Abhijit Naskar's Blog - Posts Tagged "luxury"
The Golden Sonnet
Where is el dorado?
It is not a city but a person.
Where is the kingdom of heaven?
It is not a place but compassion.
Where can we find joy?
Not the market but in acts of goodness.
Where can we find health?
Not in gadgets but in simpleness.
Where can we find strength?
Not in the bank but in character.
How can we make progress?
Not with luxury but by lifting the other.
Lesser the needs, better the life.
Gentler the soul, lighter the strife.
It is not a city but a person.
Where is the kingdom of heaven?
It is not a place but compassion.
Where can we find joy?
Not the market but in acts of goodness.
Where can we find health?
Not in gadgets but in simpleness.
Where can we find strength?
Not in the bank but in character.
How can we make progress?
Not with luxury but by lifting the other.
Lesser the needs, better the life.
Gentler the soul, lighter the strife.
Dollar of Disparity (The Sonnet)
Millions of people go without food,
For some privileged nimrods to afford their luxuries.
Millions of people have no access to essentials,
So that celebrities can buy their lamborghinis.
The difference between phony activists and a reformer,
Is not in what they say but in their lifestyle and action.
In a world that still suffers from the lack of essentials,
Indulgence in luxury is human rights violation.
What people do with their money is not a private affair,
Each penny above necessity belongs to social welfare.
One who talks of equality while riding in a Rolls Royce,
Is the last person to be concerned of people's despair.
None has a right to luxury till all can access necessities.
Every dollar spent on luxury is a dollar of disparity.
For some privileged nimrods to afford their luxuries.
Millions of people have no access to essentials,
So that celebrities can buy their lamborghinis.
The difference between phony activists and a reformer,
Is not in what they say but in their lifestyle and action.
In a world that still suffers from the lack of essentials,
Indulgence in luxury is human rights violation.
What people do with their money is not a private affair,
Each penny above necessity belongs to social welfare.
One who talks of equality while riding in a Rolls Royce,
Is the last person to be concerned of people's despair.
None has a right to luxury till all can access necessities.
Every dollar spent on luxury is a dollar of disparity.
Giants in Jeans Sonnet 49
Vegetables have destiny,
Humans have responsibility.
Vermin have luxury,
Humans have simplicity.
Nightcrawlers have insecurity,
Humans have dignity.
Bedbugs have stability,
Humans have community.
Donkeys have self-love,
Humans have self-annihilation.
Horses have competition,
Humans have revolution.
Fancy castles of glass belong in fairy-story.
No time to rest, we have too much duty.
Humans have responsibility.
Vermin have luxury,
Humans have simplicity.
Nightcrawlers have insecurity,
Humans have dignity.
Bedbugs have stability,
Humans have community.
Donkeys have self-love,
Humans have self-annihilation.
Horses have competition,
Humans have revolution.
Fancy castles of glass belong in fairy-story.
No time to rest, we have too much duty.
On Space Tourism
Many people are mad at the escapades of billionaires in space, but the fact of the matter is, had they been invited to go with the billionaires themselves, most of them would be thrilled to their bones, for they are not really mad at the billionaires, they are mad because they can’t afford such fancy travel.
You see, they are the same people who save up their hard-earned money so they could have a relaxing or thrilling vacation somewhere, even though their version of vacation turns bleak in front of the glorious space vacations of the super-rich.
So to those who pompously ask the question, “should people travel to space for fun”, I ask, “should you have a vacation on an island for fun – should you have dinner at a fancy restaurant for fun – when countless souls are suffering from the lack of the very essentials of life?”
It’s all about status. A billionaire’s idea of vacation is in space, whereas a regular person’s idea of a vacation is on some island or in another continent. And if the billionaires are abusing resources for personal enjoyment, so are these regular people.
You have no right to demand moral accountability from billionaires, if you yourself don’t mind engaging in your everyday luxuries – for your luxuries may seem dim compared to those of the super-rich, but still the resources you spend on them could feed and clothe at least ten families in developing parts of the world for a year.
The very existence of billionaires is a sign of economic disparities, but they are not the sole cause of those disparities. Every individual engaging in luxury beyond necessity is as much responsible for the economic disparities in society as the super wealthy. So till you learn to distinguish between necessity and luxury and thereafter abolish all trace of luxury from your own life, you are the problem yourself, as much as the greedy capitalists and politicians.
(The above piece is an excerpt from Gente Mente Adelante: Prejudice Conquered is World Conquered, 2021)
You see, they are the same people who save up their hard-earned money so they could have a relaxing or thrilling vacation somewhere, even though their version of vacation turns bleak in front of the glorious space vacations of the super-rich.
So to those who pompously ask the question, “should people travel to space for fun”, I ask, “should you have a vacation on an island for fun – should you have dinner at a fancy restaurant for fun – when countless souls are suffering from the lack of the very essentials of life?”
It’s all about status. A billionaire’s idea of vacation is in space, whereas a regular person’s idea of a vacation is on some island or in another continent. And if the billionaires are abusing resources for personal enjoyment, so are these regular people.
You have no right to demand moral accountability from billionaires, if you yourself don’t mind engaging in your everyday luxuries – for your luxuries may seem dim compared to those of the super-rich, but still the resources you spend on them could feed and clothe at least ten families in developing parts of the world for a year.
The very existence of billionaires is a sign of economic disparities, but they are not the sole cause of those disparities. Every individual engaging in luxury beyond necessity is as much responsible for the economic disparities in society as the super wealthy. So till you learn to distinguish between necessity and luxury and thereafter abolish all trace of luxury from your own life, you are the problem yourself, as much as the greedy capitalists and politicians.
(The above piece is an excerpt from Gente Mente Adelante: Prejudice Conquered is World Conquered, 2021)
Billion-Dollar Grave (The Sonnet)
All our life we work hard to buy golden chains.
With which we then bind ourselves.
What's the point of living as fancy slaves?
What will we do with our billion-dollar graves?
We sit on our couch covering our eyes,
Then we yell, why everything is so very dark!
But no one hears for they are also shouting,
Praying for a messiah to bring back life's spark.
We've forged fascist fences out of all our gold,
And have placed them as walls around us.
Then we shout out - help, help,
And beg to be saved by the universe!
Greed of dollar is the toxic mold on the green of life.
Life flourishes on moderation, not consumerist strife.
With which we then bind ourselves.
What's the point of living as fancy slaves?
What will we do with our billion-dollar graves?
We sit on our couch covering our eyes,
Then we yell, why everything is so very dark!
But no one hears for they are also shouting,
Praying for a messiah to bring back life's spark.
We've forged fascist fences out of all our gold,
And have placed them as walls around us.
Then we shout out - help, help,
And beg to be saved by the universe!
Greed of dollar is the toxic mold on the green of life.
Life flourishes on moderation, not consumerist strife.
Selfless Nuts (The Sonnet) | Either Reformist or Terrorist
If someone wants to do harm they’ll do harm,
Whether they have nukes or sticks and stone.
If someone wants to do good they’ll do good,
Whether they have a billion dollars or just one.
Intention is the mother of all good deeds ‘n bad,
It has got nothing to do with having resources.
With intention one bread can feed ten people,
It cannot feed even one when there is no intent.
A world that is run by greed stops for nobody,
Who cares what such a world thinks as righteous!
In such a world you gotta throw caution to the wind,
And stand as pillar of service among the retards.
Long enough snobbish retards have ruled the world!
Now it is time for selfless nuts to take charge.
Whether they have nukes or sticks and stone.
If someone wants to do good they’ll do good,
Whether they have a billion dollars or just one.
Intention is the mother of all good deeds ‘n bad,
It has got nothing to do with having resources.
With intention one bread can feed ten people,
It cannot feed even one when there is no intent.
A world that is run by greed stops for nobody,
Who cares what such a world thinks as righteous!
In such a world you gotta throw caution to the wind,
And stand as pillar of service among the retards.
Long enough snobbish retards have ruled the world!
Now it is time for selfless nuts to take charge.
What is Happiness | High Voltage Habib
What is Happiness?
Happiness is a myth. It doesn’t exist.
What we call happiness is merely a temporary sensation of excitement that we receive upon the fulfillment of our expectations.
It’s not happiness, it’s addiction.
And since we have made a society out of this insane pursuit of addiction, our brain is never at a healthy state to actually fathom and more importantly produce true happiness.
And what is true happiness?
Contentment.
You’ve been working for hours. You haven’t had the time to even have some water. Finally you finish your work and drink a glass of water. The sheer feeling of joy that you receive at that moment – that’s happiness, that’s contentment.
You haven’t been near your loved ones for days, for you’ve been away for work. Finally you get home and take them in your arms – that’s happiness, that’s contentment.
Now let me tell you what is not happiness, what is in fact an unhealthy addiction which only ruins a person’s life both mentally and physically.
You’ve been using the same smartphone for over a year now. Suddenly the brand announces the release of a new model. And you get all hyped up to buy that model, despite the fact that you don’t really need it. That’s addiction – that’s an illness.
You visit a new place on vacation. But instead of experiencing that place with your heart, you bring your phone out and waste the entire vacation on taking pictures to post on social media.
That’s addiction, that’s illness. You know why? Because when you get home, you realize, you have plenty of pictures of the vacation on your phone alright, but you have no meaningful memory of that place in your heart.
In usual circumstances, our brain doesn’t distinguish between addiction and true joy. It can only do that, when we stop running and start living. Because at the end of the day, joy is not about fulfilling expectations, joy is about learning to live beyond expectations.
Happiness is a myth. It doesn’t exist.
What we call happiness is merely a temporary sensation of excitement that we receive upon the fulfillment of our expectations.
It’s not happiness, it’s addiction.
And since we have made a society out of this insane pursuit of addiction, our brain is never at a healthy state to actually fathom and more importantly produce true happiness.
And what is true happiness?
Contentment.
You’ve been working for hours. You haven’t had the time to even have some water. Finally you finish your work and drink a glass of water. The sheer feeling of joy that you receive at that moment – that’s happiness, that’s contentment.
You haven’t been near your loved ones for days, for you’ve been away for work. Finally you get home and take them in your arms – that’s happiness, that’s contentment.
Now let me tell you what is not happiness, what is in fact an unhealthy addiction which only ruins a person’s life both mentally and physically.
You’ve been using the same smartphone for over a year now. Suddenly the brand announces the release of a new model. And you get all hyped up to buy that model, despite the fact that you don’t really need it. That’s addiction – that’s an illness.
You visit a new place on vacation. But instead of experiencing that place with your heart, you bring your phone out and waste the entire vacation on taking pictures to post on social media.
That’s addiction, that’s illness. You know why? Because when you get home, you realize, you have plenty of pictures of the vacation on your phone alright, but you have no meaningful memory of that place in your heart.
In usual circumstances, our brain doesn’t distinguish between addiction and true joy. It can only do that, when we stop running and start living. Because at the end of the day, joy is not about fulfilling expectations, joy is about learning to live beyond expectations.
Character No Commodity (The Sonnet) | Mücadele Muhabbet
Character, I say, is no commodity,
To be traded in for luxury.
Integrity, I say, is no commodity,
To be traded in for security,
Virtues, I say, are no commodity,
To be traded in for applause.
Values, I say, are no commodity,
To be traded in for comfort.
Warmth, I say, is no commodity,
To be traded in for image.
Humility, I say, is no commodity,
To be traded in for respect.
A life without honor, I say,
Is a life totally gone astray.
To be traded in for luxury.
Integrity, I say, is no commodity,
To be traded in for security,
Virtues, I say, are no commodity,
To be traded in for applause.
Values, I say, are no commodity,
To be traded in for comfort.
Warmth, I say, is no commodity,
To be traded in for image.
Humility, I say, is no commodity,
To be traded in for respect.
A life without honor, I say,
Is a life totally gone astray.
Reject less, repair more | The Peace Testament
With superior sentience, come superior screw-ups. And this holds particularly true for industrialization. Even if we put aside carbon emission, in the year 2020 alone humankind has produced over 2 billion tonnes of trash, which is expected to rise over 70% by the year 2050.
Thus, in the name of progress we the gadget-mad gargoyles keep acting as the true eco-terrorists of the glorious dumping ground, called the planet earth. 2% of all our waste is e-waste. And the alarming bit here is that, that 2% e-waste comprises over 70% of our overall toxic waste.
So, what can you do, you ask? Simple – reject less, repair more. Try to make things last as long as possible, or pass them on to those who have need for them. Don’t let things go to waste, just because you can afford new ones.
For example, my kid cousin’s laptop has been acting up for some time now. But instead of buying them a new pc, I ordered the replacement for the faulty part and repaired the laptop myself. This way, we not only reduce our e-waste footprint on the planet, but in the process, we teach kids to value things.
The point is, whether you do it yourself or get it done by a professional, by practicing repair, you are actively participating in the making of a greener, cleaner and healthier world.
It’s not enough to be just a consumer, you gotta be a conscious consumer, otherwise there is no difference between a consumer and a slave. That is why, right-to-repair is not only a human rights issue, it is also an environmental issue. Repairing and recycling are the bedrock of sustainability. So I say again – reject less, repair more.
Thus, in the name of progress we the gadget-mad gargoyles keep acting as the true eco-terrorists of the glorious dumping ground, called the planet earth. 2% of all our waste is e-waste. And the alarming bit here is that, that 2% e-waste comprises over 70% of our overall toxic waste.
So, what can you do, you ask? Simple – reject less, repair more. Try to make things last as long as possible, or pass them on to those who have need for them. Don’t let things go to waste, just because you can afford new ones.
For example, my kid cousin’s laptop has been acting up for some time now. But instead of buying them a new pc, I ordered the replacement for the faulty part and repaired the laptop myself. This way, we not only reduce our e-waste footprint on the planet, but in the process, we teach kids to value things.
The point is, whether you do it yourself or get it done by a professional, by practicing repair, you are actively participating in the making of a greener, cleaner and healthier world.
It’s not enough to be just a consumer, you gotta be a conscious consumer, otherwise there is no difference between a consumer and a slave. That is why, right-to-repair is not only a human rights issue, it is also an environmental issue. Repairing and recycling are the bedrock of sustainability. So I say again – reject less, repair more.
Luxury is Violation of Human Rights | Corazon Calamidad
A world that confuses luxury with success, has absolutely zero understanding of the human condition. That’s why they idolize rich and filthy celebrities with private jets and rolls royce, as some sort of demigods. If this is your idea of success, then you guys are more disgustingly primitive than the wildlife in the amazon. At least, wild animals don’t pretend to be civilized.
A CEO shouldn’t get several hundred times the salary that the janitor is paid. An athlete shouldn’t get several hundred times the salary that the waterboy is paid. A filmstar shouldn’t get several hundred times the salary that the crew at the bottom are paid.
I understand if you are not yet civilized enough to flatten the field completely – for you are an infantile species after all. But at the very least, do your best to reduce the gap – that is, if you intend to be human someday.
The glory may differ based on the kind of work a person does, but nobody should suffer to make ends meet while others fly in private jets. Economic growth doesn’t mean the growth of disparity, it means the end of disparity. And we can never end disparity from our society unless we cut off all ties with luxury, preferably by individual accountability, if not, then by means of policy.
Riches maketh filth, filth pursue riches. To live a life of luxury, or to dream of a life of luxury, doesn’t make us ambitious, it only exposes the moron that we are. A species that has not realized simplicity as the way of life, will never in a million years have a society without disease and disparity.
I won’t mince my words, and tell you straight. Wanna be a decent human being? Stay away from luxury. Because luxury is a violation of human rights, human health, and above all, human character.
It’s funny really! Some people can’t afford two wholesome meals a day, while others live with a private airport in their backyard. Some parents work their butt off to keep the clothes on their children’s back, while others shower their kids with lamborghinis and teslas. If this doesn’t open your eyes, perhaps you should try lobotomy. I’m sure you can find some unlicensed surgeon somewhere who’d do it for you if you offer them a trip to the bahamas, or better yet, a trip to space in your own spaceship.
A CEO shouldn’t get several hundred times the salary that the janitor is paid. An athlete shouldn’t get several hundred times the salary that the waterboy is paid. A filmstar shouldn’t get several hundred times the salary that the crew at the bottom are paid.
I understand if you are not yet civilized enough to flatten the field completely – for you are an infantile species after all. But at the very least, do your best to reduce the gap – that is, if you intend to be human someday.
The glory may differ based on the kind of work a person does, but nobody should suffer to make ends meet while others fly in private jets. Economic growth doesn’t mean the growth of disparity, it means the end of disparity. And we can never end disparity from our society unless we cut off all ties with luxury, preferably by individual accountability, if not, then by means of policy.
Riches maketh filth, filth pursue riches. To live a life of luxury, or to dream of a life of luxury, doesn’t make us ambitious, it only exposes the moron that we are. A species that has not realized simplicity as the way of life, will never in a million years have a society without disease and disparity.
I won’t mince my words, and tell you straight. Wanna be a decent human being? Stay away from luxury. Because luxury is a violation of human rights, human health, and above all, human character.
It’s funny really! Some people can’t afford two wholesome meals a day, while others live with a private airport in their backyard. Some parents work their butt off to keep the clothes on their children’s back, while others shower their kids with lamborghinis and teslas. If this doesn’t open your eyes, perhaps you should try lobotomy. I’m sure you can find some unlicensed surgeon somewhere who’d do it for you if you offer them a trip to the bahamas, or better yet, a trip to space in your own spaceship.
