The Nobility of Poverty

reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux

The Nobility of Poverty

Nice rant. kudos.

I find only one 'nobility' in poverty... that it reduces us to our base being. Without the material and financial wealth that inspires the worst of our collective natures, we are a very good beast. That is, our combination of spirit and mechanism is capable of a great deal of humanity.

It does indeed seem that the more we have, the less we give to others... and I don't mean just in things and dollars.

So, yes. Poverty apparently does inspire the better half of our being... though, I also think that to rise above ourselves, we should be able to exist in both environments; wealth and charity, fulfillment and humility.

Originally posted by redoubt
It does indeed seem that the more we have, the less we give to others... and I don't mean just in things and dollars.

And do you not find that the more we (collectively speaking) earn the more we spend and thus the more we want? A vicious and self destructive circle.

Just a thought...

reply to post by MikeNice81


There are many lessons to be taken from the Book of Job, and his self righteousness notwithstanding, perhaps the greatest lesson to be had from Job is his profound gratitude for all that God had given him. Regardless of the tragedies and despair that had been thrust upon Job, no matter how hard life got for Job he always wound up praising God and thanking him for these struggles and opportunities.

Job was no stranger to wealth, and no matter how many times he lost this wealth, he and wealth were simpatico. Money doesn't seem to hang out with people who don't like money. Money likes to be liked and ultimately winds up in the hands of those who like it. Manifesting wealth seemingly has little to do with purity of heart and goodness. God apparently rewards both good and evil and Job certainly noticed this. He noticed that the wicked lived in houses safe from fear, and no rod of God had been thrust down upon them. Job also understood that we all reap what we sow, in this life or in the next.

My Brother, it is my sincerest wish that you, and everyone else flourish and prosper. That you never know any house of fear, nor suffer any rod of God, but know this my Brother, even the wealthy struggle. None of us, regardless of our station in life are safe from fear, destruction, and carnage. All of us must face our own demons regardless of the fortitude of our houses, or our spirits. In that regard, regardless of the bank account and the amount in it, we all have opportunity to be noble.

reply to post by ChaoticOrder


You've not gone a step further, but are in step with what I've said. I did not suggest that one revalue the concept of hard work if it did not bring wealth because I saw such a waste a time as freedom. I do thank you for the clarification, however.

reply to post by followtheevidence


Freedom is the natural state of all creatures, great and small. Anyone who has seen the lion - even if it is on film - walk the plains with pride, knows his nobility. Anyone who has watched a hummingbird flitter about knows their nobility, and anyone who has seen the praying mantis perched upon a limb knows their nobility. I am sure the lion, hummingbird, and praying mantis know suffering, but it is not their suffering that makes them noble, it is their freedom to be the lion, hummingbird, and praying mantis that does this.

reply to post by Shelbee


"He who lives upon hope will die fasting"

~Benjamin Franklin~

Wealth is, as Mikenice has pointed out, most assuredly in the eye of the beholder, but it is prudent to not allow our rose colored glasses cloud the reality of life and the demands it puts upon us. A wealth of knowledge doesn't amount to a hill of beans if we cannot even put beans on the table.

I am thrilled to see the profound philosophical and spiritual discussion that has taken place in this thread, but I placed this thread in the disinformation forum for a reason. That reason is that I believe poverty has been sold as a bill of goods to too many people. Wealth is certainly in the eye of the beholder, but I suspect that when Alexander declared if he were not Alexander that he would want to be Diogenes, that Diogenes took little stock in this statement. Diogenes was a philosopher of whom we know little of and this is, in my not so humble opinion, due to the fact that he was far too stubborn in his cynicism. What is the point in being a philosopher hell bent on teaching lessons if those lessons are lost to humanity? Perhaps what his eyes beheld were too narrow in their scope, and had he held a little more wealth we might know more of him today.

reply to post by Floydshayvious


In my efforts to convince people of the abundance paradigm, there are those who like to chide me and make cracks such as "sure, and maybe someday it will rain gold". Perhaps it will:

According to Carter this "star stuff" makes up the universe. "It literally makes things like gold, silver - all the heavy elements - even things like uranium....a star like Betelgeuse is instantly forming for us all sorts of heavy elements and atoms that our own Earth and our own bodies have from long past supernovi," said Carter.

This article was in regards to the neutrino showers that would come from a super nova collapse of Betelgeuse. It is a bit hyperbolic to suggest it will rain gold because of a super nova, but it is no less so to pretend it won't.

Originally posted by Jean Paul Zodeaux
]reply to post by Shelbee

 

"He who lives upon hope will die fasting"

~Benjamin Franklin~

Wealth is, as Mikenice has pointed out, most assuredly in the eye of the beholder, but it is prudent to not allow our rose colored glasses cloud the reality of life and the demands it puts upon us. A wealth of knowledge doesn't amount to a hill of beans if we cannot even put beans on the table.

I am thrilled to see the profound philosophical and spiritual discussion that has taken place in this thread, but I placed this thread in the disinformation forum for a reason. That reason is that I believe poverty has been sold as a bill of goods to too many people. Wealth is certainly in the eye of the beholder, but I suspect that when Alexander declared if he were not Alexander that he would want to be Diogenes, that Diogenes took little stock in this statement. Diogenes was a philosopher of whom we know little of and this is, in my not so humble opinion, due to the fact that he was far too stubborn in his cynicism. What is the point in being a philosopher hell bent on teaching lessons if those lessons are lost to humanity? Perhaps what his eyes beheld were too narrow in their scope, and had he held a little more wealth we might know more of him today.

Ah but cynicism is what this world is now based upon. We need truth, openness and honesty. However, this will not prevail until we get beyond the need to tend to our ego.

Maybe I live in a fantasy world - but to be honest I prefer my world to theirs.

reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux


Twelve people have responded to this thread, and you have twenty stars in your OP. MAN, are you popular!

Originally posted by jiggerj
reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux

 

Twelve people have responded to this thread, and you have twenty stars in your OP. MAN, are you popular!

If only you'd bothered to read the O.P. and formulate an opinion, or offer some sort of wisdom instead of counting how many people have responded to this thread, which tragically remains twelve since your post is meaningless.

great op.
I think if we realize that our needs are few we can see the message is more of simplicity than of poverty.
There is a certain level of wealth, at which we gain no further, just the fear of losing it.
if you are blessed with fortune beyond your need, charity is a spiritual imperative.

Originally posted by Jean Paul Zodeaux

Originally posted by jiggerj
reply to post by Jean Paul Zodeaux

 

Twelve people have responded to this thread, and you have twenty stars in your OP. MAN, are you popular!

If only you'd bothered to read the O.P. and formulate an opinion, or offer some sort of wisdom instead of counting how many people have responded to this thread, which tragically remains twelve since your post is meaningless.

Sorry, just not in the mood for more than a paragraph. Lately the OP's have been getting longer and longer. Sorry to have disturbed you. I'm out.

one good thing about poverty
it teaches one to pull necessities out of one's butt

the meek will inherit the earth because they have less far to fall.

eta
jiggers
make that 32 people responding
I'm slightly skitsofrenik
thought you knew

reply to post by jiggerj


Who gave you permission to leave young man
Go stand in the corner till the bell rings
Then write out a hundred times
The Nobility of Poverty
Yes sometimes we just want to chat and be sociable
I remember a friend Who is a musician
We went to a folk pub where musicians just informally played their songs
My friend played some songs - she takes herself too seriously sometimes and played song after song - Any way a couple of young guys were leaving the pub and one puts his hand on my friends shoulder and says to her - Nice guitar playing - She stopped playing and exploded in rage saying to him "How dare you ruin my guitar solo"
I felt so embarrassed for her but had to laugh
By the way Jigger those lines are required on my desk by morning
No harm done - you have to see all points of view