快乐本质和真实的自由（4）

快乐与自由

快乐本质和真实的自由（4）
第4章 痛苦会让人去寻找缓解痛苦的方法，获得必要的物质条件

人类的最基本的需求有两大类，一是衣食住行的需求，二是家庭的需求。这两大类需求包括生理上的，和安全上的。如果生理上的需求得不到满足，就会带来极大的痛苦，甚至会直接危及生命。
如果安全上的需求得不到满足，人类就会感受到恐惧、焦虑、担忧，所带来的心理上的痛苦。

首先，人类需要足够的衣服和食物，其次，需要一个房屋遮风挡雨，晚上能够睡觉，或者疲劳的时候能够休息，还能够保护自己的安全。夏天闷热的时候，可以洗个凉水澡，或者有冷空调。冬天寒冷的时候，可以洗热水澡，或者有热空调。

当人成年以后，就有了结婚生子的需求，多数人类都害怕孤独，他们需要一个家，互相依靠，度过漫长的苦难人生。

人类为了获得这些最基本的生活物质条件，绝大多数的人都需要去付出自己的体力和脑力劳动，
人类在劳动的时候，有不同的心态。有些人完全是出于自私的动机和心态来付出劳动，只有极少数的人是完全纯粹地为了利他，以这样的心态或动机来付出劳动。而绝大多数人的动机和心态是介于这两者之间的。

愿意共赢的，德行好一点的人，比较受人欢迎。他们的正面的情绪和行为会多一点，例如诚实、谦让、友善等。

自私心多一点、索取心偏强一点的人，不受人欢迎。他们的负面的情绪和行为会多一点，例如嫉妒、欺骗、争夺等。
自私心特别重、而贪欲心又很强的人，就容易侵犯他人，容易犯罪。

人类在最基本的需求实现以后，如果有更多的财富，大多数人都愿意去玩耍，游戏，旅游，唱歌、跳舞、运动，参加各种娱乐活动。

有一类人会对自己的名誉、地位、尊严、威望的贪求心比较强。他们喜欢做官、喜欢当领导、喜欢控制别人，自己的下属越多越好，甚至有些人喜欢别人的崇拜。

当人类有足够的财富，他就会去追求更美好而奢侈的事物，
例如豪宅、豪车、美女、美食，各种黄金珠宝等等，

当然，人类的劳动技能和聪明才智是有很大的差距的。也就是说他获取财富和地位的能力是有很大的差距的。

有些人智商和情商都很低，注定他会很贫穷。

有些人虽然劳动技能和聪明才智都不差，但是他懒惰、或者自私、情商低，人际关系差，一般也富不起来，即使是个暴发户，很有可能因为贪欲而盲目投资，导致破产，

有些人不仅劳动技能和聪明才智都好，而且还勤奋，不投机，情商高，人际关系好，一般都会富起来，

这种人富起来以后，有些人仍然很节俭，愿意去布施；有些人却变得奢华起来，很愿意享受生活，增长自己的各种爱好和贪欲，这种人一般十几年以后，身体就开始生病。 The essence of pleasure and true freedom (4)
Chapter 4
Pain leads people to find methods of relief from suffering and leads people to rely on material objects as a suppressant.

There are two fundamental categories of needs for human beings, the need for food, clothing, housing, transportation, and the needs of family. These two categories of needs include physical and safety needs. If the physical needs are not met, great pain will ensue which may lead a person into imminent danger. to the person.
If the needs for safety is are not met, human beings will feel the psychological pain of fear, anxiety, and worry.

First of all, human beings need adequate clothing and food; secondly, they need a shelter from the wind and rain, to sleep at night, or to rest when tired, and to protect their own safety. During the heat of summer, they can take a cool shower or enjoy a cold air-conditioned room. During the cold in winter, they take a hot shower, or have a warm air-conditioned room.
When one reaches adulthood, the need arises to get married and have children. Most humans are afraid of loneliness. They need a home and to rely on each other to endure a long and hard life.

In order to obtain these basic needs of life, the vast majority of human beings need to work hard with their body and mind.
Humans have different mentalities towards work. Some people work entirely out of selfish motives, rare are those who work altruistically to benefit others. Most people's motivations and mindsets fall between these two endeavours.

People who believe in the win-win morality or have higher standard of virtue are more popular. They more progressive dynamics and behaviors, such as honesty, humility, friendliness, etc.

People who are more selfish and demanding are not welcome by most. They incline to have negative emotions and behaviors, such as jealousy, cheating, and a love to brawl, etc.
People who are particularly selfish and greedy are prone to offending others and committing crimes.

After the most basic needs of human beings are realized, if they have gained excessive wealth, most are eager to have fun, play, travel, sing, dance, exercise, and participate in various recreational activities.

Those who are focused on their own reputation, status, dignity, and prestige prefer officialdom, seek leadership and control over others. The more subordinates they manage, the better they feel. Some even crave worship from others.

When man has enough wealth, he will pursue extravagances.
For example, luxury houses, luxury cars, beautiful women, gourmet food, all kinds of gold, jewelry and etc.

Of course, there is a big gap between the levels of skills for labor and the intelligence among people; that is, there is a big difference in the ability to acquire wealth and status.
Some people have low IQ and EQ; they are destined to be poor.
Some, although intelligent with solid work ethic skills, tend to be lazy, selfish, have low emotional intelligence, or poor interpersonal relationships, thus they cannot get rich. Even the vulgar upstarts might eventually declare bankruptcy when they make aimless make financial investments based on their greedy desire.
Some people not only have good labor skills and intelligence, but they are also diligent, not speculative, they have high emotional intelligence, and have good interpersonal relationships. They usually will become rich.

After they become rich, they are still very frugal and willing to give alms; however, some other people may become luxurious, ready to enjoy life and expand their various hobbies and greed. Generally speaking, these people will deteriorate physically after more than 10 years or so.

古人言，知足者常乐。无论是贫穷还是富贵，知足的人，贪求心比较弱，攀比心也比较弱，嫉妒心也比较小，这样他的人生相对来说就过得比较安乐的。

然而，这个时代，无论是贫穷还是富贵的人，贪求心都比较强。贫穷的人，有些人就面朝黄土背朝天，有些人日夜奔波打工，非常的劳苦，每天工作很长时间，活得像老黄牛一样，赚到一点钱，城里人就拿来买房子，变成房奴。农村人就拿来盖房子，房子盖得一个比一个大，都是富屋穷人。他们的人生没有多少乐趣和自由， 就是活着而已。

而那些发了财的富人，就会买好几个房子，或者盖豪宅，买豪车，拿来撑面子，他们更是拿命换钱，比穷人还要辛苦。由于开支很大，贪欲炽盛，不得不冒险加大投资，导致破产倒闭的比比皆是。

我们开的企业家研修养生课，发现企业家是最穷的一群人，几乎都是负资产，三角债很严重，欠的钱一个比一个多。由于压力很大，所以他们的身体比普通人都要差一些。

还有一类人是喜欢文学和艺术的，他们也喜欢追求美的事物，他们其中的多数人靠着自己的文学创作，或艺术表演，来维持生计。现在的艺术也越来越商业化，没有了过去艺术大师们创作的那份天真和纯粹。作品普通一般，善于炒作的人在殿堂，而那些真正的高手和大师却在民间。

有很多人喜欢学习和认知，但是，其中的多数人还是为了更好的去满足自己的各种需求，只有极少数的人有好奇心，愿意去探索宇宙人生的真理和真相，开发自己的智慧和其他的各种潜能，并使之趋于更加完善。

当然，还有极少数人可以继承足够的祖辈和父辈的财产或地位，因为他们不知道钱财来之不易，这种人往往都是败家子，喜欢吃喝玩乐，享受生活，到中晚年，大多数家庭都会破败。当然也有极少数，像贾宝玉、李叔同、李娜、宁铂一样的人，能够看破红尘，知道神马都是浮云。知道富贵如春梦。正可谓：

陋室空堂，当年笏满床；
衰草枯杨，曾为歌舞场。
蛛丝儿结满雕梁，绿纱今又糊在蓬窗上。
说什么脂正浓，粉正香，如何两鬓又成霜？
昨日黄土陇头送白骨，今宵红灯帐底卧鸳鸯。
金满箱，银满箱，转眼乞丐人皆谤。
正叹他人命不长，那知自己归来丧。
训有方，保不定日后作强梁。
择膏粱，谁承望流落在烟花巷！
因嫌纱帽小，致使锁枷扛，
昨怜破袄寒，今嫌紫蟒长。
乱烘烘你方唱罢我登场，反认他乡是故乡。
甚荒唐，到头来都是为他人作嫁衣裳！
As the ancients said, “a contented mind is a virtual feast”. Regardless, whether rich or poor, a contented person is less covetousness, less competitive, and less jealous, so his life will be relatively happier.

However, in this era, whether poor or rich, people have become greedier. Some poor labourers work extremely hard, they work with their face to the ground and their back to the sky, day and night; some workers have to work long hours, they are rushing and hustling around, living like an old scalper, earning just a little. The city people use the money to buy houses, and in turn enslave themselves to their house. Rural people spend the money to build bigger and bigger houses, and end up as poor, rich men. They don't have much fun and freedom in their lives; they just live.
And those rich people who have made a fortune will buy several houses, or build luxury houses, buy luxury cars, and use them to show off. They exchange their lives for money, which is a more difficult way to live than the poor. Due to the large expenditure and greed, they have to take risks to increase their investments, and could lead to a bankruptcy eventually, and it’s is not an abnormal outcome.
During our cultivation training course for entrepreneurs, it’s found that entrepreneurs are the poorest people among all, almost all of them have negative assets and in serious debts; the money owed by them increases more and more. Due to tremendous stress, their physical health is usually a bit worse than the average person.

Some people enjoy literature and art. They also like to pursue beautiful things. Most of them rely on their prowess to create or engage in artistic performances to make a living. However nowadays, art has become more and more commercialized; they pale in comparison in authenticity and purity to the artistic masters of antiquity. Now works of art are ordinary; those who plagiarize are in the palace, and the truly skillful masters are among the people.
Many people enjoy learning and cognition, but most with the intention to meet their own needs. Only a minority of people have the curiosity and are willing to inquire about the truth of life and universe, to discover their own wisdom and other potentials, or to make themselves a better person.

Of course, there are a small percentage of people who inherit enough property or status from their grandparents and parents. Since they have no clue that money doesn’t come by easy, such people are often prodigals who just like to eat, drink, and enjoy life. When they reach their middle or old age, their family will break up and diminish. Of course, there are also very few people like Jia Baoyu [the principal character in the classic 18th century Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber], Li Shutong [a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and musician who became a Buddhist monk], Li Na [a Chinese singer who later became a Buddhist nun], and Ning Bo [a famous child prodigy who later became a Buddhist monk] who they can see through the emptiness of life and world, who they know that all things are of no consequence just like floating clouds and that wealth is like a spring’s dream. It could be said that [as quoted from the song in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber]:. As if:

Sordid rooms and vacant courts,
Replete in years gone by with beds where statesmen lay;
Parched grass and withered banian trees,
Where once were halls for song and dance!
Spiders' webs the carved pillars intertwine,
The green gauze now is also pasted on the straw windows!
What about the cosmetic fresh concocted or the powder just scented;
Why has the hair too on each temple become white like hoarfrost!
Yesterday the tumulus of yellow earth buried the bleached bones,
To-night under the red silk curtain reclines the couple!
Gold fills the coffers, silver fills the boxes,
But in a twinkle, the beggars will all abuse you!
While you deplore that the life of others is not long,
You forget that you yourself are approaching death!
You educate your sons with all propriety,
But they may someday, 'tis hard to say become thieves;
Though you choose (your fare and home) the fatted beam,
You may, who can say, fall into some place of easy virtue!
Through your dislike of the gauze hat as mean,
You have come to be locked in a cangue;
Yesterday, poor fellow, you felt cold in a tattered coat,
To-day, you despise the purple embroidered dress as long!
Confusion reigns far and wide! you have just sung your part, I come on the boards,
Instead of yours, you recognise another as your native land;
What utter perversion!
In one word, it comes to this we make wedding clothes for others!