non-attachment by being the anti hoarder

AMH

I have a way to go to be a total anti hoarder, but does anyone think that being non-attached to a lot of stuff is part of their practice? I just see so many people hanging onto sooo much stuff, I down sized so much a year and a half ago but I still have more to do it seems. Right now trash day is my favorite day of the week, along with trips to goodwill and filling the large recycling bin.

Vastmind

Saw a shirt on NB one time,

Buddha says stop wanting stupid shit.

He says stop wanting so much of it, too.

AMH

Hahaha, i like that. I got plenty of shit, 3 kids and one of them tends towards hoarding, (she moved out but not all her stuff).

When you have a tiny house it is amazing how much you learn you really really do not need. When you are just using what you really need then it is quite interesting.

the question is can we be attached to NOT having stuff, I am sure we can do that too!

Mountains

I'm currently undergoing what I'm starting to perceive as a major shift in my thinking. Part of it is that I'm getting ready to move house for the second time in 18 months. That in itself is a major motivator for getting rid of excess stuff. But it's much more than that for me at the moment. I'm truly starting to feel that "stuff" gives me a feeling of choking. I see people who live with next to no possessions, and they seem much happier than those of us who collect crap we don't really need. I've got four large book cases full of books - they're all going. I've got clothes I haven't worn in 2-3 years. They're all going. I have "good" dishes I've never once used in my life. They're going. It's hard to describe, but the feeling of shedding 'stuff' is very liberating. And - and this is very new for me - the total lack of desire for more new stuff to replace it is amazing. I was at a DIY store the other night buying paint for the house I'm moving into, and my old habits started to surface. "I'll just get this new toilet seat and this new light fixture". Well, no, I don't need either of them. The ones that are there are perfectly good, serviceable, and decent looking. Why buy more? Why throw away what's there? I've almost turned it into a game with myself. Even if I put something into a shopping cart, as often as not I take it back out before I leave the store. I guess if Buddhism has done nothing else for me, it's made me re-examine everything. I try to see the value in what I have, and if there isn't any, out it goes. It's an ongoing work in progress, but so far it feels great.

Vastmind

You were right in understanding thats the practice.

Practice needing less with less....and organize.

Practice DE-attaching.

Zero

Stuff can be useful - on balance I think I prefer hoarding to the throw away culture but I guess hoarding has its limits.

I think not being attached to any stuff is essential - possessions dont signify anything good or bad - to me they're functional - so yes, I think for me, non-attachment to stuff is part of my practice... that said, I also have a healthy hoard!

I like what the jackel says about stuff!

dorje

If you're going to be attached to anti-hoarding, then you're just going nowhere.

Hubris

I'm currently undergoing what I'm starting to perceive as a major shift in my thinking. Part of it is that I'm getting ready to move house for the second time in 18 months. That in itself is a major motivator for getting rid of excess stuff. But it's much more than that for me at the moment. I'm truly starting to feel that "stuff" gives me a feeling of choking. I see people who live with next to no possessions, and they seem much happier than those of us who collect crap we don't really need. I've got four large book cases full of books - they're all going. I've got clothes I haven't worn in 2-3 years. They're all going. I have "good" dishes I've never once used in my life. They're going. It's hard to describe, but the feeling of shedding 'stuff' is very liberating. And - and this is very new for me - the total lack of desire for more new stuff to replace it is amazing. I was at a DIY store the other night buying paint for the house I'm moving into, and my old habits started to surface. "I'll just get this new toilet seat and this new light fixture". Well, no, I don't need either of them. The ones that are there are perfectly good, serviceable, and decent looking. Why buy more? Why throw away what's there? I've almost turned it into a game with myself. Even if I put something into a shopping cart, as often as not I take it back out before I leave the store. I guess if Buddhism has done nothing else for me, it's made me re-examine everything. I try to see the value in what I have, and if there isn't any, out it goes. It's an ongoing work in progress, but so far it feels great.

Absolutely all of this @Mountains.

I am about to do (another) interstate move, and I have been purging as well. The more I purge the better I feel. Clutter just causes me anxiety, because from my POV "stuff" has its own energy, and the more stuff you have the more stress it will cause. Less is more.

I am at the age where my needs are simple, and I do not need nor want more "stuff". The things I want and need are not something I can purchase. Family,friends,love,etc.

Also, I am done with consumerism to keep up with the Joneses, I do not need the latest tech gadgets either. I would prefer to have a nice meal with a good friend,family, or lover.

ThailandTom

I use to be attached to many things and own many things, then I got robbed and lost a macbook and 900 pounds. Kind of like a junkie hitting rock bottom, it put things into perspective.

At present I would say the 5 material things that I own that I may have attachments to different degrees are this computer as it is the way I communicate with home, my elastic band ball, my swords/knives, and actually that is it. I do not own a TV, my phone has not had any money on it for so long that nobody can call me so it has turned into an alarm clock, no fridge, from time to time like sleeping on the floor.

I also like to have a clean out, but seeing as I have so little it often means me giving away clothing to friends or my Gfs son. I do not miss them, but feel good knowing they are going to use rather than ending up in the trash.
One example which is in my face daily of hoarding is my GF. In our spare room there is an amount of 'stuff' that we cannot put anywhere else as we have one wardrobe. I have one bag which is basically empty, my GF has five bags and when we move or if she needs something it is always a hassle for her. I remember Ajahn Brahm saying that if we have all of these objects, these material attachments, it can feel like walking through life with all of it's weight combined into a rock on your shoulders. I believe this to speak a lot of truth, when getting rid of things you do feel lighter

AMH

I think I feel better, have more time to focus on my priorities of the 8 fold path, and am a responsible citizen for not having so much stuff. Stuff takes a lot of work at times to maintain. A lot of stuff is more about status than usefullness. And borrowing or renting is waay better than just being disposable.

I have been in places in my life where it was about the 'look' of simplicity but not IMHO any more mindful than having lots of stuff. I didn't tend to get to that status, It is similar to the people who want to do good and are more into others seeing the good that they do or having an agenda for those they help, if that makes sense. To me the practice of mindfullness is not about what anybody else thinks. And right intention is so important. If I am purging things to make room for the practices I say I want to focus on than that is good. If it is not followed by another large input of stuff that is just new and shiny. And if the stuff we do not need is given to places/people where it can be used and therefore cut down on consumerism that is not essential, that is great. That is what I strive for but I am still practicing

Raven

Great to hear, AHeerdt! There's nothing like a huge purge to make you feel like you've lost a thousand pouds.

I find getting started is the hardest part. We're dealing with the basement right now, which has been multi-family storage for a while. Sometimes I like at this "stuff" and it's so overwhelming, I can't deal with it. But small steps, one box at a time...it's possible.

For me, it's the combination of wanting to declutter the space to declutter myself, and also to be able to share with other people. Why am I holding onto something random that I haven't seen for 3 years, when someone else could genuinely use it and have a better life?

I find I'm not so attached to "stuff," but I have trouble finding the energy to DEAL with it all. Not letting it get ahead of you is the key, I think.

genkaku

It's not the stuff...

It's the mind ...

And the attitude towards the stuff.

Change the mind and the stuff will take care of itself.

Mountains

Which is pretty much what's happening to me right now.

Spaceless

I have a way to go to be a total anti hoarder, but does anyone think that being non-attached to a lot of stuff is part of their practice? I just see so many people hanging onto sooo much stuff, I down sized so much a year and a half ago but I still have more to do it seems. Right now trash day is my favorite day of the week, along with trips to goodwill and filling the large recycling bin.

What buddha teaching is dun hoard onto your money unless there is no needy in this world and if you have a lot, wait for the opportune time to let go to the needy. there is nothing improper to hang onto sooo much stuff if your mind is not attached over it. and if there is non attachment, any reason for you to stuffing them. well! a no stuffing mind is a clear healthy mind