![\"Journeys](\"https:\/\/i43.tower.com\/images\/mm101181361\/journeys-simplicity-traveling-light-with-thomas-merton-basho-philip-harnden-paperback-cover-art.jpg\")
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While sipping morning coffee, I read the introduction to Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light with Thomas Merton, Basho, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard & Others<\/i><\/a> by Philip Harnden. Thanks to Rev. Victoria Safford at the White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church for pointing out this book (hear the sermon, \u201cThe Material World,\u201d on this theme by clicking here<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 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. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen he lay dying, at about age sixty, he bequethed all he owned to Violet, an elderly slave of his late master\u2019s daughter\u201d (presumably so she could buy her freedom):<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Eight acres in the Great Fields\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/i> a good pair of oxen<\/span><\/span><\/i> some farming tools<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n a Bible and psalm book<\/span><\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n seven barrels of cider<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u201cThose who act with few desires are calm, without worry or fear,\u201d said the Buddha.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Harnden, though, is not a Pollyanna:\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo not be disappointed or deceived,\u201d he writes. \u201cRemember 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I look forward to slowly digesting the lists, the tracks of other travelers also just passing through.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I choose the rooms\u00a0 that I live in with care. The windows are small\u00a0 and the walls are bare. There is only one bed\u00a0 there is only one prayer. And I wait every night\u00a0 for your step on the stair. \u2013 Leonard Cohen While sipping morning coffee, I read the introduction to Journeys of Simplicity: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
and Great Meadows<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
a cow and a calf<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n
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The\u00a0 prose throughout is delightfully in line with the message \u2013 a few carefully chosen words, rich in meaning that calls to mind the practice of finding contentment with few desires.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/4330911338438640912-1962971904983493232?l=wildfoxzen.blogspot.com\")