Comments on: The UnGhandi generation http://polizeros.com/2008/06/06/the-unghandi-generation/ Musings on politics: anti-war, global warming, peak oil and otherwise Thu, 08 Jan 2009 07:06:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: DJ http://polizeros.com/2008/06/06/the-unghandi-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-153066 DJ Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:31:54 +0000 http://polizeros.com/?p=11817#comment-153066 In a foreshadowing of the situation in which the world finds itself now, Gandhi was once asked whether he intended to bring India to the standard of living of Britain. His reply: Britain has attained this standard of living using the resources of half the planet. For India to attain the same standard, we'd need several planets. We have reached a point at which, because of the staggeringly huge population of the Earth, the attainable average standard of living is frighteningly low. The U.S. economic theory is based on the idea that everyone can attain the standard we have-- that just isn't possible. That means for others to live better, the rich (that's us) must give something up. That suggests asceticism would promote a better standard of living. BTW, both Christianity and Buddhism also teach that asceticism is important in the search for Truth. Materialism does more than just focus one's attention on the world-- it also promotes greed. In a foreshadowing of the situation in which the world finds itself now, Gandhi was once asked whether he intended to bring India to the standard of living of Britain. His reply: Britain has attained this standard of living using the resources of half the planet. For India to attain the same standard, we’d need several planets.

We have reached a point at which, because of the staggeringly huge population of the Earth, the attainable average standard of living is frighteningly low. The U.S. economic theory is based on the idea that everyone can attain the standard we have– that just isn’t possible. That means for others to live better, the rich (that’s us) must give something up. That suggests asceticism would promote a better standard of living.

BTW, both Christianity and Buddhism also teach that asceticism is important in the search for Truth. Materialism does more than just focus one’s attention on the world– it also promotes greed.

]]> By: Steven E. Streight aka Vaspers aka Pluperfecter http://polizeros.com/2008/06/06/the-unghandi-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-153050 Steven E. Streight aka Vaspers aka Pluperfecter Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:03:08 +0000 http://polizeros.com/?p=11817#comment-153050 Ah, but here in mammonist, money-worshipping America, some of us are so sick of empty materialism, we're very deeply attracted to simple lifestyles and asceticism. I find myself binging and purging: accumulating books and CDs and other things, then rebelling against my collector mentality. The Technological Imperative is our enemy: "what can be made must be made, and humans must accept and adopt to what is made." Progress and labor-saving machinery is a blessing. Free from basic survival terrors, one gains time and relaxation to ponder the deeper things of life and the universe. Or one can give oneself to mindless, reckless self-indulgence. I love how most faiths theoretically embrace the transcending of self, where we enter into a new reality: God and our neighbor. In poor areas of the USA and the world, the mainstream media pushes discontent with the plain, simple, and wholesome, and hypes the extravagant, excessive, and extreme. Somehow we need to remain critical of the relentless drive to tamper with nature, genetically modify food, and hold forth pharmaceutical solutions to health problems better treated with herbs, exercise, and natural methods. Americans are guilty of super materialism, too much reliance on science, and a bleak chasing after more, more, more. I find peace by contemplating the beauty of the sky, birds, flowers, and the One who is so artistic and intelligent to have made this universe so eternally far beyond man's puny imagination and comprehension. Peace to all sentient beings and joy to the entire world of non-violent problem solvers! Ah, but here in mammonist, money-worshipping America, some of us are so sick of empty materialism, we’re very deeply attracted to simple lifestyles and asceticism.

I find myself binging and purging: accumulating books and CDs and other things, then rebelling against my collector mentality.

The Technological Imperative is our enemy: “what can be made must be made, and humans must accept and adopt to what is made.”

Progress and labor-saving machinery is a blessing. Free from basic survival terrors, one gains time and relaxation to ponder the deeper things of life and the universe. Or one can give oneself to mindless, reckless self-indulgence.

I love how most faiths theoretically embrace the transcending of self, where we enter into a new reality: God and our neighbor.

In poor areas of the USA and the world, the mainstream media pushes discontent with the plain, simple, and wholesome, and hypes the extravagant, excessive, and extreme.

Somehow we need to remain critical of the relentless drive to tamper with nature, genetically modify food, and hold forth pharmaceutical solutions to health problems better treated with herbs, exercise, and natural methods.

Americans are guilty of super materialism, too much reliance on science, and a bleak chasing after more, more, more.

I find peace by contemplating the beauty of the sky, birds, flowers, and the One who is so artistic and intelligent to have made this universe so eternally far beyond man’s puny imagination and comprehension.

Peace to all sentient beings and joy to the entire world of non-violent problem solvers!

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