Mindful Shopping and Mental Health

thepigs on 30/08/2023 - 07:12
Last edited 30/08/2023 - 09:52 by 1 other user

Recently I've gotten into meditation, mindfulness, and Buddhism.

The Buddhist monk I visit talks about objects in the world having no inherent essence and our attitude toward them being merely a projection of the mind. Additionally, the monks say desire or grasping at these objects is the cause of suffering (although my teacher hasn't gone into depth on this one yet).

Quite often I visit OzBargain to acquire something I think I need at a low price but other times the motivation is more murky and I buy something I don't even need just because it's cheap. Somewhat strangely this gives a pleasurable sensation and I think it brings me happiness. Does it though? Or is it just a distraction from some deeper suffering?

Lately I have begun to think this mindless shopping is just a distraction from some deeper spiritual searching that should be going on.

Are there any Buddhists that would like to comment?

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 30/08/2023 - 07:17
    +12

    Frankly, ozbargain fuelled online shopping gives me a reason to live for another 1-15 business days at a time.

    • HardQuiz on 30/08/2023 - 07:20
      +2

      Do you get the same feeling from click and collect orders?

    • Gunnar on 30/08/2023 - 09:32
      +1

      Yeah well I live my life a quarter mile at a time. For those 10 seconds or less, I’m free

      ….Family, out

    • reactor-au on 31/08/2023 - 09:25
      +1

      It's the anticipation of the postie delivering the goods

  • Drpepper666 on 30/08/2023 - 07:49

    My Kundalini is running out of power… Need more eneloops

    • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2023 - 11:53

      Or wear a Mala

  • Bid Sniper on 30/08/2023 - 07:52
    +2

    I do like the philosophy of Buddhism, it seeks a balance and harmony with everything.

    Think same here, its about balance, there are things on the modern world that bring us joy and happiness, as well as suffering. A distraction isn't a bad thing, as long as its not one's main existence, brings us some joy and does not bring suffering to others and oneself.

  • Stopback on 30/08/2023 - 08:12
    +2

    Life is just things and then you die.

    People are just desires, some are able to fufil but a tiny spec.

    And then become specs.

    • Muzeeb on 30/08/2023 - 08:21
      +1

      Is that a direct quote from "Horton hears a who!"?

  • ihbh on 30/08/2023 - 09:16

    mindless shopping ….somewhat strangely this gives a pleasurable sensation and I think it brings me happiness. Does it though? Or is it just a distraction from some deeper suffering?

    I've gotten more pleasure as I've used/used up/given away the stuff I bought on OZB over a decade ago and feel good now. I buy much less now, and only as needed or after a lot of research.

    E.g. big Booktopia book buy of maths books for the kids yesterday (worked out to be approx 50% of Amazon). But haven't bought from them for many years. And only a couple of Amazon book purchases over the last years, for the kids to use right away after we waited up to a month or so to hit the price I wanted.

    The deeper suffering is to deep for me.

  • El cheepo on 30/08/2023 - 09:21

    Quite often I visit ozbargain to acquire something I think I need at a low price but other times the motivation is more murky and I buy something I don't even need just because it's cheap.

    Boredom will do that.

    Somewhat strangely this gives a pleasurable sensation and I think it brings me happiness.

    Dopamine

    Does it though?

    Depends what it is, but regardless, the act of having found a bargain gives you a little hit of endorphins.

    Or is it just a distraction from some deeper suffering?

    Depends on the person, many people are looking for distractions for varying reasons.

  • Tenzin on 30/08/2023 - 09:25
    +6

    A really cool, thoughtful post, thank you OP.
    Depending on which tradition/lineage the monk is from, the theory and understanding of inherent existence/dependent origination will differ slightly (different schools of Buddhism do have different views on subtler levels of reality). Awesome topic, and indeed is where the answer lies as to how we relate to things. There is not a single phenomena that exists inherently/independently, however that doesn't mean they are non-existent (obviously), they do exist- dependently, upon causes and conditions and also being conventionally labelled. I'd be keen to get stuck into it further if you're ever keen!
    Here, I'd use the analogy of a mirage: Someone views what looks like water, and they desire to drink that "water". All manner of ideas run through the mind of what this water could bring- quenched thirst, different sensations, and so on. This is not the fault of the eye- the eye has merely seen colour and shape- rather it is the mistaken superimposition or "photoshopping" (haha)- projection as you say- of the mind. Importantly, something does exist- heat and various conditions producing a phenonema that appears as something like water, but is not water. The fancy new phone we wish to buy exists. How it exists and just what level of freedom from suffering and provision of happiness there will be based on that item or event- to that an untrained mind is surely mistaken and, in the same way as the mirage analogy, superimposing/projecting all sorts of things onto that phone that ultimately are not the reality of that phone and situation. Does the phone exist and serve a conventional function in the world? Absolutely. Does it exist in a way that it appears to the mind? No. Can shopping for it or possessing it bring the mental/emotional results we are seeking- whether we know it or not? Unlikely.
    I would perhaps say it the other way around to what you mentioned- our attitude towards them is based on the mere projection of our mind. The projection itself isn't an attitude, our attitude is based on the projection, based on the image- however subtle- created in the mind. Our unrealistic view and attitude brings suffering, of which mental suffering is number one. Thus, gradually engaging in the world in a more realistic manner will lead to a reduction in suffering and increase in mental health.
    We do need to function in the conventional world, though consistently having a mind that analyses and investigates that world and reality does indeed start to shake up the appearances of "things" and how we relate to them.
    Hopefully this was interesting and/or of some use…'tis my point-of-view at least.
    All the best with delving into things, I reckon it's great!

    • umyeahokay on 31/08/2023 - 09:48
      +1

      Nicely put, sir. One of the best replies I've ever read here.

  • AustriaBargain on 30/08/2023 - 13:36

    It's simple. Things make you happy. The more things you have the happier you become. You just need to understand how something is useful, rather than buying random things which may or may not be useful to you. A Dyson Whiz Bang hairdryer won't make you happy if you have no hair. But maybe a line doubler for playing old video games on a modern TV would.

    I could spend $100,000 on various objects right now that I know would make me happy, I've got a mental list. Not to mention cars, holidays, and houses which all of us could easily spend millions on and be very happy. And healthcare, if you haven't noticed medicine isn't free anymore in Australia, and if you need psychiatric help or dental help or whatever then you need to pay through the nose.

    • El cheepo on 30/08/2023 - 14:07
      +1

      Things make you happy. The more things you have the happier you become.

      That is not true.
      There’s plenty of miserable rich people who could buy anything they want. Plenty of them end their own lives too.
      Momentary pleasure from “things” fades fast.

      Not going to get all philosophical about it, but there is more to life then accumulating things.

      • AustriaBargain on 30/08/2023 - 14:20

        Sure there's more to life than that. But things can still make you happy. If Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos isn't happy then they are doing it wrong. If I were either of them I would retire and spend my time enjoying my stuff with friends supermodel husband.

        • El cheepo on 30/08/2023 - 17:19
          +3

          There is no question things can make you happy, but that happiness is limited and brief.

          A red bull can give you a bit of energy for a short time, but that energy fades and goes away.
          If you continued to drink redbull all the time, the effect on you would fade as would your enjoyment of them.
          Crap analogy, but i think it vaguely gets my point across.

          The novelty/way buying things affects you would wear off.

          Same with retiring with your millions and supermodels… sounds amazing in theory, empty in reality.
          Not to say it wouldn’t be fun, It would.
          Just not long term.

  • markathome on 30/08/2023 - 14:23

    Mindful shopping might work.

    But just reducing purchases doesn't.

    I have reduced purchases on account of expecting to eventually move states and (one day) buy a home. Run-it-till-it-breaks is an incredibly stressful strategy: my washing machine only works on two settings, just cracked my phone screen yesterday, down to one fitted sheet, PJs are slowly disintegrating, most T-shirts have holes.

    For the same reason, I am also reducing stuff in my house and minimalism does work. It is nice getting rid of rubbish in your place, but the trick is replacing with high-quality good products as needed.

    My minimalism is also thwarted by the fact I'm often bringing home up-cycled stuff. Perhaps the better advice is never move.

  • EightImmortals on 30/08/2023 - 14:40

    "Lately I have begun to think this mindless shopping is just a distraction from some deeper spiritual searching that should be going on."

    "Ya think?" -Tathagata Buddha

  • debb on 30/08/2023 - 19:12
    +2

    What is the sound of one hand shopping?

  • brendanm on 30/08/2023 - 21:54
    +2

    Wait a day or two and think about what it is you were going to buy. If you've forgotten about it, or are no longer that fussed by it, you don't need to buy it.

  • JIMB0 on 31/08/2023 - 09:21

    I did some mindful shopping at Liquorland the other day.

  • peacefulpeanut on 31/08/2023 - 13:22

    Additionally, the monks say desire or grasping at these objects is the cause of suffering (although my teacher hasn't gone into depth on this one yet).

    There is your answer in bold. Not the mindless shopping (action) itself but the desire for an object or to go for mindless shopping for whatever reasons including seeking distraction from sufferings. In other words, without that desire and grasping you would not go mindless shopping.

    At some point, the monk will remind you that everything is impermanent and that includes your desire, grasping, emotions and all your mind projections. The excitement from mindless shopping will evaporate in no time and so does the disappointment for not indulging in mindless shopping and getting want you want.

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