How many here consider themselves ascetic?

[DerekG]

Disclaimer: This is not intended to be a self-congratulatory thread; I'm merely interested in hearing from those who lead a relatively unique lifestyle.

Me, I'm 23 years old. Over the course of four years of undergraduate studies, I've had three drinks, two puffs of the magic dragon, and have abstained from a particular activity I only wish to engage in with the woman I'm going to grow old with. The alcohol and narcotic abstentions can be chalked up to a desire not to have my consciousness altered; the last is a moral/spiritual decision that just feels right.

[Spinzonner]

1. How do we know that

you're just not boring and cheap ?

[DerekG]

3. I'm definitely cheap

I haven't frequented a book store in years: it's the library or nothing. But then, the library's my second home, so I guess I'm boring, too.

[cleofus1]

2. since i scored 233 on the sleaze-o-meter

i can honestly say...no...

[mcscajun]

4. Not me...I scored pretty high on the Sleaze-O-Meter.

I'll wager there are few true ascetics here...some...but not many.

Takes more than abstention from drugs, alcohol and sex to make an ascetic.


Wiki:

'Asceticism’ is a word used to denote a simple life which is characterized by kindness, un-advertised good-deeds, inner peace, deep self-reflection, the pursuit of psychological, emotional, and physical well-being, spirituality, and the rejection of ownership of material objects above minimalist needs. Ascetics live austerely and provide for their own simple needs. An ascetic’s home is most often furnished with a bed and nothing more. They give what they earn to those in need.

Ascetics state happiness, contentment and peace only come when we clear ourselves of the distractions of the world and look for riches within ourselves.