Let me tell you about an English performance artist, Michael Landy. I was interested in the idea of “non-attachment” so I read (most of) Ends and Means by Aldous Huxley — especially because Ends and Means was cited as a source of inspiration for one of my favourite modern Christian Mystics, Thomas Merton. In Ends and Means Huxley surmises on the ideal society, and as its basis, the ideal person. Huxley frequently returns to the idea of non-attachment:

It is difficult to find a single word that will adequately describe the ideal man of the free philosophers, the mystics, the founders of religions. 'Non-attached’ is perhaps the best. The ideal man is the non-attached man. Non-attached to his bodily sensations and lusts. Non-attached to his craving for power and possessions. Non-attached to the objects of these various desires. Non-attached to his anger and hatred; non-attached to his exclusive loves. Non-attached to wealth, fame, social position.

This idea of non-attachment is something I’d like to return to in the “Asceticism” category of the blog but for the inaugural Asceticism post — and an admirable example of non-attachment — let me introduce you to Michael Landy. In 2001, Michael destroyed all 7,227 of his possessions. All of his possessions: From his Saab 900 turbo, to his old love letters, to his Father’s sheepskin coat… even some old mouldy pieces of plastic. Afterwards, the only thing he owned were the blue coveralls he wore that day. His intent was very different from the Christian ideal; instead of selling everything and giving the money to the poor, as the gospels exhort, he actually destroyed everything and sent it to landfill.

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. — Matthew 19:21

But the idea is the same. Landy was commenting on our unhealthy obsession with consumerism… The idea that our things own us, and not the other way around. There are a number of compelling observations in the link above: Spectators that stumbled upon the exhibition were often “deeply unsettled” and “appalled”; the effect that possessing 7,227 items might have on the planet; the ubiquity of consumerism in the West; and the similarities and differences to Christian saints such as Francis of Assisi.

So to introduce the idea of non-attachment, I present to you Michael Landy. Even though he did it temporarily, somewhat wastefully, and as an art exhibit rather than altruistically, Mr Landy exemplified the extremity of non-attachment to possessions, which is something we all must be much better at.