Living Effortlessly
Marissa McNally
One is not born knowing the good life, and it may take many years before one realizes it. This poses the question: how can one live the good life without knowing what it is? Firstly, a life is lived, not chosen. Further, fulfilling the balance of the good life is a natural desire. The good life is one spent seeking balance internally and externally so that both states may complement each other. Though this way of life does not have to be religious, an exemplary model of it is the Rule of St. Benedict. The Rule of St. Benedict a valuable example, as it is based on Benedict’s observation of human nature. Coming to know one’s unique purpose for living the good life does not require effort. The good life is one spent seeking balance internally and externally so that both states may complement each other; leisure, as defined by Josef Pieper, the Rule of St. Benedict, the Bhagavad-Gita, and Groundhog Day provide examples on how this balance can be found through knowing and participating in community.
Pieper, in Leisure, the Basis of Culture, defines ‘knowing’ as the effortless action of reality of existing things being reached. It is an effortless process because it is an act of reception that comes from our perception of reality rather than from an act of possession, because one cannot possess reality. Additionally, life is given to us, and so we must live it. We do not have the power to carefully curate when life happens to us. This is an exercise of intellectus, the part of the human mind responsible for inspiration, according to medieval philosophy. It is from this philosophy that Pieper based his definition of leisure as gratuitous. Thus, we can reach knowledge effortlessly because it comes from within us when we are at one with ourselves.
A key theme of the Rule is the goal of Ora et Labora, which is the balance of prayer and work; this phrase combines contemplation and action. Perhaps a secular model of this practice could substitute prayer for the concepts of intellectus, knowing, or leisure—all of which are effortless actions or states. Ora et Labora is the goal of monastic life not just because it is good for the soul but also because it promotes healthy community life—an inherent characteristic of monastic life. Though the monastic community operates within their own entity, the global community, and even our local communities, can benefit from their model for communal life. The Rule sets up a community in which responsibility is shared and conflict is limited—aspects worthy of praise. Everyone yearns for a good life and can find it through balancing the heart and mind, which will promote balanced actions.
Balanced actions enhance a community and promote the wellbeing of the individuals that constitute it. The Bhagavad-Gita, a sacred Hindu text, emphasizes the importance of fulfilling your duty, or dharma. It is crucial that one fulfills their dharma because it allows others to fulfill their own. It is fair to consider that dharma is to the continuity of humanity as living the good life is to the preservation of one’s community. In both instances, every individual has a unique responsibility that was given to them and by pursuing it, they, along with others, will benefit. This connection can be seen in the film Groundhog Day. In the film, Phil is stuck living Groundhog Day for what seems like eternity. His release from the cycle comes when he becomes receptive to those around him and understands the impact of his actions on them. Once he stops calculating which actions will earn his freedom and begins to live, he is freed.
This is not to say that we are all programmed to act on autopilot, but to recognize that the life we live does not have to be based on extravagant plans. The “good” life is not the better life, it is the real life. Honoring our inclinations allows us to live truthfully and meaningfully. For example, imagine a freshman student at St. Anselm College who is Undeclared. While they are still coming to know their good life, they do know that they like living a clean lifestyle and enjoy studying political science. In this student’s Conversatio class, they learn about water inequality and want to take action. They join the Respect the Nest initiative on campus to learn about environmental issues and ways to help solve them. As a result of these experiences, this student declares an Environmental Studies major during their sophomore year. While this student had always been interested in certain aspects of this major, it was not until they let themselves be immersed in them that they realized their path as an Environmental Studies student. Once this student understood what their passions meant, they acted accordingly and will ultimately benefit their community environmentally.
The good life is about realizing the potential within us and sharing our gifts with others. This potential always lives within us; we just have to perceive it. We can create a harmonious environment for all by being receptive to ourselves and our community, as seen in Benedictine monasteries founded on the Rule. A community is built on the balance of efforts by all who are a part of it, as outlined in the Bhagavad-Gita. The good life is not a secret we wait to be let in on, rather it is something we must let in.