Simple life" redirects here. For other uses, see Simple Life (disambiguation).

Mohandas Gandhi spinning yarn in 1942. Gandhi believed in a life of simplicity and self-sufficiency.

Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather [1][2] than want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simply and refraining from luxury and [3] indulgence, not all proponents of simple living are ascetics. Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice. Adherents may choose simple living for a variety of personal reasons, such as spirituality, health, increase in quality time for family and friends, worklife balance, personal taste, frugality, or reducing personal ecological footprint and stress. Simple living can also be a reaction to materialism andconspicuous consumption. Some cite socio-political goals aligned with the anticonsumerist or anti-war movements, including conservation, degrowth,social justice, ethnic diversity, tax [4] resistance and sustainable development.

Reducing consumption, work time and possessions[edit]

Living simply in a small dwelling. You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need. Vernon Howard

Some people practice simple living by reducing consumption. By lowering expenditure on goods or services, the time spent earning money can be reduced. The time saved may be used to pursue other interests, or help others through volunteering. Some may use the extra free time to improve their quality of life, for example pursuing creative activities such as art and crafts (see starving artist). Developing adetachment from money has led some individuals, such as Suelo and Mark Boyle, to live with no money at all.[18][19] Reducing expenses may also lead to increase savings which can lead to financial independence and the possibility of early retirement.[20] The grassroots awareness campaign, National Downshifting Week (UK)[21] (founded 1995) encourages participants to positively embrace living with less. Campaign creator, British writer and broadcaster on downshifting and sustainable living, Tracey Smith says, "The more money you spend, the more time you have to be out there earning it and the less time you have to spend with the ones you love". National Downshifting Week encourages participants to 'Slow Down and Green Up' and contains a list of suggestions for individuals, companies, children and schools to help adopt green or eco-friendly policies and habits, develop corporate social and environmental responsibility in the workplace, and create eco-protocols and lessons that work alongside the national curriculum, respectively. Reducing possessions or the size of home can also form part of simple living. The 100 Thing Challenge is a grassroots movement to whittle down possessions to a mere 100 items, with the aim of decluttering and simplifying people's lives.[22] The small house movement includes individuals who chose to live in small mortgage-free low-impact dwellings, such as log cabins or beach huts.[23]

Increasing self-sufficiency[edit]

Robert Hart's forest garden in Shropshire, England.

One way to simplify life is to get back-to-the-land and grow your own food, as increased selfsufficiency reduces dependency on money and the economy. Tom Hodgkinson believes the key to a free and simple life is to stop consuming and start producing.[24] Forest gardening, developed by simple living adherent Robert Hart, is a low-maintenance plantbased food production system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables.[25] Hart created a model forest garden from a 0.12 acre (500 m) orchard on his farm at Wenlock Edge in Shropshire.[26] The idea of food miles, the number of miles a given item of food or its ingredients has travelled between the farm and the table, is used by simple living advocates to argue for locally grown food. This is now gaining mainstream acceptance, as shown by the popularity of books such as The 100-Mile Diet, andBarbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. In each of these cases, the authors devoted a year to reducing their carbon footprint by eating locally.[27] City dwellers can also produce fresh home grown fruit and vegetables in pot gardens or miniature indoor greenhouses. Tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, peas, strawberries, and several types of herbs can all thrive in pots. Jim Merkel says that a person "could sprout seeds. They are tasty, incredibly nutritious, and easy to grow... We grow them in wide mouthed mason jars with a square of nylon window screen screwed under a metal ring".[28] One argument against gardening at home is how often people begin a garden and later stop it.[citation needed][original research?] Farmer Matt Moore spoke on this issue: "How does it affect the consumer to know that broccoli takes 105 days to grow a head?," [...] "The supermarket mode is one of plenty it's

always stocked. And that changes our sense of time. How long it takes to grow food that's removed in the marketplace. They don't want you to think about how long it takes to grow, because they want you to buy right now".[29] One way to change this viewpoint is also suggested by Mr. Moore. He placed a video installation in the produce section of a grocery store that documented the length of time it took to grow certain vegetables.[29] This raises awareness in people of the length of time actually needed for gardens and could easily be combined with online lectures to help new gardeners. The do it yourself ethic refers to the principle of undertaking necessary tasks oneself rather than having others, who are more skilled or experienced, complete them for you.

Reconsidering technology[edit]
People who practice simple living have diverse views on the role of technology. The American political activist, Scott Nearing, was skeptical about how humanity would use new technology, citing destructive inventions such as nuclear weapons.[30] Those who eschew all technology are often referred to as Luddites or neo-Luddites.[31] Although simple living is often a secular pursuit, it may still involve reconsidering personal definitions of appropriate technology, as Anabaptist groups such as the Amish or Mennonites have done. Technological proponents see cutting-edge technologies as a way to make a simple lifestyle within mainstream culture easier and more sustainable. They argue that the internet can reduce an individual's carbon footprint through telecommuting and paper usage. Some have also calculated their energy consumption and have shown that one can live simply and in an emotionally satisfying way by using much less energy than is used in western countries.[32] Technologies they may embrace include computers, photovoltaic arrays, wind and water turbines. Technological interventions that appear to simplify living, may actually induce side effects elsewhere or at a future point in time. Evgeny Morozov warns that tools like the internet can facilitatemass surveillance and political repression.[33] The book Green Illusions identifies how wind and solar energy technologies have hidden side effects and can actually increase energy consumption and entrench environmental harms over time.[34] Authors of the book TechnoFix criticize technological optimists for overlooking the limitations of technology in solving agricultural problems.[35] Advertising is criticised for encouraging a consumerist mentality. Many advocates of simple living tend to agree that cutting out, or cutting down on, television viewing is a key ingredient in simple living. Some see the Internet, podcasting, community radio or pirate radio as viable alternatives.[citation needed]

Simplifying diet[edit]
Another practice is the adoption of a simplified diet. Diets that may simplify domestic food production and consumption include vegan diets and the Gandhi diet. In the United Kingdom, theMovement for Compassionate Living was formed by Kathleen and Jack Jannaway in 1984, to spread the vegan message and promote simple living and self-reliance as a remedy against theexploitation of humans, animals, and the Earth.

Politics and activism[edit]

Environmentalism[edit]
Simple living may be undertaken by environmentalists. For example, Green parties often advocate simple living as a consequence of their "four pillars" or the "Ten Key Values" of the Green Party of the United States. This includes, in policy terms, their rejection of genetic modification and nuclear power and other technologies they consider to be hazardous. The Greens' support for simplicity is based on the reduction in natural resource usage and environmental impact. This concept is expressed in Ernest Callenbach's "green triangle" of ecology, frugality and health.

The White House Peace Vigil, started by simple living adherent Thomas in 1981.

Many with similar views avoid involvement even with green politics as compromising simplicity, however, and advocate forms of green anarchism that attempt to implement these principles at a smaller scale, e.g. the ecovillage. Deep ecology, a belief that the world does not exist as a resource to be freely exploited by humans, proposes wilderness preservation, human population control and simple living.[36]

Anti-war[edit]
The alleged relationship between economic growth and war, when fought for control and exploitation of natural and human resources, is considered a good reason for promoting a simple

living lifestyle. Avoiding the perpetuation of the resource curse is a similar objective of many simple living adherents. Opposition to war has led peace activists, such as Ammon Hennacy and Ellen Thomas, to a form of tax resistance in which they reduce their income below the tax threshold by taking up a simple living lifestyle.[4][37] These individuals believe that their government is engaged in immoral, unethical or destructive activities such as war, and paying taxes inevitably funds these activities.[4]

Economics[edit]
A new economics movement has been building since the UN conference on the environment in 1972,[38] and the publication that year of Only One Earth, The Limits to Growth, and Blueprint For Survival, followed in 1973 by Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered.[39] Recently, David Wann has introduced the idea of simple prosperity as it applies to a sustainable lifestyle. From his point of view, and as a point of departure for what he calls real sustainability, it is important to ask ourselves three fundamental questions: what is the point of all our commuting and consuming? What is the economy for? And, finally, why do we seem to be unhappier now than when we began our initial pursuit for rich abundance?[40] In this context, simple living is the opposite of our modern quest for affluence and, as a result, it becomes less preoccupied with quantity and more concerned about the preservation of cities, traditions and nature. A reference point for this new economics can be found in James Robertson's A New Economics of Sustainable Development,[39] and the work of thinkers and activists, who participate in hisWorking for a Sane Alternative network and program. According to Robertson, the shift to sustainability is likely to require a widespread shift of emphasis from raising incomes to reducing costs. The principles of the new economics, as set out by Robertson, are the following:

systematic empowerment of people (as opposed to making and keeping them dependent), as the basis for people-centred development systematic conservation of resources and the environment, as the basis for environmentally sustainable development evolution from a wealth of nations model of economic life to a one-world model, and from today's inter-national economy to an ecologically sustainable, decentralising, multi-level one-world economic system

restoration of political and ethical factors to a central place in economic life and thought

respect for qualitative values, not just quantitative values See also[edit]
This article may be in need of reorganization to comply with Wikipedia's layout guidelines. Please help by editing the article to make improvements to the overall structure. (December 2012)
Ecology portal Environment portal Sustainable development portal

Asceticism

freedom from stuff and over-consumption. living intentionally and with integrity. caring for the Earth and Earth's inhabitants. an act of faith and a spiritual discipline. living ethically. a political act and an economic revolution. time tested and patriotic in the spirit of Thoreau. anti-empire and pro-community. our future as a species and a planet.

Simple Living promotes peace and challenges the rationale for wars. I will share resources, book reviews, ideas and practical suggestions on faithful simple living. Thank you for checking thi

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The Art of Simple Living

The Art of Simple Living

Simple Living is "living in a way that is outwardly simple and inwardly rich. This way of life embraces frugality of consumption, a strong sense of enviromental urgency, and a desire to return to living and working enviroments which are of a more human scale." (Duane S. Elgin and Arnold Mitchell) The practice of voluntary simplicity is advocated in the teachings of Jesus, the early Christian Church, St. Paul, St. Francis, and many others. It also has it roots in the teachings of other world religions, the teachings of Gandhi, and the writings of Thoreau. The American Friends Service Committee (The Quakers) define simple living as a "non-consumerist lifestyle based on being and becoming, not having."

Seven Reasons for Choosing a Simpler Lifestyle:

1. As an act of intentional living performed for the sake of personal integrity and as an expression of a commitment to a more equitable distribution of the worlds resources. 2. As an act of creation care for ourselves and especially for our children and grandchildren against the earth destroying results of over-consumption such as pollution, climate change, and resource wars. 3. As an act of solidarity with the majority of humankind, which has little choice about material affluence. 4. As an act of celebration of the riches found in Gods creation, and the riches of community with others, rather than in the "poverty" of mindless materialism.

5. As an act of spiritual discipline ordering our lives to reflect the values of simplicity and just living taught by Jesus and teachers in other world religions. 6. As an act of advocacy for changes in present patterns of production and consumption. 7. As an act of provocation (ostentatious under consumption) to arouse curiosity leading to dialog with others about affluence, and sustainable "green" living to redirect the production of consumer goods away from the satisfaction of artificially created wants toward the supplying of goods and services that meet genuine social needs. (Based on an article by Jorgen Lissner)

"Simple living today is joyful, bright, poetic and mentally robust."

from Michael Phillips and Catherine Campbell's Simple Living Investments

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Resources

Recommended Resources:
Living in God's Economy
Author Mary Sharon Moore writes from a Christian perspective about God's economy which "is an ecomomy of Justice, equality, respect for the human person, and the created order." This is in contrast to the so called developed world's economy "which demands that people and creation be at the service of endless economic expansion." This is an excellent resource book for Christian households, small groups, and simpicity circles to discuss and covenant together to live in more Christ centered ways. As Moore writes in the introduction in her practical guide to Christ Centered households in tough econmoic times, "Living in God's Economy is partly about living more simply at home, on the earth, and in the world. More importantly, it addresses issues of economic and social justice--topics that have always been dear to God's heart--so that these issues can become dear to our hearts, formost in our minds, and motivators in the the social, economic, and eviromental choices we make." Living in God's Economy can be ordered at www.awakeningvocations.com
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Energy Addicts

Twelve Step Program for Energy Addicts

These days, many programs for treating addictions use a "12-Step" approach as a way to focus attention on the healing process, so we developed this Twelve Step Program for energy addicts based on the work of the healers at the Interfaith Coalition on Energy. 1. We admit that we are powerless over our use of energythat our addiction to energy use has become unmanageable and is destroying Earth. 2. We believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity and wholeness. 3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understand God. 4. We made a searching and fearless inventory of our uses of energy. 5. We admit to God, to ourselves, and to another inhabitant of Earth the exact nature of our inappropriate use of energy. 6. We are entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 7. We humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings. 8. We made a list of all the inhabitants of Earth we have harmed and are willing to make amends. 9. We made direct amends to other inhabitants of Earth whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. We continue to keep records of energy use and when we are using too much, we promptly will reduce our use of energy. 11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our relationship with God; praying for knowledge of Gods will for creation, and the power to fulfill it. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we will try to carry this message to others who waste energy, and to practice these principles in our lives. Contributed by Rev. John H. Jackson Co-Founder of Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
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The Greening Power

Epiphany 2012
I read a wonderful quote from the twelfth century mystic, Hildegard of Bingen that gave me pause. She described the Holy Spirit as the Greening Power of God. Of course she did not intend that in the context that we might mean by Greening something; that is making it more environmentally friendly. She meant, I believe, that as plants are greened by water, sunlight, and soil; the human soul is greened by the Holy Spirits presence in ones life. Because of the Holy Spirit the human soul can flower and bear good fruit. Yet, I would assert, that greening our lifestyles, is not only a justice issue, but also a spiritual issue. Can humankind flower and bear good fruit when approximately one third of the worlds population live in ways that are unsustainable and destructive to the planet, while another third of the population bear a disproportional burden of the consequences of global climate change and environmental destruction? Can we love God if we treat our brothers and sisters in such a way? Perhaps Hildegards words, as the words of mystics often do, have new meaning for our times. That the Holy Spirit, who empowers, enlightens and sanctifies (Martin Luther); greens us to live in more just, simple and earth friendly ways: so that all of humankind can flower and bear good fruit.

May the Greening Power of God empower you to flower and bear good fruit in 2012.

Michael

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