March 8, 2025
Overcoming the Bias of Materialism in Our Viewpoint About Living a Meaningful and Happy Life
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 1, Looking at Life and Circumstances, pp. 14-15This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/03/06/overcoming-the-bias-of-materialism-in-our-viewpoint-about-living-a-meaningful-and-happy-life/
Video presentations,interviews and podcast episodes are all available on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,040
Western civilization has a
distinct bias in favour of what
2
00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,960
we may call a materialistic
viewpoint.
3
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:15,320
Money, possessions, status and
power based on monetary power, a
4
00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,720
drive to own ever newer
possessions, and the need to try
5
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,160
to increase our enjoyment and
satisfaction of life through
6
00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,400
these factors leads those born
into Western civilization to
7
00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,960
consider that having a good job,
amassing wealth and buying
8
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,800
things constitutes the basis of
enjoyment.
9
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,240
This viewpoint has infiltrated
most of the world by now, so
10
00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,520
that the predominance of the
materialist outlook on life is
11
00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:49,200
almost, but not quite universal.
To be sure, to live in the
12
00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,880
modern world, a certain amount
of concern for material
13
00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,640
well-being is important.
The question that arises,
14
00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,840
however, is whether this concern
should be all consuming or
15
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,080
whether it needs to be balanced
with other viewpoints and other
16
00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,680
value sets in the way we go
about making life choices and
17
00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,760
allocating our time and
attention and determining what
18
00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,680
our actual goals can and should
be.
19
00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,320
Should we allow the
materialistic viewpoint, for
20
00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:25,240
instance, to represent the
central purpose of our lives?
21
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,680
Or is there perhaps another
significance for which material
22
00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:35,480
stability is helpful, but which
nevertheless needs to take a
23
00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,600
more central role in our life
goals, objectives, and
24
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,960
satisfaction?
Our very way of judging the
25
00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:47,360
value of everything is tainted
by a reference to its monetary
26
00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,960
value rather than being viewed
on a scale that is not based in
27
00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,240
material valuation.
Concerns in a world that is
28
00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,400
quickly experiencing what is
known as the 6th planetary die
29
00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:05,320
off in large part caused by our
valuing material wealth above
30
00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,919
having a clean and healthy
environment and forcing everyone
31
00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,360
to focus on accumulating and
enjoying wealth rather than
32
00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,760
living a more balanced life in
harmony with the rest of the
33
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,360
people and other beings on the
planet and keeping the needs of
34
00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:26,680
the environment itself in mind.
We seem to be creating
35
00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,800
consequences that are playing
out in terms of imbalance in
36
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,520
resource access and allocation,
the consequent breaking out of
37
00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,800
wars and mass migrations,
deterioration of our natural
38
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,120
environment, and increasing
impacts of both climate change
39
00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,960
and pollution on our very health
and well-being, our genetic
40
00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,760
integrity, and the spread of
ever more virulent disease
41
00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:59,040
vectors.
If we destroy the land, the air,
42
00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,640
the water, and the ability of
people to live harmoniously
43
00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:06,800
together, are we really better
off?
44
00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:11,280
That is, unfortunately, what our
current fixation on material
45
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,520
wealth is forcing us to grapple
with.
46
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,120
If we look to other
civilizations of the past and
47
00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,840
from other parts of the world,
different values have come to
48
00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,600
the fore that dealt with
creating a community of caring
49
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:32,040
and mutually supportive people
in some cases, or focused on
50
00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,880
spiritual growth and development
in other cases.
51
00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,840
Some cultures supported
expression of our deepest
52
00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,080
feelings and sentiments through
art or music.
53
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,040
Some developed deep
philosophical or religious
54
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,520
reflections that motivated large
numbers of people to focus their
55
00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:55,280
lives on issues other than pure
material satisfaction.
56
00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:01,040
The question is not an either or
decision, but more of a
57
00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,000
balancing of our need for
material stability and
58
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:09,320
well-being with an appreciation
of and development of values
59
00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,480
that go beyond the physical and
vital needs and desires to
60
00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:18,880
address the higher and larger
capabilities that humanity has
61
00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,160
within its nature and its future
development.
62
00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:28,440
The Mother writes.
Quote Throughout this teaching
63
00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,880
of the Dhammapada, there is one
thing to be noticed.
64
00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,680
It is this.
You are never told that to live
65
00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:40,480
well, to think well is the
result of a struggle or of a
66
00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:44,240
sacrifice.
On the contrary, it is a
67
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,880
delightful state which cures all
suffering.
68
00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:52,680
At that time, the time of the
Buddha, to live a spiritual life
69
00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:58,480
was a joy, a beatitude, the
happiest state which freed you
70
00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,760
from all the troubles of the
world, all the sufferings, all
71
00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:08,320
the cares, making you happy,
satisfied, contented.
72
00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,480
It is the materialism of modern
times that has turned spiritual
73
00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,600
effort into a hard struggle and
a sacrifice, a painful
74
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,280
renunciation of all the
so-called joys of life.
75
00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,560
This insistence on the exclusive
reality of the physical world,
76
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:33,200
of physical pleasures, physical
joys, physical possessions, is
77
00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,480
the result of the whole
materialistic tendency of human
78
00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,240
civilization.
It was unthinkable in ancient
79
00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,960
times.
On the contrary, withdrawal,
80
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:50,120
concentration, liberation from
all material cares, consecration
81
00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,640
to the spiritual joy that was
happiness.
82
00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:58,080
Indeed, from this point of view
it is quite evident that
83
00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,920
humanity is far from having
progressed, and those who were
84
00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,960
born into the world in the
centers of materialistic
85
00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,200
civilization have in their
subconscient this horrible
86
00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:14,000
notion that only material
realities are real, and that to
87
00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,960
be concerned with things that
are not material represents a
88
00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:22,680
wonderful spirit of sacrifice
and almost sublime effort.
89
00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:28,760
Not to be preoccupied from dawn
to dusk and from dusk to dawn,
90
00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,560
with all the little physical
satisfactions, is to bear
91
00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:37,880
evidence of a remarkable spirit.
One is not aware of it, but the
92
00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,360
whole of modern civilization is
built on this conception.
93
00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,880
Ah, what you can touch, you are
sure that is true.
94
00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,080
What you can see, you are sure
that is true.
95
00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,720
What you have eaten, you are
sure you have eaten it.
96
00:06:55,360 --> 00:07:00,280
But all the rest, Pooh, we are
not sure whether they are not
97
00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:04,560
vain dreams, and we are whether
we are not giving up the real
98
00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,920
for the unreal, the substance
for the shadow.
99
00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,760
After all, what are you going to
gain?
100
00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,640
A few dreams?
But when you have some coins in
101
00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:20,680
your pocket, you are sure that
they are there, and that is
102
00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,840
everywhere, underneath
everything.
103
00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,760
Scratch the appearance is just a
little.
104
00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,640
It is there within your
consciousness and from time to
105
00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,040
time you hear this thing
whispering within you.
106
00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:40,640
Take care, don't be taken in.
Indeed it is lamentable.
107
00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,600
End Quote.
Reference Sri Ro Bindu and the
108
00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:51,280
Mother, Looking from Within,
Chapter 1, Looking at Life and
109
00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,200
Circumstances, pages 14 to 15.
00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:05,040
Western civilization has a
distinct bias in favour of what
2
00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,960
we may call a materialistic
viewpoint.
3
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:15,320
Money, possessions, status and
power based on monetary power, a
4
00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,720
drive to own ever newer
possessions, and the need to try
5
00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,160
to increase our enjoyment and
satisfaction of life through
6
00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,400
these factors leads those born
into Western civilization to
7
00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,960
consider that having a good job,
amassing wealth and buying
8
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:35,800
things constitutes the basis of
enjoyment.
9
00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,240
This viewpoint has infiltrated
most of the world by now, so
10
00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,520
that the predominance of the
materialist outlook on life is
11
00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:49,200
almost, but not quite universal.
To be sure, to live in the
12
00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,880
modern world, a certain amount
of concern for material
13
00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,640
well-being is important.
The question that arises,
14
00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,840
however, is whether this concern
should be all consuming or
15
00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,080
whether it needs to be balanced
with other viewpoints and other
16
00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,680
value sets in the way we go
about making life choices and
17
00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,760
allocating our time and
attention and determining what
18
00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,680
our actual goals can and should
be.
19
00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,320
Should we allow the
materialistic viewpoint, for
20
00:01:21,320 --> 00:01:25,240
instance, to represent the
central purpose of our lives?
21
00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,680
Or is there perhaps another
significance for which material
22
00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:35,480
stability is helpful, but which
nevertheless needs to take a
23
00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,600
more central role in our life
goals, objectives, and
24
00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,960
satisfaction?
Our very way of judging the
25
00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:47,360
value of everything is tainted
by a reference to its monetary
26
00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,960
value rather than being viewed
on a scale that is not based in
27
00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,240
material valuation.
Concerns in a world that is
28
00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,400
quickly experiencing what is
known as the 6th planetary die
29
00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:05,320
off in large part caused by our
valuing material wealth above
30
00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,919
having a clean and healthy
environment and forcing everyone
31
00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,360
to focus on accumulating and
enjoying wealth rather than
32
00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,760
living a more balanced life in
harmony with the rest of the
33
00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,360
people and other beings on the
planet and keeping the needs of
34
00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:26,680
the environment itself in mind.
We seem to be creating
35
00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,800
consequences that are playing
out in terms of imbalance in
36
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,520
resource access and allocation,
the consequent breaking out of
37
00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,800
wars and mass migrations,
deterioration of our natural
38
00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:44,120
environment, and increasing
impacts of both climate change
39
00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,960
and pollution on our very health
and well-being, our genetic
40
00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,760
integrity, and the spread of
ever more virulent disease
41
00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:59,040
vectors.
If we destroy the land, the air,
42
00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,640
the water, and the ability of
people to live harmoniously
43
00:03:03,640 --> 00:03:06,800
together, are we really better
off?
44
00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:11,280
That is, unfortunately, what our
current fixation on material
45
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,520
wealth is forcing us to grapple
with.
46
00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,120
If we look to other
civilizations of the past and
47
00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,840
from other parts of the world,
different values have come to
48
00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:27,600
the fore that dealt with
creating a community of caring
49
00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:32,040
and mutually supportive people
in some cases, or focused on
50
00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,880
spiritual growth and development
in other cases.
51
00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,840
Some cultures supported
expression of our deepest
52
00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,080
feelings and sentiments through
art or music.
53
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,040
Some developed deep
philosophical or religious
54
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:50,520
reflections that motivated large
numbers of people to focus their
55
00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:55,280
lives on issues other than pure
material satisfaction.
56
00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:01,040
The question is not an either or
decision, but more of a
57
00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,000
balancing of our need for
material stability and
58
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:09,320
well-being with an appreciation
of and development of values
59
00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,480
that go beyond the physical and
vital needs and desires to
60
00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:18,880
address the higher and larger
capabilities that humanity has
61
00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,160
within its nature and its future
development.
62
00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:28,440
The Mother writes.
Quote Throughout this teaching
63
00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,880
of the Dhammapada, there is one
thing to be noticed.
64
00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,680
It is this.
You are never told that to live
65
00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:40,480
well, to think well is the
result of a struggle or of a
66
00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:44,240
sacrifice.
On the contrary, it is a
67
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,880
delightful state which cures all
suffering.
68
00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:52,680
At that time, the time of the
Buddha, to live a spiritual life
69
00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:58,480
was a joy, a beatitude, the
happiest state which freed you
70
00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,760
from all the troubles of the
world, all the sufferings, all
71
00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:08,320
the cares, making you happy,
satisfied, contented.
72
00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,480
It is the materialism of modern
times that has turned spiritual
73
00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,600
effort into a hard struggle and
a sacrifice, a painful
74
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,280
renunciation of all the
so-called joys of life.
75
00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:27,560
This insistence on the exclusive
reality of the physical world,
76
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:33,200
of physical pleasures, physical
joys, physical possessions, is
77
00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,480
the result of the whole
materialistic tendency of human
78
00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,240
civilization.
It was unthinkable in ancient
79
00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,960
times.
On the contrary, withdrawal,
80
00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:50,120
concentration, liberation from
all material cares, consecration
81
00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,640
to the spiritual joy that was
happiness.
82
00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:58,080
Indeed, from this point of view
it is quite evident that
83
00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,920
humanity is far from having
progressed, and those who were
84
00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,960
born into the world in the
centers of materialistic
85
00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:09,200
civilization have in their
subconscient this horrible
86
00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:14,000
notion that only material
realities are real, and that to
87
00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,960
be concerned with things that
are not material represents a
88
00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:22,680
wonderful spirit of sacrifice
and almost sublime effort.
89
00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:28,760
Not to be preoccupied from dawn
to dusk and from dusk to dawn,
90
00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,560
with all the little physical
satisfactions, is to bear
91
00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:37,880
evidence of a remarkable spirit.
One is not aware of it, but the
92
00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,360
whole of modern civilization is
built on this conception.
93
00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:46,880
Ah, what you can touch, you are
sure that is true.
94
00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,080
What you can see, you are sure
that is true.
95
00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,720
What you have eaten, you are
sure you have eaten it.
96
00:06:55,360 --> 00:07:00,280
But all the rest, Pooh, we are
not sure whether they are not
97
00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:04,560
vain dreams, and we are whether
we are not giving up the real
98
00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,920
for the unreal, the substance
for the shadow.
99
00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,760
After all, what are you going to
gain?
100
00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,640
A few dreams?
But when you have some coins in
101
00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:20,680
your pocket, you are sure that
they are there, and that is
102
00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,840
everywhere, underneath
everything.
103
00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,760
Scratch the appearance is just a
little.
104
00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,640
It is there within your
consciousness and from time to
105
00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,040
time you hear this thing
whispering within you.
106
00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:40,640
Take care, don't be taken in.
Indeed it is lamentable.
107
00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:45,600
End Quote.
Reference Sri Ro Bindu and the
108
00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:51,280
Mother, Looking from Within,
Chapter 1, Looking at Life and
109
00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,200
Circumstances, pages 14 to 15.