Rich Dad, Poor Dad: Bringing "Heaven" on Earth.

We're having a dream. 

In that dream, there's a garden filled with every imaginable flower. In the middle of the garden, there's a cascading waterfall, and we feel only joy, happiness and tranquility while slowly floating through the beds of flowers. 

Then we awaken. We realize that this dream is of our concept of "heaven."

But what if that dream were a waking one? What if such a dream could be created in your life?

Would you want to  bring that bit of heaven here on Earth and enjoy it for all time?

This 30,000 square-foot house in Bel-Air, Calif., has four swimming pools, 
spa-like amenities and bullet-proof windows. (Credit: Splash News..) 
According to news reports, purchase of the home is reportedly 
being considered by the entertainment couple noted below.

That's the question most of us should keep uppermost in our minds, as we go about our tasks each day, striving...some of us scheming...as to how we can get more and more beautiful "stuff" into our lives. 

The lifestyles of many people are ever evolving and the ordinary practice of living and creating a life is being taken into the stratosphere. If we're not conscious of what we're doing, we, too, may aim for the "stars" without really knowing or understanding why and what we are doing. We may just think it's the "thing" to do. 

One such example of reaching into the stratosphere of today's prevailing lifestyle is a piece I recently read: it was the union of a billionaire's daughter to another billionaire's son. The wedding reportedly cost $7.7 million; small change for this couple, when the level of extravagance is factored in. 

• Five hundred thousand flowers, (500,000), arrayed the wedding and reception venues. 
• Guests' names etched onto stars, visible as they walked into the reception. 

 (See the wedding details recapped here: 2017 Russian Oligarch's Oscar-Inspired Wedding)

Juxtapose that wedding to the everyday living of another American power couple in the entertainment field: 

• A $1 million a month rental property for a vacation spot.
• An $80, 000 tiara for their first-born daughter
• A $2,100 rosary. 

This couple, still being relatively young, has many years left to cultivate new lifestyle habits. (See the piece on the couple's lifestyle here: How JayZ and Beyonce' Live.) And another couple? Here's this: ("Edible Gold Birthday Cake.")

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this way of living...if you have the consciousness to dream it...achieve it...and sustain it.

The dark queen of opulence: Magia 2000

Where it gets tricky for many of us, though, is when we lose the consciousness to sustain it. Because to stay in the consciousness of sustaining the lifestyle of extravagance, we must believe that we're also entitled to this life and way of living. 

Magia 2000

• If we were born into such extravagance... we know no other life.
• If we've earned it and made billions... we'll have no issues maintaining it.

But for those of us striving for this lifestyle... without the consciousness of feeling 
"entitled" to it... that's where trouble can start for us. Riches are not to be carried lightly:

• We have to have the consciousness to feel entitled to walk down the aisle with hundreds of thousand of roses and other flowers at our wedding. If we don't have the right consciousness to truly believe we are entitled to these things, we can certainly fall under the massive weight...financially, emotionally and physically... of carrying such extreme displays of wealth. 

• Even being born into wealth doesn't guarantee we may not eventually feel the emptiness of it all. 

There's nothing ...absolutely nothing...wrong with growing rich. 

Go for it! Many have gone from rags to riches and have ended up leaving great legacies for their families and future generations.

Here's the thing, though: Know what you're stepping into and the burden you give with that legacy. 
It's then we may begin to deeply appreciate the wisdom of truly rich folks, like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and others who have signed pledges to give away most of their wealth.("The Giving Pledge.")

The humility of these folks may seem strange to those without the consciousness that allows these truly rich people to walk away from wealth and not burden their kids with it. Yet, if we have the consciousness to appreciate these folks, we would have to believe that these rich men and women love their kids very much. They love their kids so much that they are wise enough to know the true value of wealth. So, they give it all away. 

Warren Buffett's daughter, Susan, did not know until she was in her 20s that her father was one of the richest men in the world. Read this: "Susan Buffett Finding Out Her Father Was Rich."

Materialism, defined (here) by The Dalai Lama, as "expensive cars, big houses..." are "all illusions and of the mind," he says. (The Dalai Lama Speaks With Maria Shriver On Materialism.)

Then, there are those "not so rich" dads who do what they do for their children to simply make the passage of their time on Earth more enjoyable. Serena Williams' dad, Richard Williams, was not rich when he taught her and her sister, Venus, the intricacies of tennis, leading them both to world-class status. After reading this piece, (Serena Williams' First Million Dollar Check), we will understand that this seemingly "poor" dad instilled in his daughters much deeper values than earning money. 

Warren Buffett, a rich dad
Richard Williams, a poor dad. 

Both the rich dad and poor dad 
demonstrating values beyond money: LOVE

Our consciousness about money should also be about the flow of money. Whether we have a lot of it or not, whether we can give it all away and earn more or not, our consciousness about money must center around how we include others in the flow of things.

Costco shopping: Alleuia time for many
 because of the value

Bill Gates can afford to be cheap, ("Bill Gates Wears A $10 Watch."), as we all love a bargain, and Bill already has the consciousness to know that he contributes to the flow of life in much higher ways. But then there are so many among us proud to say they have accumulated a lot of money, yet would not give a dime to someone begging on the streets for a meal. (And no, despite pieces like this "Why You Shouldn't Give Money To Homeless People." that you see from time to time, homeless people are not trying to scam you. Most of them are desperate and need help, regardless of how they became homeless.) Or, they are always proud to note that they have received this or that item "for free," without thinking of the cost to the other, or even thinking in any way they can contribute to the free flow of that "freedom" to others. For example, spending money at a local car wash keeps many young people employed, as in their diligence, they buff and shine your car. Eating out at places beyond fast food restaurants when you can afford to do so also keeps those restaurant employees working. These are small ways to live well and also stay in conscious flow of money circulating to others.   

For those wanting to live an extraordinary life, without going to the stratosphere, here's an idea of havng a form of heaven while still on Earth:"Warren Buffett Donates $3.7 Billion To Charity"

Photos Credit: UNILAD Adventure Magazine 
Remember, too, the truly best things in life can be enjoyed without "possessing." 
"Those who are awake live in a constant state of amazement."
Jack Kornfield (via Gratefulness.org)

Namaste'
Che'