TOPIC # 1.
Man’s Desire – Enough is Never Enough!
Suppose you did the work you love, didn’t have any debt, could afford a comfortable vacation, and were rich enough to move into a bigger house. Could you be happy under those circumstances? You might say yes, but most people would probably still feel dissatisfied in short time. No matter how much we have, we usually want more. That is the nature of endless desire.
Why are people continuously unhappy with their earthly lot? First, we are always comparing ourselves with others. We are dying to know how much money our neighbors, friends, and relatives have, where they live, what they drive, what they wear, and how they spend their vacations. It is always easy for us to fantasize about how easier life would be if we only had a little more money. Second, the mass media feed us falsely glamorous notions about the world, how the beautiful people live lives of such luxury and ease; and we want the same. So we are never satisfied with what we have, no matter how comfortable we may actually be; we are all like mosquitos flying into the flames.
We are too strongly hooked to the illusion of spiraling desire to restrain ourselves easily. We need to remove our lust for earthly goods step by step. Doing so requires time and practice, like learning how to ride a bicycle. Unfortunately, we don’t make much progress because, during the ride, instead of concentrating on keeping our balance we are too likely to be wishing we had a ten-speed.
Question ~!!
1. What is the nature of our desire?
2. Why can’t we be satisfied with three meals a day?
3. How can we free ourselves from excessive greed?
4. Do you want to be gorgeous? Why or why not?
5. Do you want to be rich? Why or why not?
6. Do you want to be famous? Why or why not?
7. Do you want to know everything? Why or why not?
8. Do you want a big house? Why or why not?
9. Do you want a big car? Why or why not?
10. Are you happier when you think you have more money, a bigger house, or amore expensive car than your peers?
11. Is being rich good or bad?
12. If you had everything you wanted, what would you do then?
13. Why is it hard to give up our desires?
14. How can we cure ourselves from always wanting too much?
TOPIC #2
About Dokdo
1, Why do you think Japan is keep insisting that Dokdo belong to Japan?
Do they really think Dokdo is their territory and they can take Dokdo from Korea?
2. Some countries are worried about reviving Japan’s increasing militarism. Do you think Japan is trying to use this case as a part of the militarism?
3. How do you predict this case is going to end up?
What would happen if this dispute was sent to the International court?
4. What do you think about other countries’ reactions?
5. What can we do about this Dokdo case?
Do you think our government is coping with this problem well now?
TOPIC #3.
About study English
1. Were/are you satisfied with English education at school?
2. What do you think is the worst problem in it?
3. If any, what did/do you like in English learning at school?
4. If workers, do you think that it is helpful to your work to have a good TOEIC?
5. If you have a kid now or in the future, would you like send him/her abroad?
6. Are you satisfied with the private educational institution, hagwon?