Is this an indication that Buffet is a spiritual man?

[Grateful for Hope]

Saw this thread in GD, and, not only is Buffet "doing the right thing" in regard to an almost unimaginable amount of inheritance, he also makes the statement:

"It's in keeping with the idea of equality of opportunity in this country, not giving incredible head starts to certain people who were very selective about the womb from which they emerged."

This statement seems (to me, at least) that he may believe that we select our parentage prior to our incarnations here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2357365

Maybe this is wishful thinking?

[Sanity Claws]

1. Depends on your definition of spirituality

I think he must have some belief that there is more to this life than just the physical for him to give so much money away. So at least in that way I believe he is spiritual.
The remark you quoted may indicate that he believes in reincarnation and karma but I'm more inclined to believe that it was simply a phrase he used.
That being said, the only thing I know about Buffet is that he and Gates are friends and play bridge together. They are of different generations and must have shared a lot in common for them to become such good friends, particularly when Buffet, an older man entrusts so much to Gates, around 30-35 years his junior.

[Grateful for Hope]

2. Thank you for the info, ISIS

Maybe "nothing is what it seems" applies to Buffet (and Gates, for that matter).

I just so want to see some indication that there is a spiritual awakening among our most powerful (i.e., money is power).

I have finally realized that a desire to acquire money does not mean that one is less spiritual, if the money is used for spiritual reasons.

[mother earth]

3. Wasn't one of his grandkids on Oprah a few months back

stating that she had a very limited trust fund, and that he does not believe in passing along his wealth to his children and grandchildren. I believe it was a granddaughter who was being interviewed, and he apparently is very strict and unusually so. While I commend him for his generosity with charities, I pray he extends his generosity and love to his family as well. Being a nurturing patriach of a large family is also a very important role in life. It's all about intentions, afterall is said and done, what's in the heart always shines forth.

[Grateful for Hope]

5. I think so true n/t

[DemExpat]

9. I saw this show too....

and heard or read that Buffet will see to it that his family has enough money to do what they want to do, but not so much that they won't ever need to work.

This is a good approach too, I believe.

DemEx

[cassiepriam]

14. By not giving all his money to his family he maybe be saving them.

I have seen situations where wealth passed to children has ruined them. They lose any motivation to do function like productive adults. And they are bored with life. And they never really have any self confidence since they have never had to work or achieve anything. It is sad.

I like the idea he gave them some money to help them a bit. But not enough to corrupt or ruin them. This is a big concern among the very wealthy, they even have a saying: From rags to riches, back to rags. The fear is that the money actually will hurt the next generations.

There are consultants who specialize in this kind of work. They go in and help the very wealth family decide what to do with the family money in the best way. It takes years of family counseling and consultation to sort it all out.

(Gee I guess I am lucky to come from a humble background, think of all the problems I avoided!)

[cassiepriam]

15. He may not consciously be aware of being spiritual, but he is.

To his core.

His actions are the epitome of being a spiritual being.

I would love to see his natal chart!

[BlueIris]

22. I've read a couple of articles about this phenom from the SMI.

Also known as the Sudden Money Institute. Apparently, there are even special therapists who get tons of recs from probate attorneys after said attorneys have to tell kids on their 18th birthdays, "Uh, here's your inheritance...your life's about to change a little." Apparently, some of the worst situations involve grown children whose adult parents didn't tell them that they were someday going to basically get handed millions and in circumstances in which the money is coming from relatives the kids didn't even know or did not have healthy relationships with, well, you can imagine what kind of psychological issues that could leave a person with, especially a young adult. Not knowing which stocks to invest in could be the least of their problems. Then again, as someone whose parents abused and neglected their children, particularly with regard to their attitude about finances, ("Hmmm, you're not my favorite daughter, I'm never taking you to a doctor or paying for college...that's what the 'good' daughter I like better will get instead") people like Buffet kinda baffle me.

[cassiepriam]

23. Yes there are therapists who specialize in this area....

It is really more of a problem then us "poor folks" realize. Think about all the bad things that happen to the lottery winners. Many cannot handle all the sudden wealth.

It is not like Buffet is leaving his kids penniless. Aren't they each getting over $1 billion? I think they will not have to worry about rent or gas money with that inheritance.

BTW I have read that Bill Gates also has no intention of leaving all his money to his kids. They will get a chunk of it, but not all.

I think that they are doing the right thing. Just my .02.

[suziedemocrat]

4. Most sites say he is an atheist.

But, atheists are sometimes better people than religious types. Buffett is an outspoken Democrat and has been a hero of mine for some time.

[Cleita]

6. He is a liberal in his politics or so I believe anyway, looking

at his past actions. It's commendable and almost unusual that extremely wealthy people like him even think of giving away their money before they die. The only problem I have with charity is that it also doesn't reach everyone that should be reached. So it will probably fund a lot of research and medical facilities to take care of aids but there will always be the people it doesn't reach.

I mean if charity worked, why to we still have needy people around the world? What we really need are social democratic governments who make sure all their citizens receive what they need to be healthy, work and survive. That means that the systems in place that allowed Warren Buffet and Bill Gates to achieve the gluttonous wealth that they did shortchanged a lot of other people on the way, whether in wages, access to the commons by ordinary citizens and many other places the money should have gone to for the benefit of everyone.

I mean it's possible to sit at your desk and play the world money markets and get very rich, but how many people got short-changed by the companies they worked for so that Wall Street could show rosy profits and the likes of Mr. Buffet could get rich on it?

I don't think he believes in re-incarnation but his remark is what liberals say that you can't condemn a human being to a life of misery and proverty because of the circumstances he was born in, and that is a very liberal idea. So ask me now why I didn't invest in Halliburton at the beginning of the Iraqi invasion even though I knew it was going to double and triple in value. It had nothing to do with being psychic either.

[Grateful for Hope]

7. You make some very good points

And, I agree that it really does matter how one earns one's money. Excellent observations!

[DemExpat]

8. I find it uplifting that filthy rich people want to give their billions

away to help the unfortunate - and since they can't help set up social democratic governments the world over - perhaps their well-invested philanthropy will help people set it up for themselves somehow.

I mean if charity worked, why to we still have needy people around the world? What we really need are social democratic governments who make sure all their citizens receive what they need to be healthy, work and survive. That means that the systems in place that allowed Warren Buffet and Bill Gates to achieve the gluttonous wealth that they did shortchanged a lot of other people on the way, whether in wages, access to the commons by ordinary citizens and many other places the money should have gone to for the benefit of everyone.

You know, I find myself feeling very very guilty sometimes for just living where I live with all of my advantages - and when you follow the connections to others in the world, my blessed life of material well-being (not rich, but comfy)and access to resources is sustained to the detriment of many others in the world. It is a truth that is very painful and sometimes almost unbearable to live with! A truth pertaining to all of us living comfortably in the West, especially.....

I applaud Gates and Buffet for at least wanting to make a difference to others. Can you imagine Cheney doing this? It might have to do with a conscious-raising shift on their parts too, I believe. Maybe the system allowing them to make these billions was there in this aspect to enable these 2 guys to make a difference.....lots of ways to look at things in this world, I find.....:-) :crazy:

I also heard on BBC that charity often does little good because there is usually no one directly interested in following the money to see if it gets where it is needed and beneficial, whereas the Gates Foundation does have direct interest in this, and will hopefully monitor it all much better than a government or huge organization would. But that is certain that infrastructure and sustainability is needed in impoversihed areas. And an end to corruption in governments.

DemEx

[Cleita]

10. You are absolutely right. One of my first jobs was to work with

the filthy rich of Beverly Hills and you are right, none of them wanted to part with even a penny. One of them even brought me a tray of half used perfume samples from one of his many stores (he wasn't a Woolworth but of that ilk) to thank me for the work I did for him. I mean he wouldn't even spend a few dollars on an unopened package of cologne to give me. I felt insulted but said nothing.

I commend Gates and Buffet for not being like their peers, however, until we address the social problems of our society, charity is still hit or miss. It hasn't worked very well since biblical days and it won't as long as you have beggers and those who choose to or not choose to distribute alms. It only perpetuates a class system of haves and have nots.

[DemExpat]

11. I see a difference in philanthropies....

some definitely give me the feeling of condescending 'benevolence', while others seem to be aimed at tackling horrific health problems and getting infrastructure in place to enable people to link up with beneficial networks.
I strongly feel that these 2 men are interested in the latter form.
But I do agree that helping disadvantaged to help themselves in a lasting way is what is needed.
But the problems are of such magnititude, multitiude, and only growing by the day!
A spit in the bucket is better than none, and perhaps this action will inspire others??????

Most of the developing countries are so far away from developing well-functioning social democracies! Even Europe's last century of this experiment which I think did rather well could not have done so without having used other parts of the world to finance it all......:-(...and at present it looks to me that these social democracies are being chipped away to fit into a more US based neo-liberal world order....:nuke:

The world desperately need new ways of thinking IMO.

DemEx

[lildreamer316]

12. Who was that author with the book "Die Broke" or "Poor"...

..and he was on Oprah awhile back...uring ppl to use their money usefully and charitably BEFORE they died? Anyone recall?

[Ecumenist]

13. Well, I don't know about that BUT

he walks his talk and that's a far sight more than any one of these corrupt bastards. nt.

[I Have A Dream]

16. Good to see you, Ecumenist!

:hi:

[Ecumenist]

18. Why, thank you I Have A Dream

Been a little under the weather but right proud to be back!:hi:

[japple]

19. Hey Ecumenist. Glad you're back. We've really been missing

your energy here on this forum. Sorry you've been under the weather, and hope you're back in form.

[Ecumenist]

25. Oh, yeah, my "mouth " full of thoughts words and prayers for

all of us. I've missed you guys too. I'm ready to move forward and make the Idiot and his slop of a cabinet, senate and congress a horrrible nightmare of the past. Just got my hair put into about 2400 senegalese twists, rolled up my sleeves and ready for some psychic warfare.

[I Have A Dream]

20. I knew that you had been feeling unwell, and I've been thinking of you...

and hoping that you were OK. I hope that you're feeling much better now.

:hug:

[Proud_Lefty]

21. I've miss you too

You had some nasty stuff to deal with. Glad you're feeling better. :hi:

[Ecumenist]

24. Thank You Proud. All of you had

been on my mind... I came down with what they think was a mild case of West NIle.

[NMDemDist2]

27. oh my! i didn't see this post before I posted the other. glad you are

feeling better :bounce:

[Ecumenist]

28. Feeling much better

It ain't easy buit things are slowly improving. BTW, I will probably getting in touch with you for the look into your situation

[NMDemDist2]

29. no worries, just get feeling better n/t

[NMDemDist2]

26. well hey there! missed you.

hope you and your DH are well and just busy with the acreage up north :hug:

[Grateful for Hope]

30. Hey well there yourself

I guess it ok to hijack threads so long as they are in this group. Somehow, I think not.

just sayin...

[I Have A Dream]

31. I started it; blame me.

Sorry.

[Grateful for Hope]

32. Please...no blame!

:hug:

On edit: I am sorry that I felt I had to remark on what I have experienced. But, maybe in the future, posters here will maybe think about the sensitivity of others. Thanks!

[Grateful for Hope]

17. Thank you all for your responses

What I have learned is that the question of spirituality is not an easy one to answer as there are so many variables (and, of course, we are not privy to Buffet's intentions).

I can see the wisdom in both sides of the equation, but, given what I have seen of Buffet in the past, I tend to think that he is, as least outwardly, attempting to help those less fortunate without completely disregarding his children. I think this is a good example of striving to live a spiritual life.

I have also given some additional thought to how one makes his or her money. I am thinking that, even if the way one makes money might be at the expense of some, if one's intention is to use whatever money is made for the good of all, then, perhaps this intention, in some way, may compensate for the negative aspects of how the money was made.

[Cleita]

33. One clue to Buffet's character is that he appears to be very

honest. When Schwarzenegger asked him to find a way to pay off California's debts, he plainly said that we aren't taking enough property taxes compared to other states. He said that he pays far less in property taxes for his California properties than he does in his home state.

Arnold fired him for speaking the truth. Well, you know that Arnold's base is the well to do Republicans in this state who own most of the prime property. Of course they didn't want to hear about getting their property taxes raised. Our property taxes are another gift to the rich like killing the inheritance taxes. The tax burden just shifts to Joe Sixpack and that's the way the wealthy like it.