Ascetic
Whether you are seeking to achieve a spiritual goal or just want to become more disciplined, an ascetic lifestyle is one way to do so. The concept of asceticism can be traced to the ancient Greek word askesis, meaning “to train,” or “to exercise.” These words were used to describe a rigorous physical regimen that early Greek warriors undertook to reach their peak level of bodily fitness.
Asceticism is a spiritual path that focuses on developing higher-order spiritual traits, such as self-mastery, and the pursuit of redemption.
The ascetic life is based on strong control over emotions. Many religions have an elite group of specialists, who maintain an ascetic lifestyle on a continuous basis. In addition, some Indian religions teach mind-body transformation. In both religious and non-religious settings, ascetics can be seen performing strict physical discipline.
Ascetic practices are meant to cleanse the body and mind of harmful emotions and habits. In Hinduism, the goal is to attain nirvana, which is a state of permanent happiness and peace. To achieve nirvana, a person must purify their mind and body through ascetic discipline. In some Indian religions, the ascetic can use ascetic practices to gain favor from deities. In some cultures, asceticism can be used to get rid of bad habits, such as smoking, drinking, or gambling.
The concept of asceticism has been historically observed in religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. It has also been noted in secular settings. During the early Muslim conquests of the Middle East and North Africa, Christian monks, as well as Muslim fighters, were also ascetics.
Among the oldest ascetic practices are celibacy, poverty, silence, and abstinence from material wealth. These spiritual disciplines are used to create an environment of personal devotion. In modern times, the concept of ascetic life has been popularized by Mahatma Gandhi, who made it a foundation of his work.
Style of living
Several anthropologists, economists and psychologists have coined the term “lifestyle” in recent years to describe the unique characteristics of the inhabitants of a region. It is not a replacement for social class or other facets of society, but a generalization of human behavior. The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘the way in which people live and behave’.
It has also been suggested that ‘lifestyle’ is more of a verb than an adjective. Lifestyle – like any other behavior – can be improved or altered by force or by design. Moreover, lifestyles are often multi-faceted, involving multiple sub-sets. Hence, it is hard to pin one lifestyle onto one person. It is a good idea to consider the lifestyle of a particular community. It is not an easy task to determine who is the master of the roost and who is the tyro. In addition, life styles may change in a predictable manner, with some notable exceptions.
The Oxford Dictionary defines the ol’ fashioned way of going about it as “living”. A typical definition is “living in a certain place or group.” In addition to the day-to-day functions of individuals, a lifestyle is comprised of a multitude of other attributes that are common to the residents of a given region. For instance, in an urban setting, a poor diet and a lack of exercise are major contributors to obesity and cardiovascular disease, respectively. A healthy and active lifestyle has been linked to higher levels of happiness and overall well-being.
A plethora of lifestyle products and services have appeared in the marketplace over the years. This includes television programs and magazines targeted at people seeking to achieve a successful lifestyle. There are even companies and organizations that manufacture “lifestyle” clothing. It is a good idea to dress in such a way as to complement the lifestyle of the wearer.
The most important lesson is that lifestyle is not a single thing but a gestalt. A good example is the “life” of a commuter. The commuting aficionado would be well advised to consider the merits of a life in a home town.
