Minimalism and Backpacking
Experiencing Nature Through Simple Living
Lessons from thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail
In relation to simple living, the 14th Dali Lama has said:
“We have bigger houses but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicines, but less healthiness; We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We’ve built more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communications; we have become long on quantity, but short on quality. These times are times of fast foods; but slow digestion; Tall men but short character; Steep profits but shallow relationships. It is a time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room. Their lives have become easier, and that has spoiled them. They expect more, they constantly compare themselves to others, and they have too much choice which brings no real freedom.”
Minimalism is both the chicken and the egg in many spiritual practices; both a method and a result of concentrated effort aimed at better understanding self and happiness. Backpacking is itself an actionable form of minimalism; and if you’re reading…
