Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Wild Fox Zen

Home
Buddhist
Journeys of Simplicity

Journeys of Simplicity

Last updated on: November 20, 2010 at 10:50 am by Dosho Port

Journeys of Simplicity 2010-11-20T10:50:00-06:00 Dosho Port

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light with Thomas Merton, Bash... Cover Art

I choose the rooms

that I live in with care.

The windows are small

and the walls are bare.

There is only one bed

there is only one prayer.

And I wait every night

for your step on the stair.

– Leonard Cohen

While sipping morning coffee, I read the introduction to Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light with Thomas Merton, Basho, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard & Others by Philip Harnden. Thanks to Rev. Victoria Safford at the White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church for pointing out this book (hear the sermon, “The Material World,” on this theme by clicking here).

The book is a collection of lists about traveling light. Not just from the poor and famous like Merton and Bassho, but others like John Jack (1713-1773), who began life as a slave in New England but worked hard and bought his freedom.

“When he lay dying, at about age sixty, he bequethed all he owned to Violet, an elderly slave of his late master’s daughter” (presumably so she could buy her freedom):

Eight acres in the Great Fields
and Great Meadows

a good pair of oxen
a cow and a calf

some farming tools

a Bible and psalm book

seven barrels of cider

The prose throughout is delightfully in line with the message – a few carefully chosen words, rich in meaning that calls to mind the practice of finding contentment with few desires.

“Those who act with few desires are calm, without worry or fear,” said the Buddha.

Finding delight in simplicity and meaning from living a simple life seems to me to be one of the ways that spiritual practice can lead the way back, creating a sustainable way of life on this little blue dumpling planet for the many large-brained primates gathering herein.

Harnden, though, is not a Pollyanna:

“Do not be disappointed or deceived,” he writes. “Remember that soldiers bent on massacre may sometimes travel as lightly as monks on pilgrimage. And pilgrims themselves may bear their own peculiar baggage, their own destructive schemes.”

I look forward to slowly digesting the lists, the tracks of other travelers also just passing through.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 17, 2010

Dogs Decoded and Humans Divided

Next Post

November 21, 2010 The Deep Settled Mind of the Soto School ... and Texting, etc.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 August 2021 June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 August 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 December 2016 October 2016 June 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city did Paul write his first letter to the Corinthians from?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rome Ephesus Athens Corinth