What a crime it is that our materially driven “modern” society fights nearly ceaselessly to deaden and blot out our pure drive to inspiration and aspiration. And only those who are truly “awake” and alive in a real sense seem to be able to avoid the seductive call of consumerism. But in each moment we can choose again. We can choose aspiration over desperation, and inspiration over numbness. Only in this choice can we hope to change the world. For here too lies the heart of true compassion.

More: continued here