Monastic Simplicity

The Dalai Lama has noted, “If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come.” Perversely, life in modern society is seemingly designed to be anything but simple, with an overwhelming array of choices for everything from breakfast cereal to toothpaste and complicated procedures for necessary tasks such as procuring health care and paying taxes. 

One of the great gifts of monasticism is that it provides the structure for a simple life. Having given my car to my nephew, I no longer have to renew its license or find the best deal on insurance. I no longer own a house, so I don’t need to stay on top of maintenance issues. I use whatever laundry detergent is available in the supply closet. Of course, someone in the community has to deal with vehicle-related issues and building repairs and purchasing of supplies, but the work is shared so it is not burdensome for anyone, and sharing resources diminishes waste of both goods and human time/energy.

Monastic life also leads to contentment because praying the psalms each day helps us escape from a self-centered view of life and reminds us of God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness. When we prioritize spending time with God each day, we tend to make choices that lead to simplicity and contentment.

Henry David Thoreau was on the right track when he said, “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!” However, in the true spirit of simplicity, shouldn’t he have said it just once? I don’t fault him, though—learning to live a simple life takes time and requires a lot of letting go. However, the contentment that follows is well worth the effort.