The Simple Life
- sabbatdick
- Jun 10, 2024
- 19 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Part I
INTRODUCTION
"I believe that a simple and unassuming life is best for everyone,
best both for the body and the mind.",
Albert Einstein
What is a simple life? Why should anyone want to live simply? How do you live a simple life? I will explore these questions as I share the fifty year journey that led to my wife, Elizabeth and I to live with our dogs, cats and fishes next to a National Forest, planting trees and vegetables, raising sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, and rabbits with the idea to produce the best possible food for our family, friends, and customers at the Santa Ysabel Farmers Market. I also intend to make excellent cheese from the freshest possible sheep and goat milk. Join us on this journey as we decide what to leave in and what to leave out.
DISCIPLINE
"Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power",
Lao Tzu
I was fortunate to learn self discipline early and it changed my life. In 1970 at the age of 16, I left my home and family in Corona del Mar, California, to attend my father's alma mater, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington Virginia. Going to military college was not a popular decision at the time as protests were raging across the country against our presence in Vietnam, but I had promised my father that I would attend two years at VMI and he had promised me that he would thereafter pay for whatever college I wanted to attend. (A promise he did not keep as he passed away in the summer after my sophomore year.) When we arrived at VMI we got a haircut and a uniform. Whatever identity we had brought from home was taken away from us. We all looked the same and the incoming class was at the bottom of the pecking order. To be sure we got the point we were called "rats". That first semester at VMI was challenging both physically and mentally and I was questioning the decision I had made. I had never really applied myself in school, just doing enough to get by and that continued at VMI. I could hardly wait for Christmas break when I could return home and spend time with my friends. That reunion was disappointing and eye opening. Many of the kids I knew in high school had spent the months since graduation unemployed, some taking a few classes in junior college, and getting stoned. Those that were working were in dead end jobs. Seeing this caused me to reevaluate my own life and see the value of the path I had chosen. I returned to VMI with the commitment and determination to get the most out of my time there. After the evening meal, I would retreat to an empty classroom and study, seriously applying myself for the first time in my life. Overcoming the challenges I faced at VMI prepared me for the difficult times which were to come in my life and gave me the ability and confidence to overcome those problems as well. As the Greek historian and general Thucydides noted "Self control is the chief element in self respect and self-respect is the chief element in courage". The ability to focus and the discipline I learned at VMI enabled me to make and implement important decisions over the course of my life. I had set goals for my life and I realized that in order to achieve them I would have to exercise self control and live a disciplined life.
DESIRE
"If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital, satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements.”,
The Dalai Lama
In my early teens I told my brother Bruce and his girlfriend Sharon (who became his wife of 46 years) that when I grew up I wanted to have a house at the beach and a house in the mountains. I believed that in order to be happy I needed to make a lot of money. Then I’d spend the money on this and that and I'd be happy. I had begun studying the bible in earnest at fourteen (14) and knew of Jesus' warning that "... it is hard for the rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mathew 19:23). That was a risk I was willing to take. After college and law school I pursued a profitable career and over time I experienced the truth referenced in the bible about the "deceitfulness of wealth" (Matthew 13:22). Elizabeth and I explored the world of luxury and found it wanting. The experiences we had were, for the most part, enjoyable, but did not last and left us wanting more. There was no permanent satisfaction and hence no peace. As Roman Senator, statesman, and philosopher Seneca explained "The founder of the universe, who assigned us the laws of life, provided that we should live well, but not in luxury. Everything needed for our well being is right before us, whereas what luxury requires is gathered by many miseries and anxieties." (Moral Letters 119.15b) I slowly learned that finding satisfaction with only what I needed simplified my life and brought happiness.
Acquiring money and spending it just didn't work as a way to be happy. To be happy in life I discovered I had to be able to control my desires. I first recognized the tyranny of desire after my freshman year in college. I was traveling in Europe and had picked up a copy of Herman Hesse's "Siddhartha." As I read about the life of the Buddha, it dawned on me that my ability to create desires was easily going to exceed my ability to satisfy them. I realized that if I did not control my body, my body would control me. My understanding of the following truth has grown over the years that with regard to bodily pleasures ''ever fed, they are never satisfied, and never fed, they are ever satisfied". (Paramahansa Yogananda) Putting limits on desire is a tremendous challenge but as Seneca observed, "No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don't have and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have. (Moral Letters 123.3) Over the years I have slowly learned that by thinking about the consequences of my desires I am able to focus my will power and energy on what is beneficial.
Part II
HABIT
"A simple life is not seeing how little we can get by with - that's poverty - but how efficiently we can put first things first. When you're clear about your purpose and your priorities, you can painlessly discard whatever does not support these, whether it's clutter in your cabinets or commitments on your calendar.",
Victoria Moran, "Lit from Within: Tending Your Soul for Lifelong Beauty"
If we are clear about our purpose and priorities we can make needed changes in our life. I believe that to do so is essential to living a simple life. But how do we attain that clarity? That process for me involves periodic introspection, for as Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. Once our bodies and minds are used to a particular behaviors, they do not want to change. When I see changes that need to be made I work to make them (although sometimes it takes years). I direct my energy to those thoughts and activities that are in line with my values and advance me toward my goals. My family has a history of substance abuse and impulse control issues. I had to recognize those tendencies in myself and make constructive changes. By closely examining my thoughts and behaviors I could determine if they served a useful purpose. If the purpose of the habit was useful but it was harmful in other ways I considered whether there was a better method of achieving the same goal. My wife and I found that after a long day of work we looked forward to a glass of wine (or two) at night to help us relax. When we realized that drinking regularly was negatively affecting our health we gradually replaced the wine with twice weekly yoga, a daily walk (or two), weekly massages, and regular meditation instead of drinking wine during the week.
The mind is difficult to control and it is particularly challenging to attempt to not do something. There is an old story in India about a young man who set out to find his guru who could show him the path to enlightenment. When he found his guru, he asked him what he needed to do to attain Samadhi (union with the Divine). The sage replied, " Meditate." The young man thought, "That's great, all I have to do is meditate." But as he was leaving, the sage said, "There is one more thing. Do not think of monkeys." Well, of course when the young man sat to meditate the only thing he could think of was monkeys: spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys and on and on. Trying not to do something is difficult. The sage was showing his would-be disciple that control of your mind is essential to successful meditation and progress on the spiritual path. I have learned that the better way to moderate or eliminate bad habits is to cultivate the opposite good habit.
CHANGE
"To find the universal elements enough, to find the air and water exhilarating, to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter. to be thrilled by the stars at night, to be elated over a birds nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life.",
John Burrows, Leaf and Tendril
Nature interests me because it is constantly changing. When Elizabeth and I walk around our property we notice new things and with each passing season we see that change is the natural order of things. For me, making changes can be difficult. There is something comforting about having set routines in life. Walk the dogs and feed the chickens, rabbits and dogs every morning. Go for a walk with the dogs in the morning and evening. Yoga on Monday and Wednesday. Pizza on Friday night. But over the years I have recognized that when I am restless, anxious, or lacking peace, I need to take inventory of my daily activities to identify and eliminate those thoughts and behaviors that are the cause of unhappiness. Years ago, I stopped watching television as I found other things to do which were more enjoyable. Though a lifelong fan, I gradually lost interest in professional sports as the owners and players lust for money swallowed the joy of the game. I now spend my free time reading interesting books and magazines, socializing with friends, gardening and cooking. I walk my dogs without talking on a cell phone and take the time to be present, to observe and be silent. I have made a greater effort to show concern for others. I write friends and neighbors notes of support, bake cookies and deliver care packages of produce from my garden. Since college I had periodically practiced Hatha yoga (postures) and made an effort to meditate as often as I could. In 1999 we began meditating regularly, employing pranayama (life force control) techniques. In 2008 Elizabeth and I started regularly practicing Hatha yoga once a week. Within a year we increased it to two (2) yoga classes a week. Strength, flexibility and balance are some of the benefits of Hatha (postures) yoga but the principal benefit has been to give me a healthy body that has enabled me to gradually increase the length of my meditations. As Marcus Aurelius (2nd century Roman Emperor and stoic philosopher) observed "You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength," (Meditations) I had to examine my life and determine where I needed to make changes. When I decide to make a change I use my will power until I am successful. Not an easy process, but in order to improve my life change was necessary.
SERVICE
"Live simply so that others may live simply.",
Mahatma Gandhi
Living the simple life does not mean the end of work or service to others. I learned early in my working life that "life is chiefly service" (Paramahansa Yogananda) and shared that insight often with family and co-workers. I have found that I enjoy helping others. It gives a sense of purpose to my life. When working on other people's problems I don't have time to worry about my own. I found that an aversion to physical labor or an attitude that certain tasks were beneath me was not helpful. By being willing and able to work hard I have been able to solve the problems that have arisen in my life and be of service to others. Physical labor, in moderation and avoiding injury, has made me stronger and in better health. Energy is a renewable resource. Again exercising moderation, I have discovered the more you use the more you have.
A few years after I opened my law office, in 1988 I hired a business consultant to help me learn business administration. I had been trained to practice law but knew very little about the business of practicing law. My staff and I began work on a Mission statement which articulated our purposes and values. I suggested to the team that we dedicate the Law Offices to the glory of God and I received significant push back from two of my employees. (Those two employees and a third went on to work with me for over 30 years each for a total of 98 years between them). When I explained that the alternative was to dedicate the Law Offices to my glory, the matter was settled and God rightly was acknowledged as the one entitled to any glory there was to be had. We concluded the statement by stating we wished to serve in the manifestation of Love, Joy and Peace in the context of practicing law. While at first the concept seemed vague, we soon realized that we could tell when we were succeeding at our goal and when we were not. I brought to the process of creating a Mission Statement my understanding of human nature and how I viewed the world. As a youth I was intrigued by World War II and between 8th grade and graduating from high school I read approximately 150 books about it. I became painfully aware of the atrocities men were willing and able to commit against one another. This raised the question: was the world so bad that it made morally wrong actions a necessity? I chose to believe that the answer was no, good would ultimately triumph over evil in this world. In my junior year, at Claremont Men's College, I studied political philosophy. Niccolo Machiaveli is considered by many to be the first modern philosopher who had some important insights into how to govern. His political philosophy has often been summarized as "The ends justify the means." (See "The Prince") I questioned this teaching and concluded it was, at best, cynical and at worst, evil, and in any event wrong. I could not be certain of the consequences of my actions and good intentions were not enough. Each of my actions should be, to the extent possible, true, good, and beautiful in and of themselves. I resolved to make straightforward plans with worthwhile action steps whether or not my goals were fully realized. This keeps my actions in line with my purposes and values and I don't find myself trying to justify questionable behavior. It keeps life simple. By frequent checking of my assumptions and course corrections, as needed, I am able to stay on track toward my goals. I continue to use this approach on the Ranch and it works for farming as well as it did for the practice of law.
Hindu Philosophy traditionally has observed that there are four (4) stages to life.
Stage one - the student stage, where one prepares for success in later life and lays a foundation for spiritual practice;
Stage two - the householder stage, where one maintains a home and family, practices their spirituality and produces and distributes wealth;
Stage three - (I call it sabbatical), the obligations to family fulfilled one is free to devote oneself to spiritual practice and commitment to selfless service;
Stage four - renunciation, where the individual is free to devote themselves to spiritual pursuits.
I am enjoying the third stage of my life. As I was preparing to transition out of the practice of law, I told everyone I was going on sabbatical. I was first introduced to the idea of going on sabbatical in 1996. My wife and I were traveling on the night train from London to Glasgow. About midnight we decided to head to the bar car for a nightcap. While we sat sipping our single malts and discussing the adventures we had planned for Scotland I noticed an older gentleman sitting alone at the next table and we began to converse. He told us he was a judge on islands in the Caribbean, which were British protectorates. When I told him I was a lawyer he advised me that every seven years or so, I should go on sabbatical for at least six months. I couldn't argue with him as it sounded like a good idea. He assured me that he knew from personal experience that it was good for body, mind and soul. He promised that, if I followed his advice, I would return to my profession refreshed and invigorated. The problem was I was in private practice and leaving for a two week vacation was difficult. Taking months off for a sabbatical was out of the question. But I was intrigued by the idea and had heard that university professors were given paid sabbaticals for them to research and write about their area of specialty. The roots of sabbatical were biblical. When the Israelites entered the promised land they were to sow and harvest their fields for six years but in the seventh year the land was to have a sabbath rest. (Leviticus 25) The idea of going on sabbatical stuck in my head for I knew, God willing, my day would come. Little did I know that it would be twenty five (25) years before that day would come.
Well, that day has arrived and God has given us 40 acres of oak forest in the back country next to the Cleveland National Forest as a place to live and create a working ranch. We call it "Rancho de la Questa”. Mesa Grande has been used for cattle ranching for over 150 years but we are committed to raising sheep and goats for milk and meat. This ranch is a place to continue our efforts to live the simple life. Elizabeth and I have clarity about our priorities what we need. We needed water so we had a well drilled, and installed water storage tanks. Needing food for ourselves and our animals we planted two vegetable gardens totaling about 5,000 sq ft and about 100 fruit and nut trees. We built a redwood greenhouse to grow vegetable starts in the wintertime for transplanting in the spring. We've built mountain lion proof structures to house the chickens and rabbits and a barn to house the sheep and goats. Flower and herb gardens decorate the front and sides of the house. We planted 50 black locust trees for forage and spread a mixture of seeds to improve the pasture for the sheep and goats. We're exploring how best to use this unique land while preserving places for the deer, coyotes, fox, wild turkeys, and mountain lions to live as they always have.
Elizabeth and I have been gardening for over thirty years and Elizabeth in her youth raised sheep and steers as a 4H and Future Farmer of America (FFA). We are committed to manifesting the vision we have for Rancho de la Questa which includes producing most of the food we and our animals consume and living close to the land. The Ranch is a place where people can "go on sabbatical" to rest and rejuvenate in a beautiful, quiet and peaceful environment. We want to provide the opportunity to as many people as possible to experience the delight of the simple things in life. We have already hosted over 100 people and reminded them of the joy of spending time in the country.
Since beginning my sabbatical, I have had several conversations with younger family men who envy my situation. They yearn to be free of their work responsibilities so they can do what they really want to do. The pleasure of going to the beach on a beautiful sunny day would have been fleeting compared to the satisfaction I gained from "showing up" for work and being of service to others. There are weekends and vacations for hobbies and recreation. My desire to pursue other interests full time had to wait. I suggest to these young family men that it is important to embrace and enjoy the stage of life you are in. Each stage of life has its rewards. I practiced law for 44 years and raised three sons with my homemaker wife so I know the challenge of being a householder. I spent the early years establishing my business to ensure I could support my family. I also supported our church, made gifts to the colleges I attended and helped other organizations that I thought were doing important work. As my boys got older I spent hours with them at their baseball, basketball, football and soccer games. I sponsored their teams and did some coaching. When I was growing up I didn't see much of my father. In 1964 when I became a boy scout I benefited from the fathers who took time to teach us valuable skills. But, the most important thing they taught me was the value of being there for your children. I remembered these men when I was sitting at a weeknight baseball game and wanted to be home relaxing after a long day at work. Once my law practice was established I looked for ways I could help my community. I realized that in many families both parents had to work to make ends meet. Many more children are being raised in single parent households. That meant many children spent a lot time unsupervised. I enjoyed the Youth Center in Corona del Mar as a child so in December, 1994 when I was invited to serve on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad I accepted. We had the original clubhouse in the village, in desperate need of remodeling, and a trailer in La Costa. We served about 100 kids a day. I left the Board in June, 2020, and with the support of our community, the hard work of staff, and many fellow directors we had remodeled the village clubhouse several times and built a beautiful new clubhouse in Bressi Ranch which enabled us to serve over 500 children a day. I found satisfaction in supporting my family, growing a business, providing job opportunities, serving clients, and supporting worthwhile organizations.
Part III
MEDITATION
"God is simple. Everything else is complex.",
Paramahansa Yogananda
In 1972, when I returned to Southern California after two years at VMI, my brother Bruce introduced me to yoga. He had discovered the Yoga center in Costa Mesa, California and was learning Hatha yoga and how to meditate. I started taking some of the classes and thus began my life long love of Yoga (which means union/harmony with God in Sanskrit). As a child I was drawn to reading the scriptures. Since I could not understand the parables Jesus told I read Proverbs and Psalms which made sense to a 12 year old. Throughout my life I have sought to understand the teachings of Jesus and the saints. I want to know the truth, to understand human nature and the reality of living on planet Earth. I spent years studying the bible and going to church. As the 20th century drew to a close I learned that Yoga, in addition to the postures for physical health, taught the science of religion. Although I had heard of Patanjali's eight (8) fold path I had never studied Raja Yoga (The Royal Path) through which some of the sages of India millennium ago, by trial and error, had learned how to commune with God. Elizabeth and I are Christian yogis. Our Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, has helped us to realize that "Happiness is not dependent on external circumstances; rather it is to be found in the simpler joys of life, and most of all in the ever new bliss of deep meditation." Practicing yoga, particularly meditation, is beneficial to body, mind and soul. Regular meditation enables me to be calm and peaceful which makes it easier to be kind, patient and of service to others. Meditation has helped me to align my outer life with the inner values of my soul.
Meditation also helps me to be present for my life. In years past I found that my mind frequently dwelled on the past or became obsessed with the future instead of enjoying the here and now. Yogananda expressed the goal "Live each present moment completely and the future will take care of itself. Fully enjoy the wonder and beauty of each instant." An Egyptian friend of ours, while visiting us recently, commented on how fortunate we are to be in a place so quiet and peaceful and that it must be easy to be present in the moment. She didn't consider that our restless, anxious, distracted thoughts follow us wherever we go, whether we're in a cave in the Himalayas or stuck in rush hour traffic in the city. One afternoon, years ago, I was on retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. As I sat meditating in the circular yurt built over the creek that flows through this beautiful property, one thought kept coming to my mind, 'how wonderful it was going to be when I had more time to return and meditate in that special place'. I had to laugh at myself for I was clearly not being present in that moment.
I have now intentionally set aside time each day to be quiet and alone in order to calm my mind and commune with God. I begin each day with yoga based energization exercises, spiritual and inspirational reading and meditation for about one hour. My morning and evening meditations are the most important part of my day.
Yogananda used the phrase "Plain living, High thinking" to describe the life to be lived. I continue to seek balance between my material and spiritual life. To be calmly active and actively calm. To be with God is the source of my lasting happiness and to fulfill my obligation to be of service to others is my rewarding duty.
CONCLUSION
"If you spend your life in constant excitement, you will never know true happiness. Live simply and take life more easily. Happiness lies in giving yourself time to think and to introspect. Be alone once in awhile and remain more in silence.",
Paramahansa Yogananda
I want to be "The prince of peace sitting on the throne of poise directing the kingdom of activity." Yogananda points out that the world is full of restless, anxious people who are materially prosperous but lack peace in their life. Communion with God is the foundation of my life. Serving other people gives my life the necessary balance. My life became simple when I knew from experience what St Augustine discovered "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee" (Confessions, Book 1).
EPILOGUE
"God in his infinite mercy gave to us his joy, His inspiration, true life, true wisdom, true happiness, and true understanding through all the various experiences of our lives. But the glory of God is revealed only in the quietness of the soul, in the intensity of the inner effort of the mind to commune with him. It is there that we find truth. Outside, delusion is very strong, very few people can get away from the influences of the outer environment. The world goes on with its infinite complexities and diverse experiences. Each life is new and each life has to be lived differently. Yet underlying all life is the silent voice of God, ever calling us through flowers, through scriptures, and through our conscience - through all things that are beautiful and that make life worth living.",
Paramahansa Yogananda
Rancho de la Questa will serve in the manifestation of true, beautiful, and good country living. We want to share this place of serenity with people who are looking for peace and quiet. If you want to meditate you can do so in beautiful surroundings and tranquility; to hike, there are miles of interesting country to explore; to read, the only sounds you're likely to hear are the wind in the trees and the songs of the birds; to gaze at the moon and the stars, our dark sky is there to behold. We can provide you with fresh seasonal vegetables, flowers from the garden and culinary herbs for your dinner. You can make some tea, milk a goat or a sheep, or try your hand at making cheese. Simple things can make life worthwhile and enjoyable. The simple life is not easy as every day you must direct your attention to what is of greatest importance now. As I simplify my life and live closer to nature I am better able to answer three (3) important questions. Where am I? Who am I? Why am I here? I have learned that as I simplify my life I am closer to my goal of being whole and complete, lacking nothing. A lot of work remains to be done to learn how to live the simple life, but one thing is certain: the simple life is the good life.
RANCHO de la QUESTA
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