How to rise above material things in life? || Acharya Prashant (2018)

Question: Acharya Ji, we remain attached to the material things and eventually it all leaves us when we die. How do I detach myself from this old and disappointing pattern of material based existence, that I need a job and money, so that I can be happy?

Acharya Prashant Ji: Carla (the questioner), the more you choose to value stuff, that is not really stuff, in your life, the more you will rise above stuff. Ah! Frowning. Such a stuffed statement.

Yes, death is material. And you have rightly pointed out that one is so attached to the material existence of the others, and one is so attached to things like job and money, that one’s happiness too is contingent on material things.

So, one is attached to the material, right? Why don’t you start valuing love? And if you value love, then aren’t you valuing something that is not material? Please. Is it not often a choice to value love over glitter, convenience, or money? If there is a choice between love and convenience, and you have chosen convenience, then what have you chosen? The material.

Whereas, if you have chosen love, have you chosen material? Is love, material? If love is material, bring some of that material to me, on this plate. Please, somebody serve love to me on this plate. Material can always be transformed, and presented here on this plate. Serve me love here. Please. With some sauce. Can you? You can’t.