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Gave in...

RavenRaven
edited January 2012 in Buddhism Today
...To "want" vs "need." Dammit. One store leads to another, to another, to another, to $500 gone. On the one hand I don't feel too badly about it because I do these shopping days maybe 3 times a year. On the other hand, I feel like I bowed to materialistic pressure. Sigh. It's so hard sometimes not to want things!!

Comments

  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    If you transfered such strong desire for enlightenment you'd be very well on the path.

    Instead of desiring things, desire total happiness. Hehe then you can use your desire for the good.

    If one cannot do that then kill the demon that tells you to go on shopping sprees.

    I used to have the same habit. But now ithink about my homeless friends and all desires and stories about why i need something drops away.
  • ittybittybatittybittybat
    I don't think there's anything wrong with what you did, so long as you didn't sacrifice money you needed for necessities.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited January 2012
    Not that I have any room to criticize,, but in some cases I have found less 'delicious tastes' to also be satisfying. In the context of meditation peace. I am discovering that switching to lower calory, fat, everything food. I was surprised how vegetables in brown rice could be satisfying. Bread is tastes rich and delicous again.

    But it's the middle path between ascetism and hedonism, right?

    What I have done is purchase clothes not very often and purchase cheap basic clothes when I do, like ones at the meijer grocery. I have bought some nice things like: buddhist books, aromas, game cards (for brother and cousin to play when they visit), other gamebooks for online games, video games. I paint for relaxation not skill thus I just use cheapest art supplies.

    But all of those things I make sure I use them before I buy 'new' stuff. So the aromas I have I won't buy more until those are used up. And the books, I'll make sure I read or determine I don't like all the ones I have before new. But then remember it's a middle path
  • Telly03Telly03 Veteran
    ...To "want" vs "need." Dammit. One store leads to another, to another, to another, to $500 gone. On the one hand I don't feel too badly about it because I do these shopping days maybe 3 times a year. On the other hand, I feel like I bowed to materialistic pressure. Sigh. It's so hard sometimes not to want things!!
    If it makes you feel any better, you just helped the economy :)

  • ZeroZero Veteran
    edited January 2012
    @Raven - as long as you can afford it and you will enjoy the things you bought then dont beat yourself up so much - you have a life to live and you should have enjoyment - now go and enjoy your purchases instead of feeling guilty - you no doubt earned them with hard work... (just one opinion of many)
  • Lady_AlisonLady_Alison Veteran
    @Jeffrey...bread with pnut butter, yes?
  • Lady_AlisonLady_Alison Veteran
    I recently had to buy a new wardrobe, because I dropped weight. It has been a while since I had gone shopping and I felt completely detached from an experience I use to find addicting and thrilling.

    Needless to say...I find more pleasure in feeding the birds.
  • SpacelessSpaceless
    image
  • RavenRaven
    Thanks everyone. I went back through everything I bought yesterday, and there were definitely a few "needs" in there so I don't feel quite as bad now. I'm financially able to handle what I purchased, and I don't "go shopping" hardly ever these days, so I've decided it's ok. Sometimes it's very easy to beat yourself up over something. I appreciate everyone's ideas.
  • DakiniDakini Veteran

    Needless to say...I find more pleasure in feeding the birds.
    AHA!! You see? You do enjoy solitude! Gotcha! hahaha! ^_^ Now just expand on this. :)

    @Raven I don't think we should get Puritanical about things like this. Mindfulness is good, but not when it leads to guilt or excessive self-denial. We're not monastics, we're householders, after all.

  • Lady_AlisonLady_Alison Veteran
    Lol...@dakini.

    You got me. I will reflect on it spittle...usually u need a few days to let it sink in.

    Glad about the shopping...hopefully you don't have to return anything.

    Prudence is a good virtue
  • Lady_AlisonLady_Alison Veteran
    Typo..nor spittle
    A little...

    Damn swype android
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    @Lady_Alison Do you know how editing works? You put your cursor in the upper right corner of your post, and a little cog will appear. Click on it, and 2 options appear: edit, and delete. Click on edit, and you can correct your typos, if you catch them within 6 minutes of posting. :)
  • Lady_AlisonLady_Alison Veteran
    I am using mobile site on android and it's not an option, I checked.
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