The Ancient wisdom of minimalism

Sustainability and minimalism are two unbelievably hot topics in the world today and while we do
not know what the future has in store, we can make conscious decisions to ensure a cleaner
future for ourselves and others.

In this blog post, we will explore some ancient wisdom that may be able to give us some insight
into what is coming our way. The ancient practice of minimalism (attending to one's own needs)
can provide many practices that anyone who cares about the planet should consider adopting.

What is minimalism?

Minimalism is an ancient practice adopted by some of the greatest minds that have ever walked
on this earth. Minimalism was the underpinning of all the great philosophies, religions and
revelations that have come to us from ancient times. The philosophy of non-attachment is very
clear in Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism. This non-attachment is just another way of saying
minimalism! The practice of being content with what you have, not wanting more even if you have
an abundance, not being dependent on anything or anyone for your happiness and contentment.

Rexi Thomas, author of "The Sacred and the Profane: Rediscovering the Wisdom and Wonder of
Minimalism" said:

"When we attempt to be happy with less, we give ourselves the opportunity to focus on what we
do have. We gain a greater sense of gratitude and appreciation for what we do have. This gives us
a deeper understanding of who we are, where we've been and where we're going."

Minimalism is not about only removing things from your life but also removing negative energies
or entities from your life as well. These negative entities may be the result of past wrongdoings
and could be old resentments, negative thoughts and emotions and habits that can hold you
back.

How does minimalism bene t the planet?

Minimalism is a very simple philosophy to understand but requires some work. You cannot just
'go minimalism' or hope that you'll suddenly become happy without doing anything about it. It's
not as simple as that. It has to be an intentional practice that you can incorporate into your life
and this is where some of the ancient wisdom we will explore may become useful.

I believe we can learn a great deal from studying some of the ancient philosophies and religions
on how to achieve happiness and contentment and minimalism is one of those teachings.

Minimalism: "the practice or system of living with a minimum of possessions, usually with reduced
wants." – Wikipedia

We too often give up material wealth in exchange for the unattainable ideal life we think we
deserve. The trade-o is not very appealing. We are trading our time, energy and often our own
life, in the pursuit of worldly possessions that will not bene t us or anyone else in the long run.

Minimalism is about realising what is truly important in your life. The question to ask ourselves
when decluttering is, "Will I miss this when it is gone?" If the answer is no, then you have probably
found an unnecessary item that can be removed from your life or perhaps you can give it away to
someone who will bene t from it more than you do.

By doing your minimum and going minimum, you can make all the di erence in the world, for the
generations to come.
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