A growing number of people I know are trying to “downsize” their lifestyles. Unfortunately, this is difficult to do because we have so many conveniences and electronic toys that are supposed to make our lives easier—and theoretically—to give us more free time.
Easier lives? It feels like we spend a lot of time maintaining what we own. Cars need to be taken to the shop for fixing, buildings need repair work, yards need mowing and fertilizing, electronic gear periodically needs updating. The list seems endless. And the more we have, the more we seem to be working just to keep everything functioning.
More free time? This one doesn’t seem to be working out either. In correspondence and my regular reading, many people are apologizing because they’re so busy that they couldn’t get something done on time or commenting that they simply don’t have time to relax and be quiet.
The “downsizing” response is to do with less. It’s getting back to the basics and living more simply. Those who haven’t tried this often think it feels like deprivation or that it won’t make any difference and scoff at the effort or just think the person is weird.
Deprivation? Consider how the Buddha and the monastics with him lived. The Buddha had three garments, an alms bowl, and a few other items that he could carry with him. When he traveled, he went by foot. When he rested or slept, he did so under a tree. He ate what was offered to him, and co-existed peacefully with his environment. No longer deluded, he was perfectly awakened. He had attained lasting happiness and liberation.
We, on the other hand, have stress and high-blood pressure, pollution and environmental damage, more frantic lives and less time to do the things that really matter to us.
So if all our things and conveniences haven’t made us happy, why don’t we just eliminate them? And stop worrying about what others will think of us.
Why don’t we use less of everything? And save more for others.
Why don’t we look the other person in the eye and simply say “No, thank you.”? And be contented that even if others think we’re weird or deprived or unrealistic, we know we’re happy living like this. And that we're just a little bit closer to liberation.