Materialism

Toady we are living are having comfortable life when compared to earlier generation. But is it really comfortable? We have softer beds for better sleep, we have air conditioners to tackle adverse climatic conditions, fancy clothes to decorate our outer appearance to the world, we have different devices to playing games and relax our minds etc. These are comforts right? They appear quite ironic to me, air conditioners to tackle adverse climate condition, the conditions which we played with. Playing games on game devices to relax which really increase mental stress in long run. These all are part of materialism. The ideology of materialism states that everything including emotions can be represented physically. 

Now, what do you think, to which extent is it valid? There's a saying that money can't buy happiness, which contradicts this theory. Is it really true money can't buy happiness? I believe there are two types of happiness one which last for short duration and other which some how revives itself and give a sense of happiness again and again. The happiness lasting for shorter duration can be bought from money but the latter one can be achieved with our deeds, with near satisfaction, knowing what we have achieved in life accounts for good. 

The materialistic happiness need fellow or someone other than an individual to provide that happiness because this type of happiness can be felt when someone else appreciates. But the true happiness don't need any alibi to feel it, it comes from near self. For example, all the luxury we fantasise about like (at least I do) sports ca, big resident.. etc will they matter if society finds them usual? Once owning a T.V was luxury but today they are present in nearly every house. So, if we talk about a true egalitarian society, can an individual be happy if ideology of materialism is followed? The answer is no because we find this happiness because of other and when no will be there to appreciate it, these materialistic totem of happiness won't help.

Let us see another example, the great emperor Ashoka, was the most powerful king of his time. After the kaling yudh gave up everything and followed Buddhism. The reason for him was the deaths he caused because of wars. He had every luxury in his time but still gave up everything and followed the path of dharma. He was shadowed by the sadness which materialistic happiness couldn't overthrow. 

Have you ever made someone smiled because of you? Like passed a joke or done some charity and the result was before your eyes, the sense of providing. Doesn't it feels good? Don't you feel happy and satisfied. I believe the services which we provide, which don't harm us in anyway but give something to someone that is it path to be happy. 

Materialism is also an obstacle in the way to egalitarian world because till the time this fake sense of happiness, this fake sense of achieving, the physical form which depicts our achievements is there in our shelves, we can't find the true happiness.