It is not only money that sets us off craving for more but other things. Such as cars, houses, clothes and CDs but if these things make us happy why then, do we still long for other things? This saying is not only significant to everyday life but also to people of different faiths. In Buddhism for example, one of the noble truths (Tanha) clearly states that suffering (Dukhha) is caused by craving. It explains how the things we crave for are in fact insufficient, selfish, worldly, materialistic and unsatisfactory. They do naught but cause us to suffer. This supports my view that the obtaining of money only increases our craving and does not make us happy. They believe in true satisfaction through faith alone. Even Christianity supports this point of view, in the Bible, Ecclesiastes 5:10 it says; “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income.”
In some ways this quotation is inapplicable to everyday life. After all we have all experienced the rush of happiness when we receive our pocket money, or the exhilaration that comes over us when we peel off the cover of our new game or CD. It is therefore impossible to say that material goods will never bring happiness. Take for example the Live Aid campaign. When the World Leaders agreed to clear the Third World debts and give them even more money, it was not only the third world that was happy but the rest of the world with them. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, many of the survivors where heard to sob over the loss of their home and their material goods. So even if we do not say that materialistic goods bring happiness we must agree that the lack of it brings unhappiness and at times desolation. However believing this would also completely contradict the Buddhist belief of Nirvana. In Buddhism it is believed that Nirvana is a place of eternal happiness because you are completely free from suffering and craving because you have stopped trying to reach happiness in the wrong ways (materialistic ways).
There are many different views taken towards money; money will bring security, my self image is dependent on what I own and other such things. I however believe these to be lies. Yes money will bring security but for how long? And we eventually get tired of things we absolutely adored when we first got them. This doesn’t mean that I agree with the other view that money will never bring happiness, though. I believe it will but it will never be lasting. Materialistic goods bring different types of happiness, it all depends on what kind of happiness you crave. There are millionaires in the world that are perfectly happy and others who feel that way because of their family and friends. Happiness is different with different people and for some it is achieved through materialistic goods. For example this quotation would be highly relevant for Buddhists, Christians and certain others and yet completely in accurate for others. It would be impossible to say this quote is just true or untrue. For me however, I would say it is accurate but only in certain situations.
