What Do Possessions Add to a Person's Identity?

Possessions are only valuable insofar as a person can add value to them. Possessions for their own sake are meaningless; they are attachments that can hinder us from seeing our real path. They can certainly be distracting and exciting, but in the end they don’t solve anything. Never have I understood that better than right now. My power’s been out for about four hours, and will probably stay out for another day or two. Normally, I’d be surfing the internet, chatting with friends, etc. at this time. But I can’t do those things right now, and I feel happier than I have in a while. Those are all meaningless activities that are great distractions but don’t add anything to me. After indulging in them for a long time, like I’m wont to do, I feel disappointed and tired. Without electricity, I can read books I’ve been meaning to finish, play music without distractions, and just think.

Here enters a distinction between meaningless possessions and important possessions. Would I have my guitar just to have it, just to look at it? No. I have it because I can play it – I can add meaning to it. And I can use it to express myself, which is a very meaningful activity.

Siddhartha starts to take pride out of just knowing as much as he does – he is arrogant and superior, even though he is not actually deriving meaning from this. He tries to laugh in the face of normal needs – food, sleep, comfort. He is attached to his erudition and self-denial. When he becomes a rich merchant, he acclimatizes himself to privileged person’s lifestyle – beautiful clothes, scented baths, and bounteous meals – but none of these things have any point. He is attached to these material objects. It’s extremely easy for him to fall into this self-perpetuating game. “This game was called Samsara, a game for children, a game which was perhaps enjoyable played once, twice, ten times,” Siddhartha realizes (84). Then he realizes the “game” is over with. 


At right is a wonderful video I've watched many times about the game Monopoly and its relation to life. 
That’s why he is so peaceful when he throws away everything and then hears the Om coming from the river. He’s finally gotten rid of his mental and physical attachments and actually found something he can add meaning to – the universe. He realizes the oneness of everything and sees his place there. The river becomes his only possession besides the bare necessities, and he takes on the persona of the river internally. Externally, he is seen only as a sage, eccentric ferryman.