Sunday, January 04, 2009

Money and Value

If you have a few spare hours (like five), here is a buddhist perspective on money by Ken McLeod:

MAV01: Money and Value (workshop)
MAV02: Money and Value (workshop)
MAV03: Money and Value (workshop)
MAV04: Money and Value (workshop)

Part 1 of 4
The problem: money drives the way we understand ourselves. Aim of financial model is to see experience through projection of money; aim of Buddhism is to experience what arises without projection; three bases of relationship: mutual benefit, shared aim, emotional connection; all forms of idealism involve avoidance of some form of suffering; when money is regarded as the problem, something else is being ignored; Questions: What are you asking for? What do you want? What does money symbolize to you?
Duration 00:43:53

Part 2 of 4
What generates the problem? Confusion about money points to confusion about what we value in our lives; when you see things in terms of money, you are inevitably in one of the six realms; guided meditations: survival, getting emotional needs met, and self-image; intention versus self-image; valuing what can be taken away places life in other people's hands.
Duration 01:27:31

Part 3 of 4
Possible directions towards a solution. The world of shared experience and the world we actually experience; money exists in the world of shared experience and of materialism; definition of materialism; comparison of the bases of life in world of materialism and world of well-being; comparison of spiritual ideal and being fully alive; Questions: What would you do with your life if you knew you would die in one year? If you were free from trying to get your emotional needs met? If you weren't concerned with being somebody?
Duration 01:21:17

Part 4 of 4
Theoretical and practical concepts of what might be done. Traditional Buddhist method of The Noble Eightfold Path; footnote on the word "right"; four bases of success – curiosity, persistence or enthusiasm, understanding of genesis and conditions, creativity in framing questions; seven steps of manifestation; Questions: What am I going to do next week? Next month? Next year?
Duration 01:14:17

Books recommend in these podcasts:
  1. Buddhist Economics: A Middle Way for the market place by Ven. P. A. Payutto (follow the previous link and you get the online version)
  2. Money and the Meaning of Life by Jacob Needleman
  3. How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi

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