Would You Rather? Existential Questions from a 10-Year Old
Would you rather…
…starve to end world hunger or instantly top-up your bank account with $15 million?
A few days ago, my 10-year old daughter wandered into my bathroom while I was brushing my teeth and asked, “Would you rather: starve if it meant that no one else would ever starve in the world again or have $15 million in your bank account?” It was 6:15AM. Never too early for existential questions, it seems. At least I was two cups of coffee in…
My initial response to her was, “Starve.” And, of course, she wanted to know why that was my answer. I explained to her that I believe in something called a karmic bank account. If I choose to benefit all the people in the world by ending the suffering of starvation through my own starvation, I am putting some extra credit in my karmic bank account that may bring me benefit in future lives and pay greater dividends in the long run. And, also, ending world hunger?! I would happily sacrifice myself for that cause.
But, here’s the kicker. The choice is false. In the real world, we don’t have this option. Suffering will always be there, one way or another. If it isn’t starvation, it’s something else! Further to the point, if we starve ourselves, we just suffer and die and no one benefits from the process! The Buddha discovered this when he left his luxurious, comfortable life in a palace and spent years as a wandering ascetic, practicing extreme self-deprivation. He nearly died from his vigilant fasting - until a young girl discovered him and revived him with a bowl of rice. He realized that his death would not relieve the immense suffering he’d witnessed in the world and took a seat under a bodhi tree, vowing not to move until he attained enlightenment. And, so he did, setting out to teach others what he called, “The Middle Way.” The true path to the cessation of suffering. A path that lies somewhere in the middle of over-indulgence and self-imposed suffering.
With that in mind, I decided that I would change my answer. I could help so many more people with $15 million in my bank account, because in the real world, we cannot save anyone by depriving ourselves of life. Repeat after me. “Show me the money!”
Okay, fine, no one is just going to drop $15 million in my bank account overnight either, but that isn’t the pebble here. Instead, the pebble is the middle path. When we find joy in life and work from that place, our actions are so much more beneficial than when we continually break ourselves down and elevate our own suffering. We are meant to enjoy life. At least that’s the conclusion that finally found me.
Are you still following me? What do you think? How would you answer my daughter’s question?
