Is your life too filled with STUFF?

I was reading a wonderful article recently about economics, consumerism of "stuff" and garbage by Canada's leading pioneer in ecological living, Dr. David Suzuki.

He was saying in so many words: "That most of us are quite aware of the harsh damage we are inflicting upon this precious earth with our garbage. But sometimes we all feel so insignificant as individuals among our 6.2 billion people when it comes to making a change on this impact. It is damage we inflict upon this earth with our excessive consumerism. And, we all at times ask, what can we do?"

I think that we have to firstly examine our buying habits or our excessive unnecessary consumption of stuff.

This is part of the Fifth Mindfulness Training. "Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practising mindful eating, drinking and consuming. I will ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective consciousness of my family and society.

"I will work to transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by practising a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society."

Over half a century ago, prudence was considered a virtue, but now with two thirds of the planet's population having their economies based on consumerism and the buying of stuff, garbage has become a real problem. When I first visited Bermuda 25 years ago I cannot remember any garbage strew around this "Island of Atlantis" set in mid-ocean. I unhappily cannot say the same today.

However from the time of the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression and the Second World War consumerism has been the western world's economic recovery. Consumerism has become the way of life. Goods have become rituals, we no longer "want" stuff, but we think we "need" stuff. And this stuff is consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded faster and faster with every decade. Our computer inboxes even get filled with unwanted stuff, however thankfully they can be blown into cyberspace!

Consumerism has overtaken more important things in life. We have not concentrated on better health care, better health education, environmentally aware housing, transportation that does not use our precious earth's resources or providing for our own local underfed and under cared for children, but only provided the world with more consumer "stuff".

Very often things that are produced to last only one time, such as paper towels, tinfoil, plastic or Styrofoam food container or coffee cups; unfortunately the list is endless. Products that are made cheaply so that the consumer market will never be saturated and more stuff can be produced. All of these products come at some point from the earth and are returned to the earth as toxic matter, as is the energy that it takes to produce these articles that often turns into polluted water, air and soil which in turn has a huge effect on nature.

The purchase of a lot of this stuff produces a natural high for a few hours, days or maybe a very few months and often builds the self-esteem of the purchaser, however when this effect wears off emptiness returns. Stuff purchasing and collecting has reached such heights that people have had to build bigger houses and extra storage space in order to store their stuff. We even have people running profitable businesses telling others how to organise and reduce their clutter or stuff. The idea of more gives some an additive sense of security. So much of what we purchase or are forced to purchase in the way of packaging is not essential for our basic comfort, but is based only on impulse desire. How often do you ask yourself, "Do my purchasing choices have social, spiritual or ecological consequences?"

For a laugh look at the ten basic laws of stuff as outlined in "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life"!

1. Stuff breeds

2. Useless stuff crowds out the good stuff

3.Dust loves stuff

4. Stuff loves to stay where it lands

5. Stuff expands to fill space available

6. Over time stuff becomes invisible

7. Stuff costs you money more than once

8. Stuff has a powerful effect on your state of mind

9. Stuff takes on value only when it's used

10. Stuff doesn't make you happy - you do!

Stuff becomes clutter and when we clutter up our lives we find we don't have room for more important things. I have always said that we are born with nothing and that we leave with nothing. I try hard to practise following a diet of mindful consumption.

This is for self transformation and for the transformation of my society. I still have a number of consumer weaknesses, however I know I am now at least aware when I consume of the consequences of my purchases.

@EDITRULE:

The Mindfulness Practice Community of Bermuda is doing a study course each Sunday on Thich Nhat Hanh's latest book, "no death, no fear". All are welcome to join us for any or all of the sessions.

We meet on Sundays at 5.14 p.m. to 6.44 p.m. at The Health Co-Op, 82 South Shore Road, Warwick, next to Surf Side Beach Club to support the art of living in awareness. Call 236-4988 or email mpcibl.bm or visit www.plum.village.org