Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
SarathW
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Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by SarathW »

Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?
Why many countries like India and Sri Lanka are poor even though they are the beacon of the spirituality?

“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Crazy cloud
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by Crazy cloud »

I've had the fortune of slipping down the social ladder ending at the bottom, and everything was just fine. Now I am back on my feat again, and nothing has changed.

But I do believe out of my own experience that a spiritual life can be much harder than a normal life. Harder but truly rewarding :)
If you didn't care
What happened to me
And I didn't care for you

We would zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain

Wondering which of the
Buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing
- Roger Waters
binocular
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by binocular »

SarathW wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:57 am Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?
Why many countries like India and Sri Lanka are poor even though they are the beacon of the spirituality?
India or Sri Lanka the beacons of spirituality??

I think most of what passes for "spirituality" is just trickery, confidence artistry. Some conmen and conwomen end up rich, many don't.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
sentinel
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by sentinel »

SarathW wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:57 am Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?
Why many countries like India and Sri Lanka are poor even though they are the beacon of the spirituality?

The way I see it , is mostly those who are depressed and unhappy and poor are seeking spiritual comforts ! Seeking the way out from their misery ! Unfortunately of course !
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Crazy cloud
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by Crazy cloud »

It could be as simple as it proofs the saying: Simplicity is sanity!

:smile:
If you didn't care
What happened to me
And I didn't care for you

We would zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain

Wondering which of the
Buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing
- Roger Waters
dharmacorps
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by dharmacorps »

I think its the other way around. Unhappiness and suffering leads to a spiritual search.
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Crazy cloud
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by Crazy cloud »

That is uncertain, it can go this way or it can go that way

In these days some of our "biggest stars" in entertainment seem to suffer much more than I
If you didn't care
What happened to me
And I didn't care for you

We would zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain

Wondering which of the
Buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing
- Roger Waters
binocular
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by binocular »

dharmacorps wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2018 5:23 pmI think its the other way around. Unhappiness and suffering leads to a spiritual search.
Sure. But success is anything but guaranteed.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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DNS
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by DNS »

Actually, spiritual people and religious people tend to be happier. I won't link any studies, so no one thinks I'm cherry-picking, just google on your own and you'll see numerous studies confirm that the religious and greater religiosity tends to result in happier people.

And it extends across all socio-economic classes. It could be the sense of interconnectedness, the social effects, the sense of purpose, but it tends to result in greater happiness.
User1249x
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by User1249x »

DNS wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2018 6:10 pm Actually, spiritual people and religious people tend to be happier. I won't link any studies, so no one thinks I'm cherry-picking, just google on your own and you'll see numerous studies confirm that the religious and greater religiosity tends to result in happier people.

And it extends across all socio-economic classes. It could be the sense of interconnectedness, the social effects, the sense of purpose, but it tends to result in greater happiness.
I've seen similar research,
Over 85% of people or so had some sort of spirituality when tested across countries and they included isolated communities in rural areas, was quite good research. I dont remember the method they used but it was clear that Nihilist views were a minority and they were not doing very well demographically.
Disciple
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by Disciple »

Southern evangelical christians are some of the happiest people I've ever met.
SarathW
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by SarathW »

Southern evangelical christians are some of the happiest people I've ever met.
When we meet people in a social occasion, temple or a pub it seems they all are happy.
In the OP I am talking about people in general without their mask on.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User1249x
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by User1249x »

It would be interesting to pose this question in way that below Wealth-Averaged is the standard for what constitutes poor i think :thinking:
That could be calculated to aproximate estimation easily. My guess is Nihilists overrepresented somehow in the mid-high range.
My guess would be that Nihilism is overrepresented in depression too.

Also this;
SarathW wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:57 am Why many countries like India and Sri Lanka are poor even though they are the beacon of the spirituality?
Rich or poor is measured in contentment better
Treasury of Truth (Dhammapada) Chapter 15, Happiness - BuddhaNet
www.buddhanet.net/dhammapada/d_happy.htm

Verse 204. Four Supreme Acquisitions.
  1. Health's the greatest gain,
  • contentment, best of wealth,
  • trusting's best of kin,
  • Nibbana bliss supreme.
:anjali:
SarathW
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by SarathW »

not numbers on a screen or metal in hand.
:rofl:
I wish we can practice this.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User1249x
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Re: Are spiritual people depressed and unhappy and poor?

Post by User1249x »

SarathW wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:57 am
Wealth measured in contentment, not numbers on a screen or metal in hand.
:rofl:
I wish we can practice this.
:heart: me too
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