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Carol, you surprise me.

'Twas a joke.

Surely, by now you realise all my posts are delivered tongue-in-cheek. :)

(I'm speaking about the comment 'you should be ashamed' that you responded to ...)

I'd advise everyone to simply ignore any statement containing that silly word 'should'.

Really, you should all do it.

:)

Here's an interesting article - Is a car alive?

Enjoy.

(Or don't. It's your choice :)

your first post contained the key i think. "take care not to become too attached..". maybe instead of asking, "what if everyone did this?" you asked "how would i honestly feel if I couldn't do this?". if the honest answer is no big deal, then go ahead and enjoy it. it's probably better than hoarding your money. (i.e. are you buying the yacht to impress others or because your neighbor has one, OR because you enjoy the sea and it gives your family and friends pleasure?)

Hi Dick-Great question! I don't exclusively relate abundance to material things...but that was certainly the gist of my post :-) Having an abundance of peace or happiness etc...is certainly possible no matter what our "outer" circumstance--though I have to say that having a full belly and a roof over our head and the sense that these were relatively "secure" would certainly make it more likely, I think--you know like in Maslov's (I think is his name) hierarchy?? The material abundance is a more confusing issue for me...understanding that one can be content and happy etc...w/o anything is something that I've been taught for a long time. But the idea that one can have a "cushy" life and still be a spiritual person is a sort of newer thought--and more appealing in some regards...Bob mentioned skiiing--which I've done and it's great fun! But it is also fairly expensive. So, obviously, one does not have to ski to lead a fulfilled life, but why should (if one is only to think of spiritual richness in nonmaterial terms) skiing be "denied" to be "spiritual"?? Does this clarify my question better? Thanks!

Cathy

cathy, why do you relate abundance to material things?

Greek Chorus--while I don't always agree with your jokes or conclusions about things going on here, I do find your posts creative...thanks for a few smiles :-)

I have a question to pose to everyone that I ponder over from time to time. It has to do with abundance...I don't know exactly how to put it into a one sentence question, so I won't :-)

I lead a very comfortable life in which money isn't a consideration--at least for things like food, housing and fun (within reason--like movies, buying books, toys for the kids). I remember in CWG a mention of a good measure for the value of something is to consider "what if everyone did this?" And I know that if everyone in the world lived like I do, it probably wouldn't be a good thing! Though I will say, that I don't see myself as consumer-happy --except for books :-)--and I compost, recycle everything, buy earth friendly products, hang my clothes to dry etc...etc...I guess the thing I grapple with is this: on the one hand, I think that it's okay to do and have things that bring you pleasure and enjoyment---that when we recognize that we have creative potential, we can create "abundant" lives...I don't think it's "wrong" or "unspiritual" to be ostensibly successful--though I think we have to take care not to become too attached to our toys or way of life. On the other hand, it would seem that many of the toys and things that bring us pleasure are things that are not feasible for everyone to do--like cars and large houses etc...and it would seem that the traditional spiritual teachers did not seem to want such things or did not exemplify the idea of being spiritual and successful in worldly terms. I know there has been recent mention of Deepak's money, and Neale Donald Walsh addressed this issue as well--I do not think, as I said, that one has to be a martyr to be a saint--i.e. that one has to be poor and struggling. But it does seem that a certain level of luxury would be enough for someone who is not just out to have fun, who wants to be of service to his fellow man??

I suppose this might all depend on how one views the purpose of life...perhaps it boils down to this: do you believe there can be abundance for all if everyone learns to tap into the creative potential or is there a limited amount of stuff for the world and are we who enjoy the good life being hogs? :-)

Thanks for any input...Cathy

Greek Chorus - The crown of thorns is for the loser tonight - may he rest in peace and not be resurrected (it will be bad enough to have to contend with the winner).

Sunshine and snow - let the skiing begin!

Namaste'

And darkness came upon the face of the land as chit chat ceased.

And Bob said, "Let there be Chopra!"

And a stranger passed through the land and asked of Chopra but went unanswered.

And Tagore spoke through Bob. Sweet Tagore, who did not believe in outcasts and toxic people.

And Bob gave thanks and suspected DaveR.

And the owner of Truth planted the suggestion that he had seen the holy ones hovering in the air without falling to earth.

Soon Mork and Klaatu offered more of the same and the earth stood still.

And Dick and DaveR live forever. The rose is not crushed.

With everything coming up roses and sunshine, Bob makes of the stems a Crown of Thorns. Has Bob been in the sun too long?

Incense. Peppermint.

Ah! It is the way of Zen.

Are You Experienced?

good morning, Kate, Lennie, Cathy, Dave, and Bob, i appreciate your comments to me and a special hello to Peggy for the beautiful rose. :)

a little late, but i had wanted to respond to Geoff for his post about being ashamed, a few days ago, and to remind him that i do not not feel that we should ever feel ashamed for our human-ness. we are a miracle and ALL that is of us is our honor and should be embraced fully.
Namasté Forum Friends! Go out and Vote, today!

count me in mork. i say we pool our orders and go for the bulk discount.

Crown/Harmony Books

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