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 4th by 2:30p.m.
posted by Greg T at Sunday, August 23, 2015
28 Comments:
I think that Suelo's living ways is extraordinary. Growing up you are always taught that you need money to have a good life and have no worries. Here Suelo is taking everything we have been taught to believe and is making us rethink everything. One of Suelo's friends said "He is truly the happiest person I have ever met. He is so deeply peaceful, it's contagious," says Damian Nash. I think it's amazing how he has proved everyone wrong and I think this article can make a lot of humans rethink there morals and there beliefs. I think he chose the cave because he is surrounded so much by nature and it has grounded him and his judgements aren't "clouded" by societies ways.
I think Suelo is inspiring, crazy, yet amazing. The fact that he is "truly the happiest person" reminds me so much of those living in poverty. In 2014, I went on a medical mission trip to Nicaragua and saw such a similar mentality "less is more" in a sense. These people were so happy with so little. Much like Suelo these people we contagiously joyful.
This 9 year "experiment" is proving that all the physical things we come in contact with, aren't necessary. We don't need money, or fancy clothes, we don't need it to survive-- to have joy. He isn't seeing life through a turbid screen of society and unobtainable expectations, his vision is pure.
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I think the way he lives life is an interesting one. The writer of the article called him the happiest person he has ever met and living proof that money doesn't buy happiness. Which shows that Daniel Suelo enjoys the way he lives his life and that he has been doing it for a long time. I thought this for a while now. I personally think "Good for him" when I read this article. Because people judge others all the time, "oh they like this sports team" "They like to do this" and judge them on what they like or who they are. I always thought if something makes someone happy, then why is it anyone's business to judge them or tell them how to live their life? It's no one's business on how anyone lives their life and it's important to just focus on their own instead because that's what makes everyone better people. If you are happy you don't have time to judge other people. I think of that when I read this, people will judge because it's unusual but Daniel Suelo is happy. So I think good for him, it's a unique way and he's a better person
Suelo's life to me sounds close to perfect. He is constantly surrounded by nature and has no commitments to society. I think he is very brave and has a very strong mind to pull him away from all of his belongings and people he became custom too. Im not sure it would be easy for anyone. I am drawn to the way that he decided to live his life. How he can live off of his resources including others "garbage". He makes the best out of everything. I watched a video on Suelo and while he was talking, seeing the biggest smile on his face made me realize that we are so attached to THINGS that we do not need. He inspires me.
Everyone thinks about moving into the wild to live away from society and off the grid, but hardly anyone actually does it, Daniel Suelo is one of those people to actually do it. His way of life is a more simple peaceful way of life almost everyone wants to live. Daniel lives off the land, he doesn't have to stress about bills, taxes, living a standard way of life. He just lives how life is supposed to be lived. Living this way also gives you more of a respect to the world and the life it holds. He makes me want to go out and live in the wild on my own with no one to answer to. He inspires me to even just go try and live the way he does to see if I even could last.
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In the article was a quote saying "He is truly the happiest person I have ever met. He is so deeply peaceful, it's contagious," I have heard a lot about peoples opinion on happiness many people believe happiness comes in what you enjoy doing. Some believe happiness can only be achieved through following your religion. To be honest I think that any of these things can make one truly happy. It just takes you to believe that you are doing something that makes you happy. I truly wonder what Suelos goal in life is. Clearly he is religious but is living his life style following a religion? I say that it is good if you can do what you truly want to do in life and for Suelo that is being free of money, and much more. For me it is much different but then again I am still searching.
Today it is very rare to see a transcendentalist that'll take action among people. We are so use to becoming attached to objects to the point where we believe they're things we need instead of things we want. Most of us no longer take the time to realize the beauty of the Earth. Suelo decided to get away from society and live by enclosing himself in nature and leaving the 'corruption' of our society. His philosophy is to live his life without using money, he describes it as an addiction that fuels corruption. When we does need something he'll go through peoples waste bins and collect what he needs. The way he lives makes him extremely happy, getting to breathe in the fresh air and focus on the little things that make up the Earths beauty. For people today we feel that we're happy when we go out and buy new clothes or entertainment, which is why he feels that money corrupts us, it isn't the only thing that will bring us true happiness.
I would not disagree that he is living without money, but I don't agree that money doesn't matter. He takes what is left of the items other people had to work hard for to buy. Money was what paid for his clothes, for his food, and for his bed he just wasn't the one to pay for it. He does live off the land sometimes though by finding plants that he can eat. I would agree that he is a transcendentalist because he learned to live a different way by his own and has views that were guided by himself.
I don’t think many people actually want to go out in the wild and live a life by yourself without anyone from a society. They may think they do but with people in our society I don’t think they would last. I admire Suelo for what he is doing because going out of society on your own and living a transcendentalist life would be hard! Even when he had to come back and take care of his parents he said ” I'm finally coming to the point of fully embracing the hand life is dealing me. As I get past the intense burden of old family repeating patterns, I'm realizing the richness of connecting with my parents at a deeper level, of love, as they face their final days.” It makes me think about how he gave up his entire lifestyle for helping his parents out. I honestly think that he in a way still uses money because he is getting a ton of help from other people and yeah its not his money but it is someone else’s money.
I think Suelo is just tired of all the responsibilities besides his family he has to deal with and also that he is tired of people saying that you need to have money to be happy and he thinks other wise and his way of protesting is living life in a cave in Moab. I like to camp and go out in nature but it is always good to go back and connect with society I wouldn't go as far as living in a cave in the desert for 9 year not taking any money and living off of scrapes in dumpsters personally I think this guy is crazy but I respect him. I respect Suelo because he does what no one else can do by sticking it to the man saying he doesn’t need possessions or money to happy.
I think the way Suelo lives is very interesting and challenging in different ways. How he is living is unique and more people should do things he does and not waste so much. I think the way he lives can make people appreciate nature and what the world has to offer. I do not agree with the fact that he is totally isolated from money and civilization. He gets food from the garbage and has clothes too. If he was totally isolated he wouldn't eat garbage and wear man-made clothes. I still think what he is doing is cool because he shows that money isn't always needed and there are more ways to live besides using money. I think with his parents having problems he should help and give up being a transcendentalist or not help them at all. I was not surprised when he says, "Honestly, this has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, letting go of attachment to freedom from attachments, leaving friends behind, ditching plans & expectations I had for the coming year and beyond."I would have a lot of trouble deciding what to do if I was in his situation. My final thought is his transcendental perspective on life is fascinating and more people should agree with his views.
I feel like Suelo's way of living is admirable, because I could never live like that, but I don't think it sets him apart completely in a positive way. The main thing that caught my attention was that he was living in a cave with no currency. I admire that he’s trying to live a life nothing like the way many are, nothing like the way society says one should live. I like that he attempts to live his life, based off what the world provides us with but I feel like there’s nothing wrong with living under a material made roof, and using a currency, etc. It nice that he lives off what the world gave us, but humans are also on this world and the ideas that the the humans on this world offer are still a part of what the world is to offer because one way or another humans ended up on this world. Something like a currency is something that came to be because of an idea that a human on this world had. He may be sleeping in the wild, but he's not completely living in and off the wild. I think he has his mind in the right place but I don’t think he’s approaching it in a way that really fulfills his goal. The way that his way of life is described makes him sound lazy and very reliant on others. If it weren't for the business he mooches off, he wouldn't be able to survive in the wild. Even though he doesn't use a currency, he still depends on it in a way. It's admirable that he's trying to set himself apart, but he's really just low-key a part of the same society he's not trying to be a part of.
Learning about Daniel Suelos living situation is absolutely amazing and inspiring. It's beautiful how connected he is with nature and how much he cares for the earth. People should open more up to the outdoors and take advantage of nature like Suelo does, because society is so distracted with technology, nature doesn't get appreciated enough. He seems like such a self-less person by giving so much and pleasing others, I defiantly think he's got it figured out.
Suelo is a man who chooses to live off of nothing. He doesn’t work, he scavenges. The reason he claims is “It's instinctual to live without money; it's the way we were born” (Suelo). Suelo adds “The addiction to money fuels corruption, he says, and he refuses to support a corrupt system” (Suelo). But what if money wasn’t the true evil in the world? Society has a huge influence on how we spend our money and what we do with it. Society has norms and to be part of those norms more often than not the money is spent so you feel like you fit in. That money is spent on frivolous things. And trying to fit in, in the end doesn’t make you happy; because individuality is more important. Money can be used change your life all you have to do is decide how you want to use it. So instead of letting societal norms control us, people can choose to live the way they want spending their money their way.
Courtney Caviness
Daniel Suelo is an interesting character. I have to say that I think it is really cool that he finds happiness in living without currency. One of his quotations is that, "The understanding that, really, we all possess nothing is the cornerstone of all spiritual endeavors and religions," and this is very true. The idea of possession is ego and ego is the source of unhappiness in humanity. However, this man still has possessions. The difference is that he doesn't pay any money for them, he simply scavenges off of his surrounding communities. Personally, I don't agree with that at all. I think that getting everything for free while everybody else pays for things is not helpful to anybody else but yourself. I mean sure, it's cool that he has figured out a way to simply do his own thing day in and day out without any form of income. Good for him. But his way of life is not sustainable for the rest of us because somebody has to work for this all to come together. I would think this his lifestyle would be a lot more impressive if he was contributing to the community a little more. But he is contributing in some ways. He is all about art and philosophy which are both extremely important. He also gives money away whenever it comes into his possession which is a kind thing to do. I think that his heart is in the right place but I don't think this his lifestyle is necessarily the way to go.
I think Suelo is a very brave person. All of our lives we have been taught money. We all need money,we all work for money , and we all spend money. The society has built it's ways around money. For him to take a risk and leave money is very brave. He defiantly stands out as a person trying to change the world. But when he says " I dig through dumpsters from near by bakeries" makes me wonder if he really has tried to leave money. Yes, he doesn't spend money or have money or work for money but he uses things from other people's money which is kind of on the border. I think if he really wants to be true then he needs to find his own food source like hunting or something that shows he isn't relying on other people's money. He is there just not all the way I don't think.
I think Suelo is a very brave person. All of our lives we have been taught money. We all need money,we all work for money , and we all spend money. The society has built it's ways around money. For him to take a risk and leave money is very brave. He defiantly stands out as a person trying to change the world. But when he says " I dig through dumpsters from near by bakeries" makes me wonder if he really has tried to leave money. Yes, he doesn't spend money or have money or work for money but he uses things from other people's money which is kind of on the border. I think if he really wants to be true then he needs to find his own food source like hunting or something that shows he isn't relying on other people's money. He is there just not all the way I don't think.
I think suelo is a very inspiring person. Suelo knows what he wants in life and gets it which I respect a lot because in today's society that is not always a easy task. However Suelo uses a lot of resources that come from money which is what he is against. Although he still uses some of the communities items he is still trying his hardest to live a natural life. Also I think Suelo is a very happy man and does what he believes in. All and all Suelo is a extraordinary man that we all can learn from in many different ways.
Suelo has a great love for this world. In fact, he fully trusts in the people and places around him in order to survive. Even though he is living in a society that does not value the same things he does, Suelo is a transcendentalist. By living in a cave with no form of currency, Suelo proves that he does not give into society’s ideals. His ideas are original even though they are a bit unconventional. Suelo works for everything on his own and does not accept help even if offered. His way of life has had mainly positive affects. Damian Nash said, "He is truly the happiest person I have ever met. He lives a humbling life.” The one flaw that I see in Suelo’s lifestyle is that he claims that he lives a currency-free lifestyle, yet Suelo lives off of other people’s trash. Even though he is taking supplies that others have paid for, he claims to live currency free.
I admire suelo, and his way of life! I think it is great what he is doing. Although he uses things that come from money, he does not use money. It's his rules too! He can live however he wants to. I would say that no matter what suelo is always happy, he may not make his mom happy, or other people happy, but as long as he is happy that's good. I think we can all take away some advice from suelo. He has a lot to say, and he has a great way to live life from my perspective.
I think Suelo's way of life is inspiring and great, but it can only happen if we, the average consumer, live our life the way we do. We waste so much that there are people in the world who literally live off of our trash. However, I don't believe that what Suelo is doing is in any way illegal or should be punished, he is choosing to live without money but also without anything that would require him to have money. That is all. His time in even a day must be long without TV, school, job, or other less thought-provoking activities. It seems that with every minute passing he must have read a little out of a book or just talked to either someone or himself. Overall, as a person who loves to get away from responsibilities for a weekend, Suelo is very respectable and even a role model. But as a modern day-to-day citizen, I think he is being irresponsible and almost a leech of our society.
Sue life was very inspiring. It showed that a man can go out and actually explore life and nature for what it is. He's able to live his own life without any restictions. Not only that, he's a very nice and generous guy. Any money he recieves he gives away. He lives his life the way he wants to. This guy is happy with his life and cares not what others say about him. He didn't want or like anyone telling him what do or just going off of what a piece of paper. His life will be inspiring to everyone around the world. He brought realization that there's more to life than what we're all living right now.
Suelo's way of living is cool, I like how he can survive without any money. "He is truly the happiest person I have ever met. He is so deeply peaceful, it's contagious," says Damian Nash, Suelo's college roommate and a high school teacher in Moab. "He is living proof that money can't buy happiness." I think suelo has found his true meaning and purpose which is great. Overall we need to follow our callings and instincts in this life to find our meaning like Suelo did.
Suelos way of living is just plan crazy anyone in there sound mind who decides to go live in a cave in the mountains and eat out of the trash and to bath in the river to me is just plan crazy. And I see anyone who is over the age of 18 and dose not have a job or is not in collage to get his or her degree are to me are a leach on society. To try to live without money is like trying to say to live your life by the way of getting everything for free. And in is no way to live in todays society.
The way Suelo lives his life is very inspiring but at the same time, it’s kind of scary to think about. I know that I personally couldn’t live on my own in a cave for as long as he has done. It’s crazy to think about the fact that he doesn’t get lonely, living by himself away from people. The most interesting part of his whole way of living is the fact that “Suelo doesn't deal with any form of currency.” I couldn’t imagine how someone couldn’t use money for that long without having a shortage of essential materials to live with. Though is it fair to say that he is still, in some way, using money? He is using thrown away materials that were bought by other consumers. So is he really not using any money? In a way, he’s not using any of his money, but he is using other people's money.
I think that simplicity is the key to a happy, peaceful life. "He is truly the happiest person I have ever met. He is so deeply peaceful, it's contagious," says his college roommate about Suelo. He is living proof that simplicity does create peace within. He has nothing too important to worry about, like paying bills, paying for gas, paying rent, or any of those things. He lives off the resources he can easily find. He has a lot of time to himself, to think and contemplate the beauty of things. Although it is a very crazy lifestyle in many ways, it is still such a beautiful way of living.
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