If our ultimate desire is to be happy or have peace, and we know that true happiness and peace comes from within and not from material wealth, then why do we spend so much time and effort pursuing material wealth? Isn't this quite like the dog chasing his own tail? So what is the point of seeking material wealth if it is not the source of true happiness or peace?

Obviously we need certain things to survive, but beyond survival, why can't people just be happy without seeking material wealth.

asked 29 May '12, 13:03

Fairy%20Princess's gravatar image

Fairy Princess
(suspended)

edited 30 May '12, 08:23

Great question Princess! And a wonderful reminder! :)

(05 Jun '12, 10:24) MagicalUniverse

The point is to get rich! Haha, I saw this question back then, but this answer just appeared to me right now.

And indeed, people can be happy without seeking material wealth. But when you are happy without it. You also realize it's there, so why not have it. I mean, why should you not have it, if you can have it.

(13 Jul '12, 09:46) CalonLan

Wouldn't it be easier to get wealthy because you are happy than to be happy because you are wealthy?

(13 Jul '12, 09:50) Fairy Princess

Isn't that what I said? =)..well if I didn't phrase it that way, it's what I meant. Of course it's better, because then there is no attachment, no dependency between your happiness and wealthiness. Which means that if it goes wrong and you become poor, it won't affect your state of being, only perhaps a level of luxury of your living.

(13 Jul '12, 10:12) CalonLan

@CalonLan If you go at it from the point of being happy first, your true desires manifest as if by magic.

(27 Jul '12, 11:37) Fairy Princess
showing 0 of 5 show 5 more comments

10

In a nutshell, it gives you an excuse to focus - that's why these systems of limitation (like money) were "thought" into existence from our higher perspectives.

Happiness doesn't come about from reaching some static unchanging life situation, like having lots of money or material wealth and then doing nothing else with your physical existence.

...Boredom stems from that :)

Consider why many of the world's wealthiest people (the ones who are really inwardly happy, I mean) are still extremely active and engaged with many projects in their lives.

This idea was brought home vividly to me when I was younger when, for many years, I figured a certain life situation would be "perfection" for me. I figured that if I ever attained it, my life would be complete.

Well, I attained it...and thoroughly enjoyed it...for a few weeks...and then I was bored out of my mind :) It was a shocking realization to me that when you get everything you think you want, it's still not enough.

If you've ever been fortunate enough to have been in a similar situation, you'll know exactly what I mean. If you're not there yet, don't worry, you'll find out soon enough what I'm talking about :)

It was eventually when I came across non-physical teachers like Abraham that it started to all make sense...there is no end to desire, ever. Trying to reach a place where you eliminate your desires is the same as trying to eliminate your life.

True happiness comes about from launching new desires and then aligning with those desires. It's about the process, not the end result. The end result is just an excuse to apply the process.

The classic poem Ithaca expresses this idea beautifully.

link

answered 30 May '12, 05:05

Stingray's gravatar image

Stingray
93.6k22130369

edited 30 May '12, 05:09

Why can't our focus be on being happy and joyful? If we are happy and joyful, then we are in the vortex where all our desires are already.

(30 May '12, 09:57) Fairy Princess

It seems to me that desire causes pain and suffering. Faith that everything is gonna be alright, opens the way for the things we would like.

(30 May '12, 10:01) Fairy Princess

My son was playing a video game based in the medeival days. He was gathering food for them and thought it would be nice to have a big turkey leg. About 30 seconds later, I knocked on the door and asked if he would like a turkey leg, which I never really get. So there seems to be a difference between desiring something and liking to have something.

(30 May '12, 10:04) Fairy Princess
2

@Fairy Princess - It is resistance to desire that causes pain and suffering, not desire itself. People who are in a state of pure joy are experiencing free-flowing non-resistant desire, because that's what joy is. Without the desire, there could be no joy. Yes, if you could focus on being happy and joyful, you would be Vortex-aligned but what are you going to focus upon that will make you happy and joyful? Your mind is a focusing mechanism, it needs something to focus upon.

(31 May '12, 04:43) Stingray

Have you tried my Two Hands Touching? It gets me into the vortex quite well. Also, when I think about my cat or my son and the love I have for them, I am in the vortex pretty quickly.

(31 May '12, 08:32) Fairy Princess

@Fairy Princess - No, sorry, been too busy, but I'm sure it will work. It's the same principle as every other change technique I've seen. Present the mind with a good-feeling state and a bad-feeling one at the same time and the mind will naturally release the bad-feeling one in favor of the good-feeling one. http://www.inwardquest.com/questions/46266#46270 . I still like the Chinese Energetics approach with using the Midline as the good-feeling focus because no physical movement is required.

(31 May '12, 09:06) Stingray

The Two Hands touching is more than meditating though, and it only takes seconds. The midline didn't feel as good to me. This feels so good.

(31 May '12, 09:19) Fairy Princess
1

@Stingray-would it be possible to hold the midline in your awareness all the time? Can the mind hold more than one state of awareness simultaneously, like Awareness and Awareness of Awareness with enough practise? Thanks :)

(31 May '12, 14:18) Satori

@Satori - In a 3D physical reality, it's only possible to hold awareness on one thing at a time so you cannot split your conscious awareness. But in the last few years, it seems (confirmed by channelled information and my own experiences) that we no longer exist in a strictly 3D physical reality, so many more things are possible. http://www.inwardquest.com/questions/45572#45616 . I guess you're asking because you want to "neutralize as you go along". But bear in mind that once you...

(31 May '12, 16:49) Stingray

@Satori - ...make Vortex-alignment habitual, you'll naturally attract less and less that will give you a reason to experience much discomfort. Yes, you'll still find yourself kicked out of the Vortex from time to time but you'll only occasionally need to neutralize something using the Midline rather having any requirement to keep it in your awareness constantly. Hope that's clear

(31 May '12, 16:53) Stingray
1

@Stingray-Very clear thanks Stingray.have you heard of quantum entrainment or QE ? http://www.shop.qeprocess.com/Exercises-for-Quantum-Living-2-CD-Set-QE-EX-QL2.htm .im able to get into the vortex within a few minutes now using this process,highly recommended:)

(31 May '12, 21:43) Satori

@Satori Has the process you mentioned, been working well for you?

(05 Jun '12, 10:35) MagicalUniverse

Thank you princess for sharing the link :) Lots of love!

(05 Jun '12, 13:51) MagicalUniverse
1

Thanks MagicalUnivers, lots of love to you too!

(05 Jun '12, 19:02) Fairy Princess
1

@magicaluniverse -yes it's working great,thanks to the guided audios on this cd.  http://www.shop.qeprocess.com/Exercises-for-Quantum-Living-2-CD-Set-QE-EX-QL2.htm

One thing I have learned about any method or process is just to apply it without questioning it or adding my own agenda to it.most methods are sound it's just our attitude to them that decides their success:)

(06 Jun '12, 12:56) Satori

@Satori - No, I've not heard of Quantum Entrainment. Since so many on here seem to be raving about it, I guess I'll have to take a look :)

(07 Jun '12, 04:39) Stingray

@Satori Thanks for sharing the link! And yeah, you're right, its better to try something new without the preconcieved notions. Nevertheless, I appreciate you sharing how it's been working for you so far :)

(07 Jun '12, 09:47) MagicalUniverse
1

@magicaluniverse-great thanks,I practise QE as often as possible,every hour if possible, only takes a minute or so to become aware of Eufeeling and then I hold awareness of that.sometimes the Eufeeling arrives spontaneously.i used to have to do at least 15 minutes of meditation before I became aware of Eufeeling:)

(07 Jun '12, 10:52) Satori

@Stingray-lol it's getting a lot of hype alright:)

(07 Jun '12, 10:55) Satori

@Satori Wow! sounds fun to me! I am gonna have to try it out next :)

(07 Jun '12, 11:10) MagicalUniverse
1

Two Hands Touching is my spin from QE.

(07 Jun '12, 13:29) Fairy Princess
1

@Stingray you said, "Yes, if you could focus on being happy and joyful, you would be Vortex-aligned but what are you going to focus upon that will make you happy and joyful?" Well you just decide to be happy. Happiness is the target. If you need an outside thing to make you happy, then you are putting conditions on your happiness. Happiness is the destination and you don't need a vehicle to get there/here.

(26 Jun '12, 09:03) Fairy Princess

Very well said @Fairy Princess! Point noted. And, thanks for sharing the link :)

@Stingray, Would love to hear your take on Fairy Princess' last comment :)

(26 Jun '12, 09:26) MagicalUniverse

@Fairy Princess - Further up you wrote: "Have you tried my Two Hands Touching? It gets me into the vortex quite well" and then you wrote: "Happiness is the destination and you don't need a vehicle to get there/here". So the vehicle of using your focusing method is not a vehicle then? Given that our outside realities are a direct reflection of our dominant inside thoughts, could you explain what your rules are for deciding what is an outside thing and what is not?

(26 Jun '12, 10:37) Stingray

@Stingray Two Hands Touching is simply the simplest way I know to tune out the outside things and just BE right here right now. It is so short that it doesn't take much time from the prestent task, but after ward, one is here Now instead of worrying about the future, dwelling on the past, or wishing we were somewhere else. Since happiness is in the mind, it requires adjustments of the mind to find happiness, not adjustment of the physical. We can adjust the physical to the point of excess and...

(26 Jun '12, 10:52) Fairy Princess

still not be happy. If someone has everything and is still not happy, then what is their excuse? How miserable that would be to strive for happiness in the aquisition of things, just to find that didn't bring happiness. Then they are on their death bed wishing they had spent more time with their kids insteading of working late to buy the boat they never have time to take out because somebody is always working to get more stuff so they can be happy, when they could have been truely happy...

(26 Jun '12, 10:55) Fairy Princess

while they enjoyed pushing their kid on the swing before or after eating dinner together as a family. Yes, these are still outside things, but they are outside things NOW not outside things in the future that I am striving for NOW.

(26 Jun '12, 10:56) Fairy Princess

Yes, we have to do something to make money to pay our bills. The Bible says to seek after the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the things we need will come to us. We can make money doing things we love. We can allow ourselves to spend time raising our children up the way they should go instead of herding them along to daycare to learn God knows what.

(26 Jun '12, 10:59) Fairy Princess

THT also quiets the inside that is attracting things we don't want. If we raise our vibration, we have access to those outside things that we desire. We access them through the raising of our vibration, in this way it is permanent. If we use outside things to raise our vibration, then it's conditional and the loss of the outside things causes a lowered vibration. That is the difference between God's way and the world's way.

(26 Jun '12, 11:05) Fairy Princess

I guess to answer your question "could you explain what your rules are for deciding what is an outside thing and what is not?" My rule for outside thing vs not is that we already have our hands and/or our body and our mind. The tool of THT is just a focus point for our mind, which we always have unless we lost it ;) vs. an external condition, a condition that can be removed. Using our mind to fucus on our hands or whatever one uses instead is not conditional. The only condition is to activate

(12 Jul '12, 18:02) Fairy Princess

What is already there.

(12 Jul '12, 18:03) Fairy Princess
1

@everyone- Read his last sentence.

The end result is just an excuse to APPLY THE PROCESS

(02 Feb '13, 09:17) Nikulas
showing 2 of 34 show 32 more comments

The simple answer is when you have bill collectors after you, and you need money for gas but you only have enough to chose gas or food, and your landlord is threatening eviction, would it be easier and make you happier if you had wealth to cover it?

Having money is an assurance that everything will be alright that no matter what happens in life you have the cash to cover it. You can get it fixed or pay someone that can, you can get medical care if you need it because you can afford to have insurance.

In this world money is needed always and it seems that everyone is always trying to take away your money for one thing or another. That can be pretty depressing, so would I be happier with wealth? I wouldn't have any money worries which account for most of the worries of earth existence.

link

answered 29 May '12, 18:20

Wade%20Casaldi's gravatar image

Wade Casaldi
36.9k428102

1

@purplerose Thanks for the 3 points from your own points. All you have to do if you like some answer it click on the up arrow above the points, to vote it up. This gives 10 points and doesn't cost you any points.

(29 May '12, 23:01) Wade Casaldi
1

True answer Wade money makes life easier and with less worries it is easy to persue happiness.

(30 May '12, 00:26) Paulina 1

I realize we all need to eat and have shelter. That doesn't mean we need a mansion and gold coated strawberries. Those would be nice, but do we postpone happiness until we arrive at everything?

(30 May '12, 08:25) Fairy Princess

The Bible says that we cannot serve both God and money.

(30 May '12, 08:28) Fairy Princess

The Bible also says not to worry where our food, clothes and shelter will come from, as God takes care of the birds of the air, wouldn't He take care of us more?

(30 May '12, 09:59) Fairy Princess

This is true, there is a difference between being comfortably wealthy (which I would like to someday be) and being overly wealthy. Now you go into debt buying some island and your yacht needs rare extinct ply wood for your floors ordinary just wont do! Now you are right back to money worries! lol

I guess moderation is that best word really. Not poor, not extravagantly wealthy just comfortable.

(30 May '12, 11:16) Wade Casaldi

However, according to Abraham, everything we desire is already in the vortex, therefore, we need only enter the vortex to realize all our desires, we don't get into the vortex by acquiring.

(30 May '12, 11:51) Fairy Princess
showing 2 of 7 show 5 more comments

Yes, there is always the talk of the wealthy who have everything but are still unhappy. And people who don't have material wealth and can't see themselves having it like to point that out. That is nothing but a focus problem. When people focus on the material "too much", they can lose sight of the heart and spirit of life and end up unhappy. That's their choice at that time in their life. Granted. But don't forget that they can change their mind at any time for any reason. And the rest of us can have compassion for them.

It should be clear to one who values the heart and spirit of life and loves God first that God loves material wealth for He did not stop with one planet... Earth. Nor did He stop with one solar system or one galaxy. Do you think God over did it when he created so much more than was necessary for us to live here? Abundance and never ending supply is in fact Gods nature. What's more, God knows that it's the spirit AND the material combined that give God a fullness of expression. God cannot stop at one or one hundred expressions of Himself. ALL of creation is the perfect expression of God... even when they screw up and grow crooked... by our limited definition.

So a question one might ask oneself is, "Who am I to question Gods wisdom?" Another good question might be, "Who am I to limit Gods expression?" After all, you must be aware that you are a very personal expression of the very God you love. God never said you can't have "more". God created the material so that we might live life abundantly, but only according to our choice. So if you are satisfied with what you have, be happy and let others pursue their happiness in their own way without judgement. You have no idea what's in store for them on their path.

We have all been given gifts and they are not all the same. So when an expression of God decides to express their inner most presence and/or hearts desire by living an opulent lifestyle, who are we to question that expression? We don't know their story or their path. I say give space to others to be who they are, and to not be who they are not in this moment of Gods time and eternity. True growth comes from experience. Some just choose to experience it all and have the gifts to do so. God bless the wealthy. God bless those who haven't figures it out yet. And God bless those who choose not to be. ;-)

link

answered 30 May '12, 15:20

Rindor's gravatar image

Rindor
1.3k6

Just because it's there to enjoy doesn't mean we have to aquire it all. People miss watching their kids grow up so they can earn the mighty buck.

(31 May '12, 08:37) Fairy Princess

Whether you know it or not, you are in a relationship with money. If you have any form of food, clothing and shelter, someone has to pay for that even if it's not you. A relationship, even if it's negative, is based on some form of mutual attraction. What if the person you are in love with turned and started calling you names and putting you down. Would you want to stay around that person? Not likely. Or at least you would want to heal that relationship. Money is no different.

(31 May '12, 16:41) Rindor

Calling money "the mighty buck" is quite plainly a derogatory name making it clear you are pushing money away. You think money is hard to get so you make up excuses like one has to miss out on their kids growing up to get money. So money avoids you so you can be with your kids. In human relationships it's called "the preemptive strike". You reject him before he rejects you. This somehow makes you feel superior consciously but in your heart you just feel sad and hurt.

(31 May '12, 16:53) Rindor

My recommendation to you is that you really look into your relationship with money and try to heal it. Try "with all your heart" to listen to this young lady for starters... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJH2Ww8HXgo And if you won't even do that, then at least stop beating that dead horse in your life or trying to make others feel bad for having the relationship with money you could never seem to find. Just being straight with you Fairy Princess. Honesty matters here. Especially yours.

(31 May '12, 17:02) Rindor

I don't have a problem with money. My point is that there seems to be a lot that people are willing to give up for money, when money isn't the source of happiness. Sorry you don't understand what I am saying. Watch anything that talks about what they most regret. They always say that they wished they would have spent more time with their family and less time working. They never say that their regret is that they spent too much time with their family so they were poor.

(31 May '12, 17:30) Fairy Princess

Oops, I meant to say to watch anything that interviews people at the end of their lives.

(31 May '12, 17:31) Fairy Princess

It's very common for people to make that realization "at the end". The ego does a wonderful job of justifying the means we create. My problem with your question is that you seem to be bundling Everyone who goes after "the mighty buck" as wrong because they don't realize that all that money won't make them happy if they sacrifice their families. Everyone does not do that! And those that do have their own lessons to learn. Just give them space to learn in their own way and be happy with your way.

(31 May '12, 19:20) Rindor

Seems to me that there is more to this than you're letting on. Could it be that someone close to you is doing as you've described and it's making you sad to watch as the children, who you love, are suffering without that parent being in their lives?

(31 May '12, 19:24) Rindor

Many kids sit in day care while their parents work at jobs they don't like. This 'pursuit of happiness' doesn't seem to get anywhere. The kids don't get what they need, the parents feel guilt, etc... I am not saying that working and making money is bad, I am saying that people are building a bridge to happiness right over the river of happiness.

(31 May '12, 22:37) Fairy Princess

Sorry I didn't get back sooner. I went to a weekend event. On our topic... I've always found one part of this equation very interesting. The whole idea that we, as adults, were once young and had dreams. And as we grow up, we decide to pursue those dreams. But along the way, other people come into the picture and on the one hand there is still the dream of a better life, but on the other is how our efforts affect those other people.

(03 Jun '12, 19:24) Rindor

It's a real catch 22. Is the dream just so much rhetoric or do we as parents actually mean it when we encourage our kids to dream? Yes there is always a price to pay. Yes often the little ones loose out to some degree. Yes there are other ways to continue going for the dream. Yes all of this can be talked over and a plan set up that makes it easier for the kids. But if the parents aren't interested in that conversation, this point will be ignored.

(03 Jun '12, 19:31) Rindor

I don't know your age nor do I know the age of the parents in question. But it's a sure bet that not only are they at that age where they want to accomplish much and have the energy and ambition to do so, BUT they are also trying to do it in an unstable economy. It's not like it was 40 years ago. Also, the responsibility to their kids is so much more than just being there for them on a daily basis. If they really love their kids, they're doing what they can to secure a better future for them.

(03 Jun '12, 19:38) Rindor

Yes, they will sacrifice something in the process, but who is to say they won't gain so much more in the end. These things don't always turn out for the worse. And if there is disconnection from the kids, it will be handled eventually and sometimes it's to everyone's delight. It just might be a "bit" messy in the process but there are so many ways to handle the mistakes and emotions of the past. Again, so often the recognition of our biggest mistakes come late in life. There's little you can do.

(03 Jun '12, 19:45) Rindor

A better future? What about a better Now?

(13 Jul '12, 09:42) Fairy Princess
showing 2 of 14 show 12 more comments

Why not seek material wealth? It just depends on how your looking at it. My personal opinion, life is just an experience. So you can seek to live comfortably or very comfortably. You can seek a life full of love or one full of fame, or one full of both or one full of simple things.

Monks live very simple lives. They meditate frequently and have nothing. They are happy with that.

Then there's people like me... I want more exciting things. I love excitement. I like doing many things. I'm content with how things are.

Wealth won't give you happiness, you're right, but neither will anything else. Happiness does only come from you- and you can choose to settle with that and chase nothing, or you can find things you want to experience. It's not that it's important- it's just fun. It's like a video game- you want to win but you're having fun getting there. Then once the game's over, you're sad it didn't last longer. But what was the point of it all? It didn't have one, it was just fun.

link

answered 30 May '12, 23:41

LapisLazuli's gravatar image

LapisLazuli
5.5k424

It is not always fun. Many countries right now are in a financial crisis. There are many people looking for jobs while others have 2 or 3 jobs to support their families. There are people who barely see their kids grow up because they are working really hard for material wealth.

(31 May '12, 08:36) Fairy Princess

Again, it's a focus thing. LapisLazuli's glass is half full by considering the "possibility of fun". Many people have fun with their wealth AND give generously to charities. From your comment here I'd summize your glass is half empty. It's a choice and by your choice your heart says, "Your Wish is My Command".

(31 May '12, 18:41) Rindor

@Fairy Princess I know many dont live in desirable situations, what I meant was it depends on how you look at the situation- chasing wealth from a place of need and struggle only brings more struggle. You can chase wealth in a fun way, rather than a needy way. It just depends on what you want- but any way you choose, the happiness must come from within first. If you are content, chasing wealth won't be a struggle and you will have family time.

(31 May '12, 19:27) LapisLazuli

It's just a perspective thing. Wealth is a neutral topic- its not right or wrong to want or not want it. It just depends on how you view it. If you see it as limiting and harmful, it becomes that in your reality. If you see it as fun and expansive upon your life, it will become that. However it affects someone is because of the lens they're seeing it through.

(31 May '12, 19:35) LapisLazuli
1

@LapisLazuli My point is not that money or wealth is limiting or harmful, but the pursuit of money or wealth can be limiting or harmful when what we really want is happiness. What happened to the pursuit of happiness in and of itself?

(26 Jun '12, 10:25) Fairy Princess
1

All I was saying was you can pursue anything as long as you aren't dependent on the outcome for happiness. That the reason struggling stems from it is because of how someone is perceiving it. You can pursue or desire whatever you want, as long as it isnt to "complete" or "fufill" your life. So I'm saying... it is the way a person feels that brings the misery. Be happy first, happiness will come.

(26 Jun '12, 12:30) LapisLazuli

Why did you say "pursuit of happiness"? We don't have to go anywhere or search for it- just be it. :)

(26 Jun '12, 12:55) LapisLazuli

I mean by pursuit of happiness is that instead of aiming at the target 'happiness', they aim at the target 'wealth' in hopes that it will bring happiness. Or more passively, to focus on happiness directly instead of to focus on wealth as a means to happiness.

(26 Jun '12, 13:00) Fairy Princess
showing 2 of 8 show 6 more comments

Hi Fairy Princess, People seem to forget that money too is spiritual and not only certain things. It is nothing more than the energy of exchange.

Persuing happiness is easy when you don't have to worry about the bills or where your next meal is coming from. Try persuing happiness when you are hungry and homeless and it is almost impossible.

Here on earth a humans first obligation is survival and all else comes second and unfortunately for survival in todays world you need money.

link

answered 30 May '12, 00:32

Paulina%201's gravatar image

Paulina 1
9.2k1723

1

Yes Paulina much agreed. I know from experience having money is better. I am trying to find a job now myself. :-(

I owe, I owe so it's off to work I go...

(30 May '12, 01:17) Wade Casaldi
1

I grew up living in adobe shacks, tents, vans, etc... We were never homeless though, we had shelter and a place to cook food. I wouldn't want to go back to that, but I was one of the happiest kids around. Not because of my circumstances, but in spite of them.

(30 May '12, 08:27) Fairy Princess

I didn't know that! You, then certainly are an example for us Princess! :)

(05 Jun '12, 10:27) MagicalUniverse
1

Thank you @MagicalUniverse :)

(05 Jun '12, 12:26) Fairy Princess
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