why is SIMPLICITY not so SIMPLE to attain?

Question

another irony... another fact to explain

Answer 1

This reminds me of my English classes in school. It was so easy to elaborate on our essays; but when it came to condensation of passages, that was when we stumbled.

Simplicity is difficult to attain because we often do not have the ability discard the unnecessary and focus only on the essentials of life. We want to have all the nice things that the world has to offer, but we often forget that the more we have, the more cluttered our existence is. There is often a blurry line that separates the difference between what we NEED and what we WANT. Those who are able to distinguish the difference between the two are usually the ones who truly know what it is they need to live an uncomplicated but meaningful life.

In the arts (and music) they would call this Minimalism; a principle or philosophy where the subject is reduced to only its necessary elements, and leave it to “perform” at its most optimum potential. To let the visual appeal comes from a single but definite focal point rather than confusing the eyes (or ears) with unnecessary background clutter. But stripping down is difficult; one must decide on only a few things to portray and discard the rest.

Leonardo da Vinci had once so aptly said, “Simplicity is the ultimate Sophistication”.

And I cannot agree more…

Answer 2

It’s really a question of perspective and your level of digging into the nature of simplicity (or whatever idea / truth you have put into question as being simple in nature). Simplicity can be easy to attain or it can be difficult. This depends on how deep you dig into the process and what your perspective is.

LET ME MAKE AN ASSERTION: It’s simple to grow apples.

Here’s how I did grew them: I put an apple seed in the ground, watered the seed and made sure the earth above received ample sunlight. Soon a tree grew and produced apples. Damn those apples tasted good!

LET ME MAKE ANOTHER ASSERTION: Growing apples is a difficult and complex.

Here is how I grew them: First I researched nurseries that provided seeds to grow apple trees which would survive in the particular region I reside in. I then surveyed potential planting plots for those seeds in a 10 mile radius of my house. I finally ordered the seeds and planted them in the top 2 planting plots in the 10 mile radius of my house. Fall came and so I had to transplant….hopefully you see where I am going here. You can make 10 steps from the one of just putting the seed into the ground.

If you think too much into the nature of a simple process it will generally get complex. It is easier to understand the process from the perspective of “I put a seed in the ground it grew”. One should also acknowledge the plethora of processes and steps that the apple took to grow. After all nature is one of the most simplified of complex processes. However, it’s important to keep in mind that if your philosophy is to keep things simple in life, then don’t dig to deep and make 10 steps out of one…this makes things complex.

The short answer: Simplicity can be easy to attain if one’s perception is simple. If one’s perception is complex then the process of attaining / understanding is complex.

Answer 3

The truth is simple, but is hidden in the falsehoods that are. Making it not so simple. Simple is a matter of degree, what was simple for Einstein, or Newton, is not so simple for Alfred E. Newman. I'm not knocking the Newman kid. It amounts to what is important to you in this life, to how complicated you want to make it. With the capitalistic views, simplicity has been lost in techno world that has gotten incredibly complicated. Only if you strip yourself from worldly desire can you truly maintain happiness, simplicity is not simple, it is a calculated way of life, dedicated to spiritual desire, not of the physical plane.

Answer 4

Because people are sometimes distracted by what other people think. And from this process people make things complex by thinking things they don't want instead of think things they do want. People reaCt instead of Create, thus the reaction divides into a certain number of complex series in ones life, when the answer lies in creating situations by observing ones thoughts, words, and actions to attain simplicity.

Answer 5

I am a simple person by Nature, but I enjoy being simple, but in spite of it, people are attracted to me, children, and Ladies of all ages, Sometimes I wonder what it is that makes People Smile at me and it seems that I am always smiling at everybody, and they smile back. So, I do not think that Simplicity is simple to attain.

Answer 6

Because it is simple for the simple at heart. But for those who have a complex mind they can not attain it. Self realization is the most simple thing but because of peoples lack of simplicity they misconstrue and make it so complicated. Simple for the simple.

Answer 7

It really is not so complicated to attain, but it is not what our ego wants so it whispers "yeah buts" in our ear. We tend to believe it's nonsense because most of us have heard it's voice for so long we think it is us. How can you possibility reject the advice or wants of something you truly believe is you? To simplify your life means to just give up the things that make it complicated, give up all addictions, go back to being satisfied with just what you need. Then here comes that voice again telling you it is not possible, or you really are not addicted to such & such, or you really did not want to do this anyway, you like your stuff. Most will not take another step, thinking this is what they want. Mystics of all Faiths understand this whole process & see the ego for what it is. They spend their lives learning to not be ruled by the tiny dictator in their head, to move their identification of self from the ego to the true self. Simplicity is simple, its just not easy, it takes courage. Thanks, great question!

Answer 8

With 28 answers, I doubt you will even read this one, but here goes anyway. Simplicity is so difficult to attain because life is complex. To maintain the simple life you must resist the intrusion of life. If you try to develop defenses against it, your life becomes complex, because life will find a way to intrude. Try to ignore it and life will still transgress into your simple life. (Example: the monks of Burma). No one is exempt from the complexities of life.

Answer 9

I'll use the same anology I used when I used to teach computer architecture (how the various elements of computer systems are interconnected):
A modern skyscraper is a very complicated structure. But there's nothing at all complicated about a brick. It's only when you put a large number of bricks together that a thing of complexity emerges.

And it's the same with life. No matter -how- simple we try to keep it, there's enough of it that it's still gonna be fairly complex.

Doug

Answer 10

That is an excellent question.

The "simplest form of awareness" you are speaking of is the direct experience of the Soul. (in eastern terms, the Self), and as you say, it is not something that can be had very quickly... But the method is simple... "Be still, and know that I am God."

But who can be still????? since the mind is always chattering?

So you are asking the perfect question for those who are on the spiritual quest.

The best thing I can do is refer you to an online resource... that will explain it. "Gospel Enigma: and the Young Heretics"

But you are asking a very potent question. Excellent question.