Simple living has long been linked to spirituality, and likewise many expressions of spirituality also have been historically linked to simplicity. Jesus embodied a life of compassionate simplicity. The Bible speaks about the need to find a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” Eastern spiritual traditions also encourage a life of material moderation and spiritual abundance. Chapter 33 of the Tao Te Ching says, “To know contentment is wealth.” The Buddha taught a middle way between mindless materialism on one hand and needless poverty on the other. And the same is true about other traditions throughout history
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Elgin and Mitchell suggest the most common reason for choosing a simpler lifestyle was the desire to find balance between the inner self and the outward expression of that self in various aspects of living, from material possessions, to personal appearance, job, and raising children. I have always been fascinated by the different spiritual traditions of the world, and have studied some more than others, but I cannot claim any spiritual wisdom. All I can offer is my iffy perception and understanding. When it comes to spirituality, I believe most simple livers hold is a profound regard for all life – not just white American males, or humankind, but pigs, trees, flowers, snakes, and so on. The reason why we deeply care about the life of our planet and all the life that inhabits is very selfish: without animals and trees we cannot …show more content…
Inner growth is hard to define but can be described as a process of cultivating natural quietness of mind (peace of mind) and openness of heart (love and compassion) that allow our interior experience to become more apparent to us. A process of going behind our day-to-day labels and ideas about who we think we are in order to make friends with ourselves and the world around us. Just as there is no single “right” way to outwardly live more simply, so too there is no single “right” way to engage in the process of inner growth. Elaine St. James writes, “that one person’s simplicity is another’s complexity. Bowing out of the holidays was tremendously liberating for us, but it might complicate your life beyond words. You get to decide.” This way of life requires devotion to no particular religious dogma or ideology. Voluntary Simplicity is a non-sectarian way of life that is compatible with most, if not all, spiritual
Elgin and Mitchell suggest the most common reason for choosing a simpler lifestyle was the desire to find balance between the inner self and the outward expression of that self in various aspects of living, from material possessions, to personal appearance, job, and raising children. I have always been fascinated by the different spiritual traditions of the world, and have studied some more than others, but I cannot claim any spiritual wisdom. All I can offer is my iffy perception and understanding. When it comes to spirituality, I believe most simple livers hold is a profound regard for all life – not just white American males, or humankind, but pigs, trees, flowers, snakes, and so on. The reason why we deeply care about the life of our planet and all the life that inhabits is very selfish: without animals and trees we cannot …show more content…
Inner growth is hard to define but can be described as a process of cultivating natural quietness of mind (peace of mind) and openness of heart (love and compassion) that allow our interior experience to become more apparent to us. A process of going behind our day-to-day labels and ideas about who we think we are in order to make friends with ourselves and the world around us. Just as there is no single “right” way to outwardly live more simply, so too there is no single “right” way to engage in the process of inner growth. Elaine St. James writes, “that one person’s simplicity is another’s complexity. Bowing out of the holidays was tremendously liberating for us, but it might complicate your life beyond words. You get to decide.” This way of life requires devotion to no particular religious dogma or ideology. Voluntary Simplicity is a non-sectarian way of life that is compatible with most, if not all, spiritual