Minimalism and Spirituality

I recently met a friend who described herself as a former shopaholic, her home overflowing with clutter. A year ago, she started exploring minimalism and putting it into practice, sharing her journey in online videos. She appears increasingly refreshed and at ease, and her speech is now concise and powerful. Her channel has attracted over ten thousand viewers, inspiring many to pursue a deeper understanding of life.

Minimalism has become particularly popular in the West and in Japan in recent years. Practitioners are determined to live a very simple life, with no unnecessary items in their homes besides necessities. While consumerism prevails in today's society, minimalists believe that "less is more." Many people who initially practice minimalism suddenly find themselves accumulating a lot of items at home, many of which are useless or "thought to be useful in the future." Japanese author Marie Kondo wrote a book called *The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up*, which has been translated into over 100 languages. In late 2015, Time magazine listed her among its "100 Most Influential People in the World."

Marie Kondo believes that "decluttering, letting go, and detachment" is a spiritual practice. Minimalism is not the ultimate goal; rather, it's about reducing the worries and energy spent on external material possessions, thereby freeing up mental space and time to focus on what's important in life—things that nourish and enrich us, such as family relationships, spirituality, or contemplation. One principle that helps people decide whether to keep certain items is to ask themselves, when looking at those items, whether they bring them joy. If not, thank them for the help they once provided and now give them to someone in need.

Not everyone is drawn to minimalism, but the practice and spirit of minimalism do indeed inspire us to ask: What am I truly seeking? I believe this practice resonates deeply with Christian faith, as Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be" (Matthew 6:21). Centuries ago, people chose self-discipline in their diet (fasting); today, with greater material abundance, self-discipline can be practiced beyond just food. In my view, while minimalists may not necessarily have religious beliefs, their spirit resonates with the principles and foundations described by St. Ignatius in his *Spiritual Exercises* in the 16th century.

The purpose of human beings is to praise, venerate and serve our God, and in doing so, to save their own souls.

Everything in the world was created for humankind, to help him pursue the purpose for which he was created. The conclusion is: when using worldly things, one should always consider the purpose for which one was created; use as much as they can help, and discard as much as they can hinder.

Therefore, we must maintain a neutral and impartial attitude toward all of creation in matters which are not forbidden but freely chosen: that is, in our case, we do not value health more than sickness, wealth more than poverty, honor more than disgrace, or longevity more than short life, and so on in all other respects.

In short, what we desire and choose is only what leads us to the purpose of creation.