We
often make comments that our life is becoming materialistic and
unhappy and we are losing the sense of spiritualism and inner peace of
mind.
We
also hear that the west is materialistic and the east is spiritual.
Is
there a connection between MATERIALISM and SPIRITUALISM?
MATERIALISM
expresses the view that only thing that exists is MATTER.
All
mental events can even be reducible to matters. The brain secretes
thoughts, as the liver secretes bile.
The
definition of matter, in modern philosophical materialism, extends to
all scientifically observable entities such as energy, forces, and the
curvature of space.
In
this view, one might speak of the material world.
SPIRITUALISM
helps us to realize the dignity of each individual.
Spiritualism
transcends diversity of race, colour, language and sect.
It
teaches us to develop understanding and increase compassion.
Spiritualism
promotes democracy.
From
the premise that "one leads a materialistic life", it does
not follow that he believes in material philosophy.
Materialism
and materialistic living are completely different.
One
is a philosophy; the other is a way of life style.
The
characteristics of a MATERIALISTIC WAY OF LIFE are:
-
Interest
in and excessive desire for money, possessions, etc.
-
Idolization
of affluence.
-
Constant
fear of losing what we have.
-
Trying
always to establish "This is mine"
-
Selfishness
-
Having
no compassion.
-
My
own interest only persists.
-
Self
- glorification
-
Corrupting
power
Power
for control, riches, self-glorification, etc. brings about arrogance.
The
above characteristics cause erosion of human dignity.
The
characteristics of SPIRITUALISM OR MORAL VIEW OF LIFE are:
To
overcome
Anger
by love,
Evil
by good,
Greed
by liberality, and
Falsehood
by truth.
It
is very easy for us to choose material things.
But
when it comes to spiritualism, most of us for some reason lack the
qualities in order to be spiritual. Here triumphs the materialistic
life over spiritualism.
We
do not live anymore in a world where spiritual activity is the main
stream of life.
Obviously
we have to pay attention to the material aspects of life. We must
work, eat, make or buy clothes, use transports. But this is not a
materialistic life.
Deep
down in us, there is something, a feeling or a passion beyond all
worldly matters to find peace in another psychic world - we may call
this feeling spiritual.
Absorption
in excessive material sides of life leads to an unbalanced condition
of mental state.
We
must try to allay the animal cravings. We must avoid excess in all
things - - the middle path as enjoined by Siddhartha
Gautam, the Buddha - - the golden mean of Aristotle.
There
are differences in materialistic lives of people from different
stations of life and from different countries.
One
rich person's constant desire to have a very expensive thing, like a
hand-made car or a very expensive dress or an expensive piece of
jewellery can be equated with the desire of a very poor person to have
an inexpensive bicycle, etc. Craving here has the same degree of bad
consequences.
In
spite of having riches, we can have a peaceful and happy life if only
we can control our cravings such that we do not lose our sense of
proportion and very importantly the sense of compassion. The
tyranny of endless desires breeds only undesirable disturbances in
life.
The
SPIRITUAL OPTION is not to renounce
modernity or demonise development. We have to make sure that
material development remains conducive to the blossoming of the human
spirit.
Indians
worship Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. Many religions see prosperity as a
gift of god.
One
who lives in affluence or when affluence is idolized, one cannot
maintain the spiritual characteristics in life.
Only
when affluence is idolized, it enslaves the individual.
Material
prosperity is not materialistic life. But we have to create a balance
between spiritualism and materialistic life.
We
cannot judge spiritualism of a person or a nation by the presence or
absence of material goods. People are free to choose the things that
they want in their lives. They are free to choose their own balance
between material goods and spiritualism. Every individual has his/her
own way to find peace. There is no one rule that we have to follow. It
depends on one's individual psychology. Our needs depend on our social
status, our job, our earning, and our expectation.
CONCLUSION
Hence
I would like to draw a conclusion that every individual living within
the material society should practise the spiritualism in life.
COMMENTS
Technology
is at its peak; it has given us speed, but has also made our life
complex.
According
to Einstein - the fundamental problem of the modern people is that
they get obsessed with means to the neglect of the ends. This cripples
the art of living.
The
way quantum mechanics is progressing, we may eventually discover that
deep materialism and spiritualism are connected at their root - soul
and matter are no longer distinct or distinguishable.
SPECIAL
NOTE:
MATERIALISM
ACCORDING TO THE INDIAN ANCIENTS
In
ca 600 BCE, the Indian Charvaka philosophy founded the materialist
theory.
The
theory signified the declaration of the spiritual independence of the
individual and rejection of the principle of authority - nothing to be
accepted which does not find its evidence in reason.
This
theory stood for sensualism, selfishness and the gross affirmation of
the loud will.
There
was no need to control passion and instinct, since they were nature's
legacy to human. Nature is indifferent to good or bad. The sun shines
equally on the good and the evil. A god is not necessary to account
for the world. It is the weakness of human beings that they believe in
deities. On this theory, pleasure and pain are the central facts of
life. Eat, drink and be merry, for deaths come to all, closing our
lives. Virtue is a delusion and enjoyment is the only reality.
Materialism is the only religion (Sastra); in it only perceptual
evidence is authority; the elements are earth, water, fire and air;
wealth and enjoyment are the objects of human existence. Death is the
end of all.
