Philosophy of Wantlessness is Utopian, While Materialism is a Chimera | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Earth Provides Enough to Satisfy Every Man's Needs, but Not Every Man's Greed." This statement sets the stage for a profound exploration of two contrasting philosophies: wantlessness and materialism.

Materialist philosophy posits that one should find contentment only after accumulating all desired possessions. However, does this mean we must loathe ourselves until we possess everything we covet? Must our pursuit of happiness be postponed until the end of our lives? Materialism, it can be argued, contradicts fundamental aspects of human nature.

In contrast, the Indian way of life embodies elements of religion and ethics. Religion teaches the value of wantlessness and selflessness as fundamental prerequisites for a happy and fulfilling life. While human nature often inclines towards luxuries, these desires are rooted in power and wealth, two of life's deepest yearnings. Throughout life, people tirelessly chase after these twin desires, which often originate as mere figments of the imagination, eventually turning into sources of suffering when they remain unfulfilled.

Paradoxically, when a desire is gratified, it often leads to the birth of new desires, perpetuating an unending cycle of want and suffering. Satisfying one desire fails to bring closure to the ever-expanding circle of desire and its accompanying suffering.

Wantlessness is a state of mind in which pain and pleasure cease to arise. It is the epitome of happiness, a state transcending mere absence of sorrow, representing absolute freedom from pain. Happiness, thus, becomes the ultimate goal of human conduct, while pleasure becomes a means to this end. A state of wantlessness is akin to a state of contented emptiness, where external stimuli no longer trigger needs or desires, requiring no effort to attain satisfaction.

Initially, worldly desires for luxury items spawn new cravings, eventually transforming these luxuries into necessities that can bring pain. Achieving wantlessness demands overcoming imperfections and impurities, freeing oneself from the control of desires.

Materialism, in contrast, implies that the pursuit of happiness lies in accumulating material possessions, disregarding the existential belief that life's essence cannot be found in external objects. Materialism propagates the idea that lasting happiness can only be achieved by fulfilling every desire—an elusive goal that perpetually remains out of reach.

In life, the desire for happiness should take precedence over the pursuit of materialism. Instead of seeking a life devoid of desires, we should strive for one with fewer desires. A life utterly devoid of desire is challenging to attain, but it becomes feasible through the recognition and elimination of unnecessary cravings.

Research indicates that materialism fosters competitiveness, manipulation, selfishness, and reduced empathy toward others. It ultimately promotes individualism, fixated on self-centered goals and aspirations. In contemporary society, spiritual leaders often advocate for a combination of wantlessness, selflessness, and materialism, but this sometimes occurs within a corporatized framework where religion is commodified.

Buddha's insight that desire is the root of suffering holds true in our consumer-driven world, where perpetual discontent fuels insatiable cravings. It is essential to understand that materialism offers only short-lived and temporary happiness. Once this realization dawns, materialism loses its allure.

True knowledge about materialism can be attained through introspection and self-exploration. We possess numerous desires, but when we succumb to the urge for too much, our energy dissipates, and our focus wanes. The issue is not a lack of desire but an excessive longing for more.

In conclusion, the ideology of wantlessness is idealistic, while the materialist worldview is an illusory chimera. The truth is that we require very little to survive, and while many possessions may enhance our lives, they are not essential for our survival.

In the words of Swami Vivekananda, "All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore, love for love's sake, because it is the only law of life, just as you breathe to live." These words remind us that love and selflessness are the true paths to fulfillment, transcending the fleeting allure of material possessions.