tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post495696643379700996..comments2024-03-28T01:51:22.367-03:00Comments on Not Buying Anything: Simple Living, Or Poverty?Gregg Koephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-28412111167997294732017-10-20T04:44:46.992-03:002017-10-20T04:44:46.992-03:00I totally agree. Poverty is a strange word. It i...I totally agree. Poverty is a strange word. It implies such negative things. In what way are we poor? I feed my family well on good nourishing food. I have no debt... because i don't buy things I can't afford and I am perfectly content. If that is poverty then I am happy to be living in it. Cheriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01049568808770731003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-38372120881318168302017-10-03T16:05:56.772-03:002017-10-03T16:05:56.772-03:00Marla,
The pressures aligned against us are vast ...Marla,<br /><br />The pressures aligned against us are vast and relentless. It is completely possible to eradicate poverty globally right now, and I don't mean by more capitalism and the infinite growth model. Inequality is the worst kind of weapon of mass destruction. What ever happened to sharing? If the planet were a kindergarten class, the teacher would not be satisfied with our performance. Time for a parent/teacher conference to plan for our improvement.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-14914669617263891772017-10-01T14:41:43.556-03:002017-10-01T14:41:43.556-03:00True poverty can be ugly and cruel. Although I als...True poverty can be ugly and cruel. Although I also fall into the statistical category of well below the poverty line, I'm able to live a life with more than enough. When contemplating what true poverty looks like, I can't blame my neighbors here in Appalachia for wanting to hang onto things, for wanting things that others have that always seem beyond their reach. They are being deceived certainly, but true poverty takes away hope and who can blame them for seeing hope equated with things. It's sad that they can't look to the not so distant past, when their ancestors plowed their small bits of land and provided by their own hands what was needed. Advertising is a false prophesy preached by the gods of capitalism that all too many take as truth.Marlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04823027336359766111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-80616655913467436112017-09-30T12:06:24.654-03:002017-09-30T12:06:24.654-03:00Meditation is the ultimate in simple living, nothi...Meditation is the ultimate in simple living, nothing is really required, just breath.<br />Peace,<br />AlexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-88604684610232241192017-09-30T09:49:04.210-03:002017-09-30T09:49:04.210-03:00Kelly,
Many people dismiss this out of turn. They...Kelly,<br /><br />Many people dismiss this out of turn. They won't even think about it. You are ahead of the game, since you will. There is hope yet!Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-52085429267110576652017-09-30T09:47:11.435-03:002017-09-30T09:47:11.435-03:00Karen,
Linda and I definitely live under the pove...Karen,<br /><br />Linda and I definitely live under the poverty line set for our country. But how can we be poor when we have so much riches from our garden? Your life sounds wonderful. <br /><br />It is possible to be outwardly rich, but inwardly poor. And vice versa. I guess rich people spend money on trying to convince others that they are rich. I am not impressed. Before long conspicuous consumption will be about as popular and desirable as smoking in public.Gregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-49878569334097221802017-09-30T09:43:35.310-03:002017-09-30T09:43:35.310-03:00Alex,
That sounds great. There is so much to do -...Alex,<br /><br />That sounds great. There is so much to do - how can shopping for things one does not need be a good use of our time? Or money? Glad you are having a good Autumn. It has been beautiful here as well, but a shift has just occurred, and more seasonal temperatures are setting in.<br /><br />I thought of you when I read this quote the other day:<br /><br />"Meditation could be said to be the Art of Simplicity: simply sitting, simply breathing and simply being. <br /><br />— Dilgo Khyentse RinpocheGregg Koephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349453216733070775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-7621518392177359162017-09-29T08:51:50.188-03:002017-09-29T08:51:50.188-03:00I think your last two paragraphs are very true and...I think your last two paragraphs are very true and profound. Great food for thought. Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07478316738849170721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-43756204773030223062017-09-28T21:49:06.040-03:002017-09-28T21:49:06.040-03:00I was interested to learn recently that my family ...I was interested to learn recently that my family fits into the 'second poorest by income' category (according to public statistics in my country). I was initially not just surprised, but also slightly horrified. Then annoyed with myself for feeling horrified. I knew we weren't wealthy, but also certainly don't feel 'poor'. Quite the contrary. We carry no debt outside our mortgage. None. Our mortgage will be paid off well before retirement. We have two (paid for) cars, although it's true they're not fancy. It's also true we don't live in a particularly desirable suburb. We don't have the latest gadgets and very rarely go out or go on holidays. But we have a nice big section and grow food and have chickens and nice friends and a warm home. I get to stay home with my children and my husband has a job he enjoys and is good at.<br />I'm confused therefore in which way are we poor? Who defines this? And wtf are people who are 'wealthy' spending their money on??? lolKarennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4312736954468978064.post-55048618947815594312017-09-28T17:46:51.767-03:002017-09-28T17:46:51.767-03:00Who cares what others think. I tend to live my lif...Who cares what others think. I tend to live my life in a simple way, but working the body and mind. Most of the stuff is free. I have found a daily practice of morning meditation very powerful and sometimes I might meditate in the evening as well. The meditation affects me in a subtle way. I love running as well and I'm trying different training styles. I enjoy learning languages and I'm already adept in Chinese and have started German. Anyway I'm probably rambling and enjoying the beautiful Autumn here. Cheers to simplicity.<br />Peace,<br />AlexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com