Most people seem to spend most of their lives seeking fulfillment in illusory alternative circumstances. Even if it’s only subtle, or held unconsciously, there is a belief that when the home is right, or the relationship is right, or the job is right, then fulfillment will finally be experienced.
Some people realize that any brief satisfaction that might come from external circumstances will quickly be lost either when the external circumstances change or when what is desired changes. This often starts another kind of seeking, an “inner” seeking, which has been called spiritual materialism. The idea is to attain some kind of internal state of fulfillment regardless of the external circumstances.
Both of these kinds of seeking are essentially the same thing. Both are attempts to attain something in the future by changing something. One way is focused on changing the world that seems to be outside the self and the other is focused on changing the world that seems to be inside the self.
There is a strong belief in “materialist” circles that when you have enough wealth and power then you will be fulfilled. Exactly the same belief pervades “spiritual” circles: when you attain the state of liberation or enlightenment then you will be fulfilled. Both paths are characterized by striving for something.
