Essay by Luke Foster
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” Buddha
I try to give things at least four times a day as I find that because I am not a parent I don’t have someone else to care about so the best way to have a kind heart is giving to others that increases a sense of well being and altruism.
“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” Martin Luther King
The Best kind of giving is when you expect nothing in return and not tell a soul about your good deed as big noting yourself about what you have given negates the pureness of heart.
“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” Dalai Lama
I want to help the Tibetan people so much in a selfish way because they are the wisest most loving people in the world so when they are wealthy and safe then the whole world is wealthy and safe so its a better world for me to live in as well but perhaps this is altruism rather than selfishness.
I think the Dalai Lama is selfless and giving not just materially but with his time for world leaders and he gives them deep compassion and wisdom with their public and private problems but he also gives small gifts too that builds trust with the world leaders, or Tibetan people or a cleaner or cook as he treats everyone the same no matter what their position in society.
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” Buddha
The only time I feel lonely is on a Saturday when I force myself to have a break from my art and writing as I only feel happy when I am being creative and solving complex problems.
“Creative thinking – in terms of idea creativity – is not a mystical talent. It is a skill that can be practised and nurtured.” Edward de Bono
Giving is as important as humour and dancing as they all lighten the soul and lift ones spirit.
Humour is the best way to teach a lesson as it lasts in ones heart and mind for decades rather than a stern remark that only sears someone and oneself like putting ones hand in a fire.
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Charlie Chaplin
Whats the point of hoarding masses of possessions as you can’t take them with you when you die so why not share them around and lessen the inequality of wealth in the world.
Some people have so many valuable possessions that they have to hoard them in bank vaults around the world and others in the developing world have so little that they can’t afford a cup of clean drinking water or a mouthful of rice and thousands of them die every few minutes of starvation and simple preventable diseases.
No access to clean drinking water is the biggest killer of children in the developing world and I can’t believe for eighty cents I can buy a 1.5 litre bottle of water in Australia at a super market that would save the lives of five children in the developing world.
The uneven distribution of wealth in the world is the worlds biggest problem.
The inequality of wealth is not someone else’s problem its our problem in the rich countries where we live in the lap of luxury and have so much food that obesity is a problem while children in Africa a stone throw away have such little food and clean drinking water that they die of famine in their weeping parents arms while so undernourished that their arms are like branches and their ribs showing from starvation.
Ninety percent of people in Afghanistan were dying of starvation six months ago but I haven’t checked the internet at the moment to check the statistics but I am sure it would still be a lot.
The aid organisations are doing a fantastic job but need more staff and security and much more funding as its not a child’s fault they are born into abject poverty and starvation and with no access to clean drinking water and I feel so sad for their parents watching their dear child dying in their arms and what could be worse than that.
If we can’t share the immense wealth of the world then we should feel ashamed as there is enough food and luxury’s for everyone and if we are failing the brotherhood and sisterhood of humanity then we should feel ashamed.
I don’t think that people who are rich are greedy deliberately but rather there is an innate sensibility in humans for self preservation and to accumulate wealth but the problem comes when the person doesn’t share the excess.
As I always say you can’t put a roof over someone else’s head until you can put a roof over your own head.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
I am not letting the world leaders have it I am just asking humbly to share the excess with the developing world and the homeless of western countries as personally when I was in New York in December last year and passed homeless people I couldn’t sleep comfortably at night in my safe warm backpacker room in Brooklyn unless I shared what I had with the homeless I passed on the cold winter nights on the way to the stores to get my breakfast lunch and dinner and on the way to the post office to send parcels to world leaders, famous actors and artists.
I felt the same in Sydney before I left for New York where I bought the homeless near Town Hall Station nice clothes, food, drinks and literally took the shirt off my own back and gave it to the most desperate homeless man as a gesture of care.
I think its much better to not tell people of ones good deeds but I thought about it a lot last night and realised that some times its good to share the gestures of compassion rather than keeping it to yourself.
I feel the most pious thing a person from any religion can do is to have compassion and giving to the poor as most people only have altruism towards their immediate family.
I think in Australia our politicians past and present should be congratulated as Australia has one of the most altruistic welfare systems in the world and I myself live on a generous pension and feel wealthy beyond belief after seeing the poverty and desperation of India twenty years ago.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” Buddha
I also think Australia has an ideal healthcare and education system as we spend forty percent of our budget on education which is a lot compared to America who spends ninety percent of there money on the military and only the very wealthy can afford to go to university.
Everyone who has the grades can go to university in Australia with the HECS loan system where you pay back your education bill in tax when you earn enough money.
Medicare is ideal as well where healthcare is free for everyone unless you are rich and want treatment with the highest paid medical staff at a private hospital.
I have quite a severe disability and there is something in Australia called the NDIS where people with a disability get access to funding for support in the community and have been hospitalised six times and now live on my own and need that vital support.
In America is someone needs an expensive life saving operation that the healthcare system is so primitive that often they have to sell their house to pay for the operation which is shameful.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Buddha
I am not putting fruity ideas into the world leaders heads but trying to put good ideas into your heads.
I am lucky to be born in Australia as if I was born in America I probably would have died on the streets of New York once the safety net of my darling parents care was taken away on a snowy and chilly winter night.
