Life Quote by Stephen Batchelor
““Nowadays, the tendency to be preoccupied with having, at the expense of losing touch with the dimension of being, is becoming ever more pronounced. In times such as ours, when secular and material values dominate social and cultural life to an extreme degree, the intensity of the urge to have creates an ever widening gulf from the awareness of who and what we are.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Dying, Stephen Batchelor, 2010
Modern culture overemphasizes possession, distancing people from deeper self‑knowledge and being.
In simple terms: We focus on having, losing touch with being.
Key Takeaway
Re‑balance desire for things with self‑awareness.
Themes
materialism
self
identity
spirituality
Mood
contemplative
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- therapy
- education
- community building
Key Concepts
existentialism
mindfulness
consumerism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your pursuit of possessions affect your sense of self?
- What practices can restore awareness of being?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on material gain can ignore practical needs and social responsibilities.
![“[Mindfulness] is not concerned with anything transcendent or divine. It serves as an antidote to theism, a cure for sentimental piety, a scalpel for excising the tumor of metaphysical belief. (130)” quote by Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/04b/stephen-batchelor-5328_antidote_mindfulness-is-not-concerned-with-anythi_151409.jpg)
