Thoughts on Asceticism

Asceticism is a term we are very unfamiliar with in the modern world. We encounter it so little that I think most of the people you meet would be unable to define the word. I feel this is a shame because simply understanding it as a concept may be of great benefit to mental health.

Asceticism has existed throughout history, and has the following basic premise: that by renouncing desire or experience now, one grows in freedom and spiritual attainment.

If we look at history, those who valued ascetical principles played a major role as some of the most important figures of humanity.

The impoverished Socrates certainly articulated these values as key for a philosopher. For him, the philosopher seeks to transcend the physical and return to his true home in the nonphysical. By forsaking attachments to the present reality, one is less bound to it and all the better bound for exiting to the next life.

We see these principles in Jesus; he practices them himself, for instance, during his time in the wilderness. Jesus also articulates very clear ascetic ideals when the rich young man comes to Christ and he tells him to "give up all he has and follow him."

The Buddha also embodies these ideas. In the mythology of the Buddha's life, Siddhartha spent his early years as an ascetic in the wilderness before realizing intense asceticism was fruitless. This led him to develop the "Middle Way," a moderate path between materialism and asceticism, as the most efficient way to enlightenment.

Stresses of Materialism

Here I look at humanity at the present day and see the endless foolishness of materialism. We are constantly bombarded by falsehoods: by images of celebrities and billionaires who seem to be enjoying pleasures far in excess of everyone else. There is such a useless amount of anxiety felt over the pursuit of objects that are all really empty in the end.

Here I think of my cousin who works at a hedge fund. He is someone with a "rajasic" temperament - using the term here from the Bhagavad Gita - someone who is endlessly ambitious, competitive, and materialistic. This is often the mindset of the entrepreneur; someone who when you are in the presence of makes you feel driven to become more ambitious yourself.

Here I must admit when I am in the presence of these worldly people I have felt myself getting caught up in their temperament - as it is intoxicating. However, whenever I stay with them for longer periods I begin to understand its contradictions and hollowness, and how it is an inferior worldview to my own. I begin to see the inner realities of these people. I see how their inner lives are filled with endless anxiety over competition, and of fear over confronting their true natures when they are forced to see themselves as independent of things.

The delusion I realized this mindset operates under is that matter is the highest dimension of our experience. If there is nothing higher than matter, then the attitude would make sense; the acquisition of things in the physical - wealth, sexual experience, fame, and so forth - would be the highest end. So, this is the issue with this worldview; it does not understand that matter is just an expression of higher principles.

Materialism and Happiness

So, let us look at the happiness of materialism, and try to gain more insight into it. Let's acknowledge here that materialism can bring happiness, although it more frequently results in disappointment, delusion, and anxiety. Let's also acknowledge that materialism does have its own wisdom to it - however, it is a wisdom that is inferior to what human beings are capable of.

We spend our lives...

1. Amassing wealth

2. Accumulating sexual experiences

3. Achieving reputation and fame, or becoming "important"

4. Amassing friendships and relationships

Here I am also including the last category, as amassing attachments and identifications with people is also an expression of materialism, and will only bind us here. 

What Asceticism Means

I am not saying one should live in a cave in the wilderness, or forsake all material comfort. Certainly while we are here in the physical it is necessary for us to amass wealth, to have sexual experiences, to progress in our work, to build relationships, and so on. But what I am advising is, first, we should go through the intellectual exercise of seeing the uselessness of things; and, second, not to make the primary purpose of life the accumulation of these worthless objects. "Do not store up your treasures on earth," says Christ.

Recall the reality of the grave in which no dollar of your portfolio will follow you; think of how all the young women you were with age and turn into old matrons; think of how all celebrities are forgotten within a few decades; and think of how much we escape ourselves when we continually seek out others for validation. 

A Final Thought

I had a last thought on this and it is something I do not see examined in religious literature which is a shame. This is an alternate perspective and one that might be very useful for one with the ambitious temperament.

If the physical world is a projection of a higher reality, then that means that all the sense experiences of this world are inferior to those in the other world.

Think about that for a moment. If you are really ambitious, let it sink in.

Here I can't help but think of the "Nanda Sutra" of Buddhism. In this tale, the Buddha meets with one of his relatives who by modern standards we would call a "sex addict." His relative has a beautiful girlfriend. Nanda likes the Buddha but does not want to take up asceticism. So, the Buddha briefly shows him the nonphysical reality. There, the man sees that his girlfriend is profoundly inferior to the beautiful women that can exist in the next reality.

Think of each flaw to the body; think of your own flaws and limitations. The reality is a materialist is accepting an inferior good by confining himself to this world when there are higher goods he could be enjoying in the next world. Just an interesting thought for you. ;)