I've hit a brutal financial slump. My own fault? Mostly. I'm down to disconnection on my cell phone, which is my life line to the outside world (or so I believe) , and soon I may lose my internet at home too.
I hit a financial snag with the government about two months back, and It's affected my day to day now, and Its going to take until at least July to work out.
Maybe this is what is supposed to happen. Maybe this is the universes way of telling me to live with less. To appreciate what I have. To find more fiscal responsibility. Maybe It's telling me I'm too reliant on these objects. Maybe It's just my own damn fault for being irresponsible, and these are the life lessons that go with it.maybe now that I'm without it, I can tpp stressing about it until there's a solution, because worrying about it coming was 90% of the issue.
Life existed before smart phones and texting right? Before the internet?
I'm sure it did. I will make the most of this lesson.
Take the great change!
ReplyDeleteWho ever, as things are changing this might be useful for the future:
Adiya Sutta: Benefits to be Obtained (from Wealth)
Then Anathapindika the householder went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there the Blessed One said to him: "There are these five benefits that can be obtained from wealth. Which five?
"There is the case where the disciple of the noble ones — using the wealth earned through his efforts & enterprise, amassed through the strength of his arm, and piled up through the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained — provides himself with pleasure & satisfaction, and maintains that pleasure rightly. He provides his mother & father with pleasure & satisfaction, and maintains that pleasure rightly. He provides his children, his wife, his slaves, servants, & assistants with pleasure & satisfaction, and maintains that pleasure rightly. This is the first benefit that can be obtained from wealth.
"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones — using the wealth earned through his efforts & enterprise, amassed through the strength of his arm, and piled up through the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained — provides his friends & associates with pleasure & satisfaction, and maintains that pleasure rightly. This is the second benefit that can be obtained from wealth.
"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones — using the wealth earned through his efforts & enterprise, amassed through the strength of his arm, and piled up through the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained — wards off from calamities coming from fire, flood, kings, thieves, or hateful heirs, and keeps himself safe. This is the third benefit that can be obtained from wealth.
"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones — using the wealth earned through his efforts & enterprise, amassed through the strength of his arm, and piled up through the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained — performs the five oblations: to relatives, guests, the dead, kings, & devas. This is the fourth benefit that can be obtained from wealth.
to be continue...
...continue:
ReplyDelete"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones — using the wealth earned through his efforts & enterprise, amassed through the strength of his arm, and piled up through the sweat of his brow, righteous wealth righteously gained — institutes offerings of supreme aim, heavenly, resulting in happiness, leading to heaven, given to brahmans & contemplatives who abstain from intoxication & heedlessness, who endure all things with patience & humility, each taming himself, each restraining himself, each taking himself to Unbinding. This is the fifth benefit that can be obtained from wealth.
"If it so happens that, when a disciple of the noble ones obtains these five benefits from wealth, his wealth goes to depletion, the thought occurs to him, 'Even though my wealth has gone to depletion, I have obtained the five benefits that can be obtained from wealth,' and he feels no remorse. If it so happens that, when a disciple of the noble ones obtains these five benefits from wealth, his wealth increases, the thought occurs to him, 'I have obtained the five benefits that can be obtained from wealth, and my wealth has increased,' and he feels no remorse. So he feels no remorse in either case."
'My wealth has been enjoyed,
my dependents supported,
protected from calamities by me.
I have given supreme offerings
& performed the five oblations.
I have provided for the virtuous,
the restrained,
followers of the holy life.
For whatever aim a wise householder would desire wealth,
that aim I have attained.
I have done what will not lead to future distress.'
When this is recollected by a mortal,
a person established in the Dhamma of the Noble Ones,
he is praised in this life and,
after death, rejoices in heaven.
- AN 5.41
Stay mindful and enjoy this release!
_()_
Thank you so much :) Amazing, and true!
Delete<3 You'll be much missed around here, but I do believe there is a LOT of good lessons in this for you. You'll come out of it stronger in SO many ways. I'm rooting for you!
ReplyDeleteI think i'll make it to payday, and be able to make my telus and car payments (albeit quite late)
DeleteSlowly but surely wins the race.. right?
Suffering comes from grasping, have you ever thought about the possibility to let go of the cause?
ReplyDeleteLetting go of one actually causes a lot of connected problem to be meaningless.
Having desired luxury had never made somebody real happy, no or lesser desires, every of those happy people outlying wandering even today around.
Hanzze, its very true. I have given myself over into the "live with less" lifestyle lately. Sadly, I do have a child who is required by her school to utilize the computer, and the internet as part of her requisites... other than that, we have a no purchase rule, as we are given quite a lot for gifts from family, etc. It's been a difficult thing to get used to for my daughter, as we've always lived in a family where gifts, and things, are freely given... where as I don't want that lifestyle anymore. Gifts can be made, things can be given to those less fortunate. Less clutter in life, less clutter in the mind and heart is my theory.
DeleteWell, honestly it sounds a little as you would give it all to your daughter or other. If this insight works, seems to be right for your self, why shouldn't it be right for your daughter an other around you?
DeleteThere is really no need to go astray form wholesome insight for others, your goodness is your goodness, no need to step down form it. Wouldn't it be not better to develop it further and give does around you a share of it's bliss?
Especially children are much more attracted to honest explanations as we mostly believe. Straightforwardness connected with simply rules to be guided is what makes a secure and safe development of every pure heart. Even if not now, later on in life, your child would have a strength which only less people have.
I always say, do not let fictive promises you think you need to fulfill be more important than virtue. Do not hide behind your "tasks" and care for the task.
And never remember, it all about ideas regarding the future and worries of the past, and both of them are no more real. Stay where you are and be honest to your self. Not more but also not less.
For sure you now this little story:
Good Luck, Bad Luck
Opposites are endless. Good and bad, day and night
, right and wrong, mine and yours, praising and blaming - all are opposites, all are endless.
Opposites produce each other. Day becomes night, and death becomes rebirth. The egg becomes the hen, and the hen makes the egg. In just this way, good luck and bad luck are an endless cycle.
There was once a farmer who lost his mare. When the mare disappeared, the people of the village said, “Bad luck!” But when the mare came home the very next day followed by a good strong horse, the people of the village said, “Good luck!” Yesterday they thought “bad luck,” today they think “good luck”. Yesterday they said “loss,” but today they say “gain.” Which is true? Gain and loss are opposites.
When the farmer’s son rode the beautiful horse, he fell and broke his leg. Then all the people said, “Bad luck!” War came, and all of the strong men were drafted. Many men fought and died on the battlefield. Because the farmer’s son had broken his leg, he could not go to war. Was this loss or gain? Good luck or bad luck? Who knows?
Ahh again, so very true. Such insight, such positive messages you leave for me. Where did you come from!!! You're a blessing! Thank you <3
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