Stephanie Kaza

“Contentment is an underrated state of mind in consumer cultures. We hardly know how to recognize it or what to do when we feel content. Maybe we think it’s boring. Or maybe the cynic inside us doesn’t believe it really exists. In Buddhist philosophy, contentment is highly valued as a state free of desire. When you are content, you are actually okay with everything just as it is. In that moment you are not struggling with any complaints or dissatisfactions. You are fully present to yourself and the world around you. A relaxed body, a calm mind, a sense of well-being—nothing more is needed. Can you recognize this state? You realize you don’t need to go to the store to get anything; you have enough. You don’t need to be entertained by sensory stimulus; you have enough. You don’t need to fill a gaping hole of hunger, anger, loneliness, or exhaustion; you are okay just as you are. This is quite a powerful teaching for combating the endless marketing of dissatisfaction.”
― Stephanie Kaza, Mindfully Green: A Personal and Spiritual Guide to Whole Earth Thinking

“Some of my students believe that if you spend more time outdoors receiving the energy of the natural world, you will have less need for the industrial energy grid. What do you think?”
― Stephanie Kaza, Mindfully Green: A Personal and Spiritual Guide to Whole Earth Thinking