GAS and Buddhism

Since I am the OP, I will say that I intended this post entirely in a philosophical vein, not targeting even practicing Buddhists. I thought the quote I found while learning more about Buddhism was a remarkable phenomenological description of how lust for things ("just waiting for the mail" thread, for example) feels and works. What you want to make do with it in your lives is entirely up to you.

My personal experience is that every time I have lusted for and acquired a new camera, it hasn't exactly satisfied what I was looking for. My first real camera was a Minolta X-700 in the early '80s. I really loved that camera and took some wonderful photos with it. I thought, if this camera is good and helps me take great pictures, just imagine how good/what fun I'll have with the much better "Camera X from Manufacturer Y". In my case that was a Nikon FE, followed by an FE2, followed many years later by an FM3a, followed shortly later by a host of rangefinder cameras.

You know what. Those are great cameras but they never captured the joy I felt in using that X-700. I try to remember that every time I want a new photo goodie.

"The more possessions, the more worry." - Pirke Avot

/T
 
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Tuolumne said:
Since I am the OP, I will say that I intended this post entirely in a philosophical vein, not targeting even practicing Buddhists. I thought the quote I found while learning more about Buddhism was a remarkable phenomenological description of how lust for things ("just waiting for the mail" thread, for example) feels and works. What you want to make do with it in your lives is entirely up to you.

My personal experience is that every time I have lusted for and acquired a new camera, it hasn't exactly satisfied what I was looking for. My first real camera was a Minolta X-700 in the early '80s. I really loved that camera and took some wonderful photos with it. I thought, if this camera is good and helps me take great pictures, just imagine how good/what fun I'll have with the much better "Camera X from Manufacturer Y". In my case that was a Nikon FE, followed by an FE2, followed many years later by an FM3a, followed shortly later by a host of rangefinder cameras.

You know what. Those are great cameras but they never captured the joy I felt in using that X-700. I try to remember that every time I want a new photo goodie.

"The more possessions, the more worry." - Pirke Avot

/T
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I know the feeling, my first good camera was a Praktica with a 50mm Zeiss Tessar lens.
I always got the impression that my later cameras were no better than that Praktica.
 
bmattock said:
My money, my time, my effort, and I decide if if my 'self gratifying retail gestures' are 'meaningless' or not.
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With four "my's" in that sentence, your point is clearly received 🙂


Interesting post Tuolumme by the way...I got the chance to read extensively His Holiness' teachings this past year which has turned my outlook (and in-look if thats a word) to a very clear understanding of my life in general. I cant say I am a practicing budhist, but it does reflect my core ideology quite well; maybe one day.

My personal point here (and I am NOT telling anyone how to live theirs) is that in the past year I have gotten rid probably about 20 pieces of camera equipment between DSLRs, glass etc. and am now "down" to my RD1 and four lenses....and I have taken more pics this year than many in a long time!🙂🙂
 
I think this was a really good original post - the fact that so many of us can directly relate to this "GAS" syndrome (which I too have!) shows me that it is a real problem, and I agree with the OP, that it probably reflects a lack of meaningfulness in life for many of us.

I mean, come on, if we're honest, how many times have you been having some beers with your best friend and gone down the "what's the point of all this" discussion? Me - lots of times.

I find I indulge my GAS on Ebay at work mostly, which points to the fact that I feel that what I do (computers) is in the end, pretty pointless. When I'm at home with my kids and wife, or hiking or fishing, I don't feel I need anything. That's because those activities put me in touch with those I love, and God/Nature - both of which don't breed unhealthy, unnatural habits. you show me someone truly close to God, whether it's a Buddhist or a Baptist, and I'll show you someone who is fairly satisfied and at peace.
 
Good point, Matt. I struggle with the desire to acquire and test out new toys on the one hand, and focus on photography as a means to interpret and become more deeply involved with life/nature/God on the other. Ultimately, I think I know which one brings me more peace and satisfaction.

By the way, the pictures in your gallery prove your heart's intentions. They are impressive.

Ming
 
I don't mean to lecture or tell anyone what to do, I did intend this as a "think about this" thread, but for myself, I shudder when I read in the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, etc. that the US and therefore the global economy depends on the spending of the US consumer. I am tired of spending, and not just because I am out of money. I am tired of my house filling up with unused or less-than-half used junk. I am tired of installing stuff on my computer and spending hours making it work. I am tired of lusting after things that make me miserable when I don't have them but don't make me happy when I do. I am tired of being manipulated by advertisers, even the nice ones here. And... I am an avowed capitalist, former venture investor, and start-up advisor. I am still tired of it all.

Can it really be true that my future economic well being depends on the endless treadmill of consumer acquisition? Because if consumers stop spending, now in the US, soon in China and India, the economy will fall apart and everyone except hedge fund managers, doctors and lawyers will be out of work!?

I don't know...I don't know. Stop the world - I want to get off.

/T
 
I'm not sure that capitalism is an environmentally sustainable system. Certainly not in its present form.

It is so entrenched, that I fear that a significant "market adjustment" is necessary.

Our limited and finite global oil supplies will force a change eventually.
 
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bmattock said:
No, *I* find happiness in more sustainable ways.
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One can argue with the meaning of the word "sustainable", since this is a philosophy forum.

I know that for some it means use almost nothing. I prefer to think that as long as I can sustain my lifestyle on my income, I needn't change. Although I do have way too many books laying about. I need to plant a few acres of trees to even things out a bit.
 
Subconsciously we feel that by addressing a desire we better our life. That's why we indulge in GAS, go for a holiday or in the case of Spitzer seek the service of pricey call girls.

Unfortunately as well all know the pleasure is temporary and soon the novelty wears off and we begin looking for the next thrill.

Suffering comes with desire.
 
tripod said:
Spending money on an experience is sometimes better than on another thing.
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Quite.

For the price of a lens I can travel somewhere I have never been before, see things I have never seen before. Experience a different culture. Be intrigued, engaged, refreshed and rejuvenated. Be stimulated to shoot, and make the most of what I have. Feed my mind, and my soul.

I can sell a lens. I cannot sell a memory.

Regards,

Bill
 
I have always suffered with GAS.. (sounds funny when you say it like that.)

I have been using my new M8 for a month now with only one lens, and barely thought about any other camera. I keep it with me whenever I go out. I have really enjoyed sinking myself into it. Now I have gone and bought a second lens which arrived last night.

So leaving the house this morning I felt a bit of pain. Which lens do I bring?

It's only interesting to me because this is the first time I have felt that pain since the 80s when I only had one camera and one lens at a time.

Since then, I've always had several bodies and several lenses, and I got used to bringing a case along with a good selection of lenses and flashes, etc.

It's as if buying this new system has simplified my life because it temporarily eliminated choices. So, if I can just keep this system to a minimum, I think it will actually clear my head a bit and let me concentrate on making photographs. For a while.

I love keeping things simple, but unfortunately, I also love new experiences. There's always that pull to see what another camera is like. I wonder what I could do with an 8x10 camera? 🙂
 
i like simple and i also like to try different things when it comes to gear.

i don't need to be an expert but i do like to speak from some experience.

my gear now is in 3 seperate kits that rarely co-mingle, it helps keep me sane.

i don't follow any religion or organized philosophy. i prefer to keep thinks simple and sane and i do so except for when i lose my temper...then all bets are off.

gear does not make me happy although i do enjoy using it.

being organized with my gear makes me happy though.

joe
 
tripod said:
I'm not sure that capitalism is an environmentally sustainable system. Certainly not in its present form.
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...just llike cancer: it drives itself until total organism anihilation...
"...there's nothing new under the sun..."

I think we need another forum: PHILOSOPHY NON-PHOTO!
 
DougFord said:
So you’re really serious, you really gonna quit?
“GAS”? Most definitely.
So if you’re quitting the GAS, what will you do?
Basically I’m just gonna walk the earth
What do you mean, walk the earth?
You know, like Caine in kung fu. Walk from place to place, meet people, get into adventures.
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...take only memories and leave only footprints.
 
Is this another thread in which the people living in the global North gain an inkling of awareness about the voraciously predatory nature of the social formations in which they live?

Just one example among many we could cite: one country with but 5% of the global population accounts for 30-40% of annual consumption of irreplaceable fossil fuels...

If you look around the world, what mets your eyes is really an updated version of classical imperialism in the age of the knowledge economy, where intellectual property laws and IMF-guaranteed loans are used to extract profits from a global ‘South of the Border’.

Taking the question of consumerism as an exclusively moral question for the individual (to GAS or not to GAS?) means that we still haven't abandoned selfish concerns. I submit that in addition to this moral awareness ('less is more'), it is also high time for people in the North and other centers of accelerated consumption to begin imagining an entirely different future, a turn awy from war, social inequity, and ecological collapse. And if it’s impossible to use old institutions for anything but intellectual exclusion and self-fetishization, then it’s time to start up new ones, where there’s some room to think among the debris of the future.
 
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