Refuge or Hiding Place ?

[old dead wood]

I'll begin my introduction with writing from Jack Kornfield's "The Wise Heart":

"...after my years in the monastery, I was lost in the universal side...the Western world seemed speedy and driven. It was appallingly materialistic...obsessed with success...I had no idea how to fit back in...it was hard to re-enter the world of form. I had to get a job, find a place to live, open a bank account...I struggled with these details...It took me years of work and practice in the world to learn respect for the details of work and money and relationship...I have seen many people like myself who have used spirituality as a way to avoid the world of form."

I'm 58 years old, and my whole life has been a very slow dawning of this realization for myself. I recently met with my three best old high school friends from 40 years ago. All were successful business millionaires with histories of accomplishment. I had nothing comparable to share. In contrast to them I seemed, I dare say, "retarded", lacking growth, and undeveloped. Although I still have a personal non-monastic "practice" (mindfulness and sporadic sitting), I continue to have concerns generated by my personal experience of some kind of "willful failure" in the world of form. I still feel drawn to the dhamma, but I KNOW I need to try to cope in the material world. So, I suppose some of my forum input will deal with these matters.

Old Dead Wood

[Ben]

Hi ODW
The vast majority of us here in DW are lay people who juxtopposed to the materialistic societies we live in.
I'm sure many of our members will echo sentiments and share the concerns that you will bring here.
Welcome to Dhamma Wheel.
metta

Ben

[Guy]

Hi OldDeadWood,

So what if you're not a millionaire? How many millions of dollars can save you from aging, sickness and death? What good is money when death comes?

Your faith in the Dhamma, your good Kamma and your spiritual practice are greater assets than any amount of money.

May you be happy

With Metta,

Guy

[Dugu]

My little brother once said, "it is easy to walk with confidence when you have wealth and success, but if one can walk with confidence without them, he is far more accomplished."

[David N. Snyder]

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel!

Net worth of a poor person after death: $0
Net worth of a rich person after death: $0

It is only the Dhamma, our merits, and insight attainments that we "take with us."