 The song provided the title for Martin Scorsese 's 2011 documentary George Harrison : Living in the Material World and for Olivia Harrison 's book accompanying the film . During her interview in the documentary , Olivia discusses her late husband 's determination to " work out " all his karma in the one lifetime rather than have his soul return to earth in a new incarnation . Writing for The Huffington Post at the time of the film 's release , Religion News Service reporter Steve Rabey referred to " Living in the Material World " as a song that " illuminates [ Harrison 's ] theology and sense of artistic vocation " , and he said of the former Beatle : " his greatest legacy may be the way his decades @-@ long spiritual quest shaped the ways the West looks at God , gurus and life . " On Harrison 's official website , the Material World Charitable Foundation page continues to use " Living in the Material World " as its featured audio . 
