Some people like to collect or accumulate things.  Cars, homes, jewelry, paintings, books, whatever.  And many of them think that collecting these things is getting them closer to other people.  Collecting African masks gets you closer to your African ancestors.  Collecting old Roman coins gets you closer to your Roman ancestors.    
    Actually, it's just the opposite.  While collecting things may help you learn about others, it isn't getting you closer to them.  Instead, it's encouraging your ego's idea of separateness.  If you are part of the whole, you don't need to collect things since they are already part of you.  And your ancestors are part of you as well through your inherited ancestral memory.  It is only when you think that you are separate that you see things as something else that you want to claim as your own.