{Essay Submission} Spiritual Materialism

When I received the following essay submission in my inbox, my first reaction was, "Oh no, I can't share this on the blog." The reason? It made me prickle a bit.

In some places, it throws shade at a kind of spiritualism sometimes found in yogis. It shines a light on people who "bemoan the consumerism" surrounding Christmas; which upon my initial read, I read to be people like me. 

Now let me be clear--I love Christmas SO much and I love picking out special, meaningful gifts for my loved ones. I've talked about this on the blog before. What I don't like? Just buying a random gift for someone to check them off of your list, without much meaning or thought behind it--or giving someone yet another thing that they'll just re-gift or donate in 6 months. This type of holiday gift-giving feels like a waste of time and money (and our environment!) and it makes me sad that we do this just because a holiday tells us to. That's what I don't like.

Yes, some of my friends and I have stopped doing gifts and instead, chosen to spend the time we would have spent shopping for one another hanging out together. And yes, last year, part of my family decided to donate to charities in each other's names instead of giving gifts. So yes, in some ways, I support the idea of rejecting the consumerism surrounding this holiday and I do take issue with all of the materialism around Christmas...

...Which brings us back to today's essay. Because of the above, my first read made me feel defensive. But then I re-read it a few days later and thought, "Wow. Diane [the writer] makes some really good points here. Maybe this made me prickle because there is some real truth behind it and that truth makes me feel kind of uncomfortable." 

So, I decided to share it today. It's super well-written and brings up some subjects that I think are worth pondering this time of year. Also, I really appreciate the underlying theme of being less judgmental, which is what I took away from the essay and hope you get from it, too.

Thus, without further ado, here is a short essay submission from Starr Struck reader Diane Cameron [learn more about Diane at the bottom of the post]:

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Spiritual Materialism
by Diane Cameron

We’re in the countdown to Christmas with just a few weeks to go. Some of us are dashing to the stores; some are glued to the Internet, hoping that the promise of “delivery before Christmas” is true, and others are clutching copies of Hundred Dollar Holiday and smugly announcing that they’re “just not into the gift thing” this year.

It’s begun to seem that there is a trend in some circles making it de rigueur to disdain shopping and to bemoan the consumerism that has overtaken this holiday.

While I have certainly bashed the rise of the consumer culture, I’m now wondering if it’s also possible for some people to enjoy austerity a tad too much...? Yes, I am guilty of laughing at singing Santa dolls and of rolling my eyes at holiday décor that has too many plastic figurines. But I’m rethinking. I mean, where’s the fun in all white lights and no tinsel?

While I know that simplifying our lives is a good thing, I'm also annoyed with those who are disdainful of shoppers, especially when the non-shoppers cast their choice as somehow spiritually superior. It’s just too easy to point at someone with a bag full of brand name goods and label it superficial. Isn’t spiritual asceticism just as shallow? 
           
Consumerism is based on the belief that all problems have a material solution. We recognize it in the race to bigger houses, fancier cars, and the need for the latest technology. But for some people, spiritual practices or even religion can be used the same way: just another “product” to fix one’s life.

This is spiritual consumerism—keeping the value of consumption but dressing it up in higher-minded garb.

One of the ways that this plays out is in the impulse to collect spiritual experiences: things like going on retreats and pilgrimages or studying with the best-selling teachers or the coolest gurus. We become a spiritual tourist, not unlike someone who has to visit all the national parks, but who drives through each one just to check it off her list and bring home postcards and souvenirs.

By now we all know that many people use consumption as a way to build their ego; they try to change who they are by buying things to fit the image they desire. Count me in--we all do this to some degree.

But what we miss is that it’s equally flawed to create a self-image based on refusing to participate in the dominant culture or by disdaining those who do. The fundamental error is the same: it’s about trying to be special. Whether we derive our identity from consuming or from not consuming, we’re still focused on our self. 

This is one of those paradoxes: just when you start to feel superior for living a spiritual life, you realize you’ve slipped off the spiritual ground. It’s like humility: just when you think you’ve got it, you don’t.

How can thinking we’re better than others be of any benefit? A line from Wordsworth comes to mind: “Getting and spending we lay waste our powers.” And it’s also true that in judging and criticizing we waste our lives.
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So, we’re entering the last few weeks of the year that take us straight to the intersection of spirituality and consumption. Can we be kind to those in our community whether they’re shopping or not? Can we choose peace in our hearts and in line at the cash register? 

Santa can be our guru. After all, he does have a mantra...Ho, ho, ho!

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Diane Cameron is a newspaper columnist, spiritual director, speaker, writing teacher, yogi, and author. This is her second essay published on Starr Struck; you can read her first essay submission here and you can learn more about her on her website.

Do you have a personal essay that you want to share with my readers? If so, all of the details re: how to submit your personal essay for review are here. ​

Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us, Diane! And thanks for reading, bloggies ;)