Simplicity is a Tightrope

Simplicity isn’t a destination; it’s a tightrope. Lean too far, and all of a sudden you’re a hermit clutching your one spoon, not that there is anything wrong with that if that is your goal. 

However, ignore simplicity, and all of a sudden you’re drowning in a sea of stuff you don’t even use, and pay monthly to store.

The beauty, and the challenge, is in the balance. 

It’s not about purging your possessions to own exactly 100 items (a worthy goal for some). 

It’s about asking: What’s this for? 

Why keep all the things that promise a better life, but only deliver stress and financial burden? 

So why chase the promotion if it chains

you to a no-weekends-off life that doesn’t excite you?

But the trade-offs are real. 

Opting for less might mean missing out—on convenience, on status, on the state of being “with it.” If that does not bother you, you’re way ahead of the game.

If not, your friend's latest new acquisition or work-related achievement might seem impressive while you nurse a broken cup of tea while flipping through a dog-eared novel.

Consumer society’s not built for simple living because it’s a machine that thrives on complexity and consumption. In such a system simplicity is a much maligned antidote.

Pushing back is swimming against the tide, and there’s no gold star for it, but there is the quiet satisfaction of knowing you refuse to be a cog in that infernal machine.

Yes, there’s a hidden richness here, an unexpected twist - less can mean more in the texture of life. 

When you stop chasing every distraction dangled in front of you, you may notice the beauty of a raindrop racing down your window. You may hear the creak of your favourite chair telling you a story as you settle into it for an afternoon nap. 

It’s not about deprivation—it’s about making space for the things that buzz beneath the surface, the ones that have been buried under layers of indoctrination and stuff.

The journey’s not linear, and it’s not one-size-fits-all. Maybe we’ll stumble, binge a trashy show, or impulse-buy a gadget that is not needed. 

That’s fine, as simplicity isn’t a purity test. It’s a compass, not a cage. 

So take it slow, breathe deep, seek out what that balance means for your situation, and see where it leads.

In my experience, it has the potential to take you to some very good places.

8 Zen Tips to Live Simply Like a Wayfarer/Free Person

“Sages since time immemorial have only explained the problems of pollution. 

 

If one does not have false consciousness, emotional and intellectual opinions, and conceptual habituation, one is clear as autumn water, pure and uncontrived, placid and uninhibited.

 

Such people are called Wayfarers, or free people.”

 

Kuei-Shan (771-854)

In a Zen nutshell, this quote from Kuei-Shan is pointing to the idea of a mind unburdened by delusion or attachment.

I imagine there are fewer minds like that today than there were in the author’s time. Rare, indeed in any time.

He’s saying that the ancient sages merely described the mess of "pollution"—not just physical, but mental and spiritual clutter like biased thinking, emotional baggage, and rigid concepts. 

True clarity comes when the practitioner  drops all that mess. 

When you’re free of this "false consciousness," your mind becomes like still, clear autumn water—natural, calm, and unbound. 

Kuei-Shan’s life and teachings embody the Zen ideal of living simply and directly, free from mental clutter, as a true "Wayfarer." 

It’s about letting go and just being, plain and simple.

Becoming a free person is a goal well worth working toward, regardless of any other beliefs we may harbour.

That might be the answer to our current and future challenges.

Let go and just be, plain and simple.

Be a "Wayfarer" or "free person” and  move through life without being tangled up in your own mental traps. 

Here’s how to embody "Wayfarer" spirit for a simpler life:

1. Be Present: Focus on the moment—whether eating or walking, let go of distractions.
2. Release Emotions: Observe feelings like anger or fear without reacting; let them pass like clouds.
3. Challenge Ideas: Question your assumptions. Ask, "Why do I think this way?"
4. Keep It Simple: Declutter your space and mind. Act directly—don’t overthink.
5. Meditate: Sit quietly, focus on your breath, and release attachments to thoughts or outcomes.
6. Respond, Don’t React: Pause before acting. Ask, "What does this moment need?"
7. Learn from Nature: Sit by a lake or forest. Let nature’s stillness inspire your own clarity.
8. Connect with Others: Practice with a community to stay grounded and grow together.

A Wayfarer lives lightly, learning to be free from mental "pollution." Remember it is a lifelong process. Start small, and let clarity guide your simple life.

''Out of heaven's hand they accept what is given them from moment to moment: sun, rain, fog, snow, warmth, cold, comfort, and hardship; time does not exist for them and neither does history, or ambition, or that bizarre idol called progress and evolution, in which houseowners believe so desperately.''

- Hermann Hesse

"Sian Lah - Just Do Enough"

Studio apartment in Singapore: Compact living in the Lion City

 

Lately, we’ve noticed something interesting, and very welcome, in our little corner of Blogspot: thousands of page views generated from Singapore. 

The Lion City, with its shiny skyline and hawker stalls, seems to have a soft spot for this "not buying anything" life. We’re flattered—and curious enough to engage in a little on-line research.

What’s bringing you here? Is it the high cost of living, the packed MRTs, or maybe just a feeling that’s hard to pin down?

Whatever it is, we’ve got a hunch it might tie into a phrase we’ve discovered due to your visits: "Sian lah, just do enough.” 

That totally vibes with what we’ve been all about on this blog since 2008.

If you’re not from Singapore, "sian" is a Hokkien word that means "tired," "bored," or "fed up," all rolled into one. Add "lah," and it’s like a verbal shrug: "I’m over it, man.” 

Then there’s "just do enough"—not slacking, but not killing yourself either. It’s about hitting the mark and stopping there. It's about know what is enough, and what is best for that elusive work/life balance.

Together, it’s a mood we’re betting you know: that moment you see your bills, your boss’s latest email, or the BTO price and go, "Sian lah, just do enough lah."

Sound familiar? It’s got echoes of what we talk about here. This blog’s always been about saying no to the grind of buying more, owning more, wanting more. 

In Singapore, we have learned, that grind’s got a name—the "5Cs": cash, car, credit card, condo, country club. It’s the dream they sell you from the PSLE pressure cooker exam to paycheck, but it comes with a catch: long hours, big loans, and a life stuffed with things you don’t need. 

"Sian lah" feels like the moment you see through it. 

Why chase a car when the MRT’s fine? Why splurge on a $5 bubble tea when kopi at the hawker’s 80 cents? Just do enough—and keep your sanity.

There is evidence of this attitude online

where Singaporeans talk about coasting instead of climbing. 

Some call it a "lay flat" vibe, like China’s "tang ping," but quieter. No big protests, just a personal "bo chup" (don’t care) to the rat race. 

Low marriage rates, folks living with parents into their 30s, or picking Grab rides over a 9-to-5. It may not be a movement at this point, but it’s real. And it fits this blog like a glove. 

You don’t need a condo to live well; an HDB flat’s small space forces you to keep it simple. You don’t need new gadgets every year; fix what you’ve got and call it a day. Less stuff, less stress - that sounds like our kind of freedom.

Singapore’s a funny place for this, though. It’s rich but pricey, modern but cramped. Yet that "sian lah" streak sneaks through. It’s not dropping out; it’s drawing a line. 

And that’s where we meet: this blog’s about living light, and "just do enough" is about working light. Same goal, different slang.

So, to our Singapore friends: does this ring true? Are you here because the "not buying anything" life feels like an antidote to the hustle? Maybe you’re tired of ads, or saving for something real, or just want to declutter your flat, and your head. We’d love to hear. 

How does "sian lah, just do enough" fit your days? 

Drop a comment and keep it chill, lah, no pressure. After all, that’s the point: live simple, spend less, and let the rest go. Maybe that’s why you’re here. And if it is, we’re glad to have you along for the ride.