The world is not enough …

Recently, i happened to have a “discussion” with someone. This someone is someone i cannot bear any time, but, cannot get rid of my life as well. The discussion is not a two way conversation, but, lots of histories and geographies pushed from one direction. We two share the similarities between a “capitalist” and a “socialist” – the commonality of both being human-beings :-)

The topic was mostly on living / maintaining a luxurious life. I did not follow a word of what he said but it “did” trigger some sort of thought process. How do we refer or define the terms “luxury” and “sufficient”? How much of anything is everything?

During my childhood, I have read a story. The story goes like this. A man was going to his work by walk and he thought “if only i had a bi-cycle” i will be the happiest person. An angel granted him his wish and he got a bi-cycle. He was happy for few days. Then he started thinking “if only i had a motor-cycle” i will be the happiest person. The angel granted him his wish. He was happy for few weeks. Then he thought “if only i had a car” i will be the happiest person. The angel again granted his wish. He got a car and was happy for few months.

One day, he was stuck in a traffic and thought “if only i had a personal air craft” i will be the happiest person. The angel again granted him his wish. He got a personal air-craft and he was air-borne. The story took an unfortunate turn here that the air-craft crashed and his legs were amputated. When he was on a wheel chair, he thought “if only i had my legs i will be the happiest person – because i have everything now” –

A survey was conducted recently. Every one from the different walks of life was asked the question “what will he/she do if they get 10 times more than what they have right now” – the responses were analyzed and the conclusion was that they will “UPGRADE” to the next version/model of whatever they have now. Be it a house, car, furniture or even a pen.

The way i interpret the result is that “luxury” is all about “upgrade”. Nothing more than that. It need not always meet a different purpose or a necessity of life!

To own a Maruti 800 may be a necessity. Upgrading to BMW 7 series is luxury. But, to commute in the busy Chennai traffic, how does it matter if you have a Maruti 800  or a BMW 7 series? To carry a Reynolds ball point pen is a necessity, but carrying a Mont Blanc is luxury. As long as the purpose of signing a form to deposit a check in a local bank is dealt with, what big difference does a Mont Blanc have over a Reynolds?

Do this “someone” believe that the Ambani brothers will ever stop their corporate war and consider what they have got is sufficient?

I remembered an old saying…

One who is not satisfied with what he have is the poorest of all