Simple Living

In this materialistic world Gandhian philosophy of Simple living seems so abstract. We cant imagine living with bare minimum things or with things need to survive in this world. We want every thing. We want things that are available in market. I am one of those thousands who wants everything in this world that is best and available. But I am feeling that I am loosing interest in those gadgets, food, household articles, luxuries that has been provided to me without me demanding for it.

I read somewhere that nature guides you everyday every minute and teaches you some important lessons.

This week I learnt lessons in Simple living through three different incidence as if nature guiding me towards my quest of learning about ART OF LIVING.

The best lesson I learnt was from my two and half year old son of Cousin, Shiv. Usually kids wants everything they see and that attracts them. Shiv is all together different type of child. At this tender age he believes in Simple living. He believes in wearing simple clothes, doesn't like to wear costly clothes. Uses his elder sister's sandal. Wears same sweater everyday. If forced by his parents to wear good clothes he cries a lot and opposes till his wish is respected. Whenever his parents takes him to shops to buy new clothes he shows his old clothes and says I don't want new clothes I am happy with clothes I am wearing.

Of course his parents don't like his behaviour. They want to dress him in best clothes and best attire. They purchase costly clothes, sweater, foot wear for him. But Shiv refuses to wear them and finally they are donated to children of laborers.

Although Shiv is just two and half but somewhere he is born with quality of simple living. Shiv reminded me of Prof. Anil Gupta of IIM Ahmedabad, A genius yet can be seen in simple khadi or cotton clothes. Mr. Gupta doesn't have to show brand of his kurta to prove his point or success in life.

Second lesson was an article in Today's supplement of The Times of India. An article on Simple living. As if this too was guiding me towards simple living. Articles says remove all the clutter around the house. How much clutter do we collect in our house, thinking this would be helpful someday and eventually after few years it becomes scrape. Similarly we collect of clutter in our mind. Majority of our memories are clutter. Which becomes scape after few moment yet we keep those memories alive in a quest it would be helpful to us someday. Majority of our memories are bad memories. We hardly store good memories inside us. Because we are sadistic people who love to lick our bad experiences, bad memories those wounds that were given to us by certain situations in life. We love to torture ourselves with those painful memories. We are scared if we lose them our whole existence will be a question mark. We want them because we love to live a sympathetic life. I have started erasing many of such memories and am sure will do away with it. I have to otherwise I will not have enough time to enjoy life. Life is one big Opera which we all should enjoy without getting involve in the dramas unfolding...

The Third lesson came in just few minutes after second experience. Passing away of Mr. Jyoti Basu. I am not communist but I have great Respect for Mr. Jyoti Basu. His simple living and leadership qualities are incomparable. Mr. Basu would always be in simple cotton dhoti and kurta. His physique shows he was simple eater and a hard worker. Unlike many of us who wants branded things, hi-fi life style this man ruled his state for 23 years believing in his philoshopy.

Oh how can I forget one more lesson of Simple living...Amitabh Bachhan's visit to Mr. Narendra Modi's residence. Mr. Modi is Chief Minister of Gujarat. Although he strongly believes in Extravaganza in launching his dream projects he lives a simple life himself. Many of us criticizes him for his extravaganzas in public programs but frankly saying that what motivates us. It creats Euphoria among his people to do all possible things to achieve excellence. Yet Mr. Modi in his life leaves a simple and discipline life.

I know in reality when we are all engrossed in rat race it is difficult to live this type of lifestyle. Shiv is too young and hasn't explore the real world yet. An article always sounds good, Mr. Basu and Mr. Modi being head of the two states enjoyed all the luxuries that comes naturally to them and as per me I am torn between two different life. I want to join rat race because All the luxury I have is not earned by me, they are earned by people around me and I just got them without any pain. But at the same time something inside me tells me I am not born for and should not be part of this rat race. But frankly saying maybe I am part of this rat race but like many of materialistic successful people longing to give up all their richness for simple living, somewhere down I want to free myself from materialistic world, cause it snatches away joy of enjoying whatever you have earned.