The poetic alternative to consumer culture 2009 111126. Before i do so, i would like to explain briefly how i came to be interested in richard gregg and his classic study of the power of nonviolence. Originally published in august, 1936 in the indian journal visvabharati quarterly. The term was coined in 1936 by richard gregg 2009, a follower of gandhi, who advocated a mindful approach to.
By richard gregg, originally published in august, 1936 in the indian journal visvabharati quarterly and by the quakers at wallingford, pa. A quaker center for religious and social study wallingford, pennsylvania 1936. These may include, for example, reducing ones possessions, generally referred to as minimalism, or increasing selfsufficiency. Buddha, lao tse, moses and mohammedalso by many saints and wise men such as st. In turn gregg was an influence on figures such as martin luther king jr and aldous huxley. Richard gregg social philosopher wikipedia republished.
In 1936 gregg published the value of voluntary simplicity, a term he coined while serving as director of the quaker retreat at pendle hill in pennsylvania. The term voluntary simplicity was coined by richard gregg, an american. Richard gregg, mohandas gandhi, and the strategy of. Voluntary simplicity of living has been advocated and practiced by the founders of most of the great religions. Richard bartlett gregg 18851974 was an american social philosopher said to be the first american to develop a substantial theory of nonviolent resistance and an influence on the thinking of martin luther king, jr and civilrights theorist bayard rustin. Gregg was the son of a congregational minister who converted to quakerism. It means singleness of purpose, sincerity and honesty within, as well as avoidance of interior clutter, of many possessions irrelevant to the chief purpose of life. Richard gregg was a quaker lawyer, a leading american theorist on nonviolence and one of the first people to introduce gandhis teachings on nonviolence to the western world. Definition of voluntary simplicity voluntary simplicity is a personal choice that consists of orienting our life.
The voluntary simplicity movement simplicity institute. Richard bartlett gregg, 18851974, who, as you know, was born here in colorado springs and attended cutler academy before moving on the harvard university. Gregg is the author of the value of voluntary simplicity 3. A key figure in the history of simplicity in the west is richard gregg. Voluntary simplicity lifestyles and energy conservation. The concept of voluntary simplicity, coined by social philosopher and mahatma gandhi follower richard gregg back in. Richard straver simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. The value of voluntary simplicity pendle hill pamphlets book 3 kindle edition by gregg, richard b download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc. Richard bartlett gregg 18851974 was an american social philosopher said to be the first american to develop a substantial theory of nonviolent resistance and an influence on the thinking of martin luther king, jr, aldous huxley, civilrights theorist bayard rustin, and pacifist and socialist reformer jessie wallace hughan.
Voluntary simplicity strongly backed by all three main. Richard gregg, a student of gandhis teaching, wrote in 1936. Richard bartlett gregg 18851974 was an american social philosopher said to be the first. Gregg is credited with coining the term voluntary simplicity and is said to be the first american to develop a substantial theory of nonviolent resistance. Pdf voluntary simplicity download full pdf book download. He was influenced by gandhi, and traveled to india to learn from him. Nov 12, 2012 a short introduction for voluntary simplicity. Voluntary simplicity the term voluntary simplicity was originally coined by richard gregg in 1936. See richard gregg, the value of voluntary simplicity, in samuel alexander ed, voluntary simplicity. Richard gregg s idea of nonviolence went far beyond the method described in his most famous book. He described the tactics of nonviolence as moral jiujitsu.
Im kicking myself for waiting so long to read greggs original writing where he coined the concept voluntary simplicity. The term itself is attributed to the quaker and gandhiist richard b. Read download voluntary simplicity pdf pdf download. Richard bartlett gregg insisted, in the structure of a nonviolent society th at nonviolence and voluntary simplicity would merely leave most people hanging in midair, leaving people without meaning and purpose in their lives, and that what we must do in order to restore meaning and purpose to modern existence is. He was a student of gandhis teaching and, in 1936, he wrote about a life of voluntary. The value of voluntary simplicity originally published in august, 1936 in the indian journal visvabharati quarterly by richard b. Richard gregg materials in the south asian american. It means singleness of purpose, sincerity and honesty within, as well as avoidance of. I first learned of richard gregg when i read duane elgins book voluntary simplicity a couple years ago. Voluntary simplicity toward a way of life that is outwardly simple, inwardly rich by duane elgin 240 pages, paperback, harpercollins, 2d ed. Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify ones lifestyle. The spiritual, ethical and practical reasons to adopt voluntary simplicity.
Summary of the value of voluntary simplicity by richard gregg. But, if i ever get the chance or if she reads this, i would like to thank her for writing her thesis on voluntary simplicity. Often called compassionate living, it is a conscious choice to simplify your life and a deliberate downshifting to create the life and home environment that fit you and your family. Richard gregg was a student of gandhis teaching and, in 1936, he wrote the following about a life of voluntary simplicity. Reimagining the good life beyond consumer culture samuel alexander, university of melbourne, australia introduction in the most developed regions of the world today, such as north america, western europe, japan, australia, new zealand, etc. This can be done with others and can spread around. As longtime radical advocates of pacifism and voluntary simplicity, the nearings had much in common with gregg, and he remained in their agrarian community for several years.
The preacher of eccle siastes observes that god made man simple. Gregg called their way of life voluntary simplicity. He was influenced by gandhi, and traveled to india to. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they have rather than want. Gregg author of the power of nonviolence acting director of pendle hill 193536 published by pendle hill a quaker center for religious and social study wallingford, pennsylvania 1936 excerpts. Simplicity as a spiritual practice inspiration house. Gregg voluntary simplicity of living has been advocated and practiced by the founders of most of the great religionsjesus, buddha, lao tse, moses, and mohammedalso. Richard gregg, the man credited with coining the term voluntary simplicity, described simplicity as a kind of psychological hygiene gregg, 1936, p. The value of voluntary simplicity pendle hill pamphlets book 3. Similarly, elgin and mitchell 1977 proposed that motivation to simplify is often driven by the realistic possibility of finding more satisfying ways to live p. Gregg, who in 1936 wrote and published an influential pamphlet on the value of voluntary simplicity, urging his fellow americans to. Voluntary simplicity defined, the history, society today, overconsumption, busyness. The value of voluntary simplicity by richard gregg essay summary introduction voluntary simplicity of living has been advocated and practiced by the founders of most of the great religions. The value of voluntary simplicity by richard gregg.
Tolstoy, gandhi, lenin, richard gregg, helen and scott nearing, and many of the indigenous peoples around the world. Voluntary simplicity involves both inner and outer condition. Duane elgin popularized the term voluntary simplicity,which pacifist richard gregg had coined in 1936as a characterization of the modern simplicity movement. Reimagining the good life beyond consumer culture samuel alexander, university of melbourne, australia. Further, we think that voluntary simplicity may prove an increasingly powerful economic, social, and political force over the coming decade and. Price fifteen cents twoor more copies at tea cents apiece. The term voluntary simplicity was coined by richard gregg, an american lawyer and committed follower of gandhi. The son of a minister, gregg attended harvard where he earned his bachelors degree in 1907 and his juris doctor in 1911. A file in the online version of the kouroo contexture. The value of voluntary simplicity soil and health library. This is the original article on voluntary simplicity that inspired me to write his book by the same name in 1981. Richard gregg, who was a student of gandhi, coined the term voluntary simplicity. As richard gregg put it, living simply means an ordering and guiding of our energy and.
It means singleness of purpose, sincerity and honesty within, as well as avoidance of exterior clutter, of many possessions irrelevant to the chief purpose of life. Francis, john woolman, the hindu rishis, the hebrew prophets, the moslem sufis. The value of continue reading about the value of voluntary simplicity by richard gregg essay summary. By embracing the tenets of voluntary simplicityfrugal consumption, ecological awareness and personal growthpeople can change their lives and begin to change the world. Author of the power of nonviolence acting director of pendle hill 193536. Pdf we examine the growing voluntary simplicity vs movement from the perspectives of utilitarianism, kantian deontology, and virtue ethics. In the essay, gregg noted that the individuals who have mostinfluenced our spiritual development have been people of few possessions, suchas buddha, jesus, moses, mohammed, socrates, st. Richard bartlett gregg 18851974 was an american social philosopher said to be the first american to develop a substantial theory of nonviolent resistance and an influence on the thinking of martin luther king, jr, 1 aldous huxley, 2 civilrights theorist bayard rustin, 3 and pacifist and socialist reformer jessie wallace hughan.
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