Impermanent are all created things; Strive on with awareness

I think that many people are capable of being happy equally with or without all the gadgets of life, and the material possessions. But I also think that there are some that use them as escapes from their issues.

I know for a fact it is possible to live without much at all, except for basics. I think, however, that it means living outside of our fat, spoiled comfort zones, and learning a LOT about ourselves and who we really are, and facing the sometimes painful and unpleasant truths.

‘He that is rich but is not contented endures the pain of poverty.’ – Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King

You must separate yourself from the ever-turning machine known as our market system. We can have material things, but we have to understand that we do not need the best, latest, most updated versions of products to get the best ‘satisfaction’ from it.

Grateful for what we do have, we will not long for what we don’t.

Nice useless platitudes Paul. Have you got an honest answer you’ve worked out for yourself? Or would you rather idolize the long time dead and longer misunderstood in the name of seeming wise?

Mike, I think some of the things you have mentioned…Facebook, texts, emails etc….they are forms of connections. I personally have a need to reach out and connect with others. So could I live without those things? Yes. But I also wouldn’t be nearly as happy as I am now, because I would be losing that connection.

I was thinking about this while reading the satisfaction thread . . . if we can enjoy our current moment of existence as it is, then any “stuff” that’s around would be part of, or better yet add to that experience. At one point, I had very little stuff. each item was important, no clutter.

it’s hard to keep that connection when filling a house with a family. I hope I can teach my children to value experiences over objects. If so I will be better off and all the “stuff” won’t be an issue. but when I let the stuff distract me and the stuff *becomes* the experience, that’s the unhealthy side of all this stuff.

it’s very easy to imagine that life is impossible without all the material possessions which surround us in modern society, but if you take into account the fact that there are billions of people the world over who have never experienced running water or the sound of an ipod, you begin to realize that people can survive and be happy without all the material trappings of life. I am definitely not against the idea of material possession, i’d rather still have my mac than not, but then again I have come to realize that it is not my material possessions which define me, but rather my nature as a person. you can have material possessions, and form an attachment to them if you will, but if you let them define who you are,then losing them could mean losing yourself as well.

Mike, I echo Allie’s sentiments of thanks. I was born at Camp LeJune, and your service matters, I know what it requires of you, and the risks you take to do so. (I didn’t know you were a Marine til she commented, and had to say that, I’ll totally stop hijacking your post now.)

Answer to this question: Fight Club. Read/Watch it.

@Duke

You’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You’re not your fucking khakis. You’re the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.

@Rain

that movie is just so perfect X_X There has got to be some way to wake up people in a better way than Tyler Durden did D: