The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post :)

[Stick-e-rice]

The United States has been pushing the ban on replica products and piracy on every country in the world.

I don't ever see piracy and replica products ever disappearing from the world because of the basic law of economics. Where there is a demand, there is always a supply.

Only thing I can see happening is maybe it is harder to get replica or pirate products driving the price up a little as the supply decreases.

The reality is the United States is one of the hugest markets for replica and pirate products. There are factories that produces "export only" replica or pirate products and their main customers are here in the U.S.A. Brand name clothing apparrel, accessories, watches, and jewelry seem to be the most popular ones.

Replica companies are getting ridiculously good at making replica and pirate products. The newer model replica LV accessories actually use real LV leather now. How do you think they retrieved the real leather? Replica Rolex watches are now produced in Switzerland and are 98% accurate from a current review using the same materials and functioning like an authentic Rolex.

Since this is on Prime, we know where some of the designs of what Procar, Downforce, ScienceofSpeed, and Dreamzsports are modeled after.

Yay or Nay?

Why does one purchase luxury items? It is to purchase temporary happiness, to add to one's ego, and our society cherishes such items.

I was having an argument with my girlfriend and she did bring up a good point. She wanted to purchase a Rolex for her brother in law as a wedding gift. I started the discussion about some newer replica Rolexes that were available now and she said "no." She gave me a good reason, as it was the only wedding gift for her brother in law so it is "rude" to purchase something like that as a gift. I could understand her reasoning and I did agree. As a gift you would of course not want to lead them in believing that it was a genuine product.

If we really believe that there should be a ban in piracy and replica products, I think there should be no exceptions to the rule.

But are patents really beneficial to everyone as a whole. It is to the producer. For something like medicine that could be produced a lot less elsewhere and be sold at a lower price to the sick; is it ok for pharmaceutical companies to put patents on products that could save lives? Is it ok for pharmaceutical companies to charge different prices for the exact same product in different countries?

Just something to think about.

I personally would not withhold information or a product that could save lives for the reason of just money. But again do these companies really have a choice?

A thing we known as a corporation was created as a seperate entity to its shareholders with the main goal of making profits. This invisible entity or simply a name is to be treated like a seperate person so that its shareholders can protect themselves from any damages that it can incur. Or is it really just that? Or is it more to put the responsibility elsewhere (on the corporation itself) so that the shareholders can reason to themselves that it is not their responsibility and they are not at fault, although they are all raking in the benefits, leaving out just the responsibilities.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and thought I would share.

In 2000 years from now, what the consitution for living will be? You look back 2500 years ago, when luxury entertainment in prior days were simply lavishing meals with some pretty ladies dancing around. We have gotten so good at feeding our wants and desires, so that we constantly have to pleasure ourselves with a wide range of products and activities today.

This desire to pleasure makes us weak as it makes things that we don't like that were simply very small problems before, seem like much more stressful problems; as we are so used to feeding ourselves with pleasure.

When I was a monk, I realized some things worth noting. I had to change my name, leave all my belongings, and was simply given a room with one pillow and a 2mm Thai thin mattress. There was no air conditioning and it was ridiculously hot in Thailand having been used to turning on the air conditioning when its hot and the heater when its cold.

I realized having no belongings, gave you peace of mind. You never had to worry if things were to get stolen or if it would to get damaged. The more you have, the more you worry and the more it stresses you.

The hot heat wasn't hot after 1 month as my body adapted to the surroundings and I wasn't sweating as heavily like the first week of stay there. Sleeping too comfortably is not a good thing, as you become less productive spending more time in bed. 4 hours of sleep is considered sufficient for a monk and it was true as I wasn't sleeping so much after my body was consuming alcohol, meat, and cigarettes. Having peace of mind is a huge factor.

I thought I would share as I had some time to spare as my girlfriend is getting dressed up to go to work, which takes her an hour.:smile:

Cheers.

 

[netfreak]

I would see a difference between replica products which are strictly designed to imitate the actual product entirely including the name, and products (such as NSX parts mentioned in your post) which are simply based on the original. Provided the company manufactures the product, brands it as its own, and does not violate any patents while doing so, I wouldn't have a problem with it. My concern would be with purchasing high end brand name products which are known for being targets for these replicas running with the same name in an obvious attempt to deceive people.

It's a bit scary seeing how much piracy has evolved. I recall seeing some funny replicas a number of years back in South Korea during a visit, with brand names spelled slightly different or even completely incorrect.

 

[heySkippy]

I don't have a big problem with replicas until they also clone the logo or other trademark and try to pass it off as the real thing. Want to make a watch that looks like a Rolex? Fine. Want to put a Rolex logo on it? Not fine. The first instance is imitation, the second instance is fraud.

In my book, fraud = theft and nothing sucks more than a thief.

 

[AU_NSX]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

Hmmmm.... Piracy... (I think copy goods has been covered..)

Why am I forced to pay $800 for some software in Australia that is sold in Asia for $50.

I won't accept that it I get charged more because I can afford more...! The product is either worth $50 or it is worth $800.

 

[heySkippy]

Why am I forced to pay $800 for some software in Australia that is sold in Asia for $50.

You're not forced to pay anything. Do without.

 

[AU_NSX]

You're not forced to pay anything. Do without.

Ahhh... Wouldn't it be nice if the world really did work like that! :smile:

 

[Modernceo]

But are patents really beneficial to everyone as a whole. It is to the producer. For something like medicine that could be produced a lot less elsewhere and be sold at a lower price to the sick; is it ok for pharmaceutical companies to put patents on products that could save lives? Is it ok for pharmaceutical companies to charge different prices for the exact same product in different countries?

Is it ok for pharmacuetical companies to put a patent on a product that they put many years, and tens(maybe hundreds) of millions of dollars into the development of the product ?

Think of it this way.

If you are a company, developing a product, and there is no such thing as a patent to protect your investment of time, and engineering, why would you pursue an expensive product/item if you know it will be instantly knocked off and not protected at all ?

Patents protect manufacturers investments and are a needed part of our manufacturing industry.

 

[Juice]

Patents were originated to protect Capitalism.

 

[Sig]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

Like them or not, patents and other protections will always be around.

Without protections of some sort, innovation would be drastically reduced the world over. In our society, we use patents to protect corporate innovations that exist with a profit motive. However, the same priniciple applies to government level secrets and most others for that matter. Governments or Corporations would not spend >8 zero's of of money to innovate if the secret sauce was given to every other country/company as soon as they had a breakthrough. Patents and general protections are the primary drivers behind rapid innovations in fields that have front-end loaded investment requirments.

 

[Modernceo]

Patents were originated to protect Capitalism.

Right, and theres nothing wrong with that, unless your a socialist living in a Capitalist country, or if your first name is Fidel, and last name Castro.

 

[Ko-nsx]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

The United States has been pushing the ban on replica products and piracy on every country in the world.

I don't ever see piracy and replica products ever disappearing from the world because of the basic law of economics. Where there is a demand, there is always a supply.

Only thing I can see happening is maybe it is harder to get replica or pirate products driving the price up a little as the supply decreases.

The reality is the United States is one of the hugest markets for replica and pirate products. There are factories that produces "export only" replica or pirate products and their main customers are here in the U.S.A. Brand name clothing apparrel, accessories, watches, and jewelry seem to be the most popular ones.

Replica companies are getting ridiculously good at making replica and pirate products. The newer model replica LV accessories actually use real LV leather now. How do you think they retrieved the real leather? Replica Rolex watches are now produced in Switzerland and are 98% accurate from a current review using the same materials and functioning like an authentic Rolex.

Since this is on Prime, we know where some of the designs of what Procar, Downforce, ScienceofSpeed, and Dreamzsports are modeled after.

Yay or Nay?

Why does one purchase luxury items? It is to purchase temporary happiness, to add to one's ego, and our society cherishes such items.

I was having an argument with my girlfriend and she did bring up a good point. She wanted to purchase a Rolex for her brother in law as a wedding gift. I started the discussion about some newer replica Rolexes that were available now and she said "no." She gave me a good reason, as it was the only wedding gift for her brother in law so it is "rude" to purchase something like that as a gift. I could understand her reasoning and I did agree. As a gift you would of course not want to lead them in believing that it was a genuine product.

If we really believe that there should be a ban in piracy and replica products, I think there should be no exceptions to the rule.

But are patents really beneficial to everyone as a whole. It is to the producer. For something like medicine that could be produced a lot less elsewhere and be sold at a lower price to the sick; is it ok for pharmaceutical companies to put patents on products that could save lives? Is it ok for pharmaceutical companies to charge different prices for the exact same product in different countries?

Just something to think about.

I personally would not withhold information or a product that could save lives for the reason of just money. But again do these companies really have a choice?

A thing we known as a corporation was created as a seperate entity to its shareholders with the main goal of making profits. This invisible entity or simply a name is to be treated like a seperate person so that its shareholders can protect themselves from any damages that it can incur. Or is it really just that? Or is it more to put the responsibility elsewhere (on the corporation itself) so that the shareholders can reason to themselves that it is not their responsibility and they are not at fault, although they are all raking in the benefits, leaving out just the responsibilities.

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and thought I would share.

In 2000 years from now, what the consitution for living will be? You look back 2500 years ago, when luxury entertainment in prior days were simply lavishing meals with some pretty ladies dancing around. We have gotten so good at feeding our wants and desires, so that we constantly have to pleasure ourselves with a wide range of products and activities today.

This desire to pleasure makes us weak as it makes things that we don't like that were simply very small problems before, seem like much more stressful problems; as we are so used to feeding ourselves with pleasure.

When I was a monk, I realized some things worth noting. I had to change my name, leave all my belongings, and was simply given a room with one pillow and a 2mm Thai thin mattress. There was no air conditioning and it was ridiculously hot in Thailand having been used to turning on the air conditioning when its hot and the heater when its cold.

I realized having no belongings, gave you peace of mind. You never had to worry if things were to get stolen or if it would to get damaged. The more you have, the more you worry and the more it stresses you.

The hot heat wasn't hot after 1 month as my body adapted to the surroundings and I wasn't sweating as heavily like the first week of stay there. Sleeping too comfortably is not a good thing, as you become less productive spending more time in bed. 4 hours of sleep is considered sufficient for a monk and it was true as I wasn't sleeping so much after my body was consuming alcohol, meat, and cigarettes. Having peace of mind is a huge factor.

I thought I would share as I had some time to spare as my girlfriend is getting dressed up to go to work, which takes her an hour.:smile:

Cheers.

How did you un-monk?

 

[johnny010]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

I agree from first hand experience. I purchased shoes off ebay that were advertised as Authentic/Real/Not Fakes/Variants Jordan VII's. Guess what, they were fake. I paid $90 for them.

I think it should be illegal.

 

[clr1024]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

I agree from first hand experience. I purchased shoes off ebay that were advertised as Authentic/Real/Not Fakes/Variants Jordan VII's. Guess what, they were fake. I paid $90 for them.

I think it should be illegal.

I don't have an issue with fakes/copies, but do have an issue with someone passing a fake off as real. That sucks about your shoes.

 

[Ski_Banker]

Great thread. I think most of us know the obvious business/R&D rationale and the traditional explanation of the value of patents in increasing innovation (Sig elaborated I think). The more interesting question is in the value of Trademarks and Servicemarks, like Rolex as you described. Without question, it is beneficial for the producer. But, is it beneficial for society (even a purely capitalist one)? I hadn't really given it much thought until now, but I now tend to think that marketing-related intellectual property (IP) probably has a net negative value for society. Probably easiest is to compare with pharmaceuticals:

- Patents in pharmaceuticals, without question, spur innovation. So, while the drug companies can charge $100/pill on a patented drug (that costs $0.10 to manufacture), the public gets the benefit of a new drug/treatment that it wouldn't otherwise get. The cost is, of course, all in up front R&D.

- Rolex, in contrast, has significant costs as well - in advertising. They spend, say, $100MM a year on marketing to increase the value of their brand. Oh, and when they're done, they make or buy some watches to actually put the brand on. But, to Stick-E's point, does this $100MM of annual brand awareness benefit society (such as with pharma)? Not one bit. So basically, advertising money is, in large part, just a complete drain on society. And, further, it is trademarks & servicemarks that reinforce that drain.

Very interesting indeed.

 

[fannsx]

Patents were originated to protect Capitalism.

And capitalism stimulates growth, encourage people to work, to think , and to create.

 

[fannsx]

Great thread. I think most of us know the obvious business/R&D rationale and the traditional explanation of the value of patents in increasing innovation (Sig elaborated I think). The more interesting question is in the value of Trademarks and Servicemarks, like Rolex as you described. Without question, it is beneficial for the producer. But, is it beneficial for society (even a purely capitalist one)? I hadn't really given it much thought until now, but I now tend to think that marketing-related intellectual property (IP) probably has a net negative value for society. Probably easiest is to compare with pharmaceuticals:

- Patents in pharmaceuticals, without question, spur innovation. So, while the drug companies can charge $100/pill on a patented drug (that costs $0.10 to manufacture), the public gets the benefit of a new drug/treatment that it wouldn't otherwise get. The cost is, of course, all in up front R&D.

- Rolex, in contrast, has significant costs as well - in advertising. They spend, say, $100MM a year on marketing to increase the value of their brand. Oh, and when they're done, they make or buy some watches to actually put the brand on. But, to Stick-E's point, does this $100MM of annual brand awareness benefit society (such as with pharma)? Not one bit. So basically, advertising money is, in large part, just a complete drain on society. And, further, it is trademarks & servicemarks that reinforce that drain.

Very interesting indeed.

Advertising budget goes to advertising companies. Advertising companies hire artists to design and create tv ads,newspaper ads, etc...The TV stations or newspaper companies hire produces, actors, delivery boys, and so on. All of these people need to make money to feed their families.
So YES, it is beneficial to the society.

BTW, I had a similar talk with my father-in-law last week about being a monk and not care or worry about anything other than one self. I think it can be great for one's mind. But imagine if evryone in the world become monks. What kind of world will it become. No prgress, no family relationship, no benefit to the society at all.

 

[Ski_Banker]

Advertising budget goes to advertising companies. Advertising companies hire artists to design and create tv ads,newspaper ads, etc...The TV stations or newspaper companies hire produces, actors, delivery boys, and so on. All of these people need to make money to feed their families.
So YES, it is beneficial to the society.

That's like saying having a complex & convoluted legal system is beneficial to society because it allows the employment of hoards of attorneys, their printers, their delivery people and their administrative staff. Wrong.

 

[Stick-e-rice]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

How did you un-monk?

I had to go through a traditional ritual saying that I can no longer keep my promise to live adherely to the 200 something commandments set forth by Siddharta.

They take away my robe and simply give me a blessing.

I broke down in tears, without understanding why at the moment, but I later realized I have never been that happy and peaceful my entire life.

For those of you who have kids, I think it would be an excellent idea to send them there to think about what they want to spend their rest of their lives accomplishing. I think before or after college would be a good idea. Buddhism is more like a way of life rather than a religion that requires faith. The ultimate goal in life is the pursuit of wisdom to understand how the circle of life works and best cope with it and be happy. That is all Buddhism really is.

Back to the topic, I think that if pharmaceutical companies were working together, you don't think there would be a much greater chance that we would have cures to many diseases such as AIDS.

It is profits that divide the companies apart as the one who finds the cure first will hugely profit from them.

Capitalism doesn't unite us. It divides us.

 

[fannsx]

That's like saying having a complex & convoluted legal system is beneficial to society because it allows the employment of hoards of attorneys, their printers, their delivery people and their administrative staff. Wrong.

Companies need to protect their product line, improve corporate image, etc. How can you say that advertisment by Rolax does not benefit the society when you are in the telemarketing business. Money needs to circulate in the business world.
The complex convoluted legal system is the reason why you need lawyers in this world. You and I just can not understand them fully.
Maybe you need to explain to me what you mean by benefiting society. It probably has a deeper meaning than I assume.

 

[fannsx]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

The ultimate goal in life is the pursuit of wisdom to understand how the circle of life works and best cope with it and be happy. That is all Buddhism really is.

Back to the topic, I think that if pharmaceutical companies were working together, you don't think there would be a much greater chance that we would have cures to many diseases such as AIDS.

It is profits that divide the companies apart as the one who finds the cure first will hugely profit from them.

Capitalism doesn't unite us. It divides us.

But competition is what drives innovation and give incentives for companies to create better, cheaper,faster products. We have to face it, this is human nature, weather you like it or not. Noone ever expect capitalism to unite people. I think only outer planet aliens can unite people. Only then can we all see ourselves as humans, rather than black or white, rich or poor.

Tell me,please. What did you learn about the circle of life, and how did it make you a happier person?I like to know. It is a very interesting topic to me.

 

[Ski_Banker]

Companies need to protect their product line, improve corporate image, etc. How can you say that advertisment by Rolax does not benefit the society when you are in the telemarketing business. Money needs to circulate in the business world.
The complex convoluted legal system is the reason why you need lawyers in this world. You and I just can not understand them fully.
Maybe you need to explain to me what you mean by benefiting society. It probably has a deeper meaning than I assume.

Ok, a little truth in advertising :wink: : I'm not a telemarketer. I do private equity investing.

What I mean by "beneficial to society" (pure capitalism...just the way I like it), is that there aren't unnecessary frictions, or expenses, in commerce. The convoluted legal system has a tremendous cost to society, that winds up in the final prices of the goods we buy. It's easiest to understand in a hypothetical: Imagine if our commercial laws were simple to understand, applied fairly across jurisdictions, and didn't require the *need* to consult an attorney for most activities. The economy would be streamlined. Exactly the same argument can be made for our tax system. Trade tariffs/quotas/subsidies are also frictions, but in a different manner.

Anyway, these frictions, result in society having to pay more for the goods and services consumed, and we are all worse off as a result. Even, in our example, the lawyers - if 90% unnecessary - could devote their time to producing something, rather than costing someone else. Not to dog the lawyers...:wink:

The marketing/advertising societal cost is a bit more conceptual in nature. The high level, though, is that capitalism is most efficient (and therefore, beneficial to all participants) when decisions to buy/sell (ie, engage in commerce) are based on accurate/factual data. Everyone benefits (in terms of global "GDP") when capital is allocated efficiently. This is undisputed in economics, BTW. But, marketing and branding clouds people's judgement. It makes companies spend money on advertising, to influence people to buy (for the same price) an inferior product. And, to the original point, marketing would be far less prominent without IP laws that protect brands. Without trademarks and servicemarks, the returns generated from advertising would be substantially lower (since competitors can copy your efforts for free), so marketing would decrease and consumers would make more rational economic decisions.

If that all doesn't make sense - just see one of Hugh's $100 Zymol car wax threads, and think of what you could do with the *other* $90 if you bought the same product for 10 bucks without the influence of marketing.

One final point: Active marketing is actually a very new concept in capitalism.

 

[rickysals]

I'm completely for banning the replication of products and piracy of products/services.

Why should some schmuck be able to copy the design of a company who put up millions of dollars in R&D and undercut the market? As a designer - I notice this stuff every single day, whether it be an online logo-mart ripping off logos, fake Oakleys, Rolexes, LV, Coach bags, etc... I have a problem with it even if the original MSRP $800 bag is sold by someone for $15 and is shown to be fake.

This kind of attitude hurts the design industry. By the time I'm done I'll have spent nearly $100,000 in education and then thousands more in workshops, equipment, research, etc, etc.... Then some jerk can steal (small-time) clients by ripping my HTML off a webpage and charge $200 for a $25,000 job. It's the same principal. I'll never support those who rip off design, because someday I might be the one getting ripped. Here's one small example of the stuff that really steams me... It's a real company rippong off other designers. I hope they burn in hell. http://www.baddesignkills.com/logoworks/

--

To clarify - this, in my opinion, is different than how companies like Procars do things with their NSX-R products. They are producing a product that is in high demand, for correct market value, that is nearly unable to be bought in the US.

--

I suppose it's a touchy subject and you can make cases for each side, but that's where I sit on it. Those who buy a Rolex for collectibility and the right reasons will buy a real one... Those who buy it solely to show off and save a few bucks, will prob buy the ripoff.

 

[Ski_Banker]

I'm completely for banning the replication of products and piracy of products/services.

Why should some schmuck be able to copy the design of a company who put up millions of dollars in R&D and undercut the market? As a designer - I notice this stuff every single day, whether it be an online logo-mart ripping off logos, fake Oakleys, Rolexes, LV, Coach bags, etc... I have a problem with it even if the original MSRP $800 bag is sold by someone for $15 and is shown to be fake.

This kind of attitude hurts the design industry. By the time I'm done I'll have spent nearly $100,000 in education and then thousands more in workshops, equipment, research, etc, etc.... Then some jerk can steal (small-time) clients by ripping my HTML off a webpage and charge $200 for a $25,000 job. It's the same principal. I'll never support those who rip off design, because someday I might be the one getting ripped. Here's one small example of the stuff that really steams me... It's a real company rippong off other designers. I hope they burn in hell. http://www.baddesignkills.com/logoworks/

--

To clarify - this, in my opinion, is different than how companies like Procars do things with their NSX-R products. They are producing a product that is in high demand, for correct market value, that is nearly unable to be bought in the US.

--

I suppose it's a touchy subject and you can make cases for each side, but that's where I sit on it. Those who buy a Rolex for collectibility and the right reasons will buy a real one... Those who buy it solely to show off and save a few bucks, will prob buy the ripoff.

I hear you, but marketing is what I am referring to. Not R&D. A brand doesn't add any value to a final product, but it is, however, a cost that "irrationally" influences peoples' behavior. I'm NOT arguing that brands are worthless (far from it) in the current IP protected system, which isn't going away. Just that IP rights can create value for assets that shouldn't otherwise exist. Like the Rolex brand. BTW, I have one, and the real value of the thing is about 50 bucks -- the other 3950 is brand related. A Timex Ironman is a better product.

 

[rickysals]

I know

I should have clarified I wasn't responding directly to your marketing point

 

[Stick-e-rice]

Re: The Reality of Replica Products. And other interesting things. Alert, long post

But competition is what drives innovation and give incentives for companies to create better, cheaper,faster products. We have to face it, this is human nature, weather you like it or not. Noone ever expect capitalism to unite people. I think only outer planet aliens can unite people. Only then can we all see ourselves as humans, rather than black or white, rich or poor.

Tell me,please. What did you learn about the circle of life, and how did it make you a happier person?I like to know. It is a very interesting topic to me.

FannNSX,

I'll give you how I processed the information while I was at the monastery. Keep in mind I was somewhat an atheist as my father is a Christian and my mom was a Buddhist. I say atheist because I didn't really believe or followed either the Christian way or Buddhist way.

So why Buddhism? Buddhism was started by an actual real person dating back 2500 years ago, so before Christianity. Siddharta Gautama, a prince, was a very credible person as he was fluent in many areas of studies that we would consider engineering, mathematics, science, literature, and etc today. He was considered one of the brightest people of his time, as he would challenge scholars to debate with him. His works, teachings, and guidelines are recorded in the Pali Tipitaka and Commentaries in 35 volumes. It is some serious reading for those of you that are interested, and does command a lot of concentration.

In these 35 books his teachings have been passed down for many years and have been passed on by word of mouth and just about 1000 some years ago were they started to be recorded in writing so before that word of mouth was the only means, but only the most knowledgeable monks in specific areas were used to memorize and keep records in very very specific areas of studies. To give you a better picture, Siddharta had over 10,000 followers as monks and most of them did play a role. In those days, to become a monk was even more difficult as the guidelines or commandments set forth were fully enforced.

What was interesting is that Siddharta have put forth the simplest check and balance system as time progressed because with any story that has been passed on by word of mouth, is subject to some change over time. He said that you should always use reason in pursuit of your own truth which you can attain from vipassana and pawana; two different types of meditation one to attain wisdom and one to attain peace.

Having a master monk who led a life strictly to the monk's code made me respect my master monk who was genuinely a kind and loving person. He has been a monk for many years (35 years) and has a PHD in Buddhism from India. I've never met any person that was so respected yet humble and so kind. Because I had a good teacher, I respected him, I respected his teachings, and I was able to put aside my ego; which is what the objective of being a monk does. It strips you from judging yourself by what you own and makes you realize nothing is really "yours" as nothing is permanent or lasts forever. Buddhists believe death is the only thing that lasts a long time and even that it is not forever. To be born, especially a human being, is extremely difficult and fortunate. He compares it to finding a diamond in the bottom of the ocean. You must have done a lot of good to be born a human being as you could have been born over a million different other living beings.

I don't know if everything I've learned is true, but would I want to risk it being true by not doing good otherwise. Buddhists believe there is a consequence from every causation. You are merely a product of what you have done in a former or current life. This "circle of life" is something that can't be understood easily as its mechanism is far from simple. Siddharta did try to explain it a little to only his disciples that were high level monks, but to us it can just be simplified as follows:
1. You will continually be reborn as long as you have attained enlightenment. There is something similar to what we call "hell" for those that have committed a sin, and none greater than the taking the life of another. As I mentioned before how difficult it was to be born a human being; taking one away will make that person come back to get you personally or could be corrected by a greater mechanism if that person chooses not to. Hate is a very strong power as it also can last a long time, especially by those who have been blinded by materialism. Money or materialistic objects have been warned by the monks that they were extremely dangerous, as Siddharta has predicted that it will continuously evolve to be even more seductive. Monks were told to never touch money because of this very reason, that is why you see the strict monks today never touch them and have somebody else purchase things for them through the money donated by people.

There are a lot of monks today blinded by such wants and needs, as it is a lot easier to become a monk than it has before, although they are trying to make it like it was before by monks that have set high standards. There are two great monks of our time that has been regarded around the world as one of the greatest monks of all time, Panya Nanta Bhikkhu and Putatad Bhikkhu who has just enjoyed his 100 year celebration. Monk Panya Nanta Bhikkhu is also currently 96 years of age and approaching the 100th year mark like Monk Putatad Bhikkhu.

In all and all, I took what I needed to live everyday in and out. I look at money and materialistic objects a lot differently now and learned to not be attached to them like I use to be. I have learned the reasoning to do good even if I have been bad to as I too believe in causation, and people who do bad is often as a result of being blinded, so one should show them some kindness. The Buddha does encourage you to different constitutions of living with your objective in life. I learned the importance of working hard at all times, as it is beneficial to you and your personal growth. Hardwork is rewarding to you and should be to those around you. I learned to be more focused at the tasks at hand rather than worrying about something that has already happened or not yet happened. Meditation is another thing that really works, as it is truly amazing how your mind functions a lot better when you have it peaceful for 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 3 hours through meditation. Your mind travels in so many different directions as we are forced to multi task in our daily lives. It makes your mind easily distracted especially when you constantly do things to please it such as eating, drinking, consuming, purchasing, and etc. Your mind is something that must be trained and disciplined and what seemed like a pain or stressful before won't be so once you have trained your mind well. You learn to accept consequences and understand why it happens as there is a very high chance what has happened to you that you didn't like was caused by yourself.

I don't know if all and all what is taught is true, but it really gets a lot deeper and detailed that its quite amazing that to pursue happiness and peace can get as detailed as 35 volumes long in books as thick as an encyclopedia; I encourage you to find your own answers.

In case God isn't really going to save you, you might want to try saving yourself first. I'm not going to risk myself of any negative consequences, so I will play my part.

Cheers.:smile: