In my realization, the biggest hinderance is that we, as a sleeping consciousness, make the mistake of identifying with those things.

All they really are, are atoms composed in certain arrangments. They are only patterns of vibrating energy and this belong to the enitre universe, not us. It's what we do with those things, money, electronics, etc... which really matters.

In Rabolu's works he makes mention of a similar notion. That everything, completely everything, is an illusion. It's what we choose to do with our limited time while in this illusion that counts.

Hi Andrei I don't think that it's the actual things that are hindrances , but our attachment to those things that are the hindrances. Nothing should come before work on one self ,and helping of others. Nothing!

Those things go with the world of matter, and is subjected to time, and will past away.

But as Jesus the Christ said "Render unto Cesar That which is Cesar's , and unto God the things which are God's."

Peace and Love

I think the problem with materialism is essentially our attachment to material things and fear of loss, and thinking that the material life is what we're here for. So easy to just drift from day to day and just 'get by' and make more or less money and have a certain amount of things, and not really do much more than that. Only natural, I suppose, when spiritual things don't play much of a role in our lives in the normal run of things.

In my country there is now a sort of post-materialist void, we are now at a comfortable level materially and have all we need (on the whole) and then some, and people are in some ways starting to look to spiritual things to fulfill their needs beyond the basics. Quite encouraging to see actually, it's not necessarily the case that the more you have the more you want.

Liz

Children of today in western culture are pure victims among many not all, of materialism in wanting things like Ipods, DVDs, trainers, designer T-shirts, computer games, motorbike (scramblers) and many more. It is very alarming to see how many have been the biggest victims to the extent they have forgten about themselves spiritually and don't even know how to comunicate properly with other people. Until these people learn how to interact with others and appreciate there natural planet the will become grounded in many ways.

I am more than happy to help others in life as I have learnt to help and look after myself in life and know how to appreciate kindness. It is an ongoing progression which has helped largely through my self awareness.

My definition of materialism would be something like having a perspective that earth will give everything we want and to assume money, fame, places, tools, house will bring enjoyment and fulfillment in life. :-)

Cheers,
Ju

For me, materialism means being stuck in 3 dimensional world, failing to see that there is much more to it, fixing attention on the lowest fragment of a much bigger picture.

To ask is to learn, to learn is to know, thus knoweledge is the ultimate goal!

Well it is apparently the grossest of all the planes!

Materialism is good, especially the blatant, soulless versions. They beat everything when it comes to prompting a pure longing for the spiritual.

I agree that our attitude towards possessions is what is harmful, rather than the possessions themselves. This was pointed out to Armando in 'The Flight of The Feathered Serpent" (great book by the way).

Most people today see material wealth as an end in and of itself: "I want a fancy car (or many fancy cars), a big house and all the luxury one can think of, i want a lot of money" etc. They spend their life acquiring these things, and may even look down upon the poor or those who are not materially rich. Some of them succeed in acquiring these riches, and some don't, but in the end, neither really benefits from their possessions.

The most obvious example of greed on a large scale are the corporations that exist all over the world. Many are willing to lie, steal, and destroy the enviroment just so they can make more money. But they are just reflections of the individual on a larger scale.

There is nothing wrong with earning a living (fairly and without harm to others), but having money and possessions as the main drive in life is pointless and a waste of time.

Those who have won the lottery will tell you that it's the excitment of winning the money or something like that, not the money itself that is the joy. Many have said it is a curse really. In a way the less you have the more you have.