Simple Living
We live in a fast paced, consumer oriented society; indeed, we are constantly under pressure to consume. The mantras of the 21st century are: “More is better” and “New is better.” We are bombarded, twenty-four hours a day, by advertisements that tell us we are less than successful if we don’t own the latest luxury Lexus, or the 50-inch plasma TV and home entertainment center. We are told that we are less than acceptable if we do not possess and wear the latest designer fashions, the newest make-up, or don’t eat in the trendiest new restaurants. We need bigger and better computers, video games, cell phones capable of texting around the world, taking photographs, videos, playing games, and keeping us constantly on the Internet. All these things are wonders to behold, the best our technology can give us – for now. In two year, a year, six months, some of our “cool stuff” will be totally outmoded, obsolete. What are we told we must do, in order to be successful? We need to discard what is outmoded and replace it with what is now “new and improved.”
So we spend what we earn, and then we spend what we don’t have but will earn – maybe. We owe on our homes, our cars, our appliances, and our futures. We suddenly wake up to find that we have mortgaged our entire lives; and for what? Are we happier? Do we now have peace of mind? Are we more secure in our lives? Probably not!
To quote Confucius: Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. How true! Amatai-no-Shugo-Ryū offers a simple tenet, in line with Wa-Dō, by which one is able to change the course of their personal consumerism, to in effect, get off the “consumerist merry-go-round.” The principle is itself simple, so simple in fact, that for our intents and purposes, it is referred to as “simple living.”
One may also refer to the principle as “voluntary simplicity,” although, simple living sounds better. It is a lifestyle which is distinguished by minimizing the modern ethic of contemporary “more-is-better” pursuit of wealth and consumption. Advocates of simple living may chose to do so for a variety of personal reasons such as: spirituality, health, increase in “quality time” for family and friends, stress reduction, personal taste or frugality. Other people may allude to more socio-political goals that are aligned with other anti-consumerist movements, including conservation, social justice and sustainable development. All worthy causes and reasons in of themselves to simplify one’s life. One can describe voluntary simplicity as a manner of living that is outwardly more simple and inwardly more rich: a way of being in which our true and active self is brought into the light of our consciousness and applied to how we life as individuals and as members of a community or society.
Simple living is a concept far different from those living in forced poverty. It is a voluntary choice of lifestyle. Although asceticism generally encourages living simply and refraining from luxury and indulgence, not all supporters or parishioners of voluntary simplicity are ascetics.
The recorded history of simple living can be found in the teachings of Taoism, of Confucioius and Mencius. Buddha was an ascetic. In Japan we find a strong advocacy for simple living in the teachings of Zen Buddhism and Bushidō, which made the ways and means of simple living something distinctly Japanese.
Some people practice simple living to reduce the need for purchased goods or services and by doing so, reduce their need to, in effect, sell their time for money. Some will spend the extra free time helping family and friends. During the holiday seasons, such people often perform forms of alternative giving, such as volunteer work with the poor and homeless. Others may spend the extra free time to improve the quality of their lives by, for example, pursuing creative activities such as sadō, shodō, or studying a martial art.
One approach to adapting a more simplified way of living is to focus more fundamentally on the underlying reasons and motivation of buying and consuming so many resources for what we are led to believe is a good quality of life. Modern society tells us that me must, in essence, buy happiness; however, materialism and consumerism frequently fails to satisfy us and in the long-term, may even increase the level of stress in our lives. It has been said “the making of money and the accumulation of things should not smother the purity of the soul, the life of the mind, the cohesion of the family, or the good of society.” Quite simply, the more money we spend, the more time we have to be out there earning it and the less time we have to spend with the ones we love.
Some simple suggestions to help simplify our style of living are:
Stop buying things that are not necessary. Yes we may feel having a television is important; indeed it really seems to be a necessity these days. The question is do we need the 50-inch home entertainment center or is there something lesser, which does the job just as well. If our neighbors the Yamadas buy a new TV, do we need to buy the same one or a little better? If our boss at work buys a new car, do we need to cast aside our car and mortgage our lives more to buy the same car, or one just a little bit better? Probably not. One should buy what they need: what gets the job done and not necessarily anything more than that.
Throw away, or better donate to someone in need, what you, yourself don’t need.
Focus on what is truly important.
Listen to the voice within you and pay attention to it.
Obtain what you really do need (food, shelter, company). It’s nice, it’s great to have “stuff”, but perhaps we should think about what is really needed as to what we are told we want.
Keep a sense of perspective and humor about what you see and hear.
Keep in touch with your friends and family.
Don’t try to keep up with everyone else, especially because you are told you have to.
Have fun.
Grow as a person
Remember, everything will be alright!
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