Simplicity Is Key

Is it any wonder that an over-consumption of news in recent times has resulted in a state of anxiety known as ‘headline stress disorder’? Amidst endless stories, often covering complex topics such as cryptocurrency, geopolitics, and artificial intelligence, the quality of simplicity is usually, and sadly, left out of the conversation. We clearly have no shortage of information at our fingertips, but what about the acquisition of wisdom?

“Love all. Serve all. Help ever. Hurt never.” Ponder on the brevity and power of those few words given by Sathya Sai Baba, one of the most exalted spiritual teachers to ever grace our planet. He taught so purely and in common parlance that anyone from any background could be attracted to his work. We are left with numerous succinct, evocative statements that resonate so deeply they become hard to forget. In fact, most spiritual figures from antiquity to the modern era have conveyed important truths in rather simple terms. What can we glean from their methods of teaching if we, too, wish to be an agent of positive transformation? Are there different forms of “simple”? How might this topic apply to the rebuilding of our civilization and the process of self-awareness?

Simplicity, it will be found, is a common thread in our collective journey ahead to improve the well-being of society.

Photo: Andy Morgan

Beyond mere minimalism

For starters, some distinctions should be drawn to avoid confusion on this seemingly simple topic. The term “simplicity” implies a framework or state of mind used for processing anything that may be complex. That which is superfluous is set aside. The essential aspects receive highest attention. This is different from acting in a “simplistic” way in which a subject is overly simplified. Simplistic thinking can lead to wrong conclusions, lacking depth in its narrowness of comprehension. Whereas minimalism is merely a reduction in quantity, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” to borrow the words of Leonardo da Vinci. Whether it concerns spiritual insight, self-understanding or large-scale human progress, there are numerous areas of life where the quality of simplicity can be underscored.

Maitreya’s approach

One of the most potent examples of simplicity can be found in the spiritual teaching of Maitreya, the World Teacher. As the one awaited by all the major religions under various names, Maitreya is gradually stepping forward publicly to inaugurate the new age of Aquarius, a 2,350-year period where we will replace competition and greed with cooperation, economic justice and synthesis among nations, thereby leading to a more harmonious world order. Maitreya comes as the most senior member of a group of enlightened teachers known as the Masters of Wisdom.

Over a period of five years (from 1977–1982), Maitreya gave a series of public messages through a disciple of one of the Masters of Wisdom, author and artist Benjamin Creme. This communication was accomplished using a technique known as spiritual “overshadowing”, in which a telepathic rapport is established with full awareness and cooperation of the individual being overshadowed. Since the 1950’s, Creme had been slowly trained over many years by his own spiritual master for his role in preparing the way for Maitreya.

Throughout a total of 140 messages¹ given through Creme, Maitreya repeats the need for systemic change on all levels. In the following excerpts, he introduces himself and the Masters while pointing to the nature of their long-term mission ahead. With statements that speak directly to the heart, he invites us to take his hand and create a glorious future together as we rebuild our institutions and communities.

Message #4

I am a simple Man, and simply I make My Appeal to you: Trust Me, follow Me, let Me take you into the future time, on the basis of Love, on the basis of Sharing, on the basis of Brotherhood.

Let Me show you the way into that state of simple interdependence, of justice, correct alignment with your Source and your brothers.

Message #16

My Masters will show you the first steps out of the quagmire. They will show you that a simpler life can be led in full happiness and manifested divinity, through Love and Service of our brothers. This is the Way of Old; it is the way of all time; nothing really changes with God.

Message #67

The tendency today is to reject that which is simple, to cling to the complex, the erudite and vague; but all that pertains to Truth, My friends, will be found to be simple indeed. Thus am I a simple Man. When you see Me you will know this, and smilingly take Me as a Brother.

Message #80

My plan is to show you that the way out of your problems is to listen again to the true voice of God within your hearts, to share the produce of this most bountiful of worlds among your brothers and sisters everywhere.

A simpler time ahead

In the coming decades of this Aquarian age, many aspects of life will become simpler once humanity learns to share more equitably the Earth’s food and raw materials while also lessening our demands on Earth. The Masters of Wisdom have given us a marvelous vision of the future to hold in our minds, where the needs of all are met and war becomes a thing of the past. Transport will run off clean energy harnessed directly from the sun. Passports will no longer be needed as people enter and leave countries freely. A simplified and universally adopted form of the English language will expedite advancements in international scientific research and trading partnerships. As for industrial manufacturing, the advancement of machinery will free us from the drudgery of excessive and exhausting work. Creme duly pointed out, “Today’s problems of unemployment will become the problems of leisure. Education for the right and fullest use of leisure will be of paramount importance.”

In many respects, it could be thought of as “The Simpler Age” that lies ahead, and yet we are really talking about a tremendous degree of progress in all sectors. Needless complexity, intensely wasteful consumerism among many, and environmental stress are preventing humanity from experiencing deeper levels of satisfaction on a large scale.

Let us consider what Benjamin Creme’s Master wrote in his article^*, “The new simplicity” (May 1987)²:

“Prosperity is a state ‘where no man lacks’, where there is neither very rich nor very poor. Far from this blessed state are men today when luxury and starvation walk hand in hand.

A new simplicity will the Christ [Maitreya] present to men, allowing them to share as brothers all. Co-operation will be the keynote of this simple life, the sharing of resources the order of the day. Thus will man’s divinity be expressed and thus will the Plan work out through men.

There begins now a great adventure for men which will take them to the highest heights. In simplicity will the new life be known and lived, rich and full in meaning and purpose. From ‘The Waters of Life’ of Aquarius will flow that spiritual abundance for which all men in their hearts yearn.” A Master of Wisdom, Share International magazine

^* The terms “man” and “men” are used here in the generic sense to mean humanity.

Life on Earth will change to a degree hardly imaginable by today’s standards when we rebuild our economy and re-shape our communities around the principle of sharing. We must cast away all that is rotten and useless in our civilization. A wonderful vision of this not-so-distant transformation is found in Maitreya’s entreaty:

“Allow Me to show you the way forward, into a simpler life where no man lacks; where no two days are alike; where the joy of Brotherhood manifests through all men.” Maitreya

A new world of discovery and connection awaits humanity if we can work to end our major conflicts and needless mass suffering.

Humility and detachment

Maitreya gave a different set of messages in the form of teachings³ during 1988–1993. Here we have abundant gems of wisdom illustrating the importance of simplicity as a means of contentment and inner peace. For instance, Maitreya foresaw a trend of high-profile religious leaders relocating to more humble abodes. A recent example is Pope Francis, who opted to live at the Vatican guesthouse rather than the opulent Apostolic Palace. Maitreya said they will live:

“...in simpler surroundings, because simplicity is a significant factor in order ‘to remain with the Lord in the heart’. If you surround yourself with the luxuries of life you have a situation where the senses become possessive and life becomes struggle, confusion, chaos.” Maitreya

Of course, Maitreya is not merely focused on simplification of physical belongings. He is ultimately referring to an inward transformation based on detachment that leads to outward adjustments.

“The moment you experience the Lord within, you tend to become free of all these attachments in life. Simplicity is not a burden for mind, spirit and body. These are the temples of the Lord and they must be free of possessiveness…” Maitreya

In another passage, Maitreya explains how a heart-to-heart talk “means you will express yourself as you really are, you will communicate from the center — your center — the Self. Practice this. It will transform you and those around you.” There is no dogma, no ideology, and no division involved when we are communicating directly from the heart.

The “doors to happiness”

Agni Yoga, a path of practice in daily life, is “the yoga of fiery energy, of consciousness, of responsible, directed thought.” During the 1920s and 1930s a Russian woman named Helena Roerich authored a series of books, known as the Agni Yoga Teachings, which were dictated to her by certain Masters of Wisdom. In the following passage, the Masters explain why simplicity must be ranked so highly by every spiritually minded seeker.

“Fearlessness is Our leader. Beauty is Our ray of understanding. Simplicity is Our key to the secret doors to happiness.

You may write about simplicity in particular, because nothing bars the way as much as the obesity of an overinflated ego. You need to do your utmost to rid yourself of every germ of self-importance, and do so without assuming false modesty. It would seem to be an old, old truth, but now it has to be repeated. Everyone has to understand for himself where his simplicity is lacking.” Helena Roerich, Leaves of Morya’s Garden II⁴

Patterns of thought

Finally, we would do well to consider the advice of J. Krishnamurti, whose life was dedicated to helping people understand the nature of conflict in its myriad forms. The main requirement to free oneself from the prison of conditioning, he often suggested, is assiduous observation of the mind. The following excerpt from his book The First and Last Freedom draws a contrast between outer, artificial, simplicity and the genuine type of enquiry necessary for higher consciousness.

“There is an extraordinary freedom when one understands the whole process of belief, why the mind is attached to a belief. When there is freedom from beliefs, there is simplicity. But that simplicity requires intelligence, and to be intelligent one must be aware of one’s own impediments. To be aware, one must be constantly on the watch, not established in any particular groove, in any particular pattern of thought or action. After all, what one is inwardly does affect the outer.

Without being simple, one cannot be sensitive – to the trees, to the birds, to the mountains, to the wind, to all the things which are going on about us in the world; if one is not simple one cannot be sensitive to the inward intimation of things. Most of us live so superficially, on the upper level of our consciousness; there we try to be thoughtful or intelligent, which is synonymous with being religious; there we try to make our minds simple, through compulsion, through discipline. But that is not simplicity. When we force the upper mind to be simple, such compulsion only hardens the mind, does not make the mind supple, clear, quick.

To be simple in the whole, total process of our consciousness is extremely arduous; because there must be no inward reservation, there must be an eagerness to find out, to inquire into the process of our being, which means to be awake to every intimation, to every hint; to be aware of our fears, of our hopes, and to investigate and to be free of them more and more and more. Only then, when the mind and the heart are really simple, not encrusted, are we able to solve the many problems that confront us.” J. Krishnamurti, The First and Last Freedom⁵