Over the past few weeks, we’ve discussed consumerism, how it is driven by state-actors through economic policy (economic growth); how it is largely driven by greed and envy; that it is the underlying catalyst for a general sense of emptiness (leveraged through manipulative advertising which plays on it); it becomes a vicious cycle of the perpetual hunger for more – “what’s next”.

Consumerism gives rise to significant problems on a personal, societal, and environmental level.

Temperance (self-restraint) is critical to living healthier, happier, and more peaceful lives. This was promoted by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese philosophers, and by most of the world’s great religions and even Charles Darwin.

I mention the Rotary Creed as I feel it is a wonderful tool to help build temperance in our dealings with others. It goes - "Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Some of the quotes I used:

The Century of the Self documentary is “the story of the rise of an idea that has come to dominate our society. It is the belief that satisfaction of individual feelings and desires is our highest priority” - Adam Curtis

The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.” – Gus Speth

There is a single trait that psychologists have studied over the years that can actually predict the answers to all of the 5 questions. And, it isn’t grades in school or friendliness or confidence or emotional stability or even personality in general. It isn’t intelligence or persistence. Rather, it is restraint — the ability to resist temptation confidently and repeatedly. Psychologists call this conscientiousness.

A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires -- that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still -- can alone achieve peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy such desires. Bhagavad-gita 2.70