Michael Gonzalez77 said:I can't say I agree with that.
Whether you’re wealthy or struggling, everyone is driven by that same restless hunger. It’s a universal constant. Kids and young adults are the perfect example—they’re always reaching for something more than what they currently have, ranging from tiny trifles to massive ambitions. To someone sitting on a mountain of cash, the "big dreams" of an average person might seem trivial or even meaningless, but that's no consolation. Even those at the top are constantly chasing the next thing, forever looking for something more.
If we could just solve that one single issue—this relentless hunger for power and wealth—humanity would be in a vastly better place. It really comes down to a fundamental flaw in how we think. Honestly, I believe a broken mindset is the root cause of pretty much every problem and all the evil we see today. When people let that distorted thinking drive them, the fallout is nothing short of catastrophic.
The average person struggles with a skewed mindset regardless of their circumstances. When they’re doing well, they let their greed and endless desires run wild. When they’re facing an existential crisis, they might become more practical and focus on survival, but the negative thoughts still pile up either way. If you look at how human civilizations have actually progressed, history shows that growth usually happens when people aren't constantly starving. There’s an old saying that goes, "Religion isn't for empty stomachs." Essentially, having enough material stability provides the foundation needed for spiritual growth. Unfortunately, most people stay trapped by their worldly cravings, obsessing over whether their material wants will be met or not. That constant cycle of desire and disappointment? That’s the root of all suffering.
Back during the socialist era in America, we didn't actually solve our core issue: our flawed mindset. Even though most people were—let’s call it what it was—perfectly fine with their material status in many cases, the underlying rot remained. They still dealt with systemic negative thinking and chronic stress. Think of it this way: that stress is purely psychological. On its own, it might not seem like a massive hurdle to clear, but because people live in ignorance, they carry these patterns for thousands of years. It becomes an ingrained part of the human condition that most people don't even realize they have until it completely wrecks their nervous system, leading to debilitating chronic illnesses. If you aren't willing to throw yourself headfirst into fixing those internal patterns—if you aren't absolutely relentless about resolving that conflict within yourself—you simply cannot achieve spiritual growth.
The way most people think every single day is fundamentally broken. This constant loop of negative thoughts and unnecessary stress is arguably the root cause of almost all our societal issues. It wears down your nervous system, which essentially sabotages every part of your life. You end up stuck, limited, and completely unable to tap into the massive potential sitting right inside you—potential that’s far greater than anyone could ever imagine.
Wealthy people are just as selfish as everyone else, mostly because they're operating from a place of ignorance. If they actually understood the bigger picture, they’d be working to build a world that prioritizes the common good—but that would require them to confront their own greed. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but those people are few and far between.
The religious paradox is staring us right in the face. Look at Vatican City today—as the heart of the Christian organization, it stands as a massive monument to wealth and the pursuit of Mammon. It’s the polar opposite of the core essence of Christ's teachings regarding serving humanity. Meanwhile, we have millions of people around the globe dying from hunger every single year, most of them just children. On the flip side, you look at Islam, which for centuries has been intensely focused on the "desire for power." Sure, those two things are always intertwined, but in one case, greed takes center stage, while in the other, control is the main driver. In many Islamic nations, religious organizations hold the reins of government, but even where they don't currently rule, they remain an incredibly powerful opposition. They have massive followings and are essentially just waiting for the right moment to topple the current leadership through violence and everything else that comes with it.
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In a sense, you make a fair point. I am uncertain, however, if you are speaking from personal experience regarding having unlimited wealth, or if this is simply your general philosophy.
If one reflects deeply enough, a wealthy individual eventually realizes that their capital holds little intrinsic value. We see this today with various Hollywood stars and pop artists who, despite being extremely well-off, suffer from depression. While not all depression stems from a lack of spiritual life, I believe many of these individuals realize there is "something more" to existence through such struggles. Of course, I am generalizing here, and that is not always the case.
What such a person typically does—and finds easiest—is pay a "guru" to teach them the secrets of life. Some might claim they wouldn't, but let's be realistic: if I had as much money as I wanted, I would certainly find myself attending the most expensive spiritual seminars available.
I am not questioning their desire for knowledge; rather, I suspect that someone accustomed to handing out money still retains the habit of "paying for a service" instead of "working for a service."
To my mind, that is a flawed concept because money truly possesses no value, especially to them.
If we simplify the idea: suppose this wealthy person loves driving their Lamborghini at 150 mph on a specific highway. That is a passion. They also enjoy the money they possess.
But if you asked them, would they rather give up a portion of their wealth or the experience of driving that Lamborghini at 140 mph? Personally, I believe they would surrender the cash before they would ever give up the thrill of the drive.
Similarly, I believe that to receive something, one must first give. If you give away something that holds no personal value—money, for instance, which you view as trivial because you have plenty—then the act won't feel significant since you didn't work hard for it. However, if someone sacrifices something precious—an experience, in this case—they will perceive its value as much greater because they gave more of themselves. Eventually, they may realize that the value of driving a Lamborghini isn't inherently better or worse than riding a bicycle, even if a Lamborghini is certainly not a bicycle.
I hope this clarifies my perspective to some extent.
I had never viewed religion from that angle, but it makes sense. Thank you for sharing that. 🙂
Living.