Let's understand a basic feature about greed and jealousy, with some stories.
Story 1.
When I was a schoolboy, I used to do relatively well in academics, (of course I failed at anything else, couldn't sing, couldn't dance, couldn't do well in sports) Yet, I was among first few in the class each year. I used to sit in different places in the class as well. So, whenever there is no one else, I would sit there. I had a friend who did only average in the studies. One day I asked him.
"Do you feel jealous about me?"
I don't know why I did ask such a question. I was curious. I wanted to know his point of view towards me. I wanted to know what it is like to do average in the studies. And his answer surprised me. He said,
"Not at all. I don't feel jealous about you. Actually, I don't feel anything about you doing well. But when I get exam results, I am more worried about other children who are at my average level. I would feel jealous if someone who scored less than me before, passed me this time. "
His answer amazed me to this day. And I was glad he wasn't Jealous.
Story 2.
You may have heard about this story, at least some form of it.
Think about following scenario.
A man driving a Rolls Royes sees a jet and think to himself "Hmm, I wish I could travel in a private Jet."
A man driving a regular car sees the Rolls Royes and thinks "Hmm, I wish I could drive a Rolls Royes"
A man driving a motorcycle thinks "Hmm, I wish I could buy a car."
A man cycling to work thinks "If only I could buy a Motorcycle."
A man who walks by thinks " I wish I had a bicycle."
A man on a bench without legs think "Oh, I wish I could walk again."
It seems that the man who walks is likely to think about a motorcycle than a private jet. And it is more likely he would be jealous about someone buying a motorcycle or a car. Someone who is living in his social level.
Similarly, we are more likely to be jealous about people who are at our "level" than anyone else. It seems absurd, if we think that jealousy solely depend on the level. It depends on where we are on that scale as well. Similarly, greed follows similar rules, as greed precedes jealousy. If you see closely, that seems to be the reason, as explained by my friend he had no issue being my friend, without feeling jealous.
What does this teach us?
Imagine you hear some news about people fighting with each other for a bag of rice in a rural underdeveloped part of the world. It seems tragic at first. But you can understand, the bag of rice is as valuable as a car, if you compare it with your society. You will fight for a bag of rice if you were in that situation.
Next problem is even if you travel through your social or whatever the ladder according in your measurement, greed and jealousy will prevail. It will also climb up the ladder unless you understand that it happens. So, it will provide an opportunity to look at ourselves, and correct us, at any level. Unless we will never be satisfied.
Thank you for reading: The nature of our greed and jealousy story.
You may also like to read: How to create a statue- mindfulness.
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