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Greed is an insatiable need for more, where more is never enough

Oct 07, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
It would seem that corruption is the order of the day. Not a day passes without someone – be it a former President, Prime Minister, Senator, C.E.O., you name them – being investigated or imprisoned for corrupt practices.
Corruption is defined as “the abuse of bestowed power or position to acquire a personal benefit.” Corruption may include many activities including bribery and embezzlement.
According to Pope Francis, “Corruption is expressed in an atmosphere of triumphalism because the corrupt fancies himself a winner. The corrupt knows no fraternity or friendship, but complicity and enmity.
The corrupt does not perceive his corruption. It is a little like what happens with bad breath; it is hard for those who have it to know, unless someone else tells them.
For this reason, the corrupt can hardly get out of their internal state by way of remorse of conscience. Corruption is a greater evil than sin.”
As fire cannot be satiated by feeding it with fuel, desire cannot be appeased by supplying it with more desires. The more it gluts, the more it craves. Sin increases in direct proportion to desire.
Greed, also known as avarice or covetousness, is the inordinate desire to possess wealth, goods, or objects with the intention to keep it for one’s self, far beyond the dictates of basic survival and comfort. It is applied to a markedly high desire for and pursuit of wealth, status, and power.
It is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs. Erich Fromm described greed as “a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.”
The level of “inordinance” of greed pertains to the amount of vanity, malice or burden associated with it.
Thomas Aquinas wrote: “Greed is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things.”
Meher Baba dictated that “Greed is a state of restlessness of the heart, and it consists mainly of craving for power and possessions. Possessions and power are sought for the fulfillment of desires. Man is only partially satisfied in his attempt to have the fulfillment of his desires, and this partial satisfaction fans and increases the flame of craving instead of extinguishing it. Thus, greed always finds an endless field of conquest, and leaves the man endlessly dissatisfied.”
Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed.
We are constantly being bombarded with images of things that we can attain, that once we possess them, are supposed to make us feel happier and more fulfilled than ever before.
Greed is an insatiable need for more, where more is never enough. Greed can never be satisfied; once you attain your heart’s desire, another desire takes its place. Greed is self-serving and destructive. Neighbours are no longer friends, but rivals in a competition.
Family members are no longer loved ones but obstacles in the quest for the newest, brightest and best. Greed is like a whirlpool; it keeps drawing victims nearer its center and in due time as the center is reached the force pulls victims under and destroys them.
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”  (Gandhi)
Pt. R. Balbadar

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