How to overcome greed

How to overcome Greed

 We promised you in our previous post to talk simple techniques to conquer the 6 tools

of suffering. So in this post, I am going to tell you the simple trick to control greed.

                      

What is greed?

Whenever you say or feel "I want this" you get trapped in greed ! It's exactly like a

mouse wants cheese desperately and falls in our trap. So, we have to control it.

Because greed is like fire. As much as we try to grip it; the more we get burnt. On the

other hand, if you can use it as a fuel you will get continuous motivation without

depending on others.

Realizing the greed in yourself:

Oh ..you don't consider yourself greedy!! But, friend We all are .., Let me give you an

example - 

Imagine A boy, Shyam studied a lot for his exam. But it went bad due to a very tough

question paper. That night Shyam was too sad to study for the next paper.  Shyam knew

that the exam went bad for the whole class, so nothing personal..but he can't help his

sufferings. Now he came to youtube to find some motivational speeches to distract him.

And he couldn't find any video as he wanted, so he became mad ! And sufferings got

intensified. 

Now, be genuine and think to yourself, is  there anything that hurts Shyam DIRECTLY

or PERSONALLY?? The answer is No. As logically the exam went bad for all and one

should move on to study for the next exam. So, what made him so sad ! Nothing but

his "Want" ...the unfulfilled desire of giving a good exam, the desire of finding an

appropriate motivational video. And that's greed. Not only Shyam ..we all are like that.

See this content in youtube:

Scientific reasons behind greed:

Just try to notice how many times a day you say "I want " and start to feel impatient.

Actually no sooner we say we want something , we kick the reward center of our brain.

That is Amygdala and VTA ( ventral tegmental area) and ventral striatum.  Then we get

out of control and kick more and more for a reward .

We ignore logic and this leads us to exaggerate situations, hurt someone or get hurt;

then we regret and suffering goes on.

The path of letting greed go:

Want to get rid of this foolish trap ? Want to get constant mental peace? Want to use this

trap to achieve your goals?

It's more simple than you ever imagined!

There are three kind of situations :

1. Past events and consequences 

2. Present desires 

3. Greed for future stuffs

There are 3 techniques, unique for each . So now we are going to share those tricks !

Let's focus on how to control greed for future stuffs

In case of a greed caused for future stuffs, Just Replace "want" with "wish" . Yes ! 

Replace "want" with "wish".

Look, if you say "I want it" ..there you attach an urgency , a stubbornness and start to

feel impatient. 

So replace this with "I wish" and feel the hope with a sense of letting go . And thus you

are free from the ego to fulfill your "want" . No expectation, no agony . Now only Focus

on what is in your hand , what you can do to achieve your "wish". 

For present desires :

For present desires..analyze your greed. Calm down and allow your logic to criticize the

value of your wants. How you ask? just ask yourself two following questions:

1."Is this really an emergency ? A life saving demand?" 

2. "Is this really gonna change me from tomorrow?" 

And choose between only 2 options "Yes" or "No".

If your answer is Yes; then it's not greed and you should try to achieve such a goal. 

But , if you be genuine and think to yourself, maximum time the answer is No.

Nothing actually can give you 72 hours a day or 4 hands to do your job ..nothing can

make the sky pink and can make you immortal. 

Focus at this moment ..exactly at this moment, take a deep breath; to stimulate your

parasympathetic nervous system . Then calmly approach your mind with logic and

oppose the desire that hurts you.

 For past event :

In such a case do just the opposite, and don't oppose yourself. Yes, don't oppose; be

on your own side..don't punish yourself by pushing the agony.

"Just accept it "

say to yourself "this was bound to happen, it was written in the destiny ..out of your

hand" and be sympathetic towards yourself. 

Conclusion:

Now , get a big hug as we wish you already understand these techniques and you are

gonna bring your own Metamorphosis.

Last but not the least ,as we mentioned here about the Reward center of the brain,

the 2nd tool ;Hatred works exactly like that on the punishment center of our  brain.

We are going to elaborate it in our next post. So for rest 5 tools stay tuned.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!