Greed
Gollum
Greed is the prime mover for most of the bad things happening on our world. The bulk of criminal activity is motivated by greed-people taking what is not rightly theirs. Wars are motivated by a quest for power. Performers want recognition and fame. Addictions arise from attempts to mask pain or discomfort. They are a means to feel better, if only briefly. The root cause of greed is an attempt to satisfy something missing in a person’s life. Their belief is acquiring something: wealth, adulation, power, health, or sexual gratification will fulfill their need.
The needs are based on believing acquisitions will lead to happiness and contentment. This can be temporarily true, but discontent always lurks in the wings. Our consumer culture is based on greed. Buy the right car, drink the right beer, take the right medication and all will be well. Not so, folks.
From birth, people strive to meet their basic needs. Babies cry when they are hungry, cold, wet, Ill, or alone. When they cry, needs are met. When they smile and laugh, needs are met. They learn strategies to meet their needs. If discontent arises for some reason, they apply the strategies to assuage the discontent.
Problem is, fulfilling survival and acquisition needs does not satisfy all we humans need for a fulfilled life. Love, friendship, helping others, creating, and learning are also needs all people share. The difference is they are truly fulfilling because they are meaningful accomplishments, not mere acquisition.
We are animals with animal needs. Twisting animal needs into greed is ultimately a dead end because the animal will inevitably die and all that stuff is meaningless. As Americans, we are somewhat challenged. Most have the basic needs met, but we are inundated with messages telling us how important it is to acquire to be happy. Barring living in a cave or on the street, it is almost impossible to avoid the selling.
I am sitting here in the coffee shop with my high priced coffee and a pastry. Coffee at home and my granola-muesli mix would be healthier and a lot less expensive. I had a birthday yesterday and now I am wearing a cool wool vest I have desired for several years. I think about cars, tools, fancy food, and gear. Gear I will never use. I buy books and keep them, some unread, when the library is just down the street. I am always looking for the right hat to put on my bald head.
I drive to my spiritual group meetings. I go on somewhat costly retreats when I can read and meditate at home. My teacher says retreats are “upper middle” activities, but the messages imply they are important for reaching a spiritual goal. What happened to meditating in a cave. Well, drive to the cave and use a Jetboil stove from REI to cook rice and ramen. Use a solar panel to recharge the smartphone.
Another word for greed is desire. The fancy bicycle I don’t ride has a sticker saying “Trapped On the Wheel of Desire”. Ice cream, chocolate, cheesecake, boots, the right blue jeans, wool socks, merino t-shirts, coffee, good movies, the right tires, Geology books, Dharma books, Harry Potter books and movies, my leather chair. It seems I have a lot to let go of.
For me, an outgrowth of desire is obsession. I don’t just want stuff, I obsess about it. A large portion of my day goes to obsessing. I guess I obsess to avoid feeling bad. I don’t need to let go of obsessing, it’s feeling bad. After all all the stuff I feel bad about is gone. The only place it exists is in my mind. I need a brain vacuum.
Greed and desire is not all of me. I enjoy nature, I rejoice when the sun comes out after rainy days. I love my life. I have good friends and relatives, I like to learn, I like to write. In fact, after 76 years, I think I am on the way. It’s just a matter of more letting go. Breath in, breathe out.