The Monk’s Bag
The luxury of a simple life.
The Hermits Cabin via arvesund.com
There is an awful lot of talk about paring down life to a simpler form. What becomes apparent as one begins to do this exercise is that the real issues of life come up.
What we wear, eat and do gets a new level of scrutiny and we soon discover how much we are tied to “things” and people.
To meet our physical and emotional needs is a revealing tale of what really matters. To find out how much we really need and are willing to live with or without is a telling journey.
We have gone so far so fast the train has come off the rails and this exercise is one on which we embark to bring things back to a manageable level. It’s a cycle and one no doubt explored by those who went before us.
The Monk, having given up his worldly pursuits supposedly could carry all he needed in a simple bag slung over the shoulder. The image of this fellow is freeing in that there is a release of the trappings of accumulation and wealth. However there are two very important components that we all rely on, some form of shelter and community. The Monk has his monastery and the fellowship of the others who has embraced his way. They combine to provide shelter from the elements and food for sustenance.
When you figure out how to supply these things you will know how far you can go with paring down the things in your life.
