improved, and your effect on the
ecosystem much diminished from what it would have been if you'd done something
like watch TV or run down to Wal-Mart's.
In fact, I'm not aware of any great
philosopher, religious teacher, prophet, guru or generally happy, well adjusted
person who advocates the kinds of lives being chosen by most people nowadays.
Sometimes in the evening I sit
overlooking the canyon to the west, gazing over the shimmering, hustling Central Valley, and I remember how once I was firmly embedded
in the outside culture. I've been thinking about what advice I'd give anyone
who wanted to simplify his or her life and feel better. I've come up with a
three-step program, and here it is:
STEP 1: Replace addictions
(drugs, food, hankering for status, money, fame, power, sex, etc.) with a
program of eating properly and exercising.
STEP 2: Figure out what the
Creator programmed you to do in life. You can be sure that you possess one or
more unusual talents, passions or innate insights critically important to share
in any healthy, just society.
STEP 3: Spend your life working
hard at those things you believe in, and feel happiest doing.
I find it enormously comforting
knowing that life is hooked up in such a way that just by being true to what's
inside ourselves, we magically increase the possibility that from time to time
we'll smell the wonderful odor of freshly ground flour, and home- baking bread
afterwards.
*****
ODOR OF YELLOW JESSAMINE
Near my trailer Yellow Jessamine,
GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS, climbs into young Sweetgum trees, letting a few of its
bright yellow, foxglove-like blossoms dangle fairly low. Saturday afternoon
after a long hike in the cool sunlight I passed by this plant and of course I
had to take a sniff.
Though the odor was almost timid,
for a moment it hit me like a good kick in the stomach -- the mingling of
sparkling sunlight, fresh air and this unexpectedly sweet perfume evoked a
practically suffocating half-second-long pang of romantic yearnings and
memories. In that half second pure Eros tinged with poesy and "music of
the spheres" rampaged through my soul like all the redneck hounds of Hell.