Comments on: Car Slaves http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/ Zen-Inspired Self Development Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:54:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: sof theo http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11170 sof theo Sun, 02 Dec 2007 02:14:07 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11170 Another great pointer, Kenton! Just curious, though. What are you a slave to? Assuming you're still like the rest of us living on the same planet. ;-) I already know you're messy (from one of your old articles), which means I wouldn't want to live in the same house as you as you'd drive me nuts! Still, that's reassuring to know, in a way. Another great pointer, Kenton!

Just curious, though. What are you a slave to? Assuming you’re still like the rest of us living on the same planet. ;-)

I already know you’re messy (from one of your old articles), which means I wouldn’t want to live in the same house as you as you’d drive me nuts! Still, that’s reassuring to know, in a way.

]]> By: Kenton Whitman http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11172 Kenton Whitman Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:08:47 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11172 Hello sof theo! Ooo! Fun Question! I'm a slave to my wife, who I adore. Chocolate. The darker the better. The woods. Whatever silly dream I happen to be chasing at the time. Homemade margaritas. Snorkeling and seeing the sea turtles. Sleep. Chocolate milk. Playing in the snow. Walking barefoot. Dodging bottle rockets that my friend Mike shoots at me. Examining everything. Did I mention Chocolate? Amedei. Milk. My horses. Definitely a slave to my horses. I hate to admit this one since I really should be a dedicated vegetarian, but barbecued ribs. Singing stupid songs that I make up off the top of my head. Those sorts of things. I guess I could do without everything else =) And I'm sorry to mess up the whole reassuring thing, but we've now begun the process of cleaning up the whole house, which has involved giving away almost everything that once made the house messy. Oh well. I guess everyone will have to continue thinking of me as the all-knowing guru of perfection. O algo ;) Sweet dreams, Kenton Hello sof theo!

Ooo! Fun Question! I’m a slave to my wife, who I adore. Chocolate. The darker the better. The woods. Whatever silly dream I happen to be chasing at the time. Homemade margaritas. Snorkeling and seeing the sea turtles. Sleep. Chocolate milk. Playing in the snow. Walking barefoot. Dodging bottle rockets that my friend Mike shoots at me. Examining everything. Did I mention Chocolate? Amedei. Milk. My horses. Definitely a slave to my horses. I hate to admit this one since I really should be a dedicated vegetarian, but barbecued ribs. Singing stupid songs that I make up off the top of my head. Those sorts of things. I guess I could do without everything else =)

And I’m sorry to mess up the whole reassuring thing, but we’ve now begun the process of cleaning up the whole house, which has involved giving away almost everything that once made the house messy.

Oh well. I guess everyone will have to continue thinking of me as the all-knowing guru of perfection. O algo ;)

Sweet dreams,
Kenton

]]> By: Mike S http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11174 Mike S Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:41:20 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11174 Kenton, This is right on for me! I just got back from New York City (last time I was there was about 10 yrs ago) and we live in the Pocono Mt. region of Penna. We drove 1.5 hours on the freeway to get to North Jersey and take a "water taxi" across to the city to ride a bus to and fro. Then we walked the streets briefly in a mass of moving flesh all competing for useless possessions that nobody really needs, but that everybody habitually believes they must have to be "happy". After about 6 hours of this we got back on the buses, water taxi and another 1.5 hour freeway ride back (not to mention the amount of human energy wasted in the stress of competing for freeway space). Even though the purpose of our trip was to take my kids to the Statue of Liberty (it was closed!). The whole time I kept repeating to myself that this is all absolutely insane. But I know people that make this same "commute" to work (career) every day so that they can make the money needed to maintain the biggest houses and the best cars and have all the other stuff that sadly for them seems to define happiness. We seem to be wasting our lives in the "habits of happiness" while denying that we're not "happy." Sorry, didn't mean to rant, but I agree that it's time to deeply review our concepts of happiness that make us slaves to material values and is essentially, killing us. Great Essay! Mike S Kenton,

This is right on for me! I just got back from New York City (last time I was there was about 10 yrs ago) and we live in the Pocono Mt. region of Penna. We drove 1.5 hours on the freeway to get to North Jersey and take a “water taxi” across to the city to ride a bus to and fro.

Then we walked the streets briefly in a mass of moving flesh all competing for useless possessions that nobody really needs, but that everybody habitually believes they must have to be “happy”. After about 6 hours of this we got back on the buses, water taxi and another 1.5 hour freeway ride back (not to mention the amount of human energy wasted in the stress of competing for freeway space). Even though the purpose of our trip was to take my kids to the Statue of Liberty (it was closed!). The whole time I kept repeating to myself that this is all absolutely insane.

But I know people that make this same “commute” to work (career) every day so that they can make the money needed to maintain the biggest houses and the best cars and have all the other stuff that sadly for them seems to define happiness. We seem to be wasting our lives in the “habits of happiness” while denying that we’re not “happy.”

Sorry, didn’t mean to rant, but I agree that it’s time to deeply review our concepts of happiness that make us slaves to material values and is essentially, killing us.

Great Essay!

Mike S

]]> By: sof theo http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11180 sof theo Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:58:05 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11180 Slave to everything fun. You're the perfectly happy guru, alright. Thanks for the glimpses. Just checking. :-) Slave to everything fun. You’re the perfectly happy guru, alright. Thanks for the glimpses. Just checking. :-)

]]> By: Jerry http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11250 Jerry Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:33:17 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11250 What I dream about is living like they did 100 years ago. I would love nothing better than if my family and I lived off the land. Our possessions would include our animals - horses and cows and chickens and pigs maybe. Our house would be a simple wooden structure, perhaps two stories, with a front porch facing the sunsets. We would have a wooden stove and I would chop wood to stay in shape. Our kids would grow up without TV, video games, ipods or cell phones. We would have breakfast together every morning and dinner together every evening. The little settlement we lived in would have just one school where all our kids went from 1st to 12th grade to learn about things that enrich ones life. Most importantly, we would have each other. Telling stories and reading books instead of the TV. We would actually experience love, lifelong love, caring and nurturing. None of this seperation when college time coms around. None of this going our seperate ways to the far corners of the country or the globe. I would know my sons and we would be great friends and work hard together, and my daughters would respect their Dad who would always be there to gently brush away their hurts be it emothional or physical. I would love my grandkids who would have a Grandfather right there instead of all the way across the country. We would be a family in the true sense and it would last our whole lives as we really experienced the beauty which exists in the simplicity of lives lived in the moment for one another. Ironically, when we had this idealic life 100 years ago, we dreamed of greener grass and progress. Well, welcome to progress in the year 2007; the anthesis of what I have just written. No thanks, Mister, give me Montana! Jerry What I dream about is living like they did 100 years ago. I would love nothing better than if my family and I lived off the land. Our possessions would include our animals - horses and cows and chickens and pigs maybe.
Our house would be a simple wooden structure, perhaps two stories, with a front porch facing the sunsets. We would have a wooden stove and I would chop wood to stay in shape. Our kids would grow up without TV, video games, ipods or cell phones. We would have breakfast together every morning and dinner together every evening. The little settlement we lived in would have just one school where all our kids went from 1st to 12th grade to learn about things that enrich ones life. Most importantly, we would have each other. Telling stories and reading books instead of the TV. We would actually experience love, lifelong love, caring and nurturing. None of this seperation when college time coms around. None of this going our seperate ways to the far corners of the country or the globe. I would know my sons and we would be great friends and work hard together, and my daughters would respect their Dad who would always be there to gently brush away their hurts be it emothional or physical. I would love my grandkids who would have a Grandfather right there instead of all the way across the country. We would be a family in the true sense and it would last our whole lives as we really experienced the beauty which exists in the simplicity of lives lived in the moment for one another. Ironically, when we had this idealic life 100 years ago, we dreamed of greener grass and progress. Well, welcome to progress in the year 2007; the anthesis of what I have just written. No thanks, Mister, give me Montana!

Jerry

]]> By: Kenton Whitman http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11254 Kenton Whitman Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:54:40 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11254 Dear Mike, I can relate to how this can feel -- watching people move through life as if asleep, and wanting to do something to 'wake them up' =) As we 'wake up' ourselves, we seem to move to new levels of awareness, and this is when it's easy to look back and want to reach out to help others. It's also a great reminder that we may find ourselves, a year from now, looking back at our present level of awareness and wondering how we could ever have been so asleep! The one person we can always truly help is ourselves. To look at our own lives and see what it is that is keeping us from our own idea of 'perfection'. sof theo wrote a very good question above. I answered in fun, but my list of delightful things isn't all that different from anyone else's. I might take issue with myself about the barbecued ribs, for instance, judging that I am choosing to eat animals who have probably lived in small cages all their lives. I love my horses, but they require much of my time, and do their own 'damage' to the environment. Everything on my list could be joyful, or could be a burden. When we can truly feel joy in all that we do (every action, every thought), our actions can become pure, and then, perhaps, we can help others to awaken as well. Thank you for your observations and words -- I always appreciate it when people bring 'real life' to this website. Sweetwater, Kenton Dear Mike,

I can relate to how this can feel — watching people move through life as if asleep, and wanting to do something to ‘wake them up’ =)
As we ‘wake up’ ourselves, we seem to move to new levels of awareness, and this is when it’s easy to look back and want to reach out to help others. It’s also a great reminder that we may find ourselves, a year from now, looking back at our present level of awareness and wondering how we could ever have been so asleep!
The one person we can always truly help is ourselves. To look at our own lives and see what it is that is keeping us from our own idea of ‘perfection’.
sof theo wrote a very good question above. I answered in fun, but my list of delightful things isn’t all that different from anyone else’s. I might take issue with myself about the barbecued ribs, for instance, judging that I am choosing to eat animals who have probably lived in small cages all their lives. I love my horses, but they require much of my time, and do their own ‘damage’ to the environment. Everything on my list could be joyful, or could be a burden. When we can truly feel joy in all that we do (every action, every thought), our actions can become pure, and then, perhaps, we can help others to awaken as well.
Thank you for your observations and words — I always appreciate it when people bring ‘real life’ to this website.

Sweetwater,
Kenton

]]> By: Kenton Whitman http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11280 Kenton Whitman Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:05:48 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11280 Hello Jerry, That's a beautiful vision. I've often dreamed of living in community, and of moving toward simpler ways. So much of what we call 'progress' is indeed dubious. I've found that we can also experience the fruits of a simple, love-based lifestyle here in the 21st century. It just takes awareness of our relation to life, technology, and our own minds. Thank you for the vision -- I hope that you can find its essence -- wherever and whenever you are living. Sweetwater, Kenton Hello Jerry,

That’s a beautiful vision. I’ve often dreamed of living in community, and of moving toward simpler ways. So much of what we call ‘progress’ is indeed dubious. I’ve found that we can also experience the fruits of a simple, love-based lifestyle here in the 21st century. It just takes awareness of our relation to life, technology, and our own minds.
Thank you for the vision — I hope that you can find its essence — wherever and whenever you are living.

Sweetwater,
Kenton

]]> By: Jerry http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11317 Jerry Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:43:12 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-11317 Thanks for that, Kenton, and thanks for your genuine interest in those who read your blog. Thanks for that, Kenton, and thanks for your genuine interest in those who read your blog.

]]> By: John Torcello http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-12186 John Torcello Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:30:33 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-12186 The ‘Keys’ to finding a happy balance I finally did it...I’ve convinced myself that I don’t really need a fancy, over-priced automobile anymore...In fact, I’m kind of looking forward to ridding myself of the Saab convertible once the lease is up here in a few months and replacing it with a low-end offering from GM....probably the Chevy AVEO. Why the shift in thinking? I guess I’m a little tired of the $500+ monthly lease payments for an automobile that isn’t even mine...Did I enjoy driving the Saab convertible? Absolutely...the car is well built; even if it is a GM product...it was fun to hear the turbo kick in when you stepped down hard on it...it was fun, when not too hot nor too cold outside, to troll around town with the top down...it was cool to see the top contraption hide the top fold and contort as it hid itself in the trunk...it was a fun car to drive especially on long trips... Then, why the change in heart...? Am I a representative example of a shift in current consumer thinking/spending? Am I shocked by the rising new car prices? Is the ridiculousness of oil company profits and rising gasoline prices finally taking its toll on me? Am I actually learning to act on my convictions and ideas which I spout out about each day in my writing; by simplifying - at least a little bit - the things I feel I need to own and acquire? Am I recognizing that, like my life...there is an end in store for me...and an end to the cash available for living to the end of my years; whenever that might occur? I honestly don’t think I was ever motivated to buy or lease a car purely for the reaction it might bring from other people; you know, for it’s status symbol...I probably was influenced though by advertising, talk and magazines regarding the ‘coolest’ most stylish designs available. In fact, I know this was the case when I purchased the Mitsubishi convertible I had a few years back...I just really liked the styling; the look of that car. I think I’m still sensitive to design and shape...the little cars I’m considering next do have a sort of modern design which I appreciate. But, the overall cost of the cars, relative to the types I would purchase previously, are significantly less. These ‘little’ cars are also more economical to run, have lower insurance and licensing costs, improved gas mileage, etc. In a small way, they are more friendly to the environment. I’m told the key to finding a happy balance in modern life is simplicity. Maybe this is a very first ‘tiny’ step for me to put my actions where my words are... John Torcello The ‘Keys’ to finding a happy balance

I finally did it…I’ve convinced myself that I don’t really need a fancy, over-priced automobile anymore…In fact, I’m kind of looking forward to ridding myself of the Saab convertible once the lease is up here in a few months and replacing it with a low-end offering from GM….probably the Chevy AVEO.

Why the shift in thinking? I guess I’m a little tired of the $500+ monthly lease payments for an automobile that isn’t even mine…Did I enjoy driving the Saab convertible? Absolutely…the car is well built; even if it is a GM product…it was fun to hear the turbo kick in when you stepped down hard on it…it was fun, when not too hot nor too cold outside, to troll around town with the top down…it was cool to see the top contraption hide the top fold and contort as it hid itself in the trunk…it was a fun car to drive especially on long trips…

Then, why the change in heart…? Am I a representative example of a shift in current consumer thinking/spending? Am I shocked by the rising new car prices? Is the ridiculousness of oil company profits and rising gasoline prices finally taking its toll on me? Am I actually learning to act on my convictions and ideas which I spout out about each day in my writing; by simplifying - at least a little bit - the things I feel I need to own and acquire? Am I recognizing that, like my life…there is an end in store for me…and an end to the cash available for living to the end of my years; whenever that might occur?

I honestly don’t think I was ever motivated to buy or lease a car purely for the reaction it might bring from other people; you know, for it’s status symbol…I probably was influenced though by advertising, talk and magazines regarding the ‘coolest’ most stylish designs available. In fact, I know this was the case when I purchased the Mitsubishi convertible I had a few years back…I just really liked the styling; the look of that car.

I think I’m still sensitive to design and shape…the little cars I’m considering next do have a sort of modern design which I appreciate. But, the overall cost of the cars, relative to the types I would purchase previously, are significantly less.

These ‘little’ cars are also more economical to run, have lower insurance and licensing costs, improved gas mileage, etc. In a small way, they are more friendly to the environment.

I’m told the key to finding a happy balance in modern life is simplicity. Maybe this is a very first ‘tiny’ step for me to put my actions where my words are…

John Torcello

]]> By: Kenton Whitman http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-12273 Kenton Whitman Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:25:05 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2007/12/01/car-slaves/#comment-12273 Thanks, John, from sharing of your personal experience with this issue, and of your journey to match intention and action. Sweetwater, Kenton Thanks, John, from sharing of your personal experience with this issue, and of your journey to match intention and action.

Sweetwater,
Kenton

]]>