Thoughts

Talking about materialism, connection, and health on multiple levels. Stuff no-one wants to hear.

Materialism is an interesting subject- everyone is materialistic on some level; it's just that what we usually call materialism is an unhealthy obsession or infatuation (something that is payed more attention to than needs be) with the material plane. I am materialistic, as is most everyone, on key levels: I subscribe to this physical realm by providing my body nourishment, paying attention to it, observing it, taking care of it. For me, personally, my body is my home, a collection of tools, and also a canvas for a multitude of artistic mediums. I wear makeup, for instance, much like I am a fan of body art and modification, not because I want to impress others with my physical form but because I am exploring what I can do with this canvas. It is not necessary, and I recognize that. But physically unnecessary creation can be very healthy, and it can be argued that it is necessary on emotional and spiritual levels as well. Unhealthy materialism is when we are infatuated or obsessed with maintaining or keeping a physical object, appearance, or style at the cost of our emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. Much of the western cultures are deeply rooted in capitalism, especially consumer capitalism; creating unhealthy goals, expectations, and building much stress in the people who subscribe to this mindset and way of life. Ignoring everything but the material has major consequences on the mind, heart and soul.
A further representation of this unhealthy materialism can be noted in our often innocently ignorant expression of the need for spiritual/emotional bonding and closeness with other people: we do not have the privilege of intertwining our spirit fully with another; so sometimes we try to achieve the closest feeling possible in unhealthy ways through sex, opiates, feeling possessive of another person. That's not to say that sex and attachment are unhealthy; only that they can be when we don't realize the extent of what we want and need on all the levels of our existence. If one first realizes that they cannot obtain the desired level of connection, and then goes on to accept this, then one can find satisfaction and peace in the limited connections that we make and maintain throughout this plane of existence. If one is not enlightened to this notion on a certain level, then they may seek control over things, people, and events because they were never taught to think beyond materialism; the things they can create and destroy. They may find themselves so tragically attached to one way of life, of thinking, or one person, or object(s), afraid to let go, thinking that they can control the outcome of situations, believing that if only they try hard enough, that they may achieve permanence, because of their fear of being alone, or their fear of not having- which is, inherently rooted in an unhealthy notion that without a certain amount of money or fame, for example, one will not be viewed as worthy of human connection.


Without the limitations of the largely western perception of destruction, creation, and abundance, we begin to see that there is no in-between; creation is an act of destruction, just as destruction is an act of creation. Material abundance is the biggest lie and the greatest truth; having everything can make you feel empty and having nothing can make you deeply fulfilled- it is only what you do with the non-material fabric you are given (that void from which all things spring forth, the matrix of singular existence, what can not be observed but that you can observe from usually in a deep state of what we call meditation,) that dictates the rest of your reality. Nothing begins in the physical; it only cycles through the physical.

It is hard to say what is more tragic here; lack of knowing/feeling due to miscommunication or no communication, or willful ignorance due to fear of loss of connection. When one realizes that they are already connected, that they are here to live and not to worry about this illusion of loss, then they can truly be free.

Reviews

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I don't know if you saw documentary movie by Godfrey Reggio Kooyinaqatsi it's from Hopi language and is mean life out of balance. And this what we are on side of consumerism but lack of spiritual practise . Our lives became more numbers then real lives . Try to produce higher numbers and try to consume more pleasures at buying things. We are on the edge and this planet is suffering from our blind Faith at economy. Melting ice on Greenland is just one aspect of it. I really like how you brought clear your thoughts on subject and our own wrong decision what we make everyday. Very important write to read and think about it. Well done.