Hi everyone,
1. If a homeless person is perfectly contented to be homeless - sleeping in the street, picking leftovers from the bins, wearing rags, etc - does that mean he has achieved "letting go" or is that è‡ªç”˜å •è�½ ?
2. If as a layperson, I am perfectly contented with whatever I have now and no longer strive to be "better" in the worldly sense (eg strive to get promoted, to make more money, to get more degrees, etc), am I on the right path of the dharma or would that be è‡ªç”˜å •è�½ ?
Thank you.
maybe tt person oredi "see thru red dust" çœ‹ç ´çº¢å°˜
u can ask any materialistic gals to answer that question in a world bought by money....
no link.
�缘�是�便. It means you have tried your best but accept and not attach to the outcome of your efforts.
a world of interrelatedness
Originally posted by allkosong:Hi everyone,
1. If a homeless person is perfectly contented to be homeless - sleeping in the street, picking leftovers from the bins, wearing rags, etc - does that mean he has achieved "letting go" or is that è‡ªç”˜å •è�½ ?
2. If as a layperson, I am perfectly contented with whatever I have now and no longer strive to be "better" in the worldly sense (eg strive to get promoted, to make more money, to get more degrees, etc), am I on the right path of the dharma or would that be è‡ªç”˜å •è�½ ?
Thank you.
1- not quite agreed to the analogy. Letting go is not like this... Being content means satisfied with what you have but you still can continue to pursue what you want and strive for it... I think the homeless person is either lazy or forced by circumstances... many possibilities, but definitely not letting go.
2- hmm.... å�›å�爱财，å�–之有é�“ mah lol... earn more money and donate to charities. Help more people... practise generosity lol definitely ok to strive for better quality of life.
Originally posted by allkosong:Hi everyone,
1. If a homeless person is perfectly contented to be homeless - sleeping in the street, picking leftovers from the bins, wearing rags, etc - does that mean he has achieved "letting go" or is that è‡ªç”˜å •è�½ ?
2. If as a layperson, I am perfectly contented with whatever I have now and no longer strive to be "better" in the worldly sense (eg strive to get promoted, to make more money, to get more degrees, etc), am I on the right path of the dharma or would that be è‡ªç”˜å •è�½ ?
Thank you.
1) It depends, if he is truly content with the moment than yes. More often than not, a homeless person is not contented with being homeless. However being content does not mean one should not seek improvement in one's life.
2) Striving for a better standard of living does not mean you cannot be content in the here and now. Contentment means accepting this moment as it is. You can accept this moment as it is but at the same time try to make things better, it is not contradictory.
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:1) It depends, if he is truly content with the moment than yes. More often than not, a homeless person is not contented with being homeless. However being content does not mean one should not seek improvement in one's life.
2) Striving for a better standard of living does not mean you cannot be content in the here and now. Contentment means accepting this moment as it is. You can accept this moment as it is but at the same time try to make things better, it is not contradictory.
Thank you for your reply. I thought being contented means one is satisfied with (not just accepting) things the way they are? If one is satisfied with current situation, why would he/she still need to try to make things better? eg. If I am perfectly happy eating in hawker centres, why would I seek to eat in a 5-star restaurant as that would not give me more satisfaction?
Doesn't Buddhism teach us to have no desires (except for enlightenment)?
Originally posted by allkosong:
Thank you for your reply. I thought being contented means one is satisfied with (not just accepting) things the way they are? If one is satisfied with current situation, why would he/she still need to try to make things better? eg. If I am perfectly happy eating in hawker centres, why would I seek to eat in a 5-star restaurant as that would not give me more satisfaction?Doesn't Buddhism teach us to have no desires (except for enlightenment)?
In Buddhism, it is proper to seek for elimination of physical and mental suffering.
Physical suffering is aleviated through things like a proper housing, proper medical attention, a proper job so that one has an income and so on.
Mental suffering is eliminated through enlightenment.
Craving is different: craving for sensual pleasures, for luxuries, wanton craving for branded goods... those are examples of 'craving'.
Buddha teach middle way: neither ascetism (living without food, without a proper place to stay, etc) nor living in luxury (like a king). Live a moderate life conducive for the contemplative path.