Just pause a moment as you amble through the vibrant streets of Colombo. Take a breath and look beyond the towering buildings, bustling shops, and the passersby dotted with beads of sweat. Do you see it? A green paper snake, slithering and winding through every avenue of life, slowly constricting. Behold the relentless, insatiable hunger for wealth! Is this a primal desire woven into our very being, as inseparable as the yearning for love? Does it indeed run through our veins, entwining into our very DNA? History whispers many thousands of tales of families fractured and lives sacrificed at the altar of cold, hard cash. Greed's shadow stretches millennia, fuelling wars that echo through the ages. Money has entrenched itself as a pervasive force in the lives of many, in fact, almost everyone!

The concept of money is undeniably fascinating and multifaceted. While I don't presume to offer an economics lesson to such a distinguished and intellectual audience, I aim to delve into the essence of value itself. We must not be reductionist and oversimplify economics to merely be the study of money. It is about understanding how choices are made in a world of scarcity. It is a complex, evolving field with various schools of thought and competing theories. Yet, one of the foundation stones of this topic - the value of a unit of currency and its rate of exchange with another, be that a rupee, a dollar or a pound - rests on a precarious tightrope. A single misstep, a seemingly minor shift, can send the entire system teetering on the brink of economic meltdown and may leave its dependents – humans, who themselves designed and built the system, in utter chaos, and to climb out of ruins – if we survive the mental trauma of the ordeal, that is. It seems ironic that we, the supreme race whose intelligence outsmarts that of every other species, have hung our sanity on something so fragile and susceptible to economic turbulence. One might propose one of these days that we might as well depend our social well-being on the weather! at least we are becoming more reliable in predicting its behaviours, and even when things get out of hand, its consequences are local rather than global. However, it is the system we have, and it would be nothing short of whimsical to wish, hope or pray for anything else. Besides, when there are such inherent flaws in the system we as a human race have invented and evolved along with us over several million years, it seems I’d have more luck banging my head on a brick wall than lobby for an alternative! So, instead, I would like to propose that we spend a little bit more time understanding the nature of the devil we know so we can better ourselves in the ways and means we interact with it. This begs the question: is the value we assign to money truly inherent, or are we clinging to an illusion? Perhaps the answer lies not in pronouncements but in a paradox.

Picture yourself in a scenario: seated in a stark, empty room with nought save for a simple wooden table bearing a couple of items before you. To your left, a humble cup of water; to your right, a dazzling diamond ring nestled upon a plump pillow. The task at hand appears deceptively simple: you must select the item of greater value. Is it the water or the diamond? At first glance, the diamond's brilliance might lure you, and the answer seems obvious: the diamond holds greater worth. However, the longer and deeper we ponder on it, the erudite philosopher within us awakens, for a conflict arises.

Water sustains life. There is no argument about it. It is one of the essences of life itself. Shouldn't its indispensability render it more valuable? Yet, market forces tell a different story, with diamonds fetching higher prices, and even comparing their market values is comical. Evidently, its service isn’t what gives it value. The value of an item is often dictated by its scarcity. Diamonds, created under intense pressure and found in only a few selected locales, exemplify this principle. In contrast, water, seemingly abundant, might be readily available in some locations but scarce in others, like arid regions.

However, rarity alone does not determine value. Let's compare diamonds to gold. While diamonds may be more expensive, gold boasts a more prosperous elemental composition and is rarer. Carbon, the core constituent of diamonds, is an element prevalent throughout the universe, as it is the fourth most abundant chemical element in the observable universe by mass after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen. Carbon is abundant in the Sun, stars, comets, and the atmospheres of most planets, in you, me and the world around us. This perspective diminishes their perceived scarcity. Then, the answer is premised on the principle of supply and demand. Conversely, diamonds are stringently controlled, bolstering artificial scarcity and heightened demand, thereby inflating their price. Despite its essential role, water lacks the allure of luxury and status associated with diamonds, leading to lower market value.

Moreover, the law of marginal utility comes into play—while the first few sips of water in a desert are invaluable, additional water offers diminishing returns in utility. In contrast, diamonds retain high marginal utility due to their perceived scarcity and symbolic association with love, status, and luxury. However, imagine this: a world in which diamonds were as abundant as water and water as rare as diamonds. Now, which would appear to be more valuable?

Market value, driven by supply, demand, and cultural associations, dictates the perceived worth of an item. Value is also context-dependent. In the arid expanse of the Sahara’s scorching desert, water reigns supreme. Yet, during a marriage proposal, a diamond ring holds symbolic significance, surpassing the practicality of water. You need to give them a ring with the biggest stone. There is a belief that the bigger the stone, the longer the marriage’s longevity. But we all know that there will always be one thing bigger than the biggest stone you can fit on a ring - the time-proven ludicrousness of that belief!

While the diamond might initially seem more valuable due to its price and cultural connotations, its true worth ultimately lies in the subjective lens we apply. Unlike inherent properties, value isn't embedded within objects; it's a mental attribution that varies based on individuals and situations. The first sips of water in a desert hold immense value compared to abundant supplies, highlighting how our needs and context shape perception. Where does this value come from? And how does our understanding of it help us become wiser and live more meaningful and happier lives?

So, what does it mean to be “valuable”? We can conclude that the value that we give something is subjective and differs from person to person, scenario to scenario. This can be said differently; an object does not have intrinsic value; instead, value is a subjective mental attribution. Where does this value come from? And how does it help us come out of our addictions to the things we crave?

Let us revisit the cycle we outlined in one of our previous articles: the brain reward pathway, which consists of four crucial components: environment, craving, action, and result. While these stages offer invaluable insight into an enduring human struggle, Buddhist philosophy introduces an additional, pivotal element: the viewpoint. The viewpoint serves as both the genesis and the termination point of this cycle. Unlike the other components, which are largely beyond our conscious control, the viewpoint holds the power to initiate or halt the cycle.

The environment can be altered but cannot be extricated completely. We will have to live in the same house and associate with the same neighbours; we cannot stop ourselves from smelling the intoxicating fumes of deep-fried greasy foods or the flow of memories as we pass our favourite rendezvous. If we cannot change the battlefield, we need to improve our strategy. 

Let’s consider the role of craving. Why do certain stimuli evoke pleasure or desire within us? Take, for example, chocolate cake. When asked why we enjoy it, we typically attribute it to its delicious taste and the satisfaction it brings. But this begs the question: why do some individuals crave chocolate cake while others remain indifferent, and yet others even dislike it? Some argue that humans are inherently predisposed to crave sugar or chocolate due to our evolutionary reliance on glucose as a primary fuel source. Consequently, sweet foods activate the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. One might assume that everyone would share this craving, yet statistically, approximately 10% of the population does not enjoy chocolate. That might seem like a small percentage, but in actuality, it is approximately 800 million people.

Craving, in essence, stems from a particular perspective or viewpoint ingrained in the mind. It is a subconscious response triggered by our mental associations. This perspective, shaped by experiences and associations, assigns value to stimuli, including addictive substances. Consider the diamond example: the value assigned to it is dictated by the viewpoint of the beholder. At birth, virtually all stimuli are perceived equally, save for physical sensations and some congenital predispositions conditioned by samsaric habits. At birth, this lens is unclouded. A newborn, untarnished by the many viewpoints it would subsequently acquire, wouldn't crave the diamond ring on its mother’s finger or cry to taste chocolate cake. The baby, devoid of social conditioning, is ignorant of such things and, therefore, would not perceive one to be more valuable than another. They experience the world purely through sensation. However, as we interact with the environment, our minds acquire views that imbue objects and experiences with value. 

Returning to the paradox of value, consider the worth attributed to gold—an object deemed precious and highly valued in society. However, what if these perspectives were to undergo a dramatic shift? Imagine receiving a notification on your phone bearing breaking news: “Scientists have identified the leading cause of cancer: gold.” Suddenly, the gleaming gold chain you painstakingly acquired after dedicating many hours a day of laborious work for an extended period loses its lustre. In the wake of this revelation, would you hesitate to throw it away? You would start to regret the time you wasted on the necklace. This scenario illustrates how swiftly the value of an object diminishes when perceptions shift.

Have you ever witnessed people fighting over faeces? It's an unlikely scenario, isn't it? Yet, consider how a mere shift in perspective can radically alter behaviours and attitudes. Picture receiving another notification, this time a groundbreaking discovery: “Scientists have developed a revolutionary preventative medicine for all cancers, derived predominantly from human faeces. Suddenly, a substance once disgusted and discarded would suddenly be revered and respected. Prior to this, flushing the repulsive residual of our digestion would be routine and done without batting an eyelid—no need for a second thought. However, now, individuals scour their surroundings for this, like digging cesspits, enduring the pungent odour, and amassing bags upon bags of faeces. Apologies for the disturbing imagery, but you have to admit that some, in their excitement, might even immerse themselves in pools of it while others venture into farming the said produce.

Now, imagine the scene on a bustling street: amidst the crowd, a bag of faeces is inadvertently dropped, swiftly snatched by an opportunistic passerby. Suddenly, what was once unlikely becomes reality—individuals fighting over faeces. Now imagine individuals hoarding vast quantities of faeces, only to learn that the scientists' claims were false. Now, what would happen? Need I elaborate on the fate that would await the poor scientists who, even if by mistake, publicised the falsehood?

Our recent articles have revolved quite a bit around the pertinent topic of addictions as it has pervaded all aspects of our lives, particularly our children’s. How do our viewpoints relate to the thought process of addiction? Allow me to elucidate with an analogy: imagine strolling through town and encountering a pizzeria. If you lack the positive association that renders pizzas irresistible, you are unlikely to experience a craving upon passing by. However, if a friend extols the greatness of pizza or you are bombarded with enticing advertisements, your perspective begins to shift. You are indoctrinated with the belief that pizzas are delectable, setting the cycle in motion.

First, the Environment: you catch a whiff of freshly baked pizzas as you pass the pizzeria. Next, the Craving: influenced by your preexisting viewpoint, the idea of indulging in a pizza takes root. Then, the Action: you succumb to the craving and purchase a pizza, commencing your feast. Finally, the Result: pleasure or happiness arises upon consuming the pizza, reinforcing the belief that pizzas are enjoyable. This feedback loop reinforces the viewpoint, strengthening the association between pizzas and pleasure. Subsequently, whenever your mind encounters a conducive environment, the reinforced viewpoint prompts the manifestation of cravings. Thus, the cycle repeats. 

We have established that viewpoint, shaped by experiences and associations, plays a pivotal role in igniting cravings. However, the equation is incomplete without considering the environment. Viewpoint acts as the fuel, and the environment acts as the spark. Without both elements, the fire of craving cannot ignite.

For instance, consider the example of pizza. Even if you hold the viewpoint that pizza is delicious, simply walking past a pizzeria would not necessarily trigger a craving. However, the enticing aroma or the persuasion of a companion, both of which stem from the environment, can act as the trigger, igniting the dormant craving fuelled by your viewpoint.

Furthermore, the illusory nature of pleasure further highlights the interplay between viewpoint and environment. In the pizza scenario, if the pizzeria tricks you and serves you a cheese-topped roti instead, provided you believe that it is a genuine item on their menu, you may still experience pleasure solely based on your preconceived viewpoint of pizza being enjoyable. This demonstrates that the actual substance is not the sole driver of pleasure but rather the viewpoint associated with it.

Consider the diverse perspectives on pizza toppings: while 54%, according to a study conducted in America with 34,000 participants, hold the view that pineapple is an undesirable pizza topping, the remaining 46% hold the opposite view. This emphasises that the same stimuli can be perceived differently based on individual viewpoints, further solidifying the power of perspective in shaping our desires. 

Nonetheless, as the mind repeatedly cycles through this vicious thought process, the view or idea reinforces and solidifies, making it increasingly challenging to break free from addiction.  This reinforcement means that the process can be likened to a downward spiral rather than a simple cycle, where the grip of addiction tightens with each descent.

With each iteration, the viewpoint that the substance is pleasurable strengthens. Imagine a snowball rolling downhill. It picks up momentum and size as it gathers snow, becoming harder to stop. Similarly, the more times the cycle repeats, the stronger the belief becomes, making it progressively harder to resist cravings and engage in alternative behaviours. The cyclical nature of addiction perpetuates a self-reinforcing loop, cementing its hold.

Indeed, this cycle forms a ‘perfect’ trap, serving as the fundamental driver of addiction. As the mind becomes ensnared in this spiral of craving and reinforcement, breaking free from its grasp becomes increasingly challenging. The very mechanism designed to seek pleasure and reward becomes a prison, ensnaring individuals in a cycle of dependence and craving.

As stated before, the viewpoint is the start and the end of the addiction cycle; therefore, we need to reverse out of the spiral and come out of it. In an upcoming article, we will discuss how to overcome this addiction cycle.