HOW to be HAPPY

[JUPITERASC]

This tweet presents a thought-provoking reframing of the American Dream, contrasting its current popular interpretation with what could be considered its more fundamental humanitarian aims. The author suggests a shift from viewing success through the lens of individual extreme wealth accumulation (becoming a "megamillionaire or even billionaire") to defining it through collective wellbeing. The proposed vision encompasses several key elements of basic human dignity:

- Food security ("nobody starves")
- Housing security ("nobody goes homeless")
- Equal treatment for all
- Universal healthcare ("fully insured")
- Economic dignity ("paid a living wage")

This perspective challenges the individualistic interpretation of the American Dream that has become dominant in recent decades. Instead, it advocates for a more communal vision where success is measured not by individual wealth accumulation but by how well a society takes care of all its members.

This reframing suggests that true prosperity might be better measured by the absence of suffering and the presence of basic dignity for all, rather than by the exceptional wealth of a few. Would you like to explore how this alternative vision of the American Dream might be implemented, or discuss the relationship between individual and collective prosperity?

 

[conspiracy theorist]

The video compares the growing homelessness in California and Texas, attributing California's larger homeless population to skyrocketing housing costs, stringent regulations, and economic disparity. In contrast, Texas, with its lower housing costs and looser regulations, has seen slower growth in homelessness despite economic challenges.

### Comprehensive Breakdown:

#### 1. **California’s Homelessness Crisis**:
- **High Housing Costs**: California has some of the highest housing prices in the U.S., driven by limited housing supply and increasing demand. This is especially prominent in major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, where home prices and rental costs far exceed the national average. With many individuals unable to afford housing, they are forced onto the streets.
- **Regulatory Barriers**: Strict zoning laws, environmental regulations, and other development restrictions have significantly slowed down the construction of new affordable housing. These regulations, while intended to protect certain community interests, make it extremely difficult and expensive to build the volume of housing necessary to meet demand.
- **Income Inequality**: The economic gap between high-income earners and the rest of the population exacerbates the problem. The high cost of living pushes those on lower incomes further out of urban areas or into homelessness.

#### 2. **Texas’ Approach**:
- **Lower Housing Costs**: Texas cities, like Houston and Dallas, offer more affordable housing options compared to California. The lower cost of living makes housing more accessible, especially for low-income individuals.
- **Regulatory Flexibility**: Fewer zoning laws and a more business-friendly environment enable quicker and more affordable construction of housing. This less restrictive regulatory approach allows for the faster development of housing options, preventing a massive shortage.
- **Economic Conditions**: While Texas also faces economic challenges, particularly due to fluctuations in oil prices, the state has diversified its economy enough to sustain employment levels that reduce the risk of homelessness.

#### Common Challenges:
- **Mental Health & Substance Abuse**: Both states struggle with mental health crises and addiction issues, which contribute significantly to homelessness. The lack of mental health services and addiction rehabilitation exacerbates the homelessness problem.
- **Social Safety Nets**: Limited access to housing assistance, social welfare programs, and emergency shelters further complicates efforts to combat homelessness in both states.

---

### Proposed Solutions:

#### 1. **Increase Affordable Housing**:
- **California**: To address its severe housing shortage, the state can focus on streamlining development regulations. Loosening zoning laws, incentivizing the construction of low-income housing, and providing tax breaks for affordable housing developers can help reduce homelessness.
- **Texas**: Texas can build on its current momentum by investing more in affordable housing projects to preemptively curb the growth of homelessness.

#### 2. **Expand Mental Health and Substance Abuse Support**:
- Both states need to prioritize expanding mental health services and addiction recovery programs. Investing in mobile outreach teams, inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities, and community-based mental health services will address one of the key drivers of homelessness.

#### 3. **Homeless Outreach and Support Programs**:
- Effective homeless outreach programs that directly engage individuals on the streets can offer tailored solutions, including transitional housing and employment services. States can support nonprofit organizations that specialize in outreach and rehabilitation.

#### 4. **Job Training and Economic Development**:
- Offering job training and placement programs for the homeless population can help individuals find stable employment. States could also partner with private companies to provide work experience, apprenticeships, and direct employment opportunities, lifting people out of poverty and homelessness.

#### 5. **Public-Private Partnerships**:
- Encouraging partnerships between the public sector, private developers, and nonprofit organizations can increase the efficiency and reach of housing initiatives. Public-private partnerships can be crucial in developing low-cost housing, shelters, and support services.

---

### Conclusion:
Homelessness in California and Texas has different root causes, largely shaped by housing markets and policies. While Texas benefits from more affordable housing, California faces an acute housing crisis that requires bold reforms. Both states, however, share common challenges such as mental health crises, requiring investment in holistic, long-term solutions.

This more comprehensive approach includes reforms to housing, mental health services, and economic policies, ensuring that homelessness can be tackled effectively across both states.

 

[conspiracy theorist]

JUPITERASC likely refers to Jupiter Ascending in astrological terms - it's the degree of the Eastern horizon where Jupiter was rising at the time of a birth or event in an astrological chart.

In astrology, Jupiter represents expansion, abundance, wisdom, optimism, and growth. When Jupiter is ascending (rising) in a chart, its qualities are considered to be particularly emphasized or prominent. The ascending point or ascendant is seen as shaping how one presents themselves to the world and approaches life.

Jupiter's placement and aspects in the ascendant position are traditionally interpreted as influencing things like:

- One's philosophical outlook and approach to life
- Natural teaching/mentoring abilities
- Opportunities for growth and expansion
- Relationship to wisdom traditions and higher learning
- Expression of optimism and generosity
- Ways of sharing knowledge with others

However, I aim to provide this information while acknowledging that astrological interpretations are matters of belief and tradition rather than scientifically verified facts. Would you like to explore any particular aspect of how Jupiter ascending is understood in astrological practice?

 

[david starling]

Freedom and Collective Wellbeing

The Preamble to our Constitution is priceless. It states what the Constitution was intended to accomplish. Too bad it's not legally binding.

 

[JUPITERASC]

 

[conspiracy theorist]

They just be posting anything in this thread

 

[david starling]

They just be posting anything in this thread

Und, they vill be HAPPY!

 

[JUPITERASC]

.

How to Practice Open Awareness Meditation? ​

with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche​

 

[JUPITERASC]

Signs of Meditative Progress ​

with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche ​

 

[JUPITERASC]

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Sutra of the Last Teaching - The Four Levels of Meditation
& the Buddha's Last Teaching

 

[JUPITERASC]

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[JUPITERASC]

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No Need for Any External Display
A hermit's lifestyle, abandoning preoccupation with food
clothing, wealth, friends, family, home
moving to a mountain devoting entirely to meditation.
This is a perfectly valid mode.

In Vajrayana, however, there is another way.
Outer life continues in the usual way not leave your home,
not renounce anything
but
never depart from Dharma, the intention to bring benefits
or wisdom.

The life of great practitioners repeatedly demonstrates
that to maintain Dharma practice
one does not have to renounce the world.
Nor is it necessary to renounce the Dharma
to remain involved in the activities of the world.
It is possible to integrate both things into one life.
Gradually, new priorities and a necessary balance appear.
There is no need for any external display
to succeed in the spiritual path.
It is not the body that we alter to become enlightened, it is the mind.


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[JUPITERASC]

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If one hundred people look at one person
some see that person as very ugly
some other people see that person as the most beautiful person
& some see the person as indifferent.

Among one hundred people
they all see something different, but it’s the same person

This is due to the karma that they collected in the past
& the imprint of that karma.
They see the object, one person’s body, in different ways.
Some see the person as beautiful, some as ugly and some as indifferent.

It is also like this for us. If we see somebody who is ugly
& then we see somebody who is uglier
compared to the second person we now see the first person as beautiful.

Or maybe there is somebody we see as beautiful,
then we see someone more beautiful
so then the first person seems ugly in our view.

This is according to karma
& it shows that the nature of the mind is not the same.

That also happens with a place.
For some people the place is very beautiful
for some people it is ugly
& for others it is just OK.

Also with food: for some people the food is very delicious
for some people it is very bad
& for others it is indifferent.
So for different people it is like that. There are many examples.

This shows how everything comes from the mind
according to different karma
& arising from imprints left from the past.
This is very important to understand.
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche
https://www.lamayeshe.com/advice/why-sky-blue

 

[JUPITERASC]

 

[JUPITERASC]

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Children from a very young age should be taught that
Sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
That if you point your right hand to the East
your face will face North and your back will face South.

That the direction of the water in a river
often runs towards the sea.

That the Moon rises in the East and sets in the West
that if there is no moon there is a star that
indicates the north and your latitude.

That the more to the horizon you see the Polar Star
the closer you are to the Equator
If you see a bird in the middle of the sea
it is because there is land in the vicinity of where it flies.

Respect and love for animals, trees, the earth
& the elements that give us life.
Teach them all this before giving them a cell phone
because
the cell phone runs out
& the signal is lost
Wisdom is never lost.
Let's not let them lose connection

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