Bonus Track #2: Depraved Happiness

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Have you ever wondered if spiritual teachings about avoiding greed mean you're supposed to live an unfulfilling life? Our latest exploration of "Depraved Happiness" tackles this common misconception head-on.

When Zen philosophy identifies greed as one of the three poisons (alongside anger and ignorance), many practitioners mistakenly conclude they must embrace material lack or deprivation. This episode unravels this misunderstanding, revealing that Zen doesn't aim to deprive you of joy or fulfillment—rather, it seeks to free you from the gullibility that makes us chase after temporary satisfactions that never truly satisfy.

We examine the stark difference between forced contentment—those half-hearted "I'm okay, I guess" responses—and genuine contentment that celebrates life without comparison. True contentment isn't settling for less because "things could be worse" or because you don't deserve better. Instead, it's recognizing what is as the foundation for what can become. We challenge toxic positivity phrases like "beggars can't be choosers," affirming that human dignity doesn't diminish with circumstance.

By the end, we arrive at a powerful realization: contentment isn't the end goal but the bedrock upon which fulfillment is built. When we stop comparing our reality to imagined alternatives, we discover a deeper satisfaction that transcends our usual metrics of happiness. Join us in exploring how accepting what is becomes the solid platform from which authentic joy emerges.

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome to Sugar Plains, hollywood, where you'll
always have a win, where youlove me, come and meet.
Welcome back to the WorldPreservatist Bonus Track.

(00:58):
We'll call this one DepravedHappiness.
Happiness when thinking of theemphasis on greed within Zen,

(01:19):
greed being one of the threepoisons, the other two being
anger and ignorance.
Greed, when viewed as poison, weare encouraged to keep the
distance from Seems simpleenough an idea.
We must, however, be cautiousnot to confuse simplicity with

(01:46):
ease.
Nor are we to assume that suchsimplicity is to be taken at
face value.
That is not the case.
Where it's simple, therefore,no need to think about it.
I say this because I have seenwithin my own mind, and at times

(02:13):
in the minds of others, thefollowing conclusion If Zen
wants me to stay away from greed, zen wants me to live in
depravity, in deficit, in policystate, in abject poverty.

(02:34):
Zen wants me to live anunfulfilled life.
Zen wants to deprive you thisis true, zen does want to

(02:56):
deprive you, but of what Zenunderstands, the mechanism of
things.
We call it the Dharma, and inthat it understands the gears
and levers and springs thatpower the machine, and in that

(03:21):
Zen understands suffering, itscauses, its remedies and the
path to enact such remedies inone's life.
Zen, therefore, does want todeprive you, but not of joy,

(03:43):
satisfaction, fulfillment, butof the gullibility by which we
think genuine, lastingfulfillment is brought about.
Deprived of said go-ability,one might ask what then, are we

(04:08):
left with Contentment?
Let's define the terms.
Contentment can be understood,and it's laying incarnation, as

(04:29):
a forced okay, how are you doing?
Oh okay.
Sometimes followed by I guess,how are you doing?
Oh okay, I guess.
How are you doing, oh okay.
I guess how are you doing?

(04:52):
Not too bad.
Or, my least favorite, stillalive, or worse.
Yet any day above ground isbetter than the day below ground
.
I don't know Really, is it?

(05:18):
Do we make it better by justexisting or by existing how?
That's another thing.
Contentment, then, is not just asettled, accustomed norm.

(05:41):
No, it's not not too bad.
All things considered,contentment is rejoicing.
It's celebrated life as it is,not because what is is the best

(06:21):
I could get, but becauseContentment has no alternatives
to be compared to.
It's not a result of amathematical equation.
Well, given all thecircumstances and the
possibility that things could beworse, it's not too bad.

(06:44):
So be content with what you got.
It's got that same energy asbeggars can be choosers.
Yuck, it's true.
Beggars can't be choosersbecause beggars are people.

(07:09):
Beggars can't be choosersbecause beggars are people.
Anyway, be content, not becauseit could be worse, not because

(07:32):
you aren't deserving of betteror more, but because what is is
the foundation of what can orwhat will be.
Contentment is the bedrock offulfillment.

(08:11):
Thanks for watching.