Breaking the Chains of Despair and Materialism

In a world where materialism often takes precedence over spiritual values, many of us find ourselves caught in the clutches of despair and dissatisfaction. Does this sound familiar?

Material pursuits can be all-consuming, leaving people spiritually empty and disconnected. I often fall into the pit of despair, but never linked it to materialism before reading this quote from the Universal House of Justice, the democratically-elected global leadership body of the Baha’is:

… the isolation and despair from which so many suffer are products of an environment ruled by an all-pervasive materialism.  And in this the [Baha’is] must understand the ramifications of Baha’u’llah’s statement that “the present-day order” must “be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead.”  

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I certainly resonated with my despair having its roots in materialism, but I wondered: What does rolling up the old to make room for the new mean? Can we, who are so steeped in materialism, even identify the ramifications? That was the challenge I put before myself.

We can all easily see many examples where the relentless pursuit of wealth and possessions can lead to despair. I recognize that material success alone does not bring lasting happiness. The wealthiest people in the world have billions of dollars! Billions! And I often wonder, how on Earth do they sleep at night, keeping all that wealth to themselves, when people are suffering so deeply all over the world? The extremes of wealth and poverty break my heart and lead to my own despair!

In his book Some Answered Questions, Abdul Baha offered some advice to those billionaires:

Gracious God! How can one see one’s fellow men hungry, destitute, and deprived, and yet live in peace and comfort in one’s splendid mansion? How can one see others in the greatest need and yet take delight in one’s fortune? That is why it has been decreed in the divine religions that the wealthy should offer up each year a portion of their wealth for the sustenance of the poor and the assistance of the needy. This is one of the foundations of the religion of God and is an injunction binding upon all.

The relentless accumulation of material goods often leaves people feeling empty and unfulfilled and turning to addictions to fill the hole in their souls, not knowing that yearning can only be filled by turning to God instead.

In his mystical book The Hidden Words, Baha’u’llah, the prophet and founder of the Baha’i Faith, speaks for the Creator, who tells us:

Wert thou to speed through the immensity of space and traverse the expanse of heaven, yet thou wouldst find no rest save in submission to Our command and humbleness before Our Face.

A single-minded focus on personal gain often erodes essential values such as compassion, empathy, and altruism, which can lead to a sense of moral emptiness and contribute to feelings of despair. This can happen because, in a materialistic society, we often compare ourselves to others, especially on social media. That constant comparison can lead to envy and dissatisfaction, fostering feelings of despair and inadequacy.

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In the pursuit of material goals, especially in a climate of workaholism and at a time when so many of us are struggling to make ends meet and have to take on more than one job, we may neglect our personal relationships, leading to marital breakdowns and increasing divorce rates. Materialism leaves little time or energy for community involvement or engagement, and the resulting isolation can also exacerbate feelings of despair and loneliness.  

We may also feel despair when we lose sight of our true inner purpose — which is not to make money and buy more and more things, to keep up with the Jones’s. Our purpose, the Baha’i teachings say, is to know and worship God, as Baha’is remind ourselves every day when we say the first sentence of this short prayer: “I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee.”

Getting clear about my true purpose, I am grateful!