Why do people get so hung up on material things ?

Question

The more material things we have the more we want and the greedier we become . Why do people depend on material things for happiness ? We should be donating our money to charity or volunteering to serve other people instead of buying things we don't need ! Material things aren't the most important things in life . We should let go of everything that we possess, so that by being free of material things, we can own all things . As long as we are tied to the things of this world we will never be truly humble because the things of this world will keep us busy tending to them .

Answer 1

I'm quite torn about material things, I get very attached to the things I have, but I have very little interest in acquiring more or new items or 'blingbling'.

Most of my furniture, clothes, everything is many years old and usually I bought it secondhand too. I hate it when my comfortable jeans or t-shirt is truly so worn out I can't wear it anymore, or when my trusty old radio/tape player finally stops working... and especially the knickknacks and presents I've collected from friends or lovely places I really care about and I'd never want to lose or give away. When I'm alone and no one can see, I sometimes cry when I break something, which doesn't happen often 'cause I'm very careful with what I have.

But on the other hand I'm not materialistic at all, I don't own a television, IPod, car, or half the modern stuff most people have, and I really don't want them, I don't object to other people having them but personally see them as a waste of money and environment... and I rarely get anything new before the old stops working except for my computer, that's the only item I like relatively new and fast (although this one is two years old too... and the monitor is the same I've had with my last two computers, it's huge and old but it works so why should I throw it out just to get a flatscreen?). I never know what to ask for birthdays or Christmas either.

Answer 2

This infatuation with material goods fills a void in people's lives, a void that exists because of the lack of Christ. A void is always quickly filled. When one thing moves out another quickly moves in to fill the vacated space. We are tied to this world because we are made of the dust of the earth; therefore, there is a natural attraction to the things that are made of this earth. the flesh and the Spirit are at constant odds. Because the pull of the flesh is so powerful upon us we naturally give in to it. You are correct that we should become detached from material things as much as possible. We do live in the material world, therefore, we must cling to some things in order to survive. This obsession with gadgets and money, however, is quite excessive and leads to unhappiness, because as you pointed out, our time gets consumed wi the maintenance of things that are passing away. We all have a problem with materialism, but it is a problem with a solution and that solutions focusing on Jesus Christ rather than our petty wants and desires. Jesus loves you.

Answer 3

Well, the first thing is that people want to be happy, and we'll do anything to make ourselves that, and if we believe that material things make us happy, even though ultimately they DO NOT (since they're impermanent) we cling, grasp and attach to such things.

To untie yourself from materialistic things is to learn to understand that, again, ultimately they do not really bring you happiness. You cultivate a mind that doesn't have to DUMP everything, but you learn to understand that what you do have "ain't all that" and you're not as clingy to it, so you buy less by DEFAULT.

Again, Buddhist logic isn't about deny deny deny, nor nihilism, but rather a middle way... understanding.

_()_

Answer 4

We live in a material world Missy, we need material things to survive.

Answer 5

People are programmed to be through the commercial materialist culture that we've become.

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

i can walk away from everything and i'v done it many times