities; ever wondered why ceo’s and higher positioned employees wear beautiful, usually expensive clothes?
Well, I agree.
But, how sad is it when we begin to judge and formulate conclusions of people based on the amount of money then earn, or the clothes they wear? This is where materialism fails.
Materialism is essential. It enables us the power to live our lives. Its only when its abused and treated in excess that it becomes unhealthy.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
This is an awesome response ‘Random Thought’… Very well thought out and logical. It is however clear to see what socio-economic context you are coming from.
I agree with much of what you have said, albiet for different reasons. However, I must fervently disagree that materialism is essential, I could go so far as to say it is even detrimental. But money and materialism need to be differentiated because just having money does not make you a materialist. You can still work, buy what you need and not be a person centred around materials.
Materialism is definatly some of the examples you gave eg buying the brand name over the home brand, although I think you will find that most people who are driven enough to be the CEO of many companies are the exact people I am referring to in the original article. They are motivated by materials - that is why they have worked to their position and that is why they prefer the brand name. The brand name WILL NOT gain you the respect, despite what the marketing campaigns tell you…
Money does give us the power to live our lives - to a degree. It also places upon us a massive responsibility to keep it real and resist getting carried away to the point that we are materialistic enough to lose sight of what is really important.
I enjoyed your response and agree with some of your points, but I feel maybe you should rethink some of the processes that lead you to come to the conclusions you have arrived at.
Thanks,
-Ray