Previously there have been posts about the practice of 'coveting'. And mention on the lack of fulfillment in life. Now, perhaps it is time to merge the thoughts and observe:
Because we are unfulfilled (ourselves), we covet. Because we covet, we remain unfulfilled.
What does this mean?
In olden days humans found a glory in achieving a purpose, a craft, a project. Completion of projects, like the cyclical nature of seasons, the rhythm of the waters, the constant exchange of life and death--- made sense to us. Finding a talent to share, overcoming an obstacle (through peaceful or antagonistic means), meant a solution. A finality. A fulfillment.
Through each fulfillment, we would rise in wonder of the gifts bestowed upon us to achieve such things. We could be grateful for the presence of the universe and still have wonderment at the lights of Aurora Borealis or a shooting star. Life was 'solvable' but still a mystery that we would take moments to acknowledge. After several fulfilling moments would pass, we would learn discovery of self, communing with the body and spirit within the mind that grew with each learned event. We appreciated life around us as each had a purpose and talent to share with us. When enough was fulfilled, our bodies would pass on with a contented spirit and mind--- knowing our life purposes was completed.
Then came the world of chaos, wars, modernism, industrialism, capitalism, socialism--- and every purported great social model to theoretically manage large populations and economies to sustain them. Too antiquated were the ideas of bartering, sharing with neighbors, dining communally and exchanging talents among friends to live and survive. Slowly being edged out, were the underlying qualities breeding honor, respect, pride and love.
Instead, overcome with the notions of competition for self gain and material achievements, whether ambitiously crafted by oneself, or purchased at the highest prices from a master. Each individual has been sold the idea of becoming a grandeur royal, or, at least to showcase material possessions in the style of the olden kings and queens. The larger mansions, the grandiose furnishings, the automobiles--- to look great in finery, rather than to be spiritually fulfilled, became the marketed objective. After all, we were taught-- it is good to spend money to purchase things for the greater of the economy! Why should we waste time preparing food, building our own dream homes, creating our own furniture-- if we can buy what someone else made? Why should we not 'covet' our neighbor's styles and designs, why should we consider being truly individual and designing our own? After all, to be too 'individual' might mean rejection and abandonment--- becoming, unpopular and ousted.
How have we come to this? What happened to the treasuring of our uniqueness? Why is it so easy to forget we are individual gifts, each with purpose, each with acceptance for singular qualities--- that the universe requires us to explore?
It is important to note, some, the rare few, do still find fulfillment in modern times, but it is indeed becoming more sparse a reality. So many lost remain so, revolving in endless growing hours of working to attain enough money to be one of the desired. A never ending cycle of make and spend, always compared and comparing, always empty, always wondering if they have value.
If only we could love those things within ourselves enough again. If only, we would find fulfillment in strength within, without need to covet or without need to desire to be defined by others.
