The seven deadly sins! Day #2 Greed.

in #philosophy7 years ago (edited)

Yesterday i wrote about lust, and there is a reason for that and that is because greed describes the lust for abundance.

Greed today isn't just about material things, such as money, but also about approval, attention, recognition, wealth, power, food and status. Some are even greedy on religion, so greedy they are willing to kill others to make them follow them.

Humanity and greed!

Our humanity disappears when greed gets to rule our hearts. When people take a look over to the neighbor and looks at the
perfect lawn, the perfect hedge or a pool, some individuals automatically feel they don't have enough so they become greedy in order to accumulate more wealth for example.

The term «need» doesn't have any objective value. The more we have of material things the larger our understanding of what need will become.
An well known psychiatrist who told about one of his patients, who had 40 million dollars in his personal assets, but still was very anxious for the economical disaster a divorce would be for him, he would risk his yacht and some of his cars if his wife's attorney showed up at his doorstep.
So it can really be discussed what do we really need in order to live a happily life?

Greed's new coat

The fight against greed is about freedom, freedom to not be bound by our lust for earthly goods. But for many of us in the western world it's not only about goods and trades.

In the modern society the greed for materiel things has been faded towards greed for approval and fame. It is no longer attractive to compete and be greedy for more economic capital, it's more attractive to accumulate social capital. It's not about owning what others own so much anymore, it's about creating an image that we own a lot, to create a false image so to speak.

We have become more greedy for attention, and the facade gets attention. When we get greedy for attention we find happiness in the response we get from the world around us and less happiness in the actual activity. A good example of this is Facebook, Instagram etc.

Bottom line!

Modesty has become boring, we want more and we want it now! We are so restless to do things, w want a breakthrough, that pushed us forward fore more! More of what you might ask. Well i don't know. More greed perhaps? Maybe it's in our nature?

The interesting thing about greed is that although the underlying motive is to seek satisfaction, even after obtaining what you want, you're still not satisfied. it's this endless, nagging desire for more that leads to trouble. On the other hand, if you're truly centered, it doesn't matter whether you get what you want or not. Either way, you remain content. -Dalai Lama

Maybe you have some insights or thoughts on this topic?
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And don't forget to be generous with the people around you, what you give you will receive.
Peace.!

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That thing sucks. It really kills alot of happiness from your life.

The counter for greed is Gratitude. I rarely remember to be grateful for my eyes, lips, fingers, everything...

I agree! Gratitude is a great virtue. It's important to be grateful for what we have, if not we will only end up wanting more of what we don't have.