This isn’t meant as a sermon. The motorbikes in the garage and the gas central heating aren’t great environmental credentials. Yet life here is the simplest it’s been for a long time time, and these days I try to leave small footprints upon the Earth. Rampant consumption and materialism need to be redressed: it’s not really about the toys, “all you can eat” buffets, and body beautiful.

Cut your suit to match your cloth
Anon

This old proverb advises living within your means. But shouldn’t we now expand this wisdom to encompass humanity’s impact on the planet? Just as relentless consumerism is a misguided pursuit, plundering and polluting Earth’s resources is certainly not a wise ambition.

Is giving stuff up and letting go difficult? Well it begs the question of what to do or pursue instead, or more interestingly, how to be without pursuing much at all. I guess surviving has been a way of life for so long that struggle and achievement are built into us, but now with many of our problems rooted in excess, we might do well with less.

The selfish gene theory popularised by Richard Dawkins explains selfish and altruistic behaviour, by rooting both in genetic behaviour. He argued how altruistic sacrifice could transcend the individual’s imperative to survive if it benefited genetic relatives i.e the gene’s lineage. Now if the species threatens itself, there’s perhaps an argument for transcending our biological programming to ensure the survival of the ecosystem that’s produced and nurtured us.

Just as the Copernican revolution placed the sun not the Earth at the centre of the universe before Hubble expanded our view to other galaxies beyond the Milky, our intellectual development seems to be about getting our minds around ever expanding models of life and the universe, ever wider and inclusive paradigms.

We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.
Mahatma Gandi

Zooming back in, another Richard organises recitals by music students in a busy London hospital. They practice their performance, earn enthusiastic, if sparse applause, beauty calms a busy, stressful environment, and no money changes hands. It’s a practical, virtuous and inspiring enterprise.

Life is perhaps more vivid, and we’re arguably at our best, when times are tough and we’re up against it. Such times may also be fruitful for finding connections and appreciating beauty and kindness. Stripped of distraction there’s time to accept and value ourselves as the fallible, insecure, extraordinary creatures we surely are. Beyond consumerism there’s the beauty of the Earth and the kindness we’re already capable of showing to ourselves and others. That said, it takes time and effort to develop a resolute will. Living simply and mindfully is not easy these days, but the path was well trodden before there were therapists to guide or TED talks to instruct/distract.

A monk asked Joshu, “I have just entered the monastery: please give me some guidance.”

Joshu said, “Have you had breakfast yet?”

The monk said, “Yes I have eaten.”

Joshu continues, “Then go wash your bowl.”