Most discussions about what is considered ‘enough’ centre around money and power. To be the most powerful, the wealthiest or the most famous, once the desire of mighty kings and despots, has now filtered down in modern societies, with rags to riches stories becoming commonplace. However, the modern world is increasingly characterised by insatiability, an inability to say “enough is enough”, and an insatiable desire for more money or power.

Enough means having enough to live, enough to be happy, and enough to thrive. So how does one arrive at what is enough? Enough is not a number. Individuals have their own measure of enough. The wise know what that limit is, for others, society’s limiting systems — legal or moral — determine when enough is enough.

King Ashoka won a battle against the Kalinga kingdom, with 100,000 deaths and even more taken captive. That was his ‘enough’. Appalled by his own ruthlessness, Ashoka became a Buddhist, dedicated to spreading the message of peace.

It is not just the acquisition of money that motivates a desire for excess. Dr Faustus, a legendary figure, sold his soul to the devil, Mephistopheles, for acquiring all knowledge. Dramatised by the playwright Christopher Marlowe, a Good Angel urges him several times to stop his quest, but he cannot resist the temptations promised by the Devil. The play ends with his intense fear, panic and regret, as the gates of Hell open and his body is dragged away.

In a world where amassing more money, power and prestige is seen as a barometer for ‘success’, how can one learn to quell this insatiable appetite?

Seeking to improve oneself or society is, in itself, a worthy quest. However, improvement often becomes synonymous with more. Studies have found that people living in small isolated communities have a comparable life satisfaction with those in affluent nations. This suggests that peer pressure may be a strong factor.

Urbanisation provides opportunities for comparisons — a better house, a better school, a more stylish lifestyle. This is reinforced by advertising campaigns that sell the promise of a better lifestyle, making it difficult to set personal limits for what is enough. Enough, instead of being a state of contentment, becomes a question of anxiety — is one smart enough, brave enough, slim enough, rich enough, important enough? — an endless list of doubts.

Many parents pressurise their children to achieve better grades. Jennifer B. Wallace, in her book Never Enough — When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic, points out we live in an environment of unrelenting pressure. Parents facing an uncertain future pass on their fears to their children, pushing them to not just be good, but the best in academics and sports, hoping this will ensure their children will have the best chance for successful lives. There is the danger of children being valued more for their accomplishments than themselves.

One of the most inspiring stories is that of the late Indian Parsi business magnate Ratan Tata. With a net worth of $928 million at the time of his death, Ratan Tata’s monthly salary was about $235,000, in comparison with his fellow countryman Mukesh Ambani (net worth $100 billion) who pays himself about $270,000,000 per month. Tata led a simple life, dressed modestly, indulged in a few personal whims, such as flying his own plane, and preferred an evening spent reading or listening to music.

Sixty-six percent of Tata’s company profits were spent on charity. Tata himself personally donated about $1.2 billion in his life. He was clear about what was enough for him to lead a life of fulfilment. He understood that money should support the major priorities of your life, not become the major priority of your life.

Researcher Gabriela Edlinger and her colleagues believe “enoughness” is essential for a sustainable future. Rich nations should leave room for growth in poor nations. According to the American sociologist David Riesman, we have to move away from “looking enviously at those above and anxiously at those beneath… The more deeply we are caught up in the prevailing culture of moreness and comparison, the harder it is to acknowledge simple everyday moments as wonderful opportunities to experience enoughness.”

We practice ‘enoughness’ when we drink a glass of water when thirsty, prefer a home cooked meal, or even feel content with one’s own spouse and family. The Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger said, “The poor man is not one who has little, but one who hankers after more.”

Durriya Kazi is a Karachi-based artist.
She may be reached at
durriyakazi1918@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, EOS, December 22nd, 2024