May 5, 2014

Does Decluttering Equal Enlightenment?

Our medicine cabinet has been Zenified into a clean simplicity.

The final downsizing has begun. The more we get rid of, the better it feels. The uncluttered, open emptiness of the apartment is strangely and quietly appealing.

Our surroundings and things affect the way we feel, and the way we feel affects the way we think. My increasingly simple and Zenified home is leading me to think differently and with renewed clarity.

I am realizing that stuff is not neutral - it is either adding to your life, or  it is detracting from your life. And what I am discovering is that most stuff is detracting. I am getting to the point now where I can look at an item and tell almost instantly which category it fits into.

Author Ray Bradbury said, "Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get", and perhaps in non-consumer cultures this kind of sensibility is the way.

But in "developed" or "advanced" nations, one needs to unlearn getting, and relearn letting go.

Linda and I are learning to, "Let it go, let it go, let it go", and it feels right.

Osho was talking about enlightenment when he said,

"That is the moment that you become for the first time
 an unconditioned, sane, really free human being". 

He could have just as easily been talking about decluttering, because the moment you decide to live more simply with less stuff is the moment you begin to reclaim your right to live as a really free human being.

Is that The Secret? Does decluttering equal enlightenment?

It sure does feel like it to me. I recommend you do your own experiment and see what you find.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous5/05/2014

    Your medicine cabinet is BLISS!!
    THANKS, Terri

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Gregg,

    you are so right when you say that 'stuff is not neutral'! Decluttering is wonderful, as long as it's followed with the awareness not to bring more things we don't truly need or enjoy into our homes. Sometimes this means shutting the gate on things others may want to 'gift' us with too, as well as thinking carefully before acquiring anything. It's lovely to arrive at the point known as 'enough', and to realise you've arrived and be content.

    Madeleine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Madeleine,

      Shut the gate, shut the gate!

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5/06/2014

    There are some great books about this subject. There is one titled, More or Less, by Jeff Shinabarger. It sounds like you are pretty motivated, but this is an excellent book to check out! It's not a guide about declutter, it is of the author's experience with decluttering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anon,

      Yes, I am excited by the simplicity of owning far fewer things.

      Thank you for the reference - I am interested to see what his experience was like.

      Delete

Comments will be printed after moderation to eliminate spam. We are proudly a no buying, no selling website.

We enjoy reading all comments, and respond when time permits.

If you put a name to your comment we can all recognize you for your contribution.

Thank you for visiting and commenting.