Life Oasis Three Maxims: Simple, Frugal, Steadfast · Internal Reference¶
[Sparse-source entry] Core documentation consists of a single article. The original text is presented in full below.
Source Text¶
Source: Xuefeng's Collected Writings · Chanyuan Chapter
Author: Xuefeng | Date: 4 August 2011
Simple, Frugal, Steadfast — The Three-Character Classic of Second Home Life
Xuefeng
Simple means simplicity. Zhuge Liang said: "Tranquil non-attachment clarifies the will; quiet stillness reaches far." Non-attachment requires simplicity.
Mahatma Gandhi recognized: "Simplicity is the essence of the universe." What is supremely good and beautiful has simplicity as its nature.
The simpler, the more orderly; the simpler, the more efficient; the simpler, the happier people become.
Second Home life embraces simplicity in eight ways:
- No rules, regulations, commandments, or prohibitions — everything proceeds through spontaneous willingness.
- Except for the Friday community meeting, no other meetings are held; all other meetings are abolished.
- No tasks are assigned to anyone, no supervision or inspection; whatever you want to do, however you want to do it, well or not so well — that's your own affair.
- Only civility, culture, and cultivation are encouraged; nothing else is required — everything is up to you.
- Hundun (creative chaos) management: no leadership hierarchy, no accountant or treasurer. Aside from the purchasing agent, petty cash is placed openly in the community; anyone wanting spending money takes it freely, without applying to anyone or reporting to anyone.
- No one celebrates birthdays; the community celebrates no holidays; Chanyuan Celestials do not exchange gifts or mementos; they owe nothing to one another; they establish no relationships of material mutual assistance.
- Except for entertainment, travel, study, and special production activities that require collective participation, no collective rituals or activities are held.
- Each person has one bedroom — one bed, one table, one chair, one cabinet, three pairs of shoes, three sets of clothing for changing; everything else is communal; meals are taken in the dining hall; internet access is in the computer room.
Frugal means thrift. Laozi said: "The first is compassion, the second is frugality, the third is not daring to be first in the world." Frugality is one of life's three treasures.
"To rescue extravagance, one must practice frugality; to rescue shallowness, nothing surpasses sincerity." Sima Guang's personal creed was: "The multitude regard lavishness as glory; I alone regard frugality and simplicity as beautiful." "Success comes from frugality; ruin comes from extravagance."
Second Home life is entirely frugal — no pomp, no waste, no luxury or extravagance, no purchasing anything merely for show. The principle is utility in all things: "When eating a meal of congee and rice, remember how hard it was to grow; wearing half a thread of silk, always think of the difficulty of spinning." "Vessels should be plain and clean — earthen jars surpass gold and jade; food should be moderate and fine — garden vegetables excel at rare delicacies."
Steadfast means solidity. "Deep, with purpose and plan, solid — hard to topple." The Tao arises from an established foundation; to "establish that foundation," one must have solid groundwork.
Second Home life embraces steadfastness in three ways:
- Steadfast faith, steadfast conviction, steadfast cultivation, steadfast ability, steadfast conduct.
- Whatever you don't do, that's fine; but if you do it, strive for excellence. Whatever you do is solid — no lingering problems, no loose ends; others must not be able to criticize what you have done; what you have done must not collapse as soon as you turn your back.
- Everything grounded in reality, not in empty show or rote slogans; every word, every action, every gesture, every smile, every thought, every intent — genuinely true and matter-of-fact.
Only if we apply simplicity, frugality, and steadfastness to everything will we find: "No hindrance in the mind; no hindrance, therefore no fear; far beyond all delusive thinking, here is Nirvana."
4 August 2011