The Ultimate Minimalist Teacher (revisited)
[Editor's Note: This post originally appeared at a guest post at Becoming Minimalist back in September. I revisited it this past week and its message resonated differently. One of the ways of living deeply is to become One with Nature. But to distill it even further, there should be no separation whatsoever between us and natural world. We are Nature and Nature is us. It also struck me that perhaps readers of TNP might not have seen it. It is one of my favorite pieces of writing and I wanted to share it with you.]
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir
Sure, there are a lot of great minimalist teachers out there. Many who have tapped into the awesome power of living and thriving with less. Those who have shed unnecessary things, material or otherwise, and embraced the beautiful simplicity that remains. Blogs and books abound; lessons and lists; ways and means.
But the ultimate minimalist teacher is right outside our door. While voiceless, she speaks to the masses; has no books, but has authored volumes in the Story of Life; has no motive save for sustaining all creation in perpetual harmony.
Nature is this teacher.
If we were to pause for a moment, to stop the hustle and bustle of our lives just long enough to see, we would observe all those amazing ways that Nature lives the ultimate minimalist existence:
- Nature does not want. The natural world lives in balance. There is no greed for more. Nature uses only what it needs to thrive in the most basic yet amazing way.
- Nature does not waste. The natural world is closed-loop. It does not create things that serve no purpose. What lives does not die, rather it is transformed into another form to serve another purpose. Nature does not dwell in the realm of planned obsolescence.
- Nature does not wallow. Go outside. Is anything ho-hum? There is energy—a vibrancy—that permeates every little nook and cranny. Nature is all about living with zeal; about living to the fullest potential; about living with a humble and determined purpose.
- Nature embraces life. From the dawn of time, Nature has single-tasked quite nicely. Creating, embracing, sustaining. Laser focus. No distractions from petty, frivolous pursuits. And because of that, Life teems on a frequency unlike no other. So should we.
- Nature embraces diversity. Scientists estimate that there could be up to 100 million different species of life on the planet, of which only 2 million have been identified. This richness of life and the harmony that sustains it should give us pause. Homogeneity is boring and limiting. Diversity begets a natural balance. The same is true in our lives.
- Nature embraces the moment. There is no dwelling in the past or fretting about the future. Nature is about the here and now. This is an important lesson to learn. Allowing mindfulness to bring the moment into full focus can lead to all sorts of amazing things.
Nature is a pathway for seeing our life in a new way; a catalyst for changing our perspective about how we approach our day-to-day. When we step outside and immerse ourselves in this natural world we open ourselves to the enlightenment that is all around, just waiting to be reflected in each one of us.
Minimalism is powerful in ways big and small, opening our eyes to a new way of living and giving us the ability to reconnect with the beautiful essence of our existence. Such insight allows us to see our place in the broader world differently; to recognize that which allows every part of our lives to be – the Earth. Those pursuing a minimalist lifestyle are naturally inclined to see the connections between how we approach each day and the long-term vitality of the planet that makes it all possible.
A Buddhist proverb says that when the student is ready the teacher appears. Given all that ails our planet, the collective Student Body of Humanity is realizing that school is now in session. The biggest test of our lives is before us and it is simply pass/fail. Better get outside and start studying.
Be well,
Bill
If you’ve enjoyed this post, I’d love it if you would share it with some friends via Facebook or Twitter or even talk about it around the water cooler. Many thanks. You may also enjoy these while you’re here:
- Minimalism, Mindfulness and the Moral Imperative of a New Earth Ethic
- The Three Spheres of Love
- Deep Living 101: A Quick-Start Guide for Pursuing Your Own Path
Thanks for re-posting this as I hadn’t read it on the other site. What a thoughtful and lovely piece. I’m going to read it to my kids and talk with them about these ideas. Being close to nature is one of the reasons we chose to live in a tiny little house, but in Boulder, Colorado where the huge mountain backdrop never lets us forget about the importance of the natural world.
I think you should post this on your site at least once a year. It’s the kind of thing that I could read much more than once because it’s such an all-important reminder.
Thanks, Suzita. I’m touched that you would want to read this with your kids!
You have the mountains; I have the ocean. I often wonder how I would feel if that backdrop switched for me. When I go backpacking in the Whites up in New Hampshire (I know, nothing like CO), I feel very much at home too. There is something about the mountains that draws you in and cradles you.
Perhaps I will re-post it annually. Always a great reminder. Be well!
Simply lovely!
I’ve paraphrased a book and made it my own in this simple, stark picture:
“There’s nothing quite like the cutting blade of arctic wind, facing the crashing grey sea in winter, to bring home what truly matters to us, infinitesimal specks of humanity.”
I must have water, mountains, or wide open spaces to dream and love effectively.
Thanks so much, Jeanie. I LOVE that passage. It instantly reminded me of when I was traveling to China and flying over the Arctic Circle. I looked out of the window and saw nothing but shades of white and grey, carved here and there with inlets of water. My thoughts at that time: Most of humanity will never see this. It’s beautiful. This is a gift to cherish.
Be well!
“Nature abhors a vacuum,” or so the saying goes. The less space that stuff takes up in our heads and homes, the more nature will fill it up. No wonder minimalism and appreciating nature seem to go hand in hand! Lovely post.
Meg >> Thanks so much for stopping by and lending to the conversation — I appreciate it. Less stuff, more Nature. I love it! While minimalism is not the singular foundation of my quest for deep living, it is a cornerstone. That said, the uptick from choosing to embrace less material things is all the real environmental benefit: Less resources used to make, ship and sell stuff; less stuff landing in our landfills and polluting our soil, water and air; giving things like planned obsolescence the heave-ho. For me, it helps to drive home the inter-connectedness of all things.
Be well!
Oh! Dear Bill, this is just beyond moving and lovely!!!
You KNOW I relate to this. It’s as if you spoke the words in my own heart. Your writing is beautiful. And yes, we ARE Nature and Nature is us. In the documentary my husband and I are working on I refer to Nature as Our Greater Self. I cannot be in the presence of Nature without being deeply, profoundly humbled, healed, awed, loved, nurtured, as well as feel my own vast ancient roots.
I am so deeply moved by your connection to the wild. It is precious and so beautiful. Thank you for sharing such beauty. You might like my last video. Scroll to bottom of the page. It was such a simple moment but one I won’t ever forget. http://nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/song-of-the-wild/
Nature invites minimalism because Nature fills and satiates (in a REAL way) our deepest hungers, needs and even spiritual desires to be “part of”, and when these needs are met, we have little interest or need for so many of the “things” our cultures uses to try to satisfy these hungers (that only connection with Nature, Our Greater Self, can satisfy). It’s late here and I’m not sure I worded that clearly….
Thank you for all you do, are, and share.
Hugs,
Robin
Robin,
Thank you so much for your kind words. It means so much. “Nature fills and satiates our deepest hungers” — I love that.
I just spent time with your post. I am awed by your ability to connect with another being (in this case, Mallard) so deeply. And the melody — absolutely beautiful! We have many, many birds around our house and often I feel a connection when I’m outside in the morning hanging laundry and they come over to peek and stay a moment. Their songs open up a pathway of sorts…
I’m excited about the prospect of a documentary! That is fantastic!
Wishing you well this day,
Bill
I so agree and relate to all you say here but to me Nature has always represented ABUNDANCE. Whenever I feel any lack in my life I have only to recall the natural abundance that is all around me in nature. Anthills, schools of fish, flocks of birds, mosquitoes everywhere, all living free and finding their needs met perfectly! It just all goes on and on all around us this grand and glorious profusion. It is we humans who are the minimalists in that we avoid all that abundance by using our big brains to find “better” ways of living
. I say go abundant! You say minimal. Two words, same miracle.
Hi Trish,
Thanks for stopping by. “Two words. Same miracle.” That is beautiful — and has so much in the way of recognizing and appreciating the different perspectives we all bring to the experience of life.
Whether or not humans consciously call out, recognize or outwardly appreciate this abundance, we are all at its mercy for living the lives we live. It is my hope that more and more people come to realize that everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) we have in terms of the material — and I would even venture to include immaterial in that for some of us — comes from Nature. If we could change our perspective on this it my go a long, long way towards re-establishing a profound respect for all these resources and eliminate the mindless plundering of the bounty that is all around us.
Be well and thanks for sharing!
Kia ora Bill,
There is so much simplicity, and so much connection available thru Nature. Putting a pack on your back with all you need to sustain you for days brings such a sense of freedom, such a sense of relief to let go of the seemingly endless material pursuits out here. To bring our existence down to a few items REALLY needed, a bit of food, extra clothing, shelter, and a billy, is always enlightening to me. I agree with Trish, being minimalist in the wild for me opens up a huge world of abundance. Kia kaha.
Cheers,
Robb
Kia ora Robb,
That submersion that happens when one goes backpacking deep into the heart of the wilderness is so profound. You have to have done it to really know it. I think that could be a reason why hikers are some of the most cordial, friendly people you come across — especially on the trail. And to think: Everything you need to survive (literally) being stuffed into a relatively small sack on your back makes you really think about what is truly necessary. I love it! All this talk of backpacking makes me want to hit the mountains. I’ll have to wait until spring. Be well!