Simplicity
leading a simple life.
"The key to finding a happy balance is modern lives is simplicity."-- Soygal Rinpoche
If there might be one key to happiness, it very well could be simplicity, the antithesis of consumerism.
Through spiritual awakening the values of consumerism are revealed as increasingly shallow and false. Grasping and possessing give way to love and integrity, an innermost desire to live in harmony with all creation. There comes a longing to live more simply for the sake of our own hearts, and a growing sense of responsibility for the life of the earth.-- Soygal Rinpoche
Great teachers throughout history (such as Buddha, Jesus, Socrates) have always extolled the virtue of being content with what one has. Contentedness with and appreciation of the simple things is a secret of being a truly satisfied individual. The belief that one needs to have the alluring possession proudly displayed by the neighbor is only an illusion! Lessening one's desires increases one's contentment. In this way, less is more -- much more. After all, one's last suit does not require pockets.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have"-- Hebrews 13:15, New Testament
Please understand this: generally speaking, I am not rallying against the building of material wealth. However, I find the flaunting of exorbitant luxury rather abhorrent, but mostly ignorant and unfortunate. One whose primary quest consists of the pursuit and acquisition of material things can never be satisfied. There will always be more. The unfortunate American pastime of "keeping up with the Joneses" is about as empty a quest as can be imagined. Think about it objectively and honestly. Why would it possibly matter what the Joneses think?
"Seek always the answer from within. Be not influenced by those around you, by their thoughts or by their words."-- Eileen Caddye
"The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run."-- Henry David Thoreau
Duane Elgin and others have popularized the quest for simple living in their books. My personal favorite book on this subject is Duane Elgin's Voluntary Simplicity.
"We kept no idle servants, our table was plain and simple, our furniture of the cheapest."-- Benjamin Franklin
a beginning.
Simplicity goes far beyond having less physical junk in one's home and life, but from a practical standpoint, it is where my quest for simplicity began. It was at the behest of a very good friend, Will Via, who had just returned from a two-year stint in West Africa (hats off to the Peace Corps). Needless to say, Will has real experience in the art of simplification.
"Why should you keep a bunch of stuff, whether it be treasure or junk, that you rarely or never even look at, much less use?" he wanted to know.
I move often. I am single and have a job that allows me to do my thing from just about anywhere there is a phone line. I had been renting a Ryder truck and moving every year or two, and loading and unloading my ever-increasing material possessions was beginning to seem ridiculous.
At the time, I was preparing to move from a four bedroom house to a small apartment (the reasons behind this are another story altogether). I had always been something of a pack rat, keeping all manner of old and new unused things in boxes and on bookshelves, items that had not been touched for the most part since the last move, and merely occupied space, collecting dust and being ignored. I asked Will what, if he were in my shoes, would he throw away and what would he keep? We brought my large trash can into the house. We filled it up quickly. At the time, I remember being somewhat uncomfortable throwing most of the stuff away, especially certain items that had a bit of semtimental value.
"The truth waits for eyes unclouded by longing."-- the Tao Te Ching
In complete honesty, have not missed a single item since. I can hardly even remember what we tossed.
"T'is peace of mind, lad, we must find."-- Theocritus
Simplification has since rippled into other parts of my life, and I'll get into that later.
Peace Pilgrim said it well:
If you are free, I recommend a hiking trip on a wilderness footpath. How inspiring it is to walk all day in the sunshine and sleep all night under the stars. What a wonderful experience in simple, natural living. Since you carry your food, sleeping equipment, etc., on your back, you learn quickly that unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. You soon realize what the essentials of life are--such as warmth when you are cold, a dry spot on a rainy day, the simplest food when you are hungry, pure cool water when you are thirsty. You soon put material things in their proper place, realizing that they are there for use, but relinquishing them when they are not useful. You soon experience and learn to appreciate the great freedom of simplicity.
"Just be ordinary and nothing special. Eat and drink, then move your bowels and pass water, and when you're tired, go to sleep. Fools will find me ridiculous, but the wise will understand."-- Lin-Chi
simplicity defined.
- Freedom from artificial ornament, pretentious style, or luxury; plainness; as, simplicity of dress, of style, or of language; simplicity of diet; simplicity of life. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
simplicity on the web.
- Simplicity :: "Simplicity grows from sacred roots, embodying a wealth of spiritual virtues and values made apparent by attitude, words, activities, and lifestyle. Simplicity is beautiful, and like the moon, it radiates coolness in contrast to the effulgence of the sun. Simplicity is natural. It may appear common and without appeal to those whose vision has become habituated by superficiality. However, to those with an artist’s refined insight, a glimpse of simplicity is enough to recognize the masterpiece."
- The Simplicity Resource Guide :: In this site you will find a wide spectrum of resources related to voluntary simplicity, a way of life that addresses the widespread yearning in North America and other western countries for a slower pace of life with more time for joyful relationships, fulfilling work, and living one's dreams. For some, though not all, people, to live more simply involves working less, wanting less, and spending less.
- The Simple Living Network
- Inner Explorations -- "Where we search for simple and ecologically sane living..."