An elderly man would write a thought a day on a white board placed outside his house verandah. Passer byes would read and on weekends children would come pick a topic and listen to the old man talks.
One day he had written “Less Is More”. The meaning of less for most especially children revolves around the definitions as; a smaller amount of, not as much, to a smaller extent, not so much. That week on Sunday people came to understand how less is more.
The wise man spoke Less is not the new more, less has been more, since the time of our forefathers but with time generations lowered its importance.
Humanity was never meant to live life accumulating stuff. We were meant to live simply enjoying the experience of life, the people and the journey of life. It was not about things of life.
In olden days the gyan “once you need less, you will have more” was given when young and as one grew the meaning was understood. It happens when one’s mind seeks to know who am I, understanding the difference between needs and want and finally it only becomes deserving knowing the meaningful purpose of one’s life.
For recent readers you may visit an earlier relevant post “PURPOSE”
Less is indeed a personal philosophy. Knowing its value early is incredibly helpful in many dimensions of one’s life. The understanding of its positive meaning brings about an impact to relate with situations and conduct ourselves better and wisely influence others too.
Over the years while interacting with people the wise man wrote their responses in small slips and put it in a bowl. He picked a few slips out and read them to share how ‘less’ had influenced people, their experience with need for less resulting in a life of more.
To be richer, happier and freer all you need to do is want less.
Knowing who you are, makes the opinion of others hold less weight.
Less in routines there is more in life and much more rewarding to do more with less.
The less you respond to negativity the more peaceful your life becomes.
Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It’s about doing more good.
The idea that some lives matter less is the root of many evils in society.
You will never be criticized by someone who is doing more than you. You will always be criticized by someone doing less.
A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.
The more one learns, he/she learns the less is known.
Minimalism is not about having less. It is about making room for more that matters.
The wise man concluding mentioned there were many who said the key to better life: complain less appreciate more. Whine less laugh more. Give more - hate less. Scold less praise more. Fear less hope more.
Word Less when combined with more words amplifies its meaning. A few quotes from Gurbani.
"The Naam is priceless Jewel; it is with perfect true Guru. When one is enjoined to serve the true Guru, He brings out this jewel and bestows this enlightenment" SGGS Ang40
"One whose mind and body are imbued with the Lords love gives up egotism and corruption. Day & night, the name of the One Lord the Fearless & Formless One, dwells within the heart" SGGS Ang32
"Those whom the Lord blesses with its glance of grace are saved; they are lovingly attuned to the Lord" SGGS Ang28
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