Is being Materialistic or Spiritualistic better?

Seeking the answer to which is better, being materialistic or spiritualistic, this all depends on what you are looking for in life and for yourself.

Let us look at what both have to offer, and see if this helps you to make up your mind:
• Spiritualism brings inner peace and materialism creates inner turmoil. Although, it may seem to some that material contentment is the secret to happiness and peace; the fact is that even with all the wealth of the world, one can never acquire peace!

• It is because both spirituality and materialism bring happiness in different ways, but the big difference between the two is that spirituality brings permanent happiness, whereas materialistic happiness is always temporary.

• Spirituality teaches one to always remain in the present. And materialism means endlessly running behind future desires and thinking about past regrets.

• Spirituality is all about love and oneness whereas material life is all about self-interest, hence hurting others.

• For those trying to be spiritualistic, the principle they practice is not to hurt any living being to the slightest extent. In contrast, where one lives a materialistic life, knowingly or unknowingly, one ends up hurting others for the sake of personal gain. We can never be happy if we have hurt others.

• Spirituality liberates us from emotions of anger, pride, greed, deceit, attachment and abhorrence which have been the main source of conflicts and hurt. While materialism creates damaging habits such as comparison, jealousy, dishonesty, lying, cheating or hurting people, which are some of the fundamental reasons for unhappiness.

• On the spiritual path, one gains the right understanding which enables him/her to deal with issues like worries, stress, problems, depression, jealousy, suspicion, and personal relationships. Whereas the path of materialism creates confusion, division and pain as we try to deal with worldly life through the intellect. The intellect is constantly causing inner turmoil.

• Spirituality unites us with the entire world, whereas material success creates divides.

• Spirituality always stays on the side of positivity, no matter how bad the situation is. Whereas in materialism when things go wrong, one loses hope and experiences despair.
• And most important of all, Spirituality liberates and material binds.

From the above outline of spirituality and materialism, you can decide for yourself, which one you would really like to pursue.

Fundamentally, spirituality means to seek the answer to your real Self, through which everything naturally falls into place.

In our everyday life, we see people suffering from pain, unhappiness, stress, tension, depression, frustration, tiredness, worries, losses, failures, ill-health, hurt, misery, sadness, sorrow, pain, loneliness, hatred and anger. All suffering is mainly due to ignorance of the Self - this is the greatest reason for all problems. All the confusion in this world is created because of the ignorance of the Self only.

It is only when one acquires Self-realisation that one gets the real knowledge which makes us aware of ‘who am I’. This is the key importance of spirituality. Nothing in this world can affect the one who lives with the pure applied awareness of the Self that is eternal (the pure Soul).

Awareness of the eternal is bliss!

The Soul is eternal; it has infinite knowledge, infinite vision, infinite energy and infinite bliss. Yet we experience helplessness, suffering, pain and insecurity.
What is the reason for it? It is because we are not ‘aware’ of the Self; we are not ‘aware’ of our own energy.

Spirituality makes us aware of it; thus, it is most important for living a peaceful and blissful life, free of all suffering.