Why the life is fast becoming money-oriented? What should be the aim of life of a person?

There was a time, when almost 95 percent of the conversation between two people was non-commercial (money absent). That was some 200 years ago. Very few things had to be bought. Money was used rarely. Most things were free. Yet, the spiritual masters asked the same question to remind simple people (Is this the aim of life, just living, eating, reproducing etc). And people understood it easily, and responded with respect, and benefited.

Today, what you say is true. 99 percent of even thoughts are some way connected to money or monetary value (commercial). We have no time to think anything else. Fast life. Then where is the time to look at your question deep enough? At the best, we can agree that it is a good question, a very relevant question etc. We require lot of conscious effort to look at life carefully, and create a little space, for some non-commercial thoughts! That is why even Yoga (which is gaining lot of popularity now a days, is able to give just superficial benefits, and drop-outs are many!

Well, self-awareness is the clue to begin with. It requires no thought even, to be just aware of self. Other stray thoughts could interfere till we gain sufficient practice. The true aim of life would reveal by itself, when priorities slowly shift, and we discover the 'self' within, though perhaps in stages.

The very question is a pleasant surprise. Thanks.

I don't think anyone has really answered your question yet. Between those two...as far as importance and aim is concerned...having money would help give you the time to explore love more IMHO. Not having money doesn't allow for much more than survival. On the other hand, love can be such a broad term; unlike money, which is a specific thing. You can have a general love for life, family, friends; a love for music, art, math...anything really. You can have a deep passion for someone, or compassion for many. Love can be all-encompassing and in many forms. So I think it has a better chance of being important based on it's power. But money is a basic tool that most people need in order to function. That's a pretty strong argument for it's necessity. I guess that's the difficulty, huh? Love doesn't need money..but humans do. I'll be the devil's advocate and say money, merely for it's ability to help you with other endeavours, like love.

The aim of a person's life is to enjoy the life that they have. Money is the economic system for us to get through life, but it won't make us happy. What you have describe is how a person gets through life, not how he enjoys it. You could have all the money in the world and buy everything you want, but you will learn that you will be even more miserable than you have ever been. Love, being happy, having kids, and just finding things that make your lives happier that are not materialistic is what truly makes us happy. Sure, we would want that new 100'' TV, but it won't really make us happy in the end. I've seen other questions here on Yahoo on how to enjoy life, you should look for them.

The way the capitalists get you on the treadmill in the first place is by telling you that you should have 'aims'. Why not just enjoy each day as it comes, life is too short for worrying about what other people say you should do.

As John Lennon said; 'Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans.'

It seems to be what the schools are teaching to kids. I was that way myself for a long time. It took me until my child was 13 and i realized that money wasn't that important to me. If you really want to know whats important, ask your kids if they would rather have you home everyday or have you gone for days or even weeks at time just so you can make more money. i realized it when my kids sat there crying because i had to leave again. Money pays the bills, but for me family is much more important now. of course my ex-wife feels differently than i do, but that's ok, i got the kids. Anyway, that is the aim of life for me.

Philosophy is not the bearded old man on top of the hill. But since this is a question for the bearded old man I will be the bearded old man.

"No, it's not the aim of life. Living life like that is letting other people live your life for you. Even asking someone what the aim of your life should be is letting others live your life for you. Only you know what you want."

I do not understand what you mean by "fast becoming". Has it not always been the desire of man to improve his lot in life? If you are left stranded in the middle of nowhere naked and alone will you not seek out the necessities of life? Once you have eaten, clothed yourself and build a shelter, would you not seek to have easier access to these things and a better and more secure shelter?

It is this natural desire that has propelled man to fulfill his destiny as the highest species on earth. Man does as he does because that is what he is designed to do.

No one forces anyone to follow your description. Here in America, we are free to pursue happiness however we choose to define it. Most people define it as you have so, that is what they do.

I have. It has worked quite well for me. I am pretty secure in my economic position, have a great wife and family, two sons, four grandchildren and I was able to help my sons purchase houses, too.

Now that I am reaching my retirement, I am glad that I will not have to impose on my children to take care of me and will be able to help my grandchildren go to college if they choose to. And, whenever my time on earth is over, I can look back at all those lives I helped create and helped succeed and know I have provided for them after I am gone. To me, that will be a life well spent.

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Materialism is a dead-end. Its a dead-end life and its a dead-end philosophy. We as individuals cease to exist at death according to the gospel of the empiricists or materialists. Doesn't sound like a bright happy future to me. If it all ends with death, then why bother with making money and enjoying it? But materialism has nothing else to offer except working for the gratification of the mind and senses. The purpose of the 'pure' pursuit of knowledge also ends at death for the materialist.

There is no happiness in the dead-end of materialism so if you want to understand a higher goal in life I suggest you begin by discarding materialism as a philosophy and as a conception of how to live life.

Check out the source below and maybe like me you will turn inward to understand the self within. Jesus said the kingdom of God is within you.

No this is not the aim of life in my opinion. the aim of life is to love yourself, love others and live as respectfully as you can. Jah (God) gave us this life to live as closely to Him as possible. Money is nice, don't get me wrong, but it's not everything and I know people who have tons of money and they are the most unhappy. They are constantly chasing money and they will never win.

I also know people who have little to nothing, but are happy because they have are healthy, have food, no broken homes and their children are ok. So, to me, money is not the aim of life. The pursuit of happiness and eternal life is.

Money is representative of value = work + developed skills + how interesting you are to the lives of other people. It tends to give us a false sense of security because most of us are unable to appreciate money until we count it or spend it. The ability to secure or spend our own money gives us a "high"; that is, we experience a sense of value amongst our peers. We naturally assume the more money we have, the happier and more secure we will be. Unfortunately, it's rather misleading and will continue to be.