A fundamental difference between spirituality and materialism is the fact that materialism views the world through the limiting filter of the mind. The mind, by its very nature can perceive only within the boundaries of space & time, which simply means that ideas have to be framed within fixed concepts in order for the mind to understand. This serves as a basis for common dualistic thinking.
Most people operate from a dualistic philosophy that started from conditioning beginning at an early age. This philosophy is characterized by the identification with a material fleshly form in a universe populated by billions of other fleshly forms. With a youthful self-identification with a physical body comes a curiousity about the outside world and life choices are made, consciously or sub-consciously about what kind of a role one wishes to partake in. Some unfortunately will feel that they have little or no choice in roles because of perceived family, government and/or society restraints or pressures. Regardless, individuals have (generally) in the past either chosen to strive for excellence in all things openly, or have settled for ordinariness.
In these modern times in the free countries, there are less open restrictions on creative self expression. Because of this, there has been a great surge in the output of music, art, writing, etc. that do not necessarily adhere for good or ill to the ideology of the government, corporate, or religious authorities of the day. This flourishing freedom of "creative self expression" is, in my opinion, one of the truest physical indicators of an evolved free society.
One of the root evils of a materialistic "dualistic" philosophy is the focus on happy "moments." Happiness is bought and sold into increasingly hi-tech packages that create desires. The sum total is that sensual gratification alone can only give us joy some of the time. This in turn creates a consciousness of scarcity and limited happy moments. This is a basic difference between materialism and monoism (spirituality).
Spirituality is when one's consciousness is rooted in the present and one sees that everything is connected and there is is no true seperation. Everything becomes a mirror of our own consciousness and one can experience love all of the time. It is then realized that there are no limits.
The product of materialism is desire, while the product of spirituality is love. Spirituality dances in the present while dualism is always split with either the past or the future. The challenge then is to build a bridge from the finite to the infinite; from materialism to spirituality.
© copyright 2001 Michael S Wilson. All rights reserved.
