"A Suelo Life?"
After reading, viewing, and pondering the Suelo article and Suelo's
website, what are you drawn to acknowledge or critique regarding his
Transcendental" perspective on life and the way he tries to "live
deliberately?" Please argue using quotations and other evidence to
support your claims. This blog response is due on December 5th by 2:30p.m.
posted by Greg T at Tuesday, December 02, 2014
25 Comments:
I believe that living transcendentally can be beneficial for short periods of time in order to gain perspective, I don't believe that living of of scraps from the trash is truly living transcendentally. I believe that in order to focus on the spiritual realm, it is not necessary to live a life were you are merely scraping by. It would be more beneficial to live solely off the land and not of of other's discards. Living off the land allows you to connect with the spiritual world without the need of modern technology or wealth. Living off trash, however, is not connecting you to the same world. It is merely presenting a world in which you are self reliant on other's wastefulness. That is not living deliberately, that is relying on others.
After reading "A Simple Life" by Jason Belvins about Suelo, I learned that Daniel Suelo has a very different view on how the "system" works. He states that "the addiction to money fuels corruption, and he refuses to support a corrupt system." I think that his opinion is abstract to others but he has figured out how to make sense of it. He took a step back and watched how everything was a cycle, maintaining everything was an unnecessary cycle for him. He saw that he didn't need to use as much energy as others to maintain is life and health. I believe that his lifestyle of simplicity is what makes him so happy. He doesn't have to constantly worry himself with things that don't concern him, he focuses on the now, and makes the best of everything.
I have always been attracted to the idea of "living off the land." During the winter, I'll often want to drive up to the mountains and spend a night in the middle of a snowy forest. There's something about it that makes it extremely appealing. I found it interesting how Suelo viewed money, as I also tend to see money as a source of suffering. It seems like we have such a connection to materialistic, superficial objects which cost a lot of money for us to keep, and as a side-effect a lot of stress and pain. Wouldn't it be easier to just get rid of the house, get rid of the car, the television, the computer, the phone, etc and take a hike? Personally, I wouldn't go to the extent Suelo has to escape the apparent capitalistic black hole. I think we need a balance. Surely it is implausible to think of everyone giving up their stuff and living like Suelo does? Suelo lives off of the scraps of society; if there is not society left, then there's nothing for him to live off of. He can't sustain himself anymore, at least not without much more effort. But to take a step back, to realize some of the absurdity of capitalistic society, may be of some benefit. If anything, I think we would all do good by stepping away from the doings of the 21st century for a day and take a look at nature.
"The addiction to money fuels corruption." I believe that this is the most powerful sentence in the article. Suelo is convinced that a key part of having a happy life, has nothing to do with money. He is able to live a happy life with just the act of bartering, or the trading of goods. He doesn't want to worry about the future, instead, just to enjoy the present. I think that his way of life is awesome. I also think that it would be great not to have to worry about money but instead to just love life and what it has provided you with. Unfortunately, it is extremely unrealistic in our time to do so. If you want to have a comfortable house, then it is necessary to have a job and earn money.
I believe that living transcendentally is for the few truly spiritual people that, can live without all of today's modern conveniences. Without those modern devices, they are truly transcendentalist because this allows them to become one with nature, allowing them to live deliberately and happy.
Im drawn to Suelo thoughts about how living s simple life without money and possessions keeps you from corruption. He stays focus on the basics of life and claims to be very happy. I'm also drawn to this writing because the reactions people have to his life is interesting. People think hes a mooch and lazy. Its also hard for me to understand why you would want to eat out of the trash. Why not live a simple life but have basic food?
I was quite intrigued by Suelo's views on money and life in general. He believes that he doesn't need money to live a happy life and from the article one would assume that is true. I think this view on life is important to analyze this idea that we don't need money because it makes you question the thought of basing your happiness on financial success. He believes that "The addiction to money fuels corruption." This is very true and could be the source of our sadness and world problems today.
Suelo is a great inspiration, and his message is very powerful. He live a transcendentalist life style and truly values what he can do for himself and living with nature. The path he chose is very uncommon. Being such a rare case where an established man would chose to relinquish everything that he has worked for, to engage in a path where forging for everything he needs. To be successful and reach your end goal, only to be unsatisfied is a hard thing to cope with, and this is how he chooses to live now.
Living transcendentally I believe is not a very good idea especially when trying to maintain good health. Being naturally weather beaten and not evolving from the natural state is harmful. With all the technologies in today's society it would be foolish to go back to square one of humanity and to not use all the advances of your ancestors. Also I ask in the system that we live in today how is it beneficial to refuse to work and just to live off the grid? It's against the norm but I think it's foolish.
The way that Suelo lives is very unique because he knows what he wants and doesn't care what other people think about him. Suelo believes he needs to live very simple and doesn't need money. In the article A Simple Life they states "he is living proof that money can't buy happiness." Suelo has learned that living on the least makes him enjoy life more. That is impressive to me because most people want the most items and money in life. He is someone that doesn't waste anything good he comes in touch with.
Suelo lived a life were he doesn't have to worry about money. He went 9 years without spending any money. Suelo is a very happy person and does not care what the future holds for him. Everyday he bathes in a stream below his cave. Suelo doesn't use any technology in his everyday life like we do today. In our world today it is very hard to go a day without spending money. Suelo lived a simple life and he enjoyed it very much."His lifestyle depends on a group of people using money." Suelo goes through trash and makes a living. He is a very simple and independent man.
I believe that what Suelo is doing is a very honorable and tempting actions. It is very honorable how committed to the idea of living without money he is. He didn't just do this because he didn't like his job or some other excuse. Instead Suelo has kept true to his journey to live without money. Second, how Suelo has decided to live without money is a very temping action. Many times I have wanted to give up all worldly possessions and live freely like Suelo. Although I have never don't this the truly inspiring story of Suelo show that this is a very possible reality, which only make the life style more tempting than ever.
Daniel Suelo, a 48 year old man who lives an hour out of Moab, thinks very differently compared to most Americans. He lives his life free of money, as "the addiction to money fuels corruption". This simple life is what provides him with great happiness. Will his life style ever be adopted into society? Unlikely, as even though he lives off the land and scraps of other people, the other people must live with the constant need for money. He does not truly live with out material goods, he just does not buy them.
I think that Suelo brings an important idea to the table of living without money and things. This can prove that we can still live off of the very basic and grow perspective on more important matters and learn to love ourselves, and the Earth as well as people. However, after a short period of time you have to wonder what else you can be doing with your time. In order to travel all over the world you need at least a little bit of money, and I would have to say that it is a little unfair to the people who have jobs and work really hard to buy food/shelter that he gets the "leftovers" without doing anything to contribute. Even though parts of his life style might bother the modern, working American, it might still create an intense spiritual connection with yourself and mother nature and show that cannot be discovered having a lot of things and money and working a job that potentially makes you unhappy every day.
Daniel Suelo lives completely without money. I am very drawn to his way of living, although I do no think that I would be able to live as ruggedly as he does. "Suelo lives an abundant albeit frugal life, thriving on the waste of a small town." I very much admire that Suelo can live entirely on the trash of a small town. I think that Suelo is living in deliberate denial of money and the control it has over all of society. I am also drawn to the happiness that his way of life is said to bring him. His good friend states "He is truly the happiest person I have ever met."
I believe that one thing you have to acknowledge after reading the story of Daniel Suelo is that he has certainly found a way of live that makes him happy. He has realized as he states, "The understanding that, really, we all possess nothing is the cornerstone of all spiritual endeavors and religions." Now, whether or not you are religious, one can not deny that what he says is in fact true. The basis of all religions is a transcendentalist concept of something beyond this world, and ultimately detaching yourself from the way things are in society. In this respect, I agree with him, however I do not believe that going about doing so in the same way that Suelo has will work for everyone.
"Waste not, want not." - Jason Belvins (A simple life) This quote is very relevant in today's society because we tend to both want what we don't have, and we to take for granted what we do have. In addition, I believe this quote does draw a lot of acknowledgement regarding his Transcendental perspective on life. Although it may be obvious, I see a deeper meaning in this quote. Jason took for example the food we eat, we need to waste. Never being able to use everything to its fullest. I think this can apply to life everyday. We should never through out a day, because we may lose the potential in that day.
"A Simple Life" by Jason Belvins, set me into a very good after reading it. I found Suelo's life intriguing and very inspirational. The way he lives is not in the least easy, yet he is the happiest he has ever been. Suelo is living proof of the cliche saying: "Money can't buy happiness." I truly believe that living simply and without luxuries will make you much more happy. It is not easy for me to say that for I have fallen accustomed to live with luxuries. Suelo has shown me that to be happy, you just have to do what you want.
Before reading "The Money less World", the first time I read this title I thought can we really live without money? If money doesn't exist in this world then we would have chaos of conflicts everyday. But after reading this article and it made me feel better like he use things only if he needs like a shelter, clothes, and food in order to keep surviving. Like this man say money can't buy happiness, it impact me that its true that money can't buy happiness no matter if you're poor or rich. So Suelo try to make this life easy without money.
"A simple life" By Jason Belvins discusses the unique lifestyle lived out by Daniel Suelo. Suelo lives without money, believing money to be a source of corruption. I think this is a very intriguing lifestyle, although I personally disagree with it being a necessary form of finding happiness. I believe merely having money is not a source of corruption, but rather corruption is found in overvaluing money, and revolving all you do around it.
I believe living transcendentally can be good for your mind and soul, for a short time however at least for us modern teenagers. Disconnecting and realizing the cycle of everything and the world around you can be very beneficial. Sueno believes that he doesn't need money to make him happy and that is true. Happiness is not based off of how much money or stuff you have. Us humans get caught in this huge everyday cycle that we sometimes can't break but overall I admire how Sueno goes about his life by not spending any money and embracing the beauty of nature and life
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After reading A Simple Life by Daniel Suelo, I believe that living the life of a transcendentalist has pros and cons. There are many good things that come from living this way such as, the maturity that comes from being totally free and independent. Most transcendentalists pursue this life in order to find themselves. This can lead to death, hardship, and the loss of contact with people and culture can lead to loneliness.
After reading the story about John Suelo, I realized that living a life like his can be very good, yet very bad. Good because he doesn't care about what people think about him and that he is living his life the way he wants to. However I think it can be a bad idea because he is so private to himself that he can't explore the world and learn about the the new technology that we have today. I don't think I could live out in the middle of nowhere for one day, and hes doing it his whole life.
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