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Materialism vs Buddhism- By Dr. Justice Chandradasa Nanayakkara Source:Island We live in a world dominated by materialism. Acquisition of things has become the core of our existence. Status and wealth are given so much importance. People like to flaunt their wealth and other material objects, such as new vehicles, trendy clothes, houses, modern gadgets and even lovely holidays spent in faraway exotic places. In a materialistic society, people are more inclined to demonstrate their status through visible materialistic consumption. They constantly try to attract the attention and recognition of others. Contemporary materialism as a mindset is a part of a long history that established its roots in the 20 th century. Briefly, materialism is the desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters. The Oxford Dictionary defines materialism as “a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values”. ...