MATERIALISM AND SPIRITUALITY — Transient Joy or Eternal Pleasure

amenities created for man’s comfort—is far superior to that which one experiences while travelling in a luxurious automobile. A materially-minded person finds pleasure only in something which he or she actually experiences. The spiritual person will thank God even at the sight of another person’s object. Rather, he transforms his friend’s material pleasure into spiritual pleasure for himself. A materiallyminded person only sees the creation while a spiritually inclined person sees the splendour of the Creator through the creation. It is obvious that the spiritual riches accruing from the discovery of the Creator cannot be gained through objects he created. A truly non-material person’s soul exists at a profound level of spirituality. Furthermore, in the spiritual world, there is no great difference between comfort and deprivation. What one gains from material experiences is of lesser value than what one learns from deprivation. Tears of pain hold greater lessons than laughter. The greatest source of pleasure is in the remembrance of God. It is this reality which finds expression in the following verse of the Quran: Only in the remembrance of God are hearts comforted. THE QURAN 13: 28 Comfort here implies peace of mind that stems only from God, and not merely temporary solace. Man is an idealist by nature. Anything short of ideals only attracts fitful attention. Existing only at the materialistic level is like descending into animalism. Materialism is, in other words, a form of shallowness. A real man is one who discovers the secret of spirituality. If in materialism there is pleasure of laughter, in spirituality, there is greater and lasting pleasure. If materialism is to live a life of limitations, spirituality is to live in boundless freedom. o