Simplicity: The Forgotten Luxury

Simplicity is the whisper of sages, the sigh of the forest, the hidden message behind every sunrise. When we strip away the noise, the clutter, the glitter—what remains is not emptiness. What remains... is essence. And in that essence, beauty is not something we see. It’s something we feel in our bones.

Look around you. The universe does not boast. The stars shine in silence. The moon does not clap for itself, yet entire oceans move to its rhythm. The Himalayas do not decorate themselves, yet they stand in timeless majesty. This is the secret of alaukika saundaryam—divine beauty that flows not from adornment, but from authenticity.

Simplicity is not a downgrade. It is refinement. It is the fire that burns away the false, leaving behind only the purest gold. It is not less—it is less but better. Less distraction, more depth. Less chaos, more clarity.

In the ancient forests, sages sat with closed eyes, wearing nothing but bark, their only jewelry the glow of wisdom on their faces. And yet, kings bowed before them. Why? Because their simplicity wasn't weakness—it was power untainted by pride. It was beauty that didn't scream, but sang silently in the soul.

Even the Lord knows the charm of simplicity. Krishna did not ride a golden chariot every day. He played the flute under a tree. A cowherd boy with dust on His feet, a smile on His lips, and the whole cosmos twirling on His little finger. Rama lived in the forest, slept on grass, walked barefoot through thorns—and yet Sita saw no greater prince.

True beauty does not need a spotlight. It shines from within. A clear mind. A soft heart. A life not bursting at the seams but flowing with meaning. A home where there may not be luxury, but there is peace. A meal that may be humble, but made with love. A word that may be few, but carries truth.

Simplicity allows us to see. Really see. The sparkle in someone’s eye when they feel seen. The joy of a child playing with mud. The way the breeze tucks your hair behind your ear when no one’s watching. These are not small things. These are sacred moments. Quiet miracles. And we miss them only because we are too busy chasing something shinier.

But when you pause… when you choose simple over showy, real over rushed… you step into grace. You return home to yourself.

And there, in that stillness, you realise:
You don’t need to look beautiful.
You just need to be.

Because the soul, when uncluttered, is the most beautiful thing in all the worlds.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi