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In This Article:
- Why simplicity is more than just consuming less
- The spiritual foundation behind living a simple life
- How coherence transforms daily decisions and priorities
- Pierre Pradervand’s blessing for living nd healing through simplicity
- The connection between inner peace and divine presence
Simplify Your Life, Free Your Soul
by Pierre Pradervand, author of the book: The Gentle Art of Spiritual Discernment.
The text below is the translation of an excerpt from a book by Pierre published in Europe in 1996 by Éditions Jouvence.
Simplicity of life is much more than just consuming a little less; and to present it in this way is to caricature it to the extreme. We rarely simplify our lives just for the sake of simplifying it, although some may opt for this approach.
We do it as a function of a life choice which, little by little, gives increasing coherence to all the different aspects of our existence. Just as a pacifist or vegetarian will organize his or her life around his or her basic philosophy, the person who opts for simplified living will do so in the same way, according to an initial orientation.
This choice for a simpler life develops naturally, without laborious effort, according to an inner imperative, a meaning that, over the years, imposes itself on us. The key to this simplification is the word “coherence.” This simplification is first and foremost an inner state, a state of mind, an adjustment of priorities.
Gradually and joyfully, it leads theindividual to center himself on an inner pole, a sort of life compass according to which he makes those thousand little choices that make up the fabric of daily life, and first and foremost the organization of time and the way he manages his money and other resources.
Over the years, the person in question sees an internal coherence appear in his or her life, a sort of Ariadne’s thread that makes choices increasingly simple, rapid and coherent. The throes of indecision give way to calm, measured decisions that reflect the growing freedom of one’s inner space.
Once meaning has been found, if, at least, it is a meaning that transcends the individual, that directs him towards something other than the simple service of himself, this meaning penetrates, as if by osmosis or capillary action, all the different aspects of his life. It orders existence, structures it, gives it an internal cohesion that is marvelous, light (in the sense of something that does not weigh, that lightens), that frees the mind more and more from trivialities or banalities.
A Blessing for Simplicity
The following blessing is excerpted from Pierre's book: 365 Blessings to heal myself and the World.
We live in a world of growing complexity in all fields. It is also a world where the consumer choices have gone far beyond any definition of what a reasonable choice would be – Amazon offers a possibility of over 200 million items on its site (New York Times International Edition, October 24–25, 2015). [Editor's Note: Current estimates increase that number up to 600 million.]
This represents a massive loss of time and energy for consumers and the world. Yet, kneeling in adoration in the company of our Beloved One offers a wealth greater than all the kingdoms of the world. Don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself.
A Blessing for Simplicity
In the whirl and swirl of our modern world, I bless myself in my ability to step aside, stop, and enjoy the greatest gift of all: the infinite simplicity and riches of Your Presence.
May I learn to prune my life of all its useless trappings and activities and simplify it down to its essentials, that I may have the time, energy and desire to hold on to what really matters: listening to You and serving my neighbor who also happens to be myself in disguise.
May I drop the hectic and impossible challenge of keeping up with the Jones’, the latest news, the latest book “I just must read,” and the latest fashion of this or that. May they just fall by their own weight, and may I stand, in the simple elegance of one who has discovered the fundamental truth that the “Kingdom of God” is simply that place of sublime beauty inside us where there never entered a single unessential presence or thought, where reigns but the feeling of God happening within.
I bless my fellow humans that they may discover the healing peace of uncluttered lives, the healing simplicity of an existence guided by one single and only desire: to love more, to serve more faithfully and hence to rejoice more constantly.
©2018/2025 Pierre Pradervand. All Rights Reserved.
Book by this Author:
The Gentle Art of Spiritual Discernment
The Gentle Art of Spiritual Discernment: A Guide to Discovering Your Personal Path
by Pierre Pradervand.
In this guide, Pierre Pradervand offers support for those embarking on an authentic spiritual search. He focuses in depth on helping you answer three fundamental questions: Who am I deep down? What am I really looking for in my spiritual quest? What is the deep motivation of my search? He shows how integrity, generosity, and discernment are essential components of any lasting spiritual path.Showing how to cultivate your inner voice and intuition to become your own empowered spiritual authority, this guide reveals how to see more clearly, open your spiritual horizons, and move toward your own unique spiritual path.
For more info and/or to order this book, For more info and/or to order this book, click here. Also available as an Audiobook and as a Kindle edition.
About The Author
Pierre Pradervand, who passed on July 26, 2024, is the author of The Gentle Art of Blessing, 365 Blessings to heal myself and the World, The Gentle Art of Spiritual Discernment, and Messages of Life from Death Row. He worked, travelled and lived in over 40 countries on five continents, and was leading workshops on personal and spiritual development, including the art of blessing for many years, with remarkable responses and transformational results.
For over 30 years Pierre practiced blessing as a tool for healing the heart, mind, body and soul. He often reminded us that raising world consciousness was the number one priority to heal the planet, and that our most important assignment while on earth was to learn to love more.
Visit his website at GentleArtOfBlessing.org and PierrePradervand.com
Article Recap:
This powerful excerpt from Pierre Pradervand explores how a truly simple life is not about consuming less but living with deep coherence and spiritual alignment. With a blessing for simplicity, the article invites readers to prune distractions and center their lives around inner peace and purpose.
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