Most discussions about what is considered ‘enough’ centre
around money and power. To be the most powerful, the wealthiest or the most
famous, once the desire of mighty kings and despots, has now filtered down in
modern societies, with rags to riches stories becoming commonplace. However,
the modern world is increasingly characterised by insatiability, an inability
to say “enough is enough”, and an insatiable desire for more money or power.
Enough means having enough to live, enough to be happy, and
enough to thrive. So how does one arrive at what is enough? Enough is not a
number. Individuals have their own measure of enough. The wise know what that
limit is, for others, society’s limiting systems — legal or moral — determine
when enough is enough.
King Ashoka won a battle against the Kalinga kingdom, with
100,000 deaths and even more taken captive. That was his ‘enough’. Appalled by
his own ruthlessness, Ashoka became a Buddhist, dedicated to spreading the
message of peace.
It is not just the acquisition of money that motivates a
desire for excess. Dr Faustus, a legendary figure, sold his soul to the devil,
Mephistopheles, for acquiring all knowledge. Dramatised by the playwright
Christopher Marlowe, a Good Angel urges him several times to stop his quest,
but he cannot resist the temptations promised by the Devil. The play ends with
his intense fear, panic and regret, as the gates of Hell open and his body is
dragged away.
Seeking to improve oneself or society is, in itself, a
worthy quest. However, improvement often becomes synonymous with more. Studies
have found that people living in small isolated communities have a comparable
life satisfaction with those in affluent nations. This suggests that peer
pressure may be a strong factor.
Urbanisation provides opportunities for comparisons — a
better house, a better school, a more stylish lifestyle. This is reinforced by
advertising campaigns that sell the promise of a better lifestyle, making it
difficult to set personal limits for what is enough. Enough, instead of being a
state of contentment, becomes a question of anxiety — is one smart enough,
brave enough, slim enough, rich enough, important enough? — an endless list of
doubts.
Many parents pressurise their children to achieve better
grades. Jennifer B. Wallace, in her book Never Enough — When Achievement
Culture Becomes Toxic, points out we live in an environment of unrelenting
pressure. Parents facing an uncertain future pass on their fears to their
children, pushing them to not just be good, but the best in academics and
sports, hoping this will ensure their children will have the best chance for
successful lives. There is the danger of children being valued more for their accomplishments
than themselves.
One of the most inspiring stories is that of the late Indian
Parsi business magnate Ratan Tata. With a net worth of $928 million at the time
of his death, Ratan Tata’s monthly salary was about $235,000, in comparison
with his fellow countryman Mukesh Ambani (net worth $100 billion) who pays
himself about $270,000,000 per month. Tata led a simple life, dressed modestly,
indulged in a few personal whims, such as flying his own plane, and preferred
an evening spent reading or listening to music.
Sixty-six percent of Tata’s company profits were spent on
charity. Tata himself personally donated about $1.2 billion in his life. He was
clear about what was enough for him to lead a life of fulfilment. He understood
that money should support the major priorities of your life,
not become the major priority of your life.
Researcher Gabriela Edlinger and her colleagues believe
“enoughness” is essential for a sustainable future. Rich nations should leave
room for growth in poor nations. According to the American sociologist David
Riesman, we have to move away from “looking enviously at those above and
anxiously at those beneath… The more deeply we are caught up in the prevailing
culture of moreness and comparison, the harder it is to acknowledge simple
everyday moments as wonderful opportunities to experience enoughness.”
We practice ‘enoughness’ when we drink a glass of water when
thirsty, prefer a home cooked meal, or even feel content with one’s own spouse
and family. The Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger said, “The poor man is not
one who has little, but one who hankers after more.”
Karachi
December 15, 2024
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