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Re: Why do we need?
Posted by AlmostWitch137 on 2011-04-05 14:43:35 |
| I read a post down the message board just now, waaaay down from probably a few months ago. no point replying there because nobody would read it lol. somebody basically asked why as humans we need and want things. and the first reply was somebody responding that its what Christianity teaches. (trying to quote that response "Christians teach that god will provide, alls you have to do is want) or something like that. and i immediately thought "what a load of horse shit. christians arent the only people in the world who need and want things. when i was in PUBLIC SCHOOL, (and in canada, public schools are a lovely thing because the separation of church and state is still an active thing. so religion doesnt influence the curriculum) i was taught Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. its taught as a pyramid shape. Physiological needs are at the bottom of the pyramid, and these needs have to be satisfied before one can move up the pyramid and satisfy the other needs. in this way one moves up the pyramid of needs until one's needs are satisfied. SELF-ACTUALIZATION NEEDS - morality, creativity, problem-solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts. ESTEEM NEEDS - self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, respect by others. LOVE AND BELONGING NEEDS - friendship, intimacy, family. one feels a need to be accepted by their friends, by a lover or spouse, by their family. SAFETY NEEDS - personal security (this could be from the elements, i.e. shelter) financial security (having the money to continue supporting your physiological needs. in this day and age if you have no money you cant really feed or cloth or house yourself) Health and wellbeing. PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS (bottom of pyramid) - breathing, food, water, sleep, etc. things you need, physically, to survive. to continue living. and as to why people WANT. i've studied a lot of religions. and i've studied a lot of people who arent religious. and i've studied myself. (mastering others is not as powerful as mastering yourself) and from what i've learned. this is my interpretation of why people want. There is a part of the brain, buddhists call it the "monkey mind" and everybody has it. you can identify the monkey mind by the chattering little voice in your head that doesnt go away. a lot of people would call it "talking to themselves" in their head. its that little voice that chatters away when you try to sleep. its that voice that reminds you of all the things you've done in the past that your ashamed of. its there telling you what you SHOULD have said when you walked away from an argument and it says "oh i should have said this...." when buddhists meditate they do it to quiet the monkey mind. to see things as they are without the influence of that part of the brain. its the monkey mind that wants. it always wants. thats its entire reason for existence; is to want. it has wanted since the beginning of time, and will want till the end of time. the monkey mind wants. doesnt matter what it is. could be that hip new pair of jeans all your friends have. could be the latest ipod, could be a new car. the monkey mind also wants things that arent physical. the monkey mind can want a relationship. it could want to travel the world, it could want a second helping of chocolate cake. sometimes the monkey mind wants knowledge. it wants to know more and more. it wants to be better. it wants to be prettier, it wants to be taller, shorter, skinnier, older, younger. it wants. if you think right now, there is something that you want. you might not necessarily need it, but you want it regardless. i want to buy a dress for an awards dinner i have to attend this thursday. we are all susceptible to the monkey mind and its constant wanting. and the trick with the monkey mind, is no matter how much you try to satisfy it, it STILL wants. so you give in and buy that new pair of jeans you want. the monkey mind isnt satisfied for very long is it? its not like the monkey mind goes 'okay, now i have this, i am content now" no noooo no no no, it wants more. so you give in and buy yourself a new car, do you stop wanting after that? no. then the monkey mind goes "i think i want new rims for my car" so you get new rims for your car. is it happy now? no. then the monkey mind wants something else. think back. has there EVER been a time in your life, when you didnt actively want something? think hard. one of the buddhist practices is to meditate to quiet the monkey mind. to be content with what you have (as long as your maslow's needs are fulfilled that is) wanting is in our nature. human beings are naturally selfish. this is why we're not gods and goddesses. because it is one of many inherent flaws that keeps us from being perfect. but if you accept that, its easier to overcome. think about it. next time you want something, try NOT wanting it. |
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