another point of view.

[Guest guest]

I am not sure what you refer to when you say that

"buying shares and options" is worse than lottery

tickets. I disagree completely. It is buying shares

and options that allows the economy to grow (as people

are placing their faith in the ideas/health of those

companies that underlie those equities), and for the

general welfare of the people in terms of their

employment, contribution to society through their

work, and the diminishing of poverty and material

'lack'. It is this prosperity which allows the elderly

to support themselves through appropriate 401(k) and

pension plans. It is this prosperity that allows one

to spend one's retirement years in service of others,

instead of continuing the same old habit of looking

out for one's own bread day in and day out. It is that

prosperity that leads to education of the masses. The

prosperity of companies (through investment in their

equities in general) is what brings about increases in

employment in the first place. If we recommend people

to stop investing, we are asking them to trash the

economy. It is the people's belief in the markets that

drives the markets in the first place. It is that

belief which leads to a prosperous nation. People who

are impoverished generally have little need for

spirituality, when they can't earn their daily bread.

One must take care of the physical body, but not

become attached to it as swamiji says. It is also our

duty, once we have learned to sustain ourselves, to

aid in sustaining other people who haven't had such

opportunities, or the necessary education to improve

their condition.

 

In fact, buying lottery tickets has no such inherent

value to the economy from what I understand (except as

a tool for redistributing the wealth, or lack of), and

therefore has little practical use, except as a

distraction to people who could instead put their

minds/hearts into something more fruitful for the

betterment of all. Such 'hopeful' desires lead to bad

habits such as laziness, and an aversion to the sort

of hard work needed to succeed in general.

 

In general, one should be hopeful for the

grace/guidance of swamiji -- which is the surest bet

on the planet.

 

jai guru datta,

pradyumna

 

ps. I also believe that politics and world affairs

have everything to do with spirituality -- the state

of affairs of the nation, reflects the spiritual

growth of its people. The more discension in the

ranks, the more chaos among the people, leading to a

declining practice of simple virtues such as

"truth","hard work", and "compassion". Leaders must

show the integrity, honesty, and compassion which the

people must follow as an example, as swamiji has

indicated many times. Great people follow the path of

their heart (spirituality), and teach others to be

great. This 'ps' is becoming too long already.

 

 

 

Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax

http://taxes./