“I have read that a deer has to run on the average sixty to seventy miles every day, because it is frightened. . . We are in a worse plight than the deer. If the deer gets enough grass it is satisfied. But we are always multiplying our wants. . . We have become so unhinged and unnatural that nothing natural will satisfy us.”
— Swami Vivekananda
What will happen if deer and other herbivores start consuming more grass than they need? Soil will erode, fertility and plant diversity will fall. The animals themselves will end up nutrient-deprived thanks to lack of a diverse diet.
Doesn’t make sense, right? But do you know a species that’s doing exactly this? Us. In our relentless pursuit of more, we’re not just messing up the environment, we’re also depriving ourselves of experiences and lessons necessary for our growth.
One lesson we must learn if we want to grow is the art of letting go. Letting go is not the same as giving up. When we leave something because we’re shying away from effort, we’re giving up. But when we leave something because we don’t agree with it, because we don’t need it, or because it doesn’t align with our values and beliefs, we’re letting go.
You don’t need much. Just a little more than the basic amenities is good enough for a comfortable life. Invest the rest of your time, money, and energy in:
- Studying philosophy;
- Walking in nature;
- Helping those not as fortunate as you;
- Supporting local artisans; and,
- Collecting experiences that enlighten you on the different aspects of life.
A good life is one in which dharma, artha, and kama are balanced, not the one in which any one takes precedence at the expense of the other two.