The Important Things in Life are Not Things

All around us we see chaos, commotion and destruction; we hear about the loss of human values and moral degradation. As a consequence, there is concern and worry regarding the future. Such situations are not new. In our shastras, we find similar descriptions. Without knowing the context, if one were to read Devarshi Narada’s account of life on earth, one would be convinced it is a portrayal of present times! Likewise, Socrates deplored the indiscipline and disobedience of the youth of his days.

When we say human values are deteriorating, we should understand what human values are, how they are degenerating and what we can do to restore them. Many people are addressing the situation at various levels through seminars, workshops and conferences. Deep within, each one knows what to do, but when it comes to action, we hold back.

Once, a journalist asked me whether I was alarmed by the present condition of the youth and was surprised when I replied in the negative. Human beings have the free will to destroy themselves; conversely, they also have the ability to rebuild the damage. This is the beauty of human nature. There is no need to be depressed; it does not help matters.

One reason for the decadence is that we have given more importance to things than to values. The second is: the important things in life are not things. Every person has an inherent desire to enrich his or her life. First we want security, then comfort, then more comfort and greater pleasure. Those who have material things, a higher per capita income and the ability to spend more money are labelled as ‘prosperous’.

Enrichment has two aspects – outer and inner. To enrich our outer life, we require a lot of effort and money. However, the basic necessities of life are free. We can live without gold, silver and jewels, but not without air, water and food, which Nature gives us for free. They are not ‘cheap’; they are valuable, but ‘free’. The space we live in is free, but we put a price on the land and commercialise it. Space, air, solar energy and water are all free.

We take Nature’s gifts for granted. Using her raw materials, we turn them into different shapes and make things expensive and rare. We ascribe value to things and create the world of fierce competition. The principle of ‘Live and let live’ is replaced by ‘Kill or get killed’.

The beauty of air is that we all breathe at the same time and yet there is no competition. We call ourselves superior, intelligent beings, but continue to destroy the very things (plants, trees and animals), on which our well-being depends. The plant and animal kingdoms can exist comfortably without us, but we cannot live without them. The job of the superior is to protect the inferior; the more educated must look after the less educated; the strong after the weak.

None of these values are heeded because we give undue importance to money. Things have become more important than values. Can we enrich our lives just by possessing things? Our outer lives can be made prosperous by the trappings of wealth and luxury, but without the virtues of love, compassion and honesty, there cannot be any long-term sustenance. We must enrich our inner life.

 Editorial by Swami Tejomayananda

Published in Speaking Tree