The question of ‘having’ versus ‘being’ as alternatives, seems absurd at first. To have, or wanting to have seems to be very normal, as to live we need to be, and to live well, we need to have things. The very basis of being is having, and if you have nothing, you are nothing! Possession marks out levels of living, and mere ‘having’ isn’t enough, we need to have more and more!
However, it is the combination of these two concepts, with the ‘being’ coming after a person has had ‘enough’, is what I understand as ideal.
-rajat, 30029
4 comments:
the concept of having and being is quite elusive as well as subjective. wants of different people are different. for some people fulfillment of basic necessities is all they want to "have" and for other even a Mercedes Benz is not enough....it is purely a matter of choice and subjectivity as to where does a person draw the line between having and being.
"Sitaro'n ke aage aasma'n aur bhi hai; Tu shaheen hai parvwaaz hai kaam tera,
Tere saamne aasmaa'n aur bhi hain..". Allama Iqbal must be turning in his grave. But I think , we ordinary mortals can't be blamed that badly if we don't see beyond Maslow's 4th level in hierarchy of needs.
I think the issue is getting confused with the classical debate of 'Abstinence Vs Indulgence' or ' Material Vs Spiritual'
I dont think that is the essence of Having vs being.
I understand it as how you as a person evolve over time through experiences and if your own evolution matters to you, to what extent. Also, if that path is the one you have envisaged for yourself.
@Rajat
It is tough to evolve by aqcuiring a mercedes. If not impossible.
@Ahmad
Sufi poetry is explicit with such examples of ultimate state of 'being'.
Strange that 13th century sufi poets could comprehend the nuances of Being and having. And that too, so well that they could write songs on it.
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