Monday, August 3, 2009

Is money the base?


"Wir leben in einer Welt, in der Geld die Basis ist" - so said one of the presidents of the DBU (German Buddhist Union) when confronted with the fact that the Dalai Lama's visit to Frankfurt was commercialised to no end, entry prices up to 200 € including.


It seems strange and scary to me if even a committed buddhist sees money as the base of the world. What happened to the ideals? Are we all material and materialistic? Do we need money to prove our own value? Does it mean I am less intelligent if I make less money than others?
"They say money is the root of all evil. But what is the root of money?"

Lots of questions, few answers. Or are there?

2 comments:

inserachofmuse said...

you are looking out for a black and white answer. Root of money is mind. Our minds are all commercialised, and religion doesnt change that. And why pit intellegence with money. They are exclusive and they can go hand in hand. Sis, philospohical activism brings up a lot of questions and doesnt answer anyhting. I am done with that phase of my life!!!

talldarkman said...

(sukhasya moolam dharmaha)
Root of bliss : Nature (person's)

(dharmasya moolamarthaha)
Root of Nature : Money

(arthasya moolam rajyam)
Root of money : Power

(rajyamoolam indriyajayaha)
root of power : control over sensory organs

(indriyajayasya moolam vinayaha)
root of indriyajay : knowledge

(vinayasya moolam vruddhopaseva)
root of knowledge : serving the elderly

i think i can defend most of the above....it's a rough translation...but should hold true. :)

I guess the crowd in the stadium was around to hear Dalai Lama speak and gain knowledge from him (sans the seva of course :P )

btw....did they charge VAT on the entry ticket? *lol*

talldarkman