Materialism is brought on by thinking that the acquisition of objects will bring happiness. The acquisition of basic material goods is necessary to the degree that we need to support our own body and our dependents with food, clothing, and shelter. And, it is important that we take good care of our kids with learning disabilities so their self-esteem stays intact and is nurtured.

But, along the way, we should not form too strong an attachment to specific material goods. The form we may be adoring at this moment may change rather quickly, unexpectedly, through no plan of our own, such as through an accident or fire.

And with the passage of time all forms change their inner composition and their outer look, which includes the physical bodies of people, too. Therefore, we need to look for something, other than more and more objects, in order to experience happiness.

For the happiness that we are looking for through materialism we must look to what in this world does not change through time and circumstance.

No circumstance of the physical universe can alter either the giving or receiving of caring love. Our physical body becomes energized as we think and act on our thoughts of caring. And our thoughts of caring can never be taken from us. They are not made up of, or dependent on physical molecules, as objects are.

When our body feels the surge of energy, brought on by our caring thoughts and actions, our mind also becomes more alert. The word we could use to describe our state of mind and body at that moment is, of course, happiness. To feel happy, more often, we need only to think and act with caringness more often.

Materialism boils down to the search for happiness through the acquisition of objects.

Happiness is truly experienced when our body and mind are harmoniously aligned and vibrantly energized, brought on by our caring thoughts and actions, ever untouched by the variables of the material world. It is fun to have objects but they don't satisfy the craving for happiness.

For offline reading

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Article by Susan Kramer