yog.es

Yoga suggest us that to improve our life we should simplify it. The moral standards of yoga - Yamas and Niyamas - tells us about the non accumulation of unnecessary things - aparigraha - and says that we can live with less.

Some ideas given for it are: to give, to clean, to put limits, to wake up early in the morning, to swich off the TV, to swith off the computer and to disconnect it from the internet, to off the phones (especially the mobiles), to send "this and that" to recycle, to put in quarantine several days this item we wish to buy; and to begin the day with a moment of peace. These are some of the suggestions that are proposed to us, but can we do something like this?.

If only 2 % of world population owns 60 % of goods to be consumed and if this proportional to the waste produced that poison the planet ten all this model is wrong.

If we need "three planets" to cover our voracity; a change in our way of life is a must.

The opposite is suicidale since the model in which we live is unsustainable.

We must decrease, reduce, and settle.

The big lie of modern society is that consumerism can give us happiness.

Politicians tell us again and again that economy is pulled by consumerism but more important than the economy is the future life.

We spend much more of what we really need and almost everything we buy is to the waste container just a few days later.

A small fraction of the planet population owns the huge majority of wealth and the difference is increasing. Increasingly the rich are richer and the poor are poorer.

It does not work: How can we have so many poor and hungry people on the planet?.

There are alternatives and many movements in favour of a more friendly lifestyle with the planet and ourselves: solidarious economy, responsible marketing, fair trade, barter, natural foods distribution, organic agriculture without GMOs, cooperation for development, free energy, simple life, spirituality, etc.



TAKE THE TELEVISION OUT FROM YOUR HOME

Almost everything we want it is disposed shortly thereafter, the first rule is to ignore the mind endless desires.

The first step is to take out the enemy from our home, don't you think?

We all agree that the idiot box is a machine that creates unnecessary desires, wishes and false needs, a source of mental garbage and disinformation.

A gateway to the interior of each family home from where it enters the evil hand that seeks to change habits and lifestyles at its convenience.

At the convenience of those who pay.

To take the television out from our home will give us  more time, peace, joy, reducing pollution, reducing manipulation, will make us less influenced from the wishes of the great powers, allowing us to think a little more,  saving energy, time and money.



IN WICH WORLD DO WE LIVE?  CAN WE PLAN OUR OWN DOWNSHIFTING PROGRAM?

Study  your own downshifting program.

The first thing is to know where we are and from where we can start.

A good video: "THE STORY OF STUFF"

Here there is a video of just 20 minutes (in three parts) that explains very pedagogically and clearly our economy and the world situation today.

The messages and information that are transmited on this video are: our economic system consists of several phases: extraction, production, distribution, consumption and waste. We only see the goods at the end in store, not in the rest of the phases and hence we do not know the real cost.

Throughout the process the many people are losing a lot and few earn much.

In fact out of the 100 world's largest economies 51 belong to corporations, not countries.

EXTRACTION: needless to explain that we are destroying all resources of the planet very fast: minerals, trees, water, animals and everything with value.

PRODUCTION: more than 100,000 chemicals have entered with impunity in the production of all the objects we use and in our eatables (which are no food sometimes) we eat. There are no studies of long-term and much less about the synergy between them.

Those who suffer most are the workers in the far away factories that thanks to globalization/relocation are often placed in poorer countries without strict legislations about toxics. Diseases, especially cancer rates are very high there.

DISTRIBUTION: objects travel through thousands of kilometers to arrive to the shop. The goal is to buy as many products as possible as quickly as possible. And for that market may offer very low prices that will encourage people to buy.

Ridiculous prices are often obtained by paying a pittance to producers,  with low wages and poor conditions for their own workers and outsourcing all costs. The real price will not appear in any our accounting.

CONSUMPTION: And for what this much pain? Most (they say 95 %!) of the goods passing through this system will become garbage in only 6 months.

The objective of the current economy is simply the production of consumer goods.

The objects designers are creating intentionally gods that will be be not usable quickly, people will throw them and will buy other.

And after so much consumption just to throw almost everything away, the last link in this economic chain:

WASTE: rubbish production, this stage is poisonous for the planet. In fact waste incineration produces most of the toxic dioxins. And also they the processing, burial and waste incineration is sometimes done offshore. If we exploit the disadvantaged at the beginning of the string how not to do it at the end?.

See: www.thestoryofstuff.com


Trying to clarify the reasons we may have for planning our downshifting program we can read the editorial from the "The Ecologist Magazine No 31" because it may well summarize the situation:

"One of the more unquestionable taboos of modern dogmatic society is growth. If we do attend any political group meeting in elections period or not: everybody will promise more, more growth, more work, more kindergardens, more car parkings, more infrastructures, more energy; "More" is always the motto.

No political group dared so far to raise some kind of limits to the growth. None of them dare to utter the word "less". Decrease falls out of their plans. We must grow at the expense of whatever: nature, society, family, the rights of persons.

But everyone seems to forget something important. In a world of more than 6000 million people, only we can continue to grow, even if it is "sustainably" subjecting nature and human societies and people to a systematic pillaging (as it has happened so far) of terrible consequences for the own exploiter.

More growth, larger are major must be problems to come, the needs and crisi to arrive, including the climate crisis. May we want it or not downshifting will come, because, at this rate, there are no resources for everyone.

To work today helping to understand downshifting is an act of surrender to the cosmic order, back to the "great pact" to wich man should return again to be part of the cosmic unity.

Same if results  come or not, our efforts at present have a spiritual dimension of great beauty that, at minimum, will have positive effects on our mental health."   The Ecologist


DOWNSHIFTING: Downshifting is a movement that emerged at the end of the 80s in the U.S. among people suffering from the burn-out sindrom at work that were ventually coming to know that high salaries may help little because they had no free time.

The downshifting is basically to work less to live better.

Here are some tips proposed, we may:

    - Cancel all credit cards except one, reserving it for emergencies
    - Having a single bank account and always pay with cash
    - Maintain a book  for accounting
    - Do ourselves our home repairing
    - Give up the car or to buy a second-hand one
    - Use public transport or sharing the car with other colleagues
    - Living close to work, so we can eat at home and walk to job
    - Organize the job for 30 hours or four days a week
    - Quit smoking and drinking alcohol
    - Reduce weight
    - Reduce stress -for it we can very well do a little yoga-
    - Become a member of the public library to avoid, if possible, to buy books or magazines
    - Go shopping only when it is really necessary, and comparing prices with other stores
    - Buy secondhand clothing and recycled furniture;



RADICAL SIMPLICITY ACCORDING TO JIM MERKEL

Jim Merkel is an engineer that gave up his job as weapons designer. The trigger for his decision was the oil tanker Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989.

He felt indirectly guilty as a worker in a sector without environment conscience and as a citizen who pays taxes. Sold his ship and his car, rented half of his home (3 rooms) and went to live with less.

With all the free time that he gets he is dedicated to promoting a more logical relationship with the environment and social justice and wrote "radical simplicity: a practical guide for a sustainable lifestyle".

Below he will try to introduce his interesting philosophy of life:

"I think that something is changing. People need a life with more sense and certainly live to consume has no sense"

"Instead of asking myself how can I make more money, I wondered what I really need?."

"I used my engineering books to prepare a plan. My income should be below the susceptible pay tax level so I would not contribute to pay any bomb or bullet delivered to the poor farmers living near the planet's most coveted resources"

"I wanted more, I wanted to live with a smaller annual income. I caught a paper and I became to write an exhaustive list of what I spent and I started deleting everything which could be a burden: the boat out. The van out. Restaurants, out. Magazine subscriptions, out. Housing, divide the house, I rented three rooms I had free and planted a vegetables garden. So I have been living 16 years without touching my savings. Now I work on a voluntary basis, offer practical workshops about how changing life, give lectures to students and, especially, I spend little. I have time to do things that I like and to stimulate creative ideas to protect the planet trying to contribute to a fairer world. But above all, I am free."


"There is an interesting approach, the integrity, intelligence and economic independence.

    - Integrity means that we are responsible for all the implications of the money that passes through our hands.
    - Intelligence is to know how to spend the vital energy wisely.
    - And economic independence means that we have saved enough to cope with monthly expenses"

"what I propose is enjoying a great quality of life with a small ecologic footprint".



SIMPLIFYING LIFE

If you’re interested in simplifying your life, this can be a guide.

The Short List:
There are really only two steps to simplifying...

   1. Identify what’s most important to you.
   2. Eliminate everything else.


The Long List:
   1. Make a list of your top 4-5 important things. What’s most important to you? What do you value most? What 4-5 things do you most want to do in your life? Simplifying starts with these priorities, as you are trying to make room in your life so you have more time for these things.
   2. Evaluate your commitments. Look at everything you’ve got going on in your life. Everything, from work to home to civic to kids’ activities to hobbies to side businesses to other projects. Think about which of these really gives you value, which ones you love doing.
   3. Evaluate your time. How do you spend your day? Redesign your day.
   4. Simplify work tasks. Focus on the essential tasks and eliminate the rest.
   5. Simplify home tasks.
   6. Learn to say no. This is actually one of the key habits for those trying to simplify their lives. If you can’t say no, you will take on too much.
   7. Limit your communications.
   8. Limit your media consumption.
   9. Purge your stuff.  Declutter.
  10. Get rid of the big items. There’s tons of little clutter in our lives, but if you start with the big items, you’ll simplify your life quickly and in a big way.
  11. Look at your rooms. One room at a time, go around the room and eliminate the unnecessary. Act as a newspaper editor, trying to leave only the minimum, and deleting everything else.
  12. Look at closets and drawers. Once you’ve gone through the main parts of your rooms, tackle the closets and drawers, one drawer or shelf at a time.
  13. Simplify your wardrobe.
  14. Simplify your computing life.
  15. Go for quality, not quantity. Try not to have a ton of stuff in your life … instead, have just a few possessions, but ones that you really love, and that will last for a long time.
  16. Create a simplicity statement. What do you want your simple life to look like? Write it out.
  17. Limit your buying habits. If you are a slave to materialism and consumerism, there are ways to escape it.
  18. Free up time. Find ways to free up time for the important stuff.
  19. Do what you love.
  20. Spend time with people you love.
  21. Spend time alone.
  22. Eat slowly. If you cram your food down your throat, you are not only missing out on the great taste of the food, you are not eating healthy. Slow down to lose weight, improve digestion, and enjoy life more.
  23. Drive slowly. Driving slower is not only safer, but it is better on your fuel bill, and can be incredibly peaceful. Give it a try.
  24. Be present. These two words can make a huge difference in simplifying your life. Living here and now, in the moment, keeps you aware of life, of what is going on around you and within you. It does wonders for your sanity.
  25. Carry less stuff.
  26.  Simplify your online life.
  27.  Try to simplify your financial life.
  28. Clear your desk.
  29. Establish routines. The key to keeping your life simple is to create simple routines.
  30.  Learn to pack light when you travel.
  31. Learn to live frugally. Living frugally means buying less, wanting less, and leaving less of a footprint on the earth. It’s directly related to simplicity.
  32. Make your house minimalist. A minimalist house has what is necessary, and not much else. It’s also extremely peaceful (not to mention easy to clean).
  33.  Live closer to work. This might mean getting a job closer to your home, or moving to a home closer to your work. Either will do much to simplify your life.
  34. Consider a smaller home.
  35. Consider a smaller car.
  36. Learn what “enough” is. Our materialistic society today is about getting more and more, with no end in sight. Sure, you can get the latest gadget, and more clothes and shoes. More stuff. But when will you have enough? Most people don’t know, and thus they keep buying more. It’s a neverending cycle. Get off the cycle by figuring out how much is enough. And then stop when you get there.
  37. Learn to do nothing for a moment. Doing nothing can be an art, and it should be a part of every life.
  38. Eat healthy.  Eat a vegetal diet.
  39. Exercise walking.
  40. Declutter.
  41. Have a place for everything.
  42. Find inner simplicity. Be a spiritual person.
  43. Learn to decompress from stress.
  44. Try living without a car.
  45. Simplify your goals. What are you going to take our of this life?
  46. Develop equanimity. If every little thing that happens to you sends you into anger or stress, your life might never be simple. Learn to detach yourself, and be more at peace.
  47. Cancel your consumption of advertising. Advertising makes us want things. That’s what it’s designed to do, and it works. Find ways to reduce your exposure of advertising.
  48. Create a morning silence ritual. If you enjoy peace, like I do, make it a peaceful ritual. Pray.
  49. Read SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE: 100 WAYS TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER, by Elaine St. James. One of the favorite all-time authors on simplicity.

Her long list is:

THE HOUSE

1. Reduce clutter in your life

2. Get rid of the stuff: if it is not used, out

3. Clean your home with efficiency

4. Reduce by half the time of making the purchase. Plan a weekly menu and make a list before going shopping

5. Buy in bulk

6. Plant a vegetables garden

7. Do all your shopping in one place

8. Reduce your laundry by half. Use the ecologic ball

9. Do not buy clothes that need dry cleaning

10. Leave shoes at the entrance of you home

11. Choose carpets with designs

12. Use trays to carry the food out of the kitchen

13. Keep plants outside

14. Get rid of the lawn

15. Or at least, simplify lawn

16. Domestic animals care "simplified"

17. Simplify your transport

18. Simplify recycling


LIFESTYLE

19. Move to a smaller house

21. Sell the  boat

22. Simplify your wardrobe

23. Reduce going out at night

24. Reconsider meals with friends

25. Turn off the TV!

26. Put an end to advertising mail

27. Cancel subscriptions to magazines

28. Do not buy newspapers

29. Forget the call waiting system

30. Do not answer the phone only because it is ringing

31. Ignore the doorbell

32. Get rid of your car

33. If you do not like parties, avoid them

34. Stop sending Christmas cards

35. Gifts Simplified

36. Travel Simplified

37. Take a break and holidays in your home


FINANCE

38. Pay off your debts

39. Live with half your salary and save the other half

40. Rethink your purchasing habits

41. Change the way you go shopping try with less money and without Visa

42. Reduce your need for goods and services

43. Keep one credit card

44. Simplify your accounts

45. Use a simple registration system for bank info

46. Consolidate your investment

47. Pay the mortgage

48. Better a second hand car

49. Teach your kids fiscal responsibility


WORK

50. Do not be a slave to your schedule time table

51. Work where you live or live where you work

52. Do what you really want to do

53. Turn your hobby into your job

54. Work less and enjoy more

55. End the non-productive work

56. Try to include your family in your professional life


HEALTH

57. Simplify your cooking habits. Eat more vegetables

58. Share restaurant meals

59. Make a fruit juice fasting one day a week

60. Choose to drink clean water

61. Eat whole flour meals

62. Prepare your own lunch

63. Stay away from exercise equipment and coach and take a walk

64. Get up one hour earlier

65. Go to he bed at nine p.m.

66. Carry all this medicines to the pharmacy

67. Create your own rituals

68. Learn to laugh

69. Learn yoga

70. Learn to meditate

71. Moderate speed to the limit set by law


PERSONAL LIFE

72. Make healthier relationships

73. Be yourself

74. Trust your intuition

75. If it is not easy, don't do it

76. Do not try to change people

77. Spend one day a month in solitude

78. Teach your children the joy of solitude

79. Make a retreat once a year

80. Write a diary

81. Do one thing at a time

82. Do nothing

83. Take time to look at the sun

84. Simply say you can not, with respect

85. If you can not say no, offer reasonable excuses

86. Unsubscribe to this  organizations to whose meetings you are not going

87. Learn how to reinterpret the past

88. Change your expectations

89. Review your life regularly to keep it simple


SPECIAL ISSUES FOR WOMEN

90. Ten minutes to be amazingly beautiful and simple

91. Get rid of high heels

92. Remove plastic nails and forget the nail polish

93. Stop carrying a large bag

94. Reduce accessories


PURE SIMPLICITY

95. Best to rent than to own

96. Get rid of cars

97. Get rid of your phones -specially the poisonous mobile -

98. Stop collecting

99. Get rid of all unnecessary

100. Have a simple wardrobe


Always ask: Will this simplify my life? If the answer is no, reconsider.




THE ORGANIC VEGETABLES GARDEN FOR BEGINNERS.   By Rafael Gómez

One of the main slogans to simplify our life is food sovereignty.

This implies (among other things):

    - Relocate production activities and try place producion close to consumer
    - To consume local products as directly as possible from producers and if it not possible then by consumer cooperatives
    - Try to avoid the hundreds of kilometers travelling on all possible goods
    - Avoid transgenic seeds that are in addition of very dangerous effects at all levels
    - Promote fair trade
    - And of course to grow our own family vegetables garden

In this chapter, RAFAEL GÓMEZ, a computer engineer from Sevilla (Spain), age 35, married and with 2 daughters, will try to show how to manage the vegetables garden based on his own experience.


THE FAMILY VEGETABLES GARDEN (ORGANIC)

The quality of the food that we eat today is worse than we know. Pesticides, nitrates, fungicides, herbicides. A battery of biological weapons that are currently used in conventional and intensive agriculture not to get a quality product, but to get the maximun benefit in the short term and at lower cost.

Although the propaganda try to convince us that the remains of these chemicals will reach the final consumer in safe quantities, some recent studies correlate certain modern diseases with poor quality and excess of toxins in the food we consume daily.

Also to the stabilizers, flavor enhancers, remnants of pesticides, nitrates, chlorine, fluoride or lithium in water we add the poor quality of air we breathe in most cities by contamination or with deadly habits promoted by advertisement.

We can hardly choose the quality with which we eat and we feed our children, at least at a reasonable price, but if we but try, we can open a small gap in the whole dynamic of bad food intake that is also produced by no sustainable methods .

If by doing so, moreover, we find an enjoyable activity that may reconciliate us with nature and its life cycles, an outdoor activity, somehing in which we will save money and may even become a real vindictive act against the madness of current food production, what more could we wish?.

I'm talking about something as simple as forgotten...

the organic family vegetables garden.






COMMUNITIES WITHOUT MONEY: THE COMPACT IN USA

But for those who are interested in knowing about more radical experiences here is: The Compact.

THE COMPACT: One of the more important anticonsumerism network in the U.S., they preach abstinence from consumerism. They are not a hippie commune, but a group of teachers, engineers, executives and students from San Francisco that in 2005 they did try not to buy anything new in a year. They would live simply adjusting expenses, shopping at the second hand market, changing or by borrowing. The exceptions were: food, medicines, underwear, personal hygiene and children's pijama.


They define themselves:
"We are people for whom recycling was not enough. We tried to leave the prison of consumerism because consumer culture is destroying the world. The only way out of this ecological and socio-economic crisis in which we find ourselves is to stop buying "

See:   http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/




ADDITIONAL MONEY: LET, WIR AND JAK

We live in a very victimized and resigned society that finds more comfortable to feel sorry and regret that to give a step in another direction. And often this is not so difficult.

Here are 3 examples of 3 communities in different places in the world (Canada, Switzerland and Denmark) who opted for a similar system to escape with dignity from a serious economic crisis.

And they got it.

To come out of this suicidal system is not so costly as it seems.

In Margrit Kennedy's book "Interest and Inflation Free Money" she explains some experiences.

The LET System (Local Exchange Trading): an alternative economic networks with a virtual currency used in order to exchange goods and services. Born in Vancouver in the 80s in an area greatly affected by high levels of unemployment and crises.

WIR-Wirtschaftsring (economic cooperative) is a Swiss account system virtually free of interest rates for the exchange of goods and services. It was created by the "Economists free." Operates on the same basis as the LET and associations of trade: a central office administers a system of accounts without cash.

JAK is a system of savings and loans without interest. In the 30s, some Danish farmers and their farms were heavily indebted even if they were very productive, they could not maintain the ownership of their properties. So along with merchants and small business owners they did  create their own banking system and interest-free currency.



Some of these initiatives received "pressure" to not to continue

precisely because they

worked very well.