Congratulations David N Snyder!

[SamKR]

Happy birthday, and thanks for the Dhamma Wheel.

[Ben]

Hi David,
You are my elder by five and one half months. My big 50 will occur in May 2013.
I don't know where I'll be or what I'm doing - but you are invited!
By the way, my 17-year-old son, Darcy, he is very impressed with the Lotus.
I guess you could call it your "Dhamma Wheels"!!
Wishing you a very happy day. No doubt you will do something special with your family.
with metta,

Ben

[David N. Snyder]

Hi David,
You are my elder by five and one half months. My big 50 will occur in May 2013.
I don't know where I'll be or what I'm doing - but you are invited!
By the way, my 17-year-old son, Darcy, he is very impressed with the Lotus.
I guess you could call it your "Dhamma Wheels"!!

Hi Ben,

Thanks. Tell Darcy I "liked" his band on facebook. Here are some other photos of the lotus:

[Kusala]

Happy birthday, David!

[Alobha]

Happy Birthday David!

[Sylvester]

We normally celebrate my birthday on Christmas since the office at our business is closed (actual date is Dec. 26 at 1 am). We needed a new car in our household since we have a new driver soon with our daughter learning to drive, so since this was the big 5-O, we decided to get a yellow lotus with a customized license plate:

Many happy returns!

I thought the Lotus is the vimāna of choice of bodhisattvas?

[Thanavuddho]

Happy birthday, and thanks for the Dhamma Wheel.

ayu vanno sukham balam

[alan]

Wow that's a seriously flashy chariot--must have been expensive. Too bad all the components will eventually decay.
I wonder if that money could have been better sent elsewhere.

[Ben]

I thought the Lotus is the vimāna of choice of bodhisattvas?

It certainly looks that way!
Thank you for sharing the extra photos, David!
Kind regards,
Ben

[David N. Snyder]

Wow that's a seriously flashy chariot--must have been expensive. Too bad all the components will eventually decay.
I wonder if that money could have been better sent elsewhere.

Yes, all the components will decay. It is depreciating faster than a rock dropped from the sky.

What is a car? Is the engine the car? Is the transmission the car? Are the doors the car? Are the windows the car? Where is the car-ness?

Seriously though, I expected to get some flak for the type of car, but in the end, it's just a car and let's not kid ourselves, we are all lay people (well, most of us here anyway). We probably all could do more by spending elsewhere, whether it be foregoing the theater tickets, the cruises, restaurants, jewelry, tattoos, designer clothes, bars, sports shows, etc., etc. Without mentioning specific amounts, suffice it to say I have spent more on promoting Dhamma and to charitable causes than the cost of this car. We all could do more, including me and I admit I'm not perfect. /

[Ben]

. Without mentioning specific amounts, suffice it to say I have spent more on promoting Dhamma and to charitable causes than the cost of this car. We all could do more, including me and I admit I'm not perfect. /

David,
And I thank you for it
With metta,
Ben

[David N. Snyder]

Thanks Ben! Kalyana-mittas like you (and my other kalyana-mittas here at DW) are the best treasures! Far superior to any inanimate things.

[Digity]

Wow that's a seriously flashy chariot--must have been expensive. Too bad all the components will eventually decay.
I wonder if that money could have been better sent elsewhere.

I have spent more on promoting Dhamma and to charitable causes than the cost of this car. We all could do more, including me and I admit I'm not perfect. /

Yes, we do appreciate it! This forum has been a great resource.

That being said...Happy B-Day!

P.S. Did you ever consider the license plate "Carma"!

[SamKR]

We probably all could do more by spending elsewhere, whether it be foregoing the theater tickets, the cruises, restaurants, jewelry, tattoos, designer clothes, bars, sports shows, etc., etc. Without mentioning specific amounts, suffice it to say I have spent more on promoting Dhamma and to charitable causes than the cost of this car. We all could do more, including me and I admit I'm not perfect. /

Hello David,
I appreciate your contributions to promote Dhamma in the West. And, I congratulate you for the merits earned due to Dhamma-work.
I also plan to contribute in future, and I consider people like you as my sources of inspiration.
Sadhu!

[Dmytro]

Greetings, David, and many thanks for your Dhamma work.

Best wishes to you and your family.

[Mawkish1983]

I have spent more on promoting Dhamma and to charitable causes than the cost of this car.

The money can be measured, but my gratitude cannot. Thank you, Dr. Snyder! Happy Birthday

[Yana]

Happy Birthday David

Thank you for Dhammawheel.

[Sambojjhanga]

Congrats, David! Let me say, first, many thanks for Dhamma Wheel. Secondly, NICE CAR! I've always admired that little Lotus, it's a sweet sports car.

As to Alan's observation. Alan, couldn't we really say this about darned near anything? If David bought himself, say, a Prius, even then people could complain that he'd be better off buying a bike (or walking) and sending the money to charity. If David bought a bike, someone would say "why get such an EXPENSIVE bike? Best to buy a cheap bike and send the money to charity."

But then, couldn't someone make the argument that living in a monastery and meditating all day is a "waste of time" and that person would be better off "helping poor people?" All of these are fallacious arguments.

Truth is, the reason we have the poor and needy is simple: Capitalism DOES NOT WORK unless you maintain a poor or needy class. This is a truth that is generally not taught at, say, the Wharton School of Finance BTW, because I see the flaws and weaknesses in Capitalism doesn't mean I am a Communist! (I'm actually a Socialist, but that's another issue.)

My personal advice to David? Enjoy your beautiful Lotus in good health!

Metta

[David N. Snyder]

Thanks everyone for the kind words! That is enough attention drawn to me, so if you don't mind, I'll close this thread. Thanks again to all.