Deep Lessons From Netflix | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Deep Lessons From Netflix

Having a minimalist lifestyle is worth it.

16
Deep Lessons From Netflix
king of wallpapers

So this is it. This is where it has all come to a point. Right here, sitting in my girlfriend’s sister’s kitchen, dog sitting over night as a favor. The time is around 1:30 a.m., the house is silent except for the occasional moaning of an old house and typing of my key board. I had been watching a documentary on Netflix earlier titled “Minimalism”. It was a very interesting documentary, as it followed the story and journey of two men, known simply as “The Minimalists”.

What a curious idea they proposed to the world: having less is really having more. They both share similar stories to the other; both coming up in this world with an impression in their mind that they needed lots of stuff to be happy and became desperate to obtain wealth as a result to the void they had created for themselves. They got degrees, which were supposed to financially pay off in the long run. They put in the effort to graduate school in order to land a big time job and make a big time name for themselves. They made it, they were there and yet both felt something was missing. Even with big time jobs, big time pay checks, luxury cars, luxury apartments, the nicest clothes and much more, they couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

Why were they still not happy? They had made it, hadn’t they? Society had transformed into a world where the more you have, the happier people are believed to become. We are in a constant struggle of trying to be happy with where we are now, and where we want to be in the future. Nothing is good enough, we are constantly craving more; constantly on the hunt for something that is more satisfying than the last. We are filling a void in our life and seeking wholeness from the objects we surround ourselves with. We seek, but we don't really know what were looking for.

Before watching “Minimalism”, another short documentary titled, “Extremis” caught my curiosity. This documentary followed around two doctors in a hospital as they dealt with some of the hardest moments in patient care; when it comes down to pulling the plug on life support or not, what does one do?

The documentation of these very sick people stirs the question of whether a mercy rule should be allowed or not. How do people deal with the loss of a loved one? Do these families face reality together, pull the breathing tube to die in comfort? Is it easier to give up peacefully and go out on one’s own terms? What is really living if one is only holding onto purgatory through a machine which breaths for you?

If we are destined for the grave, then we are doomed to hospital beds, traumatic life ending events, sickness, disease, suffering… why shouldn't we prepare? The point I am pulling from both documentaries is that whatever we are looking for in life can't come from material things. These material things can bring us comfort for a second, but in the dying moments of our lives, what are we gonna look back on in reflection and say “yeah, I’m glad I did that”.

Our life must have purpose. We must have a direction and sense of being. In order to become whole we have to become an example, a living dream and walking purpose. Mindfully, we have to create our own story, but not just any story with no real meaning, there has to be a reason. Don't make a decision without knowing why you are making that decision. Don't do something or spend money on something if it isn’t giving real meaningful value to your life. We all have to find our sense of purpose in life, and live it out fully, unscripted and not acted. It has to be so authentic that you become anchored to your path and nothing can distract you or turn you back. We must create our own reality deep below the surface in order for it to be real.

In a verse from “The Tibetan Book of the Dead” titled “Root Verses of the Six Intermediate States”, the first intermediate state is as follows:

"Alas, now as the intermediate state of living arises before me, renouncing laziness, for which there is no time in this life, I must enter the undistracted path of study, reflection and meditation. Now, having obtained a precious human body, this one time, I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path."

The reason for so much unhappiness pointed out by the minimalist documentary comes from our desire to distract ourselves with too much stuff. Society today is a trap, with all of its distractions and bullshit being sold every day. Social media pushes product, the image of perfection, beauty and wealth, which ultimately is believed to make us happy. We don't become happy from acquiring objects; we cultivate happiness through a habit of living life with a purpose. Doing things for others, opening our hearts up, clearing our minds and following our solid path of direction is the way to create meaningful happiness. Don't let this life go to waste with worry and unhappiness. Give up what you don't need; simplify and minimize the clutter in your life. Clear up time, money and space to have the life that you have always dreamed about having. You want the freedom to be free, but what are you willing to sacrifice in order to have it?

From the final verse of "Six Intermediate States", and the mouth of accomplished masters, come these words:

“‘o, (you), with your mind far away, thinking death will not come.

Entranced by the pointless activities of this life, if you were to return empty handed now, would not your (life’s) purpose have been (utterly) confused?

Recognize what it is that you truly need! It is a sacred teaching for liberation! Should you not begin to practice from this very moment?

‘If I choose not to take the oral teachings of the spiritual teacher to heart, am I not the deceiver of myself?’”

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181055
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7980
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453028
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23628
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments