These are infantile thoughts. Ones I’ve only mused on for a few months to decades. And the act of reducing that were floating notions and almost intangible notions into a concise set of defined categories will surely diminish the value. With that said, if this regarded like the thoughts of reasonably smart and creative person in a half dream state or under the influence of psychedelics or a moderate fever, then from there a more productive conversation might continue.
Also note, I admit that I am afflicted by many of the following.
I’ve categorized four types of Greed. But even that word is wrong and will conjure its own associated notions. So think just of the vibe of Greed. And I’ll try my best to explain the symptoms of these four types.
- For Actual or Perceived Self-Preservation
The idea that I would choose to obtain something at the cost of another. This could run the gamut from stealing a loaf of bread to prevent starvation, to purchasing a smart phone (full of all kinds of conflict minerals) to remain competitive in the American social/economic market, to purchasing a car that matches the status of your peers. It is a common impulse true to our animal beings that envelope the very poor to the reasonably rich. And thus the justification on acting on this impulse widely varies. But the root is in self or familial preservation over strangers.
- Hoarding; Fear of Later Loss
Maybe part of Self-Preservation. And encouraged by the values of current humanity. It is to collect and save for a rainy day because we live so readily in a state of fear that we will not have “enough” later. And again, there are varying degrees to hoarding from “reasonable” savings, to mass collections. What makes this greed is again, the choice to save versus alleviating the sufferings of others. But again, it is very understandable. As fearful, risk adverse peoples, with little to no community, and an understandable distrust in government and humanity.
- For Superiority
Simply the pleasure of having more than others. Typically this is to satiate the cries of a frail ego. To fill the void of a childhood in which one did not feel good enough. They were expected to “succeed” and they continue to try to satisfy the expectations of their parental powers even if those persons are long dead. It is a sad state of affairs that often manifests in “hurt people hurting people.” Sometimes more harmful than others (in how having more is achieved). Sometimes offset by philanthropy and faux (but valuable) altruism. Then they are more woke than others. More giving than others. More generous than others. And that’s not a bad thing. But it is a paradox when their generosity is out weighed by the harms caused by how they gather their means to give.
- Deviant Domination or Perverse Power
Making Sexual domination and role play seem like a very wholesome activity (which it is between consenting adults). This form of Greed has nothing to do with Need or the illusion of Need. It is not hoarding. I’m not sure where it comes from. A deep hurting? Or satanic alien beings cultivating and farming the negative emotions of a planet? Petty Immortal Greek Gods in the form of nerdy billionaires? Or just the most messed up INCELs on the planet?
This form of Greed is not only to have more. But to take pleasure in having so very much (all of it, ideally) while simultaneously watching others suffer. Knowing that they could alleviate the pain of others in an instant with no loss to themselves, but edging (yes sexually) and not providing any significant care. It is a perversion equal to the rape of children, or the targeted torture and killing and erasure of whole cultures. It is definitely the most fucked form of Greed.
There are probably other forms. But this is what my wandering mind came up with today.
I’ll go about some Tonglen meditation to attempt to transform Greed, violence, fear, and hate into altruism, peace, compassion, and love. In with the negative. Out with the positive. When looking for the word Tonglen on google I saw a bunch of meditations where they do the opposite. Breath in the positive and exhale the negative. This kind of feels like the greedy waste culture we are already live in. Take what is good, dump out what is bad. But when we breath in the negative and transform it into positivity. It doesn’t leave the waste in us. It truly transforms the negativity. Possibly in the world. Definitely within ourselves.