Sunlight ( The World Thrift Day Special)

 

Disclaimer- Read SLOWLY!!!!!!!!

In ancient Greece, there was a philosopher named Diogenes.

It is said he always dressed in rags and lived in a large tub; he was known as "the sage in the tub."

One day, Alexander the Great visited the town and on meeting Diogenes announced, "Tell me what you desire and I will grant your wish."

However, Diogenes merely said, "Please stand out of the way, you're blocking the sunlight."

Happiness for Diogenes was a quiet life, basking in the sun in his tub. He enjoyed the peace of mind and needed nothing more than this. He was satisfied just to bathe in the sun; he never had the slightest desire for fine clothes or money, status, fame, or anything else. All he wanted was to sit in his tub and think, free to do exactly as he wanted without anyone else telling him what to do. Then Alexander the Great, in whom Diogenes had not the slightest interest, arrived and stood in front of him, blocking the sunlight. 

When Diogenes asked Alexander to stand out of his light, Alexander the Great was speechless. Alexander believed that there was nothing in the world that did not come under his dominion. Certainly, he had the power to fulfill any worldly desire; he could grant any wish for a palace, money, and wives. Yet, even though Alexander the Great possessed such powers, to Diogenes he was no more than an obstruction, blocking the sunlight and throwing him into shadow.

This episode illustrates the difference between someone who inhabits the kingdom and someone who lives for the glory of the material world. The one who understands the benevolent cycle of emotions, thoughts, and actions attains the inner kingdom.

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As the "seasons of a new beginning” has arrived, there is a buzz on online market portals with lots of advertisements and sales. Our attention is constantly being diverted for “brightness” and “glitter”. On eve of World Thrift Day let us remind ourselves to encourage the savings of emotions and also promote the financial security of individuals and nations as a whole.

For me, this C+ Pandemic year has delivered different meaning to happiness and left me wondering about spiritual materialism.

Spiritual materialism is the belief that a certain temporary state of mind is a refuge from suffering. An example would be using meditation practices to create a peaceful state of mind or using drugs or alcohol to remain in a numbed out or a euphoric state or temporary feel-good state by shopping or gaining some material.

I am setting the following array of steps to avoid spiritual materialism this year -

1. Avoid emotional shopping – Be it because of some emotional advertisement or because of the reaction of a recent purchase by a neighbor, I am not getting my purchase driven out of such trivial emotion.

 

2. Priorities- I comprehend that this boundary-less unlimited option of international marketing is infinite but I choose to prioritize. And judiciously decide my purchase.

 

3. Recycle- This year my main showcase for the hall is recycled old non-functional clock into a creative photo frame. Articulating my creativity shall not only bring out a masterpiece (finger crossed) but helps in de-stressing and makes me atmanirbhar.

 

4. Sticking to Budget- I have assigned a quantity and budget to be spent on stuff. Be it the number of dishes to be cooked…. to the amount to be spent on the purchase of clothes…. to decorate. I am even planning to budget-ize on the purchase of crackers!! This hopefully keeps the pocket-burn in a safe zone.

 

5. Being happy- This Diwali is going to be away-from-Family-wali-Diwali. But being happy is a state of mind. So, this time more video calling and long chatting with my loved ones is the goal. If the mind is happy, its emotional quotient is high. Internal satisfaction leads to lesser drifting of mind for outer excuses to search for happiness. 

Having An Unshakable Mind and raising the standard of Simple Living & High Thinking is the motto on this thrift day.