Thoughts on Material Possessions

I have never neglected to mention that I am an acetic, a mendicant monk, and a pauper. As a consequence, I have divested nearly all of my material possessions. Most of the were useless, redundant, or both. I wasn't always that way. At one time, I was an active participant in the "ownership society." I wasted way too much money, only to learn that "ownership" of "property" is just another aspect of what Ernest Becker called the "vital lie."

Typical Materialistic Hottie

The real problem with "ownership" is that it implies permanence, immortality. Neither exists. So, we acquire "property" only to learn the lesson the hard way. Once a possession is acquired, it is on the inventory list for a lifetime. When the possession is beyond repair or obsolete, it is replaced. And, we always continue to add to the inventory rather than subtract from it. Soon, there are myriad possessions that must be maintained and replaced. The utility of the possession is eventually nullified by the eventual enslavement of the "owner."

"Ownership" becomes a pathological problem when the need to "own" becomes insatiable. The pathology can be attributed to our failed attempts to separate ourselves from other animals. Well, that's the problem. We don't want to be animals. We want to be a special entity called "humans." Unfortunately, humans grow old and eventually die, just like other animals.

Old age and decrepitude is akin to wisdom, albeit forced. Once we lose our youth, we come to understand that nothing is permanent. "Ownership" is quickly exposed as a fraud. Our possessions become a burden and a vehicle of enslavement. We long to be free, emancipated, in our remaining lifetime before death liberates us eternally. Yes, only death is forever.

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