As the ethics of a minimal culture tend to portend one begins to evaluates one’s consumption, Constantly asking: does this add value to my life?, the moment we find out that we can do without , it means so much more and we become open to other things in life. It also means more consumer power lies with us (i.e. Money) With more money in our hands due to our new ascetic lifestyle, we can therefore have enough to help and finance the development of certain projects in our community thereby attaining a trans-personal life.
One of the perks of being a minimalist is that you have more money to spare, or can live with very little, by giving up the ostentatious lifestyle, and living a more hobby – filled and mindful life you find yourself with more time to do and more money to save, but we can’t hoard to no end as the money we save shouldn’t be kept in constant devaluation in the banks, but with the strength gotten from a minimalist lifestyle, we can up the gear and move to ascetic lifestyle, first by giving up the little things
For example (I am totally projecting) Giving up meat (nothing or fish), bread (potatoes), perfumes, plenty clothes and shoes (only 5 of each), and buying them from cheap thrift stores Reducing food to once/twice a day, making sure the food is home cooked to save more money and also eating quite little, Going for long walks, sleeping more, and watching a documentary or movie, (that way you can still learn during your leisure time)
You can also try getting or creating your own permaculture farm (this is not only therapeutic and helpful but the only progress the world we come to know as time goes by) Having a farm no matter how small gives your day happiness, purpose and meaning. With something to do , you find yourself with less time for idleness which breeds a need to impress which always have with us few cash at hand. With this new found ascetic culture, we can move on transpersonal living; which simply is you asking yourself what you can do for your community. What is that thing lacking that I can help provide or finance?
In Nigeria, it is mostly a lack of sport centers, for people to play in, libraries for read in and parks for relaxing, there are other things like chairs in the classroom, hospitals etc but I wouldn’t advocate that because of the kind of greedy people who could frustrate you, as people who have tried to do things like that have been challenged by the corrupt government officials who were prognosticating to use the building of those social amenities as a to siphon money into their pockets. You might however find yourself with just enough to get the project of your choice established or at least started before requesting for additional funding which you will most likely get from interested members of your community because even in today simple things like pipe borne water are still considered luxuries in parts of Enugu, Kwara and other states and community in Nigeria. You can also help with your time, volunteering and educating others
You can only get here through discipline and understanding the ethics of detachment and asceticism, fully immersing in oneself the atomizing philosophy of finding one’s paradise wherever one is to see what you can do to change or better it at least.
But it all starts for you with minimalism.
- Victor Samuel
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