219) He who owns nothing more than he needs to survive this day, has much more than he who owns many things. He who owns nothing more than he needs to survive this day, truly "has it all."
220) Our language and our lifestyle promote ownership and idealizes a comfortable stasis. Why is this? Who started this? Maximin once wisely described the hunter who decided to carry necessities from one valley to the next, anticipating that the second valley would not provide for him. This simple and intelligent act led to a very sick society and the destruction of large areas of this earth.
221) The man who buys an island does not impress me. The man who sails to that island from another island, leaving nothing behind and expecting to gain nothing when he arrives, does. How does the man who "owns" the island experience it? He expends his energy and focus defending it, improving it, and maintaining it. The man who simply sails there experiences it for its beauty.
222) I don't own a large truck, which is convenient since I am not driving anywhere today.
223) It is easy to accumulate things; it is difficult to do the opposite.
224) We call something "ours" and we believe that it is. The truth, though, is that we are merely enjoying its use.
225) Let go of your things; you will not miss them. If you are selecting among alternative items to use, choose the best one.
226) In fact, there is no such thing as "sharing."
227) It is said that "less is more". Take this idea to its limit, "nothing is everything".
228) This idea that things can be owned by people is the single most destructive idea anyone has ever had.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
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there is a fine poem by charles olson about a man who carries his life upon his head. i do not remember the title but the man is in a forest and the load is heavy but he can bear it. i sometimes remember this poem as i am ascending a high mountain. i think of what is in the panniers that shouldnt be there. what unnecessary item is causing me all this pain. but i can think of nothing. i am happy to carry it all up and over mountains. i have even now begun to carry spices. i carry pimento, another colombian spice mixture, salt, and now even a tiny vial of extra virgin olive oil. because when you are at your campsite, your kilometers done for the day, the sun going down behind tomorrows mountains, and you are cooking up the diced ajo and cebolla in the aciete de oliva, then adding the fresh tomatoes and letting the salsa simmer-- because wont it all taste so much better that you have carried these things with you?
ReplyDeleteThe bicycle, like the horse, is a certain truth test. What you can bring on your horse or your bicycle. A joining of possession and activity, as the man who went from putting berries in his hands to his putting berries and water in a ruck sack and wine skin to get to the next valley to kill the deer.
ReplyDeleteThere is a short recording of Olson readin this very poem you mention:
http://www.spokejournal.com/2012/02/the-place-of-shape-2/