In everything they undertake, humans tend to make decisions based almost exclusively on the material benefits they think they will derive. They do not see how pointless it is to focus on possessions, which are external to them and so will never really belong to them. All the while they have money, land, machines, weapons, they are fine, they feel strong and free. But the moment they are deprived of these, they are lost.

That is why sages attempt to lead people towards a path where they will gain inner strength and inner wealth, so that their weapons and their riches will belong to them forever. Sages are not against new technical achievements; no, they use them themselves, and they are quite happy with them. But they do not allow themselves to become trapped by them. They work in another sphere of their own, which is available to them at any time. That is true independence.
Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov
Izvor Book 211, Freedom, the Spirit Triumphant