Caught up in the pursuit of material possessions, humans have neglected their true selves. They have focused on discovering external things, but have failed to look inward and discover the brilliance of their own souls – the very core of their existence. According to Seneca, business is a distraction from life itself. Our desire for luxurious homes, fancy cars, and large bank accounts has trapped us in a cycle that we cannot break free from. We have come to believe that material possessions are the sole purpose of our existence, causing us to overlook the importance of our true existence.
We have become reliant on cars, sacrificing the simple joy of walking and leading to a decline in our health. In our pursuit of wealth, we have lost precious time and life itself in this competitive capitalist world. As Seneca writes, our mortal desires for immortality have separated us from our true selves, causing us to live in a false reality where material possessions hold the most value. We fiercely protect our personal belongings but carelessly waste time without understanding its true significance. Instead of living our lives as we should, we waste them on insignificant and trivial pursuits.
What is the current demand? One may inquire. How can we lead fulfilling and purposeful lives? Shaheed Muthahari provides an answer. Our focus should be on pursuing things that will not separate from us in death, but will remain with us even after passing away. The most valuable possession a person can have is their spirituality. This involves living a virtuous and purified life according to religious principles and obeying the laws of God. Spirituality helps to control our worldly desires.
Buddha, in his first victory hymn, explains how his spiritual enlightenment allowed him to overcome his worldly cravings. By focusing on spirituality, we can resolve material issues. In today’s society, we are constantly influenced by various interpretations that guide our lives. We are bombarded with these interpretations and have no escape. Take a step back and reconsider! How have concepts like the world, humanity, God, religion, freedom, justice, and beauty been interpreted for us to accept and base our lives on? It becomes evident that these ideas have been interpreted in materialistic ways everywhere we look.
The value of a person has long been connected to their financial standing, which is often considered the most important factor when evaluating one’s character and personality. Physical appearance is often reduced to mere physical appearance. Fairness is defined in terms of economic equality. Our existence has been degraded by materialistic interpretations and divisions. In the pursuit of material possessions, we have lost touch with our true selves and the spiritual aspect of life.
We are not in tune with ourselves. In his book “Man, The Unknown,” Alexis Carrel argues that modern society is diminishing in value. It only focuses on one aspect of life, causing individuals to become disconnected from their inner selves and souls. Materialism has led us to develop feelings of inferiority and we often compare ourselves to others based on our financial status. How can we achieve a sense of elevation in relation to the world and other people? Spirituality allows us to rise above creation and feel a special connection with God, bringing us joy and purpose in life.
The belief that we are small in comparison to God but higher than other creatures fills us with happiness and tranquility. Our spiritual well-being is just as important as our physical health, if not more so. How many of us are truly present in our own lives?
Many people lack spirituality and do not take the time to focus on their inner selves. Jobs, businesses, and relationships consume their lives, causing them to neglect their own well-being. However, a life solely dedicated to these external factors is not worthwhile because it means ignoring one’s own personal growth.
Seneca points out that we often encounter individuals who are stingy with their wealth but wasteful with their time and energy, engaging in mundane activities without considering the brevity of life. Despite knowing that our time on Earth is limited, according to Seneca, it can still be meaningful if we use it wisely. We should strive to find ways to truly live and overcome the harsh reality of life’s fleeting nature.
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