....give up your way of life if it meant world peace?
....give up your way of life if it meant the end of world hunger?
....give up your way of life if it meant no more suffering?
Collection of Thoughts » Collection of thoughts
Would You.....
(26 posts)-
You see, Abs, I have already done that...at least I think I have.
I'm eating less, so there is more at the stores, I am freely donating
my time, lots of stuff I once thought I needed, and using my money to teach
illiterate
to reduce suffering....
If I give up what I am doing, things would be worse...Posted 1 year ago # -
I know your actions reflect a warm heart.
When I think about this question and try and place myself in the position of a father of a starving family in the 3rd world I would like to say I would answer yes, and for myself I probably could. But to see my child sick and starving then I don't know.
How many here could survive with minimal food, water & power for starters?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Abs: In my little circle I am doing all I can. I do it because it
feels right. I have lived very poor and moderately comfortable. I can
live either way. I know how I felt when too many people offered me
things I might have gotten had I been able. A person needs pride and
work to do. Giving handouts makes people feel helpless. I'd rather
give a job, that, when finished, has earned salary..Posted 1 year ago # -
starrs,
I to have lived poor to the point of homelessness at various stages in my life. All I had in those hours I offered to God so that others would `hopefully not know the pain I felt.
Today my hands are kept pretty full with family etc. Like you though I do what little I can in this corner of the world.
Yet, there is still so much suffering in this world outside of my comfort zone and my means to assist further than I do.
What more can be done?
Posted 1 year ago # -
You know I asked this question to challenge peoples comfort zones, to open up a discussion, so I, and whoever else engaged, could hopefully find a way to further expand the limits by which we act towards what our hearts tell us must change.
I don't know.
Posted 1 year ago # -
imo, the reason for getting such a poor response is that the question is wrongly put because it is purely speculative.
We know that (only) I giving up my way of life, in way way conceivable, will not achieve any of the results offered. To rely on others joining and doing the same is a pipe dream, and even if many would join it would not result in world peace, no hunger, etc. So my answer would be 3 * No. Ask me a different question, or ask what you ask differently.An alternative question might be:
"Will you give up your way of life, even if it means not changing anything, except maybe yourself?"Posted 1 year ago # -
Yeh point taken.
Yet in another way it is the very way of life that we in the west pursue that seems to play a role in defiling not only our own body but that also of the Mother.
Personally I find the question quite confronting as I wrestle with it, which is why I think most don't answer. Not that my take is any more right than anothers.
In all honesty I don't think we can say that seeing the way of life crumbble will or will not have an effect cause like you said it is purely speculative. Yet again clearly the way most live in the west, like a virus, is causing a lot of people to suffer, it is causing a lot of damage.
In a way what I am asking is what lengths should one go to to end world suffering? What lengths would you go to? And what is the motive?
Like I said I struggle with my old thought patterns as I now have 2 children so what I am willing to give up has changed dramatically. I am not saying this is a good or a bad thing. Just something I reason with within from time to time.
Just on way of life; what do you all think are the unhealthy aspects of the way we live within and view the world in this current age?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I love that zen quote or something that is something like
If there is light in the soul the person will be happy. If the person is happy there will be peace in the home. If there is peace in the home then the country will prosper. If the country prospers then the planet rejoices. If the planet rejoices then it is in perfect harmony with the universe.
I know this quote is way off and is only a vague recolection but I truly believe that any shift must occur from the ground up. Yet how is this achieved when their are so many distractions and temptations in this world.
I still take two steps forward and one step back without ever going anywhere. lol
What aspects of our way of life do you think we need to change, or give up, so that we find more happiness at ground level? And how do they get implamented on a global scale?
Posted 1 year ago # -
"What aspects of our way of life do you think we need to change, or give up, so that we find more happiness at ground level? And how do they get implamented on a global scale?"
Abs, in response, I will present a story I believe it to be a modern-day parable.
It seems there were two separate populations of monkeys on an isolated island. These two groups did not intermingle, and were separated by geography. The monkey's staple diet was sweet potatoes, which were plentiful for both groups. One day, the story goes, one of the monkeys in what I'll call "group a" discovered that if she rinsed her sweet potato in a stream, it removed the sand and tasted better. Soon one of the others in "group a" noticed her rinsing her potato, and copied her actions. This behavior spread through "group a", and when a certain percentage of the population of group a was rinsing their potatoes, "group b" started doing it spontaneously.
I mention this in response to your question about finding happiness at the ground level. This is where the so-called grass-roots movements come into play. It is more desirable to have any change in society develop from the ground up, rather than from the hierarchy down. This is why I choose to be politically active at the local level. (I don't know anything about politics in OZ, but I assume there are some parallels.)
I also choose to get my food, as much as possible, from clean, humane sources, such as organic food outlets. I also try to use fossil fuels as little as possible, using my fireplace (firewood is a renewable resource) to heat, and plan to convert to solar electricity as soon as it is within my budget to do so. Of course, the gas-guzzler in the driveway is driven a minimum, using public transit whenever possible.
I also attempt to treat each and every individual I come into contact with in a respectful and loving manner. When I am talking to customers, I am helping them come up with the solution that best meets their needs. When I am interacting with store clerks, I talk, smile, and hope to make their day a little brighter. When I am working at home I am doing it with the attitude that my family deserves the best that I am able to do.
Am I totally successful at this? No, but I am getting better, and folks seem happy to see me.
I think this is the one thing people can do to change the world; spread happiness whenever and wherever possible.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes YAS, most people I know strive to live like this to varying degrees. Some more so than others. It is funny how many destructive habits they have also, including myself. lol
Yet, honestly is this really making a difference? The majority of the population does not give a rats ass. All you have to do is go for a drive to see the number of 4WDs & SUVs on the road as merely one example.
The conditioning tools to look for happiness outside yourself is, imo, out of control. Sure I can live correctly and have an influence on a handful of people but that is all.
Look to China, look to Brazil, etc, these countries want to catch up economically but they can only do it by continuing to pillage the Mother. How will this change?
Brazil is an interesting example actually as they have the highest consumption of biofuel in the world. At what cost though? If you guessed the Amazon you got it in one. The ammount of forest they are cutting down just to produce biofuel is off the hook.
How are we going to change this as quickly as possible? Surely buying organic etc isn't going to make the sort of difference that is needed globally.
Are we now going to tell the developing world that they can not do what we in the developed world have been doing for a hundred years.
The only way out I can see is through the intervention of the Supreme Being. Sure I could be wrong but if you can point me in the direction of an example where a difference on a massive scale has been made I would give you a giant internet hug.
Posted 1 year ago # -
There is a saying that I've heard around here for many years..."think globally, act locally".
We don't all have the visibility of a head of state or a pop star. I think the best we can do is to do our best within our local sphere of influence, whether that be toward the individual we happen to be interacting with at the moment, or to the tens (or maybe hundreds) of individuals who may read what we post, now or later, or to the hundreds (or maybe thousands) of people who come to hear us perform on stage...
Posted 1 year ago # -
PS...abs, I know that might not be the solution you were looking for, but does that qualify for the hug? ?? ??
Posted 1 year ago # -
YAS, lol
Always up for a giant internet hug mate. :o)
I agree with what you are saying and have acted within these limits for a little while. I know you and starrs are right to say this is what must be done.
The problem is the conditioning machine of propagander and corruption, the machine that beats down a young child to make them a slave aint gonna stop unless it is brought to its knees. What can we do to ensure our children, and our childrens children, are not subjected to the same mental slavery and bondage that you & I are?
One of my favorite artists Dennis Brown sang;
"Love is the only solution
Its time to start a revolution"Yet a lot of people beat you down for having this attitude. You give them love and they slander you. You continue to give them love. Still you are held to ridicule.
I don't know.
Much Love
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yeah, look what happened to John Lennon.
Will follow up later today, have a job interview in a few minutes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
[quote]....give up your way of life if it meant world peace?
....give up your way of life if it meant the end of world hunger?
....give up your way of life if it meant no more suffering? [/quote]
Yes. I think there would be many who would come forward without hesitation. But is it so simple ?
Posted 1 year ago # -
"But is it so simple?"
Ah, there's the rub! If it were so simple, there would be no question. The difficulty, IMHO, is commitment. Not so much the ability to make a commitment, we all have made commitments, to partners, to family, to causes; but the difficulty is that sometimes these different commitments conflict.
Posted 1 year ago # -
"But is it so simple?"
"If it were so simple, there would be no question."
There are many soldiers and leaders around the world who think it is that simple so that they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for what they believe in, and lead us to believe will achieve these measures. Surely there must be a better way though?
Is it that it really is simple except for the fact that it has been complicated?
Posted 1 year ago # -
YAS,
Commitments like you say, that are made by unguided reasoning can be easily compromised when expressed in the grand scheme of things. Was this not the point when the Lord offered, to be my disciple such things will not stand.
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14
ap,
To give up one's life will indeed do all the above aforementioned for the elect. Just won't happen in the here and now... yet it is the cause of creation.
Posted 1 year ago #
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