Discover the Auspiciousness of Life Through Simple Living

Cultivating Simplicity from Within

How do we cultivate simple living today?

For those spiritually oriented and inspired to live with a higher purpose—the why, the reason for plain living is, itself, simple. It allows us to focus our time and energy on what matters most to us, lighten our footprint on the earth, strengthen our clarity of mind, open our hearts, and be available to serve. It helps us be present and purposeful. We are here to fulfill our highest potential as expressions of the divine. We are lights meant to shine! When we are burdened by distraction, that light is dimmed. We know it, and we feel it when it is happening.

The how of simple living is not complex either, but I wouldn’t say it’s easy. I confess I have read many books on how to live a simple life. They’re often inspiring, but there wouldn’t be such a proliferation of books and programs on simplifying your life if a book could do it. Yesterday I saw a headline: 100 Best Minimalism Books of All Time.

Sometimes we try to simplify our life by first changing external conditions—if I let go of this, do this, or have that, then I can focus on spiritual priorities. Then I will meditate longer and deeper and live more simply.

But the simple way is to start immediately by connecting with the soul, the essential Self.

Invite the soul to lead. Reorient attention from outer to inner, from distraction to presence through a moment of prayer or meditation, simply witnessing the breath or nature. Be present.

Soon, awareness of grace kicks in and reveals what to do. We discover the wisdom we need when we need it.

The simple way of the soul-guided life is to start where we are with what we are. Where we are is here. What we are is divine—expressions of God, the One Absolute Reality. Conscious connection to That essence is the simplest way forward.

Here’s a Zen story.

A seeker is traveling through a remote village looking for a specific holy place. He is directed to the village sage, who graciously receives him. He asks her: Do you know where this sacred place is? Do you know how I can get there? Yes, she says, but I wouldn’t start from here.

What does that mean? Looking for it, you will never find it. You are it. You are the holy place. Start from there.

Wisdom from Nisargadatta Maharaj:

You are always seeking pleasure, avoiding pain, always after happiness and peace. Don’t you see that it is your very search for happiness that makes you feel miserable? Try the other way: indifferent to pain and pleasure, neither asking nor refusing, give all your attention to the level on which “I am” is timelessly present. Soon you will realize that peace and happiness are in your very nature, and it is only seeking them through some particular channels that disturbs. Avoid the disturbance, that is all. [1]

Exactly where you are, precisely there, is the holy place. It is your place—luminous, shimmering with divine light and grace. Return to it. Tend it.

Simple living on the outside arises from fulfilled living on the inside

Yoga is union, conscious awareness of body-mind-soul-and Spirit or God connection. The simple life, and the experience of the auspicious nature of life, arise from that conscious connection. We are undivided and undistracted, restored to wholeness—healed.

Today people everywhere are suffering from trauma and a frayed nervous system. We need healing on all levels—self, community, and our planet.

When Yoganandaji came here, he offered Kriya Yoga to heal—body, mind, soul, and society—by directly reconnecting to our essential nature and awakening to the One divine Reality that is here, now. That Reality is what we are, and it is where we are—Spirit and Nature. The Kingdom of God extends fully to this earth plane.