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Materialism: Difference between revisions
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==Value 2: Not an end in itself== | ==Value 2: Not an end in itself== | ||
# | # Rabbi Aharon Feldman (The Juggler and The King, pp. 14-17) details how the parable of Rabba Bar Bar Chana in Bava Batra 73a bemoans the futility and corruptness of the menTallity of hedonism, specifically with regards to physcial pleasure. Specifically, the desire is for physical pleasures and emotional pleasures such as power, honor, and vengeance. The "juggler" in the parable attempts to satisfy and entertain himself by mastering these two areas. Until the day of his death or boredom he juggles between sensory excitement and appeasement of the ego. The parable ends with the juggler being caught by God and granted his due punishment.<ref>The midrash (Kohelet Rabba 6:1:6) speaks about how the soul can not find satisfaction with all of the pleasures in the world and craves spiritual fulfillment.</ref> | ||
# Without the correct attitude, materialism is addictive<ref> | # Rav Dessler (Strive for Truth, first chapter of v. 2) also writes how some people become trapped in the illusion of materialism or the rat race of society. It has the horrific potential of causing a person to sink to the level that he becomes a mascot for the yetzer hara. | ||
# Without the correct attitude, materialism is addictive and person will never truly satisfy his desire for more money and pleasure. <ref>Kohelet 5:9, Kohelet Rabba 1:34, Sanhedrin 107a</ref> | |||
===In order to serve him better=== | ===In order to serve him better=== | ||
# The reason that Hashem gives us the blessings of this world on account of our Mitzvot in order to enable us to fulfill mitzvot better and have a clear mind to learn Torah.<ref>Rambam Teshuva 9:1</ref> | # The reason that Hashem gives us the blessings of this world on account of our Mitzvot in order to enable us to fulfill mitzvot better and have a clear mind to learn Torah.<ref>Rambam Teshuva 9:1</ref> | ||
# Rebbe Yehuda HaNasi on his deathbed raised his ten fingers and declared that he made sure that he always used his | # Rebbe Yehuda HaNasi on his deathbed raised his ten fingers and declared that he made sure that he always used his fingers to learn Torah and never benefited from this world with even one finger.<ref>Ketubot 104a. Nonetheless, one should note that Rebbe was so blessed with wealth that Chazal (Brachot 57a) state he always had good vegetables on his table all year round.</ref> | ||
# Using physicality to serve him better makes the physicality into spirituality.<ref> | # Using physicality to serve him better makes the physicality into spirituality.<ref> בכל דרכיך דעהו (Mishlei 3:6), Rambam (Deot 3:3), Shulchan Aruch 231:1</ref> In a very elevated form, even the physical food and furniture that a righteous person uses becomes spiritually elevated.<ref>Ketubot 105b regarding food given to Elisha, Gemara Chullin 91b regarding the rocks used for Yacov's head, Mesilat Yesharim (ch. 26). However, it is important to note that which the Maharal (Nesach Yisrael ch. 15) posits; usually this world and the next are oppositional and it is rare to reach the level on which one can enjoy from both this world and the next.</ref> | ||
===To keep oneself healthy=== | ===To keep oneself healthy=== | ||
# There's a mitzvah to keep one's body healthy.<ref>Brachot 32b, Rambam (Deot 4:1), Taanit 22b.</ref> See the [[Health & Hygiene]] page. | # There's a mitzvah to keep one's body healthy.<ref>Brachot 32b, Rambam (Deot 4:1), Taanit 22b.</ref> See the [[Health & Hygiene]] page. | ||
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==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[ | [[Category:Halachic Hashkafa]] | ||
