The author says he lives in a big house in South Minneapolis and that the house is always coming apart somewhere. I'm wondering why he didn't choose to live in a small house where there would be fewer things to fall apart. My husband and I live in a 500 sq.ft. log cabin in the middle of a northern Minnesota forest. We chose it for its location and for its relative simplicity. Still, even last night, the rudimentary water system malfunctioned and we had a lot of water to clean up -- but it was a small area of water. The choice we've made for our home reminds me of Shitou's, although not so simple due to the climate in this part of the world. When we first moved here, people visited, but they couldn't stand the small space, or the lack of any audio-visual technology entertainment, or the missing sounds of the city, or, or, or. We have yet to meet anyone who would choose to live as we have for the past 15 years. The benefits for us are enormous. First, there a far fewer material things that need our attention and our modest money. More open time! Second, the location permits us to live the precepts with fewer distractions. More peace of mind! Third, living smack in the middle of wilderness gives us 24/7 access to what is natural and beautiful in life. More inspiration! I wouldn't give up this kind of living for the biggest house anywhere, although a few more warmer days in the year would be a nice-to-have. I'm curious how others live.
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I live in a small town, down a dead end road in Ontario Canada. Horse farm to the east, corn field to the west. 20 minute drive to anything. Wife, 2 young kids, cat and dog. No complaints
Perhaps what is natural and beautiful in life to some is living life in the woods amongst the trees. To others, the hustle and bustle of city life. To me, neither is right or wrong
(Although I'm with you lol)
Gassho, Kyotai
Sat todayLast edited by Guest; 03-09-2015, 10:33 PM. -
Hi.
My home is big. Very big. I don't even have words to describe how big it is because I haven't been able to see it all.
The place I live in is tiny. Just a couple of rooms and a kitchen, just enough for a bed, a couch and a couple of desks. I don't have an altar for the Buddha because there is no room!
And it's very simple and poor. I only have curtains in one window. The other windows have paper.
And it's perfect because it gives me all I need.
I have never been happier
Gassho,
Kyonin
#SatTodayHondō Kyōnin
奔道 協忍Comment
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Hello,
Downsize and adopt pets. ^^
Gassho
Myosha sat today"Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"Comment
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Hello,
My home is 6,700 sq. ft. if you count the garages. My fenced acre is packed with 7 dogs, about 30 pine trees and a 800 sq. ft. pool. The unfenced acre has a soccer field where my kids and the neighborhood kids play sometimes. I have lots of big boy toys but what I really like to do is spend time with my family, dogs, patients and you. The toys are not that important but they are there so I play with them. Over all I would say I would not change one thing about this rare form that I have manifested into. It is perfect as it is.
Gassho, Jishin, _/st\_Comment
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Treeleaf pool party!!??Hello,
My home is 6,700 sq. ft. if you count the garages. My fenced acre is packed with 7 dogs, about 30 pine trees and a 800 sq. ft. pool. The unfenced acre has a soccer field where my kids and the neighborhood kids play sometimes. I have lots of big boy toys but what I really like to do is spend time with my family, dogs, patients and you. The toys are not that important but they are there so I play with them. Over all I would say I would not change one thing about this rare form that I have manifested into. It is perfect as it is.
Gassho, Jishin, _/st\_
I'll bring the veggie burgers
Gassho, Kyotai
Sat todayComment
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My wife is the love of my life. We've been married 33 years on June 12, and I can't imagine being with anyone else. The house is perfect for us. We have two very small bedrooms, and a bedroom that we use for a study (a bit larger than the other two). We just invested money in a great bed, and all our furniture is paid for. The living room runs into the kitchen/dining area. Our lot is small and surrounded with a privacy fence. This year as my wife retires more attention will be paid to the yard. We live about 9 miles from a city, so our life together is quiet--we have some big boy/girl toys, but not many. The house is 1006 sq. ft, and we don't use all the space. We keep one of the bedrooms for our daughter when she comes home to visit. I spend a lot of time in our house because I am fully retired, and I like being alone or with my wife. We have an unfinished basement, and there I have a "man cave," a small area with desks and cupboards. We've lived in our house for 22 years, and I hope to die in this house.
Elgwyn
sat today
Gassho _/\_Last edited by Tai Shi; 03-10-2015, 01:37 AM.Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive,
for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆Comment
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Your home seems wonderful, and you are truly privileged to be able to live in such a way.
For me, I live in an urban neighborhood. I rent a house with two roommates, and I always say, "I have too much stuff." And then I look at my 2 large bookshelves and think, "I can't get rid of my books!"
But I've dreamt of taking all my books to a cabin in the woods, or in the mountains (OR MAYBE BOTH!) and spending the rest of my days reading (and re-reading) them all.
(LOL!)
--
Gassho,
June
#SatTodayComment
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My husband, two boys and our dog live in a small home that has been a reno project since we moved in 14 years ago. I've had people ask me if we are going to "upgrade to a bigger house" and the answer is always "no." It's a cozy, cottage home with a vegetable garden, fenced in backyard, some beautiful new things (like windows, doors and a deck) and some ugly old rugs, baseboards and cupboards that need to go. We are renovating on cash so it takes time, and I view it as part of my practice.
So, although, not a grass hut, it is living simply and frugally. And it makes it much easier to live with a minimal amount of stuff.
Oh, and on a side note, my husband and I have shared one vehicle for 15 years!!!
Oh it drives me nuts sometimes and we've gotten irritable because of it. However, again simply and frugally, and definitely part of my practice.
Gassho,
Joyo
sat todayLast edited by Guest; 03-10-2015, 02:26 AM.Comment
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My wife, our chihuahua and I live in a sprinter van we converted into a small RV and have been touring up and down the eastern US for the past 8 years in various living circumstances. We are a two person band and have a small but fiercely loyal following that have given us an interesting career. Music has been the ultimate passport to see how people around the world live. I've been on the road with various groups for the past 15 years rolling along with the challenges of that life.
Gassho
Sat TodayComment
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Home is where the heart is ... =)
GasshoAs you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Shingen
SatTodayComment
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Good for you, ForestDweller. Do you have a first name?
Gassho
Nindo
sattodayComment
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My wife and I live in an apartment in a very urban environment in one of the worlds largest cities (the Greater Jakarta 'Jabodetabek' conurbation just exceeded 30 MILLION in 2014...! That is bigger than the entire population of Australia...). Our apartment, and the complex it is in, is like our little oasis in the middle of the urban sprawl. There is nothing of value and everything of value in our little home...
We have, however, just built a house in Bali, where we will build (coincidentally) a "grass hut" of sorts - intended to be my karate dojo (perhaps a good spot for a zendo in the future?). My 'retirement plan'; only a few years off...
My work arrangements for over 30 years now have seen me constantly move from place, both domestically and internationally, so every place has needed to become 'home' very quickly. And then, maybe 2 years later, become a memory just as quickly. I have learned much about 'not clinging' from living through that process.
Not clinging to our new place, however, might prove difficult...!
Gassho,
Anshu
sat todayComment
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