Minimalist Links (a letter to a friend)

Dear H.,

I promised to send you a few links on minimalism that I have enjoyed. I was quite inspired by the ideas and approaches these guys are developing and they even made me wonder if and how they can complement or improve my dharma practice.

So, let’s dive in. And as first I should mention

The Minimalists
Two guys, Joshua and Ryan, with a successful blog, podcast, few books and the most successful independent documentary of 2016 to their name. Not bad at all. So where to start?
Perhaps with their 21 days journey into minimalism …

For those, who prefer listening to reading, here is a great (and really funny) radio interview with the minimalists on iTunes. And one prefers a more visual and a bit more indirect approach, one can watch a 7 part YouTube documentary about making their documentary.

Why I like them? They go smart about living with less stuff and they do it for the right reasons : to live more focused, intentional, conscious and happy life. What’s not to like?

Second, let’s visit more extreme examples, two guys with an EXTREME amount of “less”.

1/ Colin Wright and his 72 things I own

A bit more extreme example, Wright is a writer who lives on the road, moving from a country to another country each 4 months or so — with only 2 bags of possessions. Here his older essay 72 things I own, (which was later followed by its 55 and 52 item versions.

Another great and somewhat radical example comes (quite appropriately) from Japan, the land of zen monks, minimal aesthetics and all kinds of extremes.

2/ Fumio Sasaki and Goodbye, things

Sasaki is a 30-something, extremely pleasant and relaxed Japanese minimalist, who used to be unhappy, but then got rid of 99.9% of his stuff, lives in an apartment so small, that it does not make sense for thim to own a mop, (since he can clean it faster with paper tissues) and now is happier than ever.

For a short introduction look at this 4 minute profile from CNA Insider on YouTube or head here to listen to his full one hour talk about his book Goodbye, things.

Most minimalists start with reducing their clothes, so let’s look at

Minimalist Wardrobes

Two quick links. 33-item Capsule wardrobes from project333 and since we are both guys, here one video specifically for men. (I’d wager that having too many items in your wardrobe is not your problem, but since I surely did and the topic also sort of belongs here, so I mention it anyway)

Ok, the list is already getting quite long, but let’s round it off with

Life Edited : Minimal designer Apartments

as presented by the company’s founder Graham Hill in this nice talk.

Well, I think that is really enough (the list is surely not minimal!) but I found all those links quite interesting and I hope some of them will also add value to you.

Yours, J