Modern day asceticism
I was trying to think of a reason why anybody might want to come to Denmark of their own free will. Peace and prosperity, of course, are the obvious choices. However, when grounded on petty nationalism and an interpretation of the New Testament along the lines of love-thy-neighbour-but-only-if-he-be-truly-thy-neighbour (that is, if he lives next door), they really don’t amount to that much. Rather, they seem smug and hypocritical.
Doing away with peace and prosperity I chanced upon something somewhat similar, yet in a more subtle and inward way. Asceticism. Now, you might think asceticism impossible without the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert, or the unsurmountable peaks of Himalaya. I did so too when I travelled there, but I never felt properly acclimatized, either it was too hot, or it was too cold.
Denmark is a lot more simple. Chuck out the TV, never pick up your mobile except at home, refuse to earn more than you can reasonably spend in a month (part-time jobs will do the trick), and never ever go on a shopping spree. That’s all it takes. Promise. As soon as you fulfil these simple criteria people around you will raise you to high heaven and call you a true ascetic. Some people might not understand you, but that only adds to the mystery and your reputation.
But why asceticism, you might rightfully ask. Practical things first. It will save you the embarrassment of being stressed out and coming down with a heart attack when you’re forty. It will also save you from debt as noone will ever borrow you a single dime, believing it impossible that you’ll ever be able to pay them back (which actually oftentimes means that they’ll simply give you the money instead, out of pity or plain admiration for you asceticism).
On a more serious note asceticism can actually be quite fulfilling. Ironically, it seems to present itself as an alternative to self-imposed suffering. You’ll have the time to go about your own business, and, more importantly, you’ll have the time to find out what’s really going on in the world instead of just succumbing to fear and prejudices. As egotistical as it might seem, it is actually one of the greatest acts of benevolence and charity you can aspire to around here.
Sad to say, I’m not living the life of a true modern day ascetic at the moment. But I’m trying, I’m really trying, and one day, before the end of summer, I hope I’ll succeed. Receive this as a proof of my love for you all. As always, we shall overcome, or perish in the attempt.
July 3, 2006 at 11:32 am
if you take a trip to my country you understand how wonderfull is fresh air of freedom. when i was 15 I loved to take out my HIJAB and feel the wind between my hair! now i know that not even my hair and smile is forbbiden, my being is forbbiden, too! a journalist woman is all you need not to be free in Iran!
July 3, 2006 at 1:53 pm
Personal freedom, I agree, is a value that should not be dispensed with. It is without doubt the single-most important factor that keeps me in Denmark, and an obvious reason to come here if you don’t enjoy it in your own country (if only things were that simple, that is). When travelling in Iran (I was there for about a month a couple of years ago) I clearly remember the general dissatisfaction with the regime that I met almost anywhere. One man in Yazd, at an illegal classical Persian tar performance, even went so far as to tell me: “I believe in God, but I cannot be a Muslim in this country.” To have your own personal freedom transgressed upon to such an extent is something so demeaning that I can’t even begin to picture it. And that’s why I’m reaching out with this blog. To try, just to try, to understand.
July 3, 2006 at 7:00 pm
I have been thinking many of the same things as you, lately, Jacob. And I long ago realized that Denmark in many ways is a demohipocracy. While staying in India recently I heard about a hospital for burn victims. Most of the patients were women, who had been burnt severely by their in-laws. This mostly happened because their families could not afford to deliver the dowry for the poor girl. The man who worked there said that it was the closest thing one might find to hell on earth.
The hospital had a budget of ~100 Euro per month and treated about 2000 women per year.
At the same time, whenever I read Danish newspapers on-line, they all went on and on about a Danish writer, who apparently had smuggled some 60 kg of hash in his youth and regularly had sex with his haitian cook’s 17 year-old daughter. No biggie, considering the general state of affairs on this planet. The thing is: that’s what caused a stir here. The writer lost his jobs, and for a long period of time was considered the epitome of evil in Danish media. One newspaper editor went so far as to say that he was “happy” that the writer had been diagnosed with cancer, that being an appropriate punishment for his “wretched lifestyle”.
My point is: when a case this small can consume all media time in a country, we are heading the wrong way. The fact that these two events occured before me more or less simultaneously really put the things in perspective. Nothing matters less than what this writer did, yet we chose to disregard everything else happening in the world for that! Now that is hypocritical, if anything. To be morally offended over nothing, and still cut down on our 3rd world aid funding, sending troops to Iraq and whatnot.
and: If you can succeed your “urban-asceticism”-project - much respect! That is truly the hard way to do it. Anyone can quit whatever he wants in the middle of the desert, it is a monumental task doing it here in our comfy couch of a country.