Buddhism/Hinduism are really good about this. They suggest, over and over, in a variety of ways, that the problem isn't being wealthy or poor but in conceiving of oneself as wealthy or poor.
I think the corresponding Western idea (to proclaim from the pulpit in my ass) is mangaminity.
A person who conceives of herself as wealthy can "afford" to be generous, altruistic. A person who conceives of herself as poor cannot. So the Dhammapada & other things comment that the worst thing to be is a wealthy person who does not enjoy their wealth. And the best thing to give up is greed, because it's the feeling of greed (the opposite of magaminity) that makes you poor.
Obvious, I know.
But I work in Hollywood, so for me, achieving a mindset where I don't think the answer is just to take a humvee with a rocket launcher into Beverly Hills is...important, and occupies a healthy slice in the pie chart of my time.
no subject
I think the corresponding Western idea (to proclaim from the pulpit in my ass) is mangaminity.
A person who conceives of herself as wealthy can "afford" to be generous, altruistic. A person who conceives of herself as poor cannot. So the Dhammapada & other things comment that the worst thing to be is a wealthy person who does not enjoy their wealth. And the best thing to give up is greed, because it's the feeling of greed (the opposite of magaminity) that makes you poor.
Obvious, I know.
But I work in Hollywood, so for me, achieving a mindset where I don't think the answer is just to take a humvee with a rocket launcher into Beverly Hills is...important, and occupies a healthy slice in the pie chart of my time.