Move over reduce, reuse, recycle. You are so, like, 1970s.
Make room for renounce, reject, and relinquish - the new Three Rs.
What are we turning away from, abandoning, or giving up?
Worldliness, which is an early word that can be used to describe the capitalist consumer scam.
Worldliness is common today, dominant in the west, but has not been recommended by any world religion for thousands of years.
All religions warn of the dangers of indulging in "worldly things".
A person can say no to worldly life for many good reasons. Spirituality is only one, albeit, a good one.
Nothing represents the worldly life more than consumerism gone wild. In this mode of living, a person goes all in on hard core materialism to the detriment of everything else.
Swami Vivekananda has pointed out that renunciation is absolutely crucial when choosing non-material pursuits.
He says,
"Renounce the lower so that you may get the higher. Renounce! Renounce! Sacrifice! Give up! Not for zero. Not for nothing. But to get the higher."
Consumerism is the lower. It must be left behind in order for one to experience that which is higher.
Many sages across the ages have told us that one cannot be free as long as covetousness exists.
All advertising is brainwashing to specifically get us to covet things, work hard to get money, then spend it buying all those coveted things that promise happiness, but only perpetuate misery.
When we say no to all that, we reap the benefits that come with that courageous act.
When one lives a simple life, being able to say no is a necessary skill, and one that I have finely honed.
I frequently need to say, "NO".
That is because I long ago renounced it all. I reject it in its entirety.
I relinquish The Machine's hold on me. I let it all go in favour of a simple and free life of less.
These are my new favourite R-words.
Renounce. Reject. Relinquish.
Practice with me.
"No. No. No."
"No, thank you."
"No."
Repeat as required.
I practice saying NO to people and situations that aren't right or good for me. It is not always easy. People get disappointed or angry. But that says everything about them and the story they tell themselves. Other people's expectations are not my business. That sweet feeling of relief when I say NO is the best. Peace, Erin
ReplyDeleteit takes a lot of courage to say no. But as you say, sweet relief is the result. It is worth it.
Delete- Gregg
It makes me wonder and worry somehow how we have to reinvent the wheel. I'm not young anymore but far from retired! And I remember how in the 1960's a guy came in the street with horse and carriage to pick up vegetable peels, another for used up textiles, newspapers were picked up by the local soccer team, candy came in 'edible' cellopane, meat came in waxed paper, dairy in recyclable glass, I had wooden home made toys, etc. Home decorations lasted for years . In the 70's it started to change. I have no kids but otherwise I would have tried to bring them up with those memories. Why didn't other people do?
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