A Suelo Life?
After reading, viewing, and pondering the Suelo- Modern Transcendentalist Article and Suelo's Blog Link, 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 September 7th by 2:30p.m.
posted by Greg T at Friday, August 26, 2016
25 Comments:
After reading the Suelo Article, I question my motives and my willingness to sit in a desk and type this graded paragraph, when in the long run this grade doesn’t even matter. I think about the reason I am here and what I am going to do after I leave. Am I going to make my life meaningful or am I going to waste it on some desk job? I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Suelo’s lifestyle and his decision to live life far away from the corrupt economy. It was very captivating. I liked the fact that even when he got the temptation to use money, he gave it away, which probably made someone’s day. Although he did live off of people who use money, I think he could definitely do it without the help of others if he wanted to. I also like the fact that he continues to prove how much we center our life around our possessions. He says, “We use all our energy to maintain our possessions, and it becomes an ugly cycle.” Suelo is right when he makes this point. In our society, we surround ourselves with meaningless items. What if we all decided to live like Suelo? It would definitely make a political statement, which is what our society is trying to do, right? Would we be in unity with one another and with nature? Would we be able to feel true happiness? This article is something that has really changed the way that I think. I enjoyed reading it.
After reading, viewing, and pondering the Suelo Article, I am very drawn to the fact that Suelo is so big in the Nature part of the transcendental values. Suelo really believes that the "system" of money and possession is corrupt so he refuses to support it. Suelo said, “really, we all possess nothing," as he rebels against the "system" in place today. Suelo supports this belief by "taking things as they come naturally" because he believe it will bring him better health. I don't agree with Suelo however. Although his brief's and arguments are very intriguing, I believe our "system" works. People have to work to earn and I think this cycle is correct. There are definitely flaws and some corruption to the system, but not enough to ruin it entirely. I feel that people that are also so opposed to the money and ownership system that is used today can more easily relate to and agree with Suelo. I also respect Suelo for standing up for what he believes in. However, I don't plan on leaving my life to live in a cave and often go dumpster diving.
I think that Suelo really embodied the spiritual aspect of the transcendentalist view. He learned to just be happy with the simplicity that life is and to not care about what others thought about him. I think the fact that he put so much effort into living this simplistic lifestyle that it shows how he’s trying to “live deliberately”. He only lived on the things he could provide for himself, and not take things from anyone else. I feel it would take a lot of willpower to not use any form of money, so the fact that he lives this way says a lot about how he lives.
After reading the Suelo resources, including his blog and an article from the Denver post, I have determined that he does not in fact embody transcendentalism. The way he lives his life is without money, but he has inadvertently based his whole life off of money. If nobody had money, than people would think twice about throwing a jacket away. The truth is that today the people whose items he uses only get rid of the items because they can afford to replace them. Also, I do not understand why he thinks that he is living the life he provides for himself. While he thinks that he provides for his own well being he has not lived off of nature at all. The closest he gets to living off of nature is when someone runs over a squirrel on the road and he finds it and eats it. Actual transcendentalism would dictate that "no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till" (Emerson). Instead of tilling his own soil, he goes to society and takes the rejects from it. Emerson's transcendentalist vision is based on self reliance, opposed to settling for simplicity. Suelo has chosen to settle for simplicity.
I am drawn to the way Suelo interprets our societal system today.I think that me and him have very similar way of seeing the world. The difference from me and him, is that he is making a difference by being rebellious and i am conforming to societal values. For example, he refuses to use or take money from anybody and gets food and shelter naturally. I believe that this is the way to live, but in a society where money is power, how can u survive without being a rebel like Suelo? The answer is you cant. As a society we are so conformed to economical values, that we are to afraid to provide for ourselfs without money. As our generation goes further into the future we must ask ourselves; " Is money the answer?" because the way I see it, money isn't the answer. If anything money is the problem. Corporate america is the reason why our world is suffering. What happens to everything that we buy? What happens when money can no longer benefit us? These are just a few questions that we should ask ourselfs moving forward as we take on real world problems.
After reading the Suelo article, I am mostly inspired by how he has his own opinions on the government and he stands on those opinions. There are people who don't agree with the government and the way they run things but they don't do anything about it, they are still part of the system. Suelo doesn’t agree and therefore he does not participate. I tend to think that people that don’t agree continue playing into what they think isn’t right because there really isn’t any other option for them, they have to survive, right? In the article it says “He is living proof money doesn’t buy happiness,” I think that is awesome because it is so true in this case, Suelo is perfectly happy with his life and everything about his living situation yet he doesn't have any money. I think Suelo has really taken it to an extreme and not everyone should just decide to not have money any more and live in a cave but I think Suelo is an example people should follow on standing on what they believe in and trying to make a change.
After taking in all of the information about Suelo from the article about him in the Denver Post and from his blog, I am drawn to acknowledge that what he has accomplished is quite incredible. He has given up many of his worldly possessions to live his idea of living life without using money. I think this is an incredible feat simply due to the fact that I know that I could never do anything like that or even similar to it, nor do I want to. "It’s instinctual to live without money; it’s the way we were born." Suelo says. I can, on some levels, agree with this statement. I do think that all humans are capable of living off of the land without spending money, albeit very uncommon, it can be done by anyone. On the other hand, I disagree with this statement because to me, and I am sure many others, money is an entirely necessary part of living. It grants us food, power, and shelter among other things. I believe Suelo does embody the idea of transcendentalism because he carried out his one in a million idea of living a cost free, self-reliant life.
After viewing all the Suelo information we have at our disposal, I see Suelo's point, but I do not agree. Suelo talks about our "system" and money. Suelo believes that our "system" is wrong and he thinks that is what is corrupting us. Although I see Suelo's argument, I have to disagree. I think that although money starts a lot of controversy, it also limits a lot of controversy. Money limits controversy, because think is we had not money system. Everybody would be physically fighting for a house, or food, or something as simple as a bottle of water. Without the money system it would be hard to have what is yours. Leading off of that, in Suelos mind, everyone would work together and agree in a world with not money. Unfortunately there are plenty of bad people in this world that would take advantage of others, and by doing so would create more wrong than right. All in all, after viewing Suelo's points, I see where he is coming from but I disagree on his arguments.
Though Suelos values seem transcendental to the naked eye, many would question if Suelo is actually living like a transcendentalist or just being a mooch. Transcendentalism is often thought about as being one with nature and taking stuff in and letting it change you. Though he does live outdoors, Suelo lives more like a hermit relying on others to provide him food, entertainment, and even shelter. Suelo often says he's against using money, but the people who provide him with this stuff (weather they know or not) are using their hard earned money. “His lifestyle does depend on a group of people using money, and some people saw this as a contradiction, but Daniel comes out pretty clearly that he is a parasite of sorts,” (Stevenson). This is against the transcendental way because one of the main beliefs of transcendentalists is the idea of self reliance. To be fair Suelo sometimes picks wild berries or vegetables, but the majority of his food is obtained by rummaging through trash and finding stuff on the streets. Though he does “live deliberately” I don't think he fully embodies the transcendental spirit.
My thoughts on Suelo’s Blog and Article.
After reading about Mr. Suelo I can see he has a point. If you don’t agree with something you can always refrain yourself from doing or having those things. I must admit that being in his position is very hard to maintain throughout the years. Personally, I wouldn’t have bared to eat people’s “leftovers” and live in a cave for nine years. I love how he’s persistent in what he believes in and even though his friends offer him another way, “the easy way”, he still retains his beliefs. In the article Moab man embraces simple life living in cave, Jason Blevins says “If someone presses him to take something, he doesn’t argue. He recently began taking yoga classes offered by a friend. If they insist on giving him money, he gives it away immediately.” Despite this, I consider that he’s being a little hypocrite. He’s not contributing with the “corrupt government” but he’s living from it. He lives out of people’s garbage and survives and then complains about how corrupt is his government. “His lifestyle does depend on a group of people using money, and some people saw this as a contradiction, but Daniel comes out pretty clearly that he is a parasite of sorts,” Stevenson says. Jason Blevins in his article Moab man embraces simple life living in cave says “Some people were angered by the idea that using money leaves you tainted or immoral. But I don’t think Daniel thinks like that. You might think he is, but he’s not judgmental.”
Jason Blevins admitted in his article Moab man embraces simple life living in cave that,“Suelo often bows to the generosity of others, while never asking for help. Self-sufficiency isn’t a goal in his moneyless life, he says.” He also states that Mr Suelo “... has stopped worrying about what people think about him.” He is independent, self reliant and he is very confident. Persisting in his conditions and still believing your beliefs makes you a hero, to me. I think we should all just follow this transcendental way of doing things. Peaceful and it proves your point.
I think that after reading the article it is very interesting to see how Suelo has his different opinions on this society and all the social norms are different to him unlike they are to us.Suelo makes me think if I should start thinking in a new way like he is about the view of the government and being rebellious like he is about things like not being so dependent on on others for money and earn it myself.He provides everything by himself and does not except anything from anybody is is very independent which is maybe something us as a society is afraid of having to be on our own and not being able to depend on others it makes me rethink how i should live my life and what would happen id we all lives the life the same as Suelo living freely and in the present.
Suelo has drawn many eyes towards him and now that I have read a part of his adventure, I want more and willing to do what he has done. I will never achieve what he has done with what I am today, but he says it is possible to let everything go. “He is living proof that money can’t buy happiness.” - Blevins. This quote describes Suelo as the living free person he is. He will refuse to take money, but he does use people who have money as fuel for his living, which I thought was an interesting thing because he refuses to use money but what keeps him alive is still money. Now people use that to tell Suelo that he is contradicting himself, which might be right, but that isn't what he is trying to say, he is trying to say that it's possible to live off of things that people have thrown away. Now, after saying all that, Suelo doesn't just live off all things that were bought with money, he does get food such as mushrooms berries etc from areas that they are naturally grown in. I love how he doesn't use the hate to fuel him, but he uses it to look down upon the people saying those things for example when people say "Get a Job." He already knows that the people hating on him are people who believe that money is the only thing they have in a world full of money hungry people in a corrupted society. His transcendental life really reflects on his actions when he lives his life and reflecting this onto my life has to be one of the hardest things to do because of his lifestyle and the way he processes things are so different from the average human. He is ultimately a person with great happiness. Learning about how he views society and how we as people are money hungry, changes everything that I believed in, and the way I perceive things.
Suelo has drawn my eyes away from his actions and his purpose. He personally said that he focuses on "taking things as they come naturally is the key to good health." How is dumpster diving a key to good health? Those things don't come naturally. Another thing that I get drawn away from him is, the saying "he is living proof that money can't buy happiness." But is he really happy? Or is he trying to prove something? I understand that this world is controlled by money and happiness. But, people in this world do things through happiness and they get paid. I'm not against Transcendentalist, go be one with nature, but saying that dumpster diving and living in a cave is good health because you take it because it is natural is not the way to put it. He also goes to friends homes and stays with them to bypass the heat. Those homes don't come naturally to him. He needs to show things that he does that comes naturally to him and not just say that he does that.
Suelo drew my eyes toward the fact of how free and happy he really is. Throughout the entirety of the story he is happy, joyful and free. He is truly living his life to the fullest, the saying “live your dreams is often thought of as a joke,” however he actually is freely living his dream and surviving just fine. I actually admire him for living his dream despite the fact that many people will in fact critique his life style. I will not critique his lifestyle because he is truly living his life to what he believes is the fullest, it doesn't matter what everyone else he thinks. I think he is truly free because he doesn’t care what people have to say, he is gonna do his own thing and there is in fact beauty in this. Isn’t the whole point of life, to live it to the fullest and be happy.
After reading about Mr. Suelo, I thought about putting myself in his shoes and I tried to imagine living in a cave with out using any form of currency. I must say I commend him for being able to do that because I personally don't think I would be able to survive a just a few days, so the fact that he id doing this is very impressive to me, he even called it a "paradise of sorts". However, I don't agree with his philosophies about currency and how he thinks it is "corrupt", I can see where he is coming from saying "The addiction to money fuels corruption" this makes sense to me because money can make people do some bad stuff. Although the addiction for money can cause corruption, I can honestly say that I don't think the world could operate without money.Thik about it if there was no form of currency hen no one would have any drive to do anything, the world would just be full of lazy, illiterate, useless human beings. If there was no money, no one would go to school because the only reason people go to school is so they can get a job to earn money, but if there was no then no one would want to get an education because they wouldnt see a purpose besides gaining knowledge. Although I'm impressed by the fact that he lives in a cve with no currency, I don't exactly agree with all of his philosophies.
Mr. Suelo's opinion on the government and how the "system", makes me think that there are a lot of people in the world that don't believe in the system or even like the government. But they don't do anything and they just go along with what they don't agree with. Suelo is like a rebel and it is inspiring to see anyone stand up and say something about what they think is wrong. he says the, "the addiction to money fuels corruption". I believe that money makes people selfish. And it doesn't bring people together, it tears them apart and that why so many people are upset with our "system". Some of what he says makes sense but there are a few things I wouldn't agree with him on. I believe he's a very accomplished person but not everyone will see eye to eye with everything he says
After reading about Suelo I had several opinions on him. First, I really like what he is doing. I think it must really open his mind to new thought and it must connect him to nature more. However, I think that even though this may work for him it will not work for all people. I think that a way someone could connect with nature is just by going out into the woods on a hike or go camping. I do not think that I could do this because I am so connected with society. This could be a problem with society and why he wants to break away. People have become so dependent on the modern world that we have lost our connection with nature.
After reading over and considering the Suelo article I have several things to say. First off, Suelo definitely has a point. The system we have is flawed in many ways and unfortunately there is no easy fix for this. Money can and has caused corruption many times before however despite this, it has worked and been used for thousands of years. A currency allows people communicate better because we all know how much this valued item is worth which makes life easier when trying to acquire things like food in modern society. Although money does come with plenty of problems attached to it I believe we have used it for so long that we wouldn't be able to remove it form society. Nature however is something I feel that people are losing touch with now though. People have become so engrossed in other parts of their life they often don't have time for nature or the respect for it that it clearly deserves. Nature is a huge part of our world and one that we so clearly need desperately. Inside areas such as the rain forest there may be cures for diseases we have yet to discover. Things that could change millions of lives. As someone who loves spending time in nature but hasn't gotten to recently due to school and other parts of my life that have been demanding my attention I must say this article made me want to spend more time in nature.
After reading the articles and the blog on Suelo he talks about our "system" a lot and money. Suelo believes that our "system" the one that we use is wrong. He believes and he thinks that it is what is corrupting us. I don't agree with this because I believe that the system we have really does work. I think that even though money and stuff may cause issues it doesn't corrupt us. But at the same time i respect him for having his own opinion
After reading about Suelos' values I am inspired by the way he has his own opinions about the government and how they run the country. He does not agree with their views and how they take care of things. Suelo lives his life without money and gets hand downs from people who can afford to replace things. He lives happily with the simplicity of life. Suelo supports this belief by "taking things as they come naturally" he belieces it will provide and bring him better health. Suelo is interesting and his views are different, but I believe they are very unreasonable. We live in a materialistic world so getting away from that is very difficult.
I agree with parts of his philosophy because I do think there are good ideals behind it. For instance, the fact that he is living without money so that he will not support a corrupt system. I agree with this because I do believe our system is corrupt and he is making a point. The downside is that it is only one person doing this. If more people were doing it, it might bring more attention and more change. He wants everything to be balanced instead of having to rely on each other for what you need. He believes in "giving freely, receiving freely." He wants everyone to live in harmony and not have to rely on the government. I do agree with this, but we are so accustomed to how we live now that if we were to live this way it would not happen easily. It would be a rough change because we are so reliant on how we live now and other people. It would be a really hard change. It makes me think about why I have to sit down and write about him living off the grid. My writing this is me following the system.
I totally agree with his philosophy. More people should be doing it as well. He has a great idea and great beliefs and I feel like he is doing his part to try to change what he thinks should be changed. Say word gets out and more and more people start thinking that he is right. Then we got a lot more people following him and thats the spark of change. He is the spark of change for what he believes in. And I also think that he is doing the right thing because the entire system seems to be corrupt these days. "Taking things as they come naturally is the key to good health." I think this quote kind of goes along with that. He is doing what he thinks is natural in life. He is going off of himself rather than following what we now think is natural, but in reality its just a governmental attached idea. We go way back nobody had this. He is speaking straight from where we should have stayed and kept things equal.He is showing the world what we need to figure out ourselves, money can not by happiness.
After reading the Suelo- Modern Transcendentalist Article, I find it interesting that so many people disagree with what he's doing so much that they get mad about it. I like what he is doing, and although it is not something I would do, I think it's great for him to be living how he wants to live. After all, a lot of the American way of life is being able to kind of live the way you want, and have free thought. I read through some other responses, and I agree with one of the folks who said that they don't think they would be able to live that way because he/she is so connected with the community. I find it interesting that the younger generations, such as ourselves, almost have money, technology, things like social media, etc., engraved in their minds. Whereas older generations who never had that (technology) as a kid, were, and possibly still are, more connected with the actual world around them rather than glued to a screen. I like Suelo's transcendentalist thought and way of living, however it is not something I would partake in.
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After reading the article about Suelo and the blog, I am drawn to how he doesn’t give money any value. Because, after all, money is just pieces of paper with no real value or rarity or special beauty. Lots of people talk about how corrupt the system is, but very little actually do something about it, and I acknowledge and admire how his lifestyle supports his views. He realizes that things are just things, and they don’t mean anything because all anyone ever has is themselves, and it’s up to them to make themselves and their mind worth more than any amount of “things”. I find it odd that others get angry for the way he lives. It doesn’t effect anyone else, after all, he is living off of trash. Things everyone else deems worthless. I admire how he is well versed in a myriad of religious texts. Lots of people can preach certain ideologies but he lives them out, and for that, he is looked at as strange.
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