Often, practitioners conserve everything, from toilet paper to detergent to electricity. Living economically is a topic we practice in order to realize the value of the world’s belongings and gain insight on the four elements. However, it is important for practitioners to ask themselves if their efforts to conserve affect others in a negative way. While practicing dhamma, are you inconveniencing their colleagues and housemates?
1. Many people are sitting together in a room and you dim the lights in an effort to conserve, is this always going to be the best course of action? If you were the only one in the room and your actions only affected yourself, by all means, go for it. But while living with others, we must consider the outcome of our actions. Could someone who wanted to read a book feel uncomfortable? (One option: be flexible, consider the appropriate action for each situation as it comes)
2. You find yourself in a room with another person who is sweating from the heat, while you feel perfectly comfortable. There is an air conditioner and fan in the room. What is the course of action that conserves while minimizing the inconvenience for both parties? (One option: if you turn the fan towards the person who feels hot while you put on a jacket, you can both remain in the room together)
3. You use a Swiffer sheet to mop the floor. Do you use one sheet for the entire house? If you believe you must always conserve, you might take it to the extreme of using one sheet for the entire house, resulting in a cleaned but yet unclean floor. But if you are wasteful, you might use a new sheet once the old one becomes dirty. Is there a moderate option? (One option: flip it! turn the sheet over or wash it and re-use. Use a new one if necessary)
Dhamma practice is not about setting permanent rules, but rather about undoing those rules and adapting to each situation at hand. If we subscribe to the belief that teaching others is always good or that conserving will always be the best course of action, we will find ourselves stuck in a permanent point of view. Sure, sometimes the outcome is positive. But other times, sharing lessons we’ve heard and conserving resources may result in conflicts with others.
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