Late life asset erosion is emerging as one of the most serious financial risks facing Canadian seniors, as rising care and housing costs collide with fixed incomes and longer lifespans. For many middle‑class families, the “retirement plan” built around a paid‑off home and modest savings is no longer enough to withstand a decade or more of elevated expenses in very old age.
Hedonism views life through the lens of pleasure, treating satisfaction and enjoyment as the highest compass for meaning. From existentialist thought to utilitarian ethics, pleasure is often assumed to define a life well lived. Buddhism challenges this assumption—not by rejecting pleasure, but by examining attachment to it. By distinguishing levels of pleasure, from sensory enjoyment to dhyanic absorption and liberation, this essay explores where hedonism succeeds, where it fails, and why freedom is found not in pleasure itself, but in how we relate to it.
“No one likes you naked” is a quiet truth at the heart of samsaric suffering. What the world rewards is not who we are, but what we emit—crafted identities, agreeable projections, performances shaped for acceptance. While we struggle to preserve these images, nature moves in chaos, undoing every construction. This resistance creates dukkha. The Buddhist path does not ask us to perfect the mask, but to see through it. Liberation begins not by pleasing others, but by saving oneself from endless becoming.
The Utilitarian way of thinking questions “how can I use my resources to create the maximum amount of “utility” (well-being or happiness) for the greatest number of people?”
In this framework, money is not a goal or a status symbol; it is a tool for impact.
Success isn’t just about who you know; it’s about the social architecture of your life. To truly evolve, you need a balanced “inner circle” that functions like a ladder. At the top, you need three mentors—the “deities” who challenge your limits and pull you toward excellence. As the Stoic philosopher Seneca noted, we must model ourselves after those who have already mastered the path.
However, true mastery is only solidified through teaching. By extending a hand to two mentees, you ground your knowledge and “lift as you climb.” This dual-action growth—inspired by Tai Lopez’s Law of 33% and Jim Rohn’s Rule of Five—ensures you are constantly reaching for your potential while anchoring your progress. Are you ready to stop drifting and start climbing? Discover how to curate the five people who will define your future.