Renunciation
“The cultivation and expansion of needs is the antithesis of wisdom. It is also the antithesis of freedom and peace. Every increase in needs tends to increase one’s dependence on external forces over which one has no control, and therefore increases existential fear. Only by reducing our needs can we genuinely diminish the tensions that are the ultimate causes of strife and war.”
— E. F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful
The more dependencies you have, the more vulnerable you become.
There is a reason why monks and nuns choose renunciation: to find peace and contentment within themselves, the world, and their spirituality. In our modern culture, we are so dependent on people we will never meet—from the farmer to the rubbish collector. This is the trap of the modern world, one from which we cannot escape.
This perspective is why I welcome AI and wish for its acceleration, so that all jobs may one day be lost to it. Many people fear losing their jobs to technology, yet they forget that if we all lose our jobs, meaningless work will become a thing of the past. And if none of us can contribute to or participate in capitalism, we will be forced to find a new way for modern life to function.
"You'll own nothing, and you'll be happy." — Ida Auken
This quote was published by the World Economic Forum in 2018, predicting our future in 2030. Critics found it unsettling, as it alludes to the loss of private property and ownership. Later, it was linked to the rise of software and services subscription models. But with every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. If this is indeed our future, we will all be forced into renunciation.
"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything." — Chuck Palahniuk
It is our attachments that lead to suffering. When we cling to something, we feel pain when it is lost or destroyed. As taught in the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, attachment is the root of suffering. Many would say, I like my things; my clothes represent who I am. The car I drive reflects my identity or aspirations. But notice how all these things are external—none of them relate to internal values or wisdom.
When we need less, so too will our communities and countries. Resources will no longer be the underlying cause of war. Pain and suffering will subside. War will become spiritual, and we will be forced into renunciation by those who hold capital and assets—assets that will become meaningless when we no longer aspire to their value.
It is interesting how, when we let go of everything and accept everything, we no longer fear anything. You can find peace in simplicity, in the everyday. The less you have, the more you can attain within yourself.
